Meet Hakeem Martin

Alright – so today we’ve got the honor of introducing you to Hakeem Martin. We think you’ll enjoy our conversation, we’ve shared it below.

Hi Hakeem, thanks for sharing your insights with our community today. Part of your success, no doubt, is due to your work ethic and so we’d love if you could open up about where you got your work ethic from?
I come from a hard-working black family, parents that always worked hard and had a strong work ethic I grew up in a black house in the south of Sweden, and had two ambitious parents and they have an extremely good work ethic. Knowing this is bigger then me.

Realizing that what I’m doing is more significant than just my personal goals has been a powerful motivator. My parents shared with me the reality of being a black man in Sweden, emphasizing the need to work twice as hard for half the recognition. This understanding lit a fire in me – I’m not only pursuing my dreams for myself but also for my community. So, when things get tough and I feel like giving up, I remind myself that my journey has a bigger purpose.
Being in the company of fellow creatives who share my passion is incredibly inspiring. Working on an album with my talented producer friend Elias “Small Village” Hellgren has been a journey of mutual encouragement. Seeing him consistently create amazing work motivates me to improve and become a better artist.
It’s not just about my success; it’s about contributing to something greater, lifting up my community, and making a positive impact alongside my creative peers. Together, we’re not just chasing our individual dreams – we’re building a collective legacy that goes beyond ourselves.

Thanks, so before we move on maybe you can share a bit more about yourself?
My name is Hakeem Martin and I am an artist born and raised in the southern part of Sweden. I write and make songs mostly within the hip-hop and RnB genres, and also direct music videos, and do a lot of graphic design, merch, and everything around the creative artistic sphere. My music stands and reflects the reality that we are living in and is very introspective and transparent with my own experiences and thoughts, growing up as a black man in Sweden you have to endure racism and other hostilities. So being resilient became a part of everyday life and a must for survival in a sense. And then that mentality has somewhat transferred to every aspect of my life. And parents came from a rougher background and their resilience inspires me every day to keep going and not take their sacrifices and hard work for granted. Therefore I feel a greater sense of purpose with my music and feel a responsibility to with my craft. My brand revolves around the concept of PANTHERS FROM THE SNOW which summarizes the experience of people of color in predominantly white spaces and highlights our reality. So whenever I do have a show I take that energy with me on stage and perform my message with a lot of energy to the audience

There is so much advice out there about all the different skills and qualities folks need to develop in order to succeed in today’s highly competitive environment and often it can feel overwhelming. So, if we had to break it down to just the three that matter most, which three skills or qualities would you focus on?
Self-esteem and and self-belief. I believe that having faith in yourself and your vision is a huge part of where I at today.
I believe the key to my personal growth lies in ditching the habit of comparing ourselves to other artists. It’s all about turning it into a “me against me” scenario, where the only comparison that matters is with your past self. Take a moment to genuinely appreciate how far you’ve come, instead of constantly sizing up against others.
I’ve shifted my focus away from worrying about what others might think of my music. Right now, my main goal is to create things that resonate with me personally, things I genuinely enjoy listening to and that feel authentic. I aim to stand proudly behind every word and decision in a song or project, knowing I did it for the right reasons, not just to conform to popular beliefs or opinions. That’s when you start losing yourself and losing your true self is, in my view, the root of low confidence and self-esteem.

Trust in a good community
What also helped me is being surrounded by a fantastic community of artists, I’ve found a space where we can openly share our feelings and concerns. It’s a supportive environment that recognizes the journey we’re on and helps elevate our artistic vision. This camaraderie is invaluable in staying true to oneself and growing as an artist. And putting the ego aside and being open to growth is vital for artistic and personal growth.

Optimism
My optimism comes from knowing that the music that I’m creating is bigger than me. Also being able to tap into my true purpose of making music and remembering why I do it. Optimism is the only viable option for me. Because I truly believe we become what we think and how we perceive the environment around us. and if you truly want to find a way out of it you have to have hope for a better future / an optimistic approach

How can folks who want to work with you connect?
I’m always looking for new people and extending my creative network. One of my goals this year is to be able to connect with more international creatives and find new places to perform my music. So I would like to connect with individuals and companies that need artists to perform at venues, festivals, and other places to perform. So if you are one of these people don’t be afraid to send a mail or dm. I’m also looking to extend my connections within the music industry and take my art to an even more professional level. and I want to connect with people within marketing, A&R, and even record labels. I want to reach out internationally and make collaborations beyond Swedish borders.

Contact Info:

Image Credits
Nils Sjöholm and Samuel Strömblad

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