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New York-based artist and spiritual teacher AA Rashid has made a name for himself in hip-hop by providing introspective and thought-provoking spoken word segments on projects such as Westside Gunn's “Hitler Wears Hermes” mixtape series. His unique contributions to projects from Griselda Records have resonated with fans who appreciate the authentic, gritty sound that has come to define the label. With a wealth of knowledge and a profound connection to the roots of hip-hop, Rashid's influence on Griselda's music and the East Coast underground is undeniable.

Born in Brooklyn, Rashid has been immersed in the culture of hip-hop since its inception. As a young man, he witnessed the evolution of the genre and its connection to the streets of New York City. Growing up alongside the late Notorious B.I.G., Rashid was exposed to the raw talent that would later define the golden era of hip-hop.

“I knew he could [rap] because he used to have impromptu battles with other rappers around my way,” Rashid said. “I saw [B.I.G.] battle this kid from Fort Greene Projects when we were little at a club on Bedford Avenue. That’s the first time I heard him say, ‘I got seven Mac-11's, about eight .38’s.’ This was before everybody in the world heard that, it was amazing.”

Through his study of various spiritual disciplines, Rashid cultivated a deep understanding of the world around him, which he would eventually channel into his spoken word contributions to Griselda Records. He’s also a significant figure in the Five Percent Nation, a cultural movement founded in New York City that has deeply influenced the work of hip-hop acts like Estee Nack, al.divino, Knowledge the Pirate, Busta Rhymes, and the Wu-Tang Clan. This knowledge has been instrumental in shaping his art and is information that he hopes to pass on to others.

“I started teaching as a vocation when I decided that I no longer wanted to go to prison,” Rashid said. “I did 10 years in prison, from the age of 21 and I got out when I was 32. Prior to that, I did 18 months, then I did two years. So I was either in supervision, or prison, or in court, from the age of 15 to 32. I broke the cycle. I decided to use my notes that I’ve acquired over my course of incarceration, as a means by which to instruct the less fortunate.”

A chance meeting with Griselda Records president Westside Gunn in 2014 on a megabus near Atlanta marked the beginning of their creative partnership. “We spoke the entire ride on the bus about fashion,” AA Rashid said. “We never really spoke about music, then at the end of the ride he passed me one of his CDs.”

Rashid reflected on how his eventual listening to the CD was a break from habit. I was like ‘I like the cover.’ But, usually I never listen to people's music when they pass it to you like that because I'm kind of a snob,” he said. “I grew up with B.I.G., so you can't starstruck me. But, I was extremely impressed by his music. And he kind of pushed me back into the genre as a listener and a fan.”

In the years since, Rashid has contributed spoken word verses to numerous Griselda projects including the outro for Westside Gunn’s 2016 mixtape “Flygod” and the opening track for his highly anticipated “10,” which dropped last October. In the interview, Rashid explained that he rarely pre-writes his words. Instead, they come off the cuff or are inspired by his surroundings.

“Flygod is one of my favorite of them, I actually did that in my house,” the artist said. “I mixed my vocals, and I cut the fat off, and I submitted it. I had no expectations whatsoever.”

Despite the seamless way in which Rashid came up with the verse, it was game changing. “When it came out, everything that I had already done before became way more valuable,” he said. “I was getting hit up from all over the world that day.”

As someone closely involved with the Griselda collective, Rashid attributes their success to their ability to maintain a genuine, family-oriented dynamic while still staying true to their roots. He compares the unity of the founding Griselda trio — Westside Gunn, Benny the Butcher, and Conway the Machine — to that of Wu-Tang Clan, which he sees as a significant contribution to the hip-hop community. “People love the concept of family,” he said. “When you find three people that could do something excellently, that’s the dream team.”

Rashid’s influence extends beyond Griselda, as he works to share his knowledge and experiences through various platforms. As a visual artist, he created the cover artwork for Stove God Cooks and Roc Marciano’s 2020 album “Reasonable Drought.” As a spiritual teacher and motivational speaker, he shared that he has aspirations to work in schools and with student unions to foster growth and development in others.

—Staff writer Ryan S. Kim can be reached at ryan.kim@thecrimson.com.