We first met Narcy in Cape Town, South Africa, during the filming of "R.E.D.", a visually stunning music video with A Tribe Called Red (now The Halluci Nation). From the moment we connected, we knew Narcy wasn’t just an artist—he was a storyteller, a cultural architect, and a movement unto himself. During the long days and hours prior to the shoot, we got to talking—about art, history, the power of hip-hop to bridge worlds, and what it means to carve out your own space as an artist when the world often tries to define it for you. That time in Cape Town was the start of a connection rooted in shared vision, intellectualism, and a love for storytelling in all its forms.
Because that’s what Narcy does—he tells stories. Through music, film, fashion, academia, and even bookstores, he reclaims narratives and creates space for voices that refuse to be silenced.
From Baghdad to Montreal
Born to Iraqi parents and raised in Montreal, Yassin “Narcy” Alsalman moves fluidly between cultures, never quite fitting into one box—but never needing to. That in-between space, where cultures collide and identities blur, is exactly where his art thrives. From the early days of underground hip-hop to rocking international stages, Narcy uses his music as a megaphone—spitting bars that challenge stereotypes, confront racism, and celebrate Arab identity. His work reflects the complexities of life in the diaspora, weaving together Arabic and English, ancient history and modern struggles, personal pain and collective solidarity.
The True Medium: Opening Gateways to Dialogue
Beyond his solo music career, Narcy co-founded The Medium, a multidisciplinary creative collective dedicated to centering marginalized voices in collaboration with artists, filmmakers, and musicians across disciplines. And in a world where stories shape identity, Narcy took it one step further by co-founding Maktaba Bookshop in Montreal—a cultural space dedicated to Arab literature, art, and history. Whether through hip-hop, film, or literature, Narcy is always building something bigger than himself.
As if juggling music, film, and bookstores wasn’t enough, Narcy also holds down a gig as a professor at Concordia University, where he teaches courses on hip-hop culture, identity, and media representation. His approach? Raw, immersive, and rooted in the culture. His classroom isn’t about regurgitating textbooks—it’s about dissecting lyrics, analyzing beats, and understanding hip-hop as a revolutionary force. Whether he’s breaking down the politics of rap or the global impact of Arab hip-hop, Narcy teaches from the perspective of someone who’s lived it, breathed it, and built his career on it.
Narcy’s work is artistic through and through: unapologetic, thoughtful and deeply personal. Whether he’s rapping, teaching, filming, or curating stories, the message remains the same: We tell our own stories. We define ourselves. We exist.
Follow Narcy: @narcynarce
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