Mustafa the Poet
Spoken-word-poet turned into a music sensation, Mustafa the Poet dropped the song of the Fall last year, and people couldn’t get enough. Known and loved, for his soft-spoken drone and lyrics that hit your soul, the upcoming singer from Toronto released a gut-wrenchingly emotional single called ‘Air Forces’ with Frank Dukes and Jamie XX.
The single was followed by his debut ‘Stay Alive,’ which took the world by a storm.
Humble Beginnings
It’s quite hard to believe that this new music sensation is merely 24 years old. At a time when most youngsters are just beginning to discover themselves and form their identity in college, Mustafa the Poet has already collaborated with megastars like Drake, the Weeknd, and James Blake.
Despite his success, he deliberately chooses to stay low-key and prefers to stay away from the spotlight. His presence is more sizable online, leading fans to follow him closely in an attempt to get to know the singer better.
Born Muslim to Sudanese parents, the singer has spent most of his life in Toronto. He performed his first spoken word at Nelson Mandela Park, titled ‘A Single Rose.’ The online upload of this spoken word has garnered over 35,000 views so far.
Following his spoken word success, Mustafa decided to chase bigger dreams. He opened for Jhene Aiko in 2013’s Manifesto Live Concert. Following his musical success, Mustafa co-wrote and sang “Attention’ with The Weeknd in 2016. It got out to become a major hit in the Grammy-winner ‘Starboy’.
Among all of this, Mustafa was still on the sidelines, choosing not to divert too much attention his way. However, that changed when he released ‘Remember Me, Toronto.’ This short film with Drake spoke about gun violence and shook the world to the core. After this release, this musical sensation couldn’t stay in the shadows any longer, and the world was introduced to Mustafa the Poet.
About the Single
Staying Alive is a true masterpiece of composition.
The song brings together the charm of Sudanese chanting with a touch of contemporary Western music. One would think these two elements couldn’t be further apart and wouldn’t fit in together. However, Mustafa makes them work – and does so brilliantly.
The final outcome was an enchanting single that Mustafa the Poet fondly categorizes as “inner-city folk music.”
What Lays Ahead
Thought to be a truly unique gem in the world of music, this up-and-coming sensation has a lot more to give. Mustafa recently collaborated with Valentino on the FW19/20’s runway collection. He had received DM from the fashion giant, which he initially ignored.
When he did get back to it, Mustafa realized the significance of this opportunity and dove right in. His poetry was embroidered on 25 pieces from the collection. He also starred in a commercial alongside celebrities like Gwyneth Paltrow.
To add his personal touch to this collaboration, Mustafa waived his fee and asked the fashion brand to donate a million euros to the COVID -19 relief efforts in Lazzaro Spallanzani Hospital.
He is a true gift to this world, with a bright future that takes him to new heights.
