Nasseman

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Nasseman
Birth nameRabbie Nassrallah
Born1979
GenresReggae
Occupation(s)
  • Singer
  • songwriter
  • activist
Instrument(s)Vocals
Websitenasseman.com

Rabbie Nassrallah (born 1979), who is better known as Nasseman, is a Liberian reggae singer, songwriter, and activist. He gained recognition after releasing the 2015 single "Till We Meet Again", which was written to honor his mentor Ras Katata.[1] His music primarily addresses social ills prevalent in Liberian society. Nasseman has written songs for several Liberian artists, and released the albums Till We Meet (2008) and Redemption Time (2012).[2][3]

Life and career[edit]

Nasseman was born in 1979, to a Lebanese father and a Liberian mother.[4] Raised in Monrovia, he lived through Liberia's first and second civil war and witnessed the killing and destruction caused by rival warlords.[3][5] Nasseman started performing when he was 11 years old. He opened for Akon when the singer performed in Liberia in 2006, and was one of the headline acts at Ellen Johnson Sirleaf's 2006 presidential inauguration.[1] Nasseman is part of the Hipco Accountability Network, an organization that strengthens copyright laws and establishes minimum play laws in Liberia. The network includes several musical personalities, including Takun J, JD Donzo, Shining Man, and JB of Soul Fresh, among others.[6][7] Nasseman's song "Bonkey" was released in 2012 and was recognized with a prize at the Fair Play Anti-Corruption music competition, which was arranged by International Anti-Corruption Conference participants.[3][8]

In May 2015, Nasseman opened NasseBar, a reggae bar located in Fiamah, Montserrado County.[9] He went to the University of Liberia campus in December 2015 to witness Accountability Lab's Corruption Must Go musical campaign, and performed his pan-African anthem "All Africans" at the event.[10] In 2019, Nasseman released the single "Who Stole the Money?", along with its music video.[11] The song is a protest song that references the disappearance of $25 million from the Central Bank of Liberia.[8] In an interview with the Daily Observer newspaper, Nasseman said he released the song in order to reawaken the public's interests in the L$16 billion that went missing in a shipping container the previous year.[8] Moreover, he said he wants authorities in charge to reveal the truth about the missing funds.[8] Nasseman was featured on "Gangsta Bankers", an anti-corruption song by Indian rock band Rain in Sahara.[12] A blend of reggae and rock, the song was released on April 29, 2022.[13][12] The accompanying music video for "Gangsta Bankers" was shot in Liberia and India.[12] Nasseman recorded the song with the band after meeting them at the Fair Play Anti-Corruption Youth Voices program in Copenhagen.[12]

Nasseman released the reggae song, "The Boy from Gibraltar", in January 2023.[1] He wrote the song himself, and Master Lzee of Las Vegas Studios mixed it. Lyrically, the record addresses some of the missteps of the Weah administration and chronicles the positives of the president's career thus far.[1] "The Boy from Gibraltar" serves as the official music for Rodney Sieh's book George Weah: The Story of Africa's Footballer President – An Unofficial Biography (2023).[1] The accompanying music video for the song was directed by Alexander Wiaplah, who is commonly known as Usher. Sieh said he chose to work with Nasseman because he is a big fan of the singer's music and believes the singer "understands the project of the Weah story".[1]

Humanitarian work[edit]

Nasseman is an ambassador for Transparency International.[14] He also served as an HIV/AIDS ambassador in 2010.[1] In January 2013, Nasseman was part of Let's Speak Out, a program created by PCI Media Impact to help combat sexual violence in Liberia.[15] He performed with rapper Takun J and singer Peaches during a three-day county tour that included stops in Grand Bassa and Bong counties.[15] Nasseman is a member of Fair Play, a movement composed of young artists speaking out against corruption and social injustice.[11] The movement is supported by several artists, including Choc Quib Town, Alika, and Dubioza Kolektiv.[11]

Artistry[edit]

Nasseman's music is influenced by the music of Bob Marley, Nasio Fontaine, Buju Banton, and Sizzla Kalonji.[1] His music primarily addresses social ills prevalent in Liberian society.[3] Nasseman considers his music to be a "vehicle for change", and has included love ballads and club songs on his albums.[1] The organization Vital Voices stated that although his lyrics and tone are "sometimes critical", he has found relief through music in order to overcome "the atrocities musicians like himself witnessed".[16]

Discography[edit]

  • Till We Meet (2008)
  • Redemption Time (2012)

Awards and nominations[edit]

Year Event Prize Recipient Result Ref
2018 Liberia Music Awards Reggae/Dancehall Artist of the Year Himself Won [17]
2019 Tunes Liberia Music Awards Best Reggae/Dancehall Artist of the Year Nominated [18]
2020 Nominated [19]
Liberia Music Awards Reggae/Dancehall Artist of the Year Nominated [20]
2021 Nominated [21]
Tunes Liberia Music Awards Best Reggae/Dancehall Artist of the Year Won [22]

See also[edit]

References[edit]

  1. ^ a b c d e f g h i "Liberia: The Boy from Gibraltar, Theme Song for Upcoming Book on President Weah Unveiled". Front Page Africa. January 8, 2023. Archived from the original on 3 February 2023. Retrieved 25 March 2023.
  2. ^ "Till We Meet by Nasseman". Apple Music. February 1, 2008. Archived from the original on 26 March 2023. Retrieved 26 March 2023.
  3. ^ a b c d Vickie Remoe. "Nasseman "Bonkey" reggae spiritual – Liberia". Swit Salone. Archived from the original on 26 March 2023. Retrieved 26 March 2023.
  4. ^ "Rabbie Nasrallah, aka Nasseman". Archived from the original on 26 March 2023. Retrieved 26 March 2023.
  5. ^ Cameron Zohoori (August 8, 2011). "In Pictures: Liberian hip-co". Al Jazeera. Archived from the original on 26 March 2023. Retrieved 26 March 2023.
  6. ^ Glencorse, Blair (9 January 2014). "Hip Co Festival: How Liberia's music industry is building accountability". One. Archived from the original on 27 August 2014. Retrieved 26 August 2014.
  7. ^ "Battle hymns". The Economist. 14 January 2014. Archived from the original on 20 August 2014. Retrieved 27 August 2014.
  8. ^ a b c d Robin Dopoe (April 19, 2019). "Nasseman Releases New Single, "Who Stole the Money?"". Daily Observer. Archived from the original on April 19, 2019. Retrieved 26 March 2023.
  9. ^ Brooks Marmon (May 18, 2015). "Reggae Sensation Nasseman Launches NasseBar". Bush Chicken. Archived from the original on 18 May 2019. Retrieved 26 March 2023.
  10. ^ Brooks Marmon (December 9, 2015). "CorruptionMustGo: Musicians Mobilize to Minimize Corruption in Liberia". Accountability Lab. Archived from the original on 26 March 2023. Retrieved 26 March 2023.
  11. ^ a b c "Nasseman Asks Who Stole The Money In The New Music Video From The Liberian Activist Artist". JM International. Archived from the original on 26 March 2023. Retrieved 26 March 2023.
  12. ^ a b c d Anurag Tagat (May 12, 2022). "Guwahati Act Rain In Sahara and Liberia's Nasseman Team Up to Take Aim at 'Gangsta Bankers'". Rolling Stone India. Archived from the original on 26 March 2023. Retrieved 26 March 2023.
  13. ^ "Gangsta Bankers (feat. Nasseman) - Single". Apple Music. April 29, 2022. Archived from the original on 26 March 2023. Retrieved 26 March 2023.
  14. ^ Rodney Sieh (April 17, 2019). "Liberia: Who Stole the Money? Nasseman's Hipco Hit Latest to Speak Truth to Power". FrontPage Africa. Archived from the original on 26 March 2023. Retrieved 26 March 2023.
  15. ^ a b "Let's Speak Out Project". The Entertainment-Education Network - Africa. September 1, 2014. Archived from the original on 27 March 2023. Retrieved 26 March 2023.
  16. ^ "Healing Voices, Part Four: Men Healing Violence". Vital Voices. May 5, 2012. Archived from the original on 25 March 2023. Retrieved 25 March 2023.
  17. ^ "Liberia Music Awards 2018: Full list of winners". Music in Africa. 23 December 2018. Retrieved 13 April 2023.
  18. ^ "TunesLiberia Music Awards 2019 Full Nominations". Tunes Liberia. Archived from the original on 6 December 2022. Retrieved 10 March 2023.
  19. ^ Bolanji Alonge (25 February 2020). "TunesLiberia Music Awards 2020: All the winners". Music in Africa. Archived from the original on 30 September 2022. Retrieved 14 March 2023.
  20. ^ Gabriel Myers Hansen (16 November 2020). "MTN Liberia Music Awards 2020: All the winners". Music in Africa. Archived from the original on 17 February 2023. Retrieved 18 March 2023.
  21. ^ Gabriel Myers Hansen (27 September 2021). "MTN Liberia Music Awards 2021: All the nominees". Music in Africa. Archived from the original on 17 February 2023. Retrieved 18 March 2023.
  22. ^ "Tunes Liberia Music Awards 2021". Facebook. 28 March 2021. Archived from the original on 20 March 2023. Retrieved 18 March 2023.

External links[edit]

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