Published on January 3rd, 2016 | by Dr. Jerry Doby

Who is UK based Hip-Hop promoter Saby Khan?

Forty-Year-Old Sabir Hussain, known as Saby Khan, recently helped organize the longest every DJ rally on this past November. Say joined an elite group this past as he played his way into the Guinness Book of World Records. Staged in the Gulf State, 151 DJs from around the world joined in the event to smash the previous record during an exhausting eight-hour set. Each performed one set to smash the record of 133 sets.

An official award is set to be presented to the organizers in January 2016 at the world-renowned Burj Khalifa hotel.

In an exclusive interview with Asian Express Newspaper, Saby said he was extremely proud of the team’s achievements:

“The moment we broke the record there was just this nostalgic feeling that came over us,” he said.

“It was emotional because we had been arranging this event for so long and we had really worked a 14 hour shift to pull it off.

“I’m really proud to have done something positive for so many of these young DJs. They were all a part of this world record and we made history with this longest ever set.” Read the full interview here.

From the outside looking in, who is Saby Khan?

Saby Khan is UK longest running Hip Hop Promoter who has worked alongside some of the biggest names in the Hip Hop industry from Grand Master Flash to Black Eyed Peas and 50 Cents

Saby Khan revolutionised the UK Hip Hop scene by blending in new UK talent with A-list US talent

Like Dr Dre has been an Innovatorand Pioneer for Modern Day Hip Hop rap Music, I have been regarded as Innovator and Pioneer of mixing the fusion of Bollywood Music with Hip hop in the mid 1990s which later led to the likes of Punjabi MC, Jay Sean and many British Asian artists.

I was first promoter to organise the Black Eyed Peas Official Afterpartys in London and other European citys in 2004 and 2005

And this year involved in the team that broke the World Record in the Longest Dj Rally in Dubai with 151 Djing within 7 hours

What brought you to the entertainment industry, music specifically?

It s a long history, I was actually inspired by old skool hip hop artists who used their lyrics to express the social needs and problems in early 1980s, same time in UK, they was a massive increase in Racism towards Blacks and South Asian community’s by National Front and Skinhead gangs and I was also a victim to Racism, so I thought to myself how better can I express my anger and feeling so I chose Hip Hop as a platform, I decided to self-teach myself in being a BBoy and Break-dancer at the age of 10 in Yorkshire.

I was inspired by the likes of Kool and the Gang, Beastie Boys, Run DMC, Grand Master Flash.

When I was 18 at Keighley College I organised the first “Daytimer” a fusion of Hip Hop and Bollywood music and that went on to be nationwide crave, I was regarded as the pioneer of creating Hip Hop and Bollywood fusion which led to the creation of many UK British Asians being inspired by that Music model.

Talk to us about your growth into a premier promoter and booker in the UK.

As I was rising as a Student gig promoter in early 2000, I was approached by Polo Molina the tour manager of the Black Eyed Peas in 2004 while I was promoting Keith Murrays UK Tour, he asked me if I was interested in doing the BEP first official Afterparty in UK and I agreed.

I organised the afterparty within 5 days and sold it within 3 days, Mr Molina was impressed and so were the other UK based promoters and from there onwards I never looked back and since then Ive worked with A- Artists such as 50 Cent at Rockingham Racing UK, Busta Rhymes at Nottingham UK, Akon in Birmingham , UK

I’ve also kept in touch with Jeremiah Ice Younassi who is the official booking agent for 50 cent and East Coast Rappers.

What do you look to learn about a DJ or artist prior to working with them?

One of the reason I’m a leading promoter in UK is because I enjoying working with different genres of Music, from Bollywood to Hip Hop, from Soul to Salsa, this gives me a large insight of the actual Talent and Musician who I was going to work with and , every day I believe I’m learning more and more about different styles of Music and this make my events Interesting.

Whenever I work with a Dj or an Artist, I always look very carefully on their vocals and how they are expressing themselves to the general public, research about their previous live events, watch their Music videos and Interviews continuously for hours to see if they are truly dedicated to music as sometimes you can actual see the artists emotions through their body language and tone of voice, and how they interact with their fans and audience.

History of the artists and Djs is a priority for me as it shows their passion for Music which is very important when the artist or Dj is on the stage in front of his or her fans.

Who would be your top five Hip-Hop artist recommendations from your market that we should know about?

Wow thats a good question, I actually respect all Hip Hop acts as it takes alot of hard work to become one but most of time I like to prefer unsigned talent because you can actually feel the energy of true hip hop.

In the USA I would recommend that everyone should watch out for Macc Johnson from New Jersey whose music is all about growing up in poverty and struggling to find work as a black person.

Pakarmz from Queens who is behind the “Desi Jam” a Bollywood version of the Def Jam Records, he has worked alongside Keith Murray, Redman and Method man

Dj Motiv8 from LA whos is a producer and the Dj for the Black Eyed Peas, He was one one of the Original members that created the BEP along with Dante Santiago, Will I am, Taboo and Apl.

Mc Mik also known as Arabian Prince from NWA, his making a come back to the Hip Hop scene on the West Coast, Although he wasn’t mentioned in the Straight Outto Compton movie, he was been one of Innovators to Modern Day Rap Music

T-Durr from France also known as the French Pound who has worked alongside Dogg Pound, he has mixed European Rap with US hip hop and made it a massive success in France and UK and soon it will be coming to US Radio station

Besides Figa DJ, who’s really cranking it up in the UK for Hip-Hop?

Oh Yes Figa Dj is great, shes not far from were Im from and she has made a great name for herself as a female Dj, she has become a great role model for young females from the Midlands, UK

UK Hip Hop music is expanding fast thanks to solid foundations of the music from the USA, talents such as A.C ( Achilles Charrington) whos lyrics are based on London youths and Terra Slim another great talent from London whos main objective is to promote Anti Racism through his Music.

Fonzo from Birmingham is another amazing rapper who has worked alongside the Outlawz and Nas

Tell us a bit about your work and passions OUTSIDE of music…

In my spare time I enjoy reading books about world travel and looking to make a Short Film on Anti Bullying with help of a NYC based Dr Sairah Qureshi

This will be screened at a Film Festival in Dubai later this year, just waiting for the Actors/Actresses to be confirmed and the actual location.

I want to capitalise on screen work as I was one of the back actors in Smash hit film called Yasmin back in 2004 which was written the same person who wrote Slum Dog Millionaire.

I have been approached by a few LA casting directors to use me as promoter in Hollywood films but Im holding back until I find the right script.

They just seem to love my hard English Accent.

Also currently working on my new venture of making my own brand of Hookah Shisha Lounges in UK and New York.

I have spoken to a few factories in China and Pakistan to manufacture my own version of the water pipe, looking to launch the company in fall 2016

I enjoy the gym few times a day just to keep in shape and help me focus on future projects apart from Music.

Last but not least, HYPE wants to know…What’s your CRAZIEST “Where they do that at?!” moment…

Hahaha well I guess it have to be Dubai, I had the Outlawz concert back in August 15 at the Music Room and it was one of the craziest events I have ever done with fans flying in from across the Arab world to see the legendary Edi Don and Young Noble, It was their first concert in Middle East and I was just wild.

Nowadays with everything is crazy and wild out there at moment especially with the West Coast rappers going to perform at live gigs and afterpartys.

I’m also planning to unite the Outlawz and NWA rappers for the 20th Anniversary of 2Pac in Dubai later this year which will be billed as one of the biggest events in Middle East this year.

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Tags: Hip hop music

About the Author

Dr. Jerry Doby Editor-in-Chief of The Hype Magazine, Media and SEO Consultant, Journalist, Ph.D. and retired combat vet. 2023 recipient of The President's Lifetime Achievement Award. Partner at THM Media Group. Member of the U.S. Department of Arts and Culture, the United States Press Agency and ForbesBLK.