Jangale Asfalt

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Jangale Asfalt (The Asphalt Jungle)

Jangale Asfalt is the debut studio album by Iranian rapper Hichkas. It was released on October 1, 2006, in Iran. The album was written by Hichkas and produced by Mahdyar Aghajani, who was 18 years old at the time. It is widely regarded as the first professional Iranian hip hop album.

Background
The music was composed by Mahdyar Aghajani. The album blends hip hop with traditional Iranian music, using Persian instruments. Three tracks include English portions featuring Reveal, a British-Iranian rapper.

Composition and style
Originally released in 2006 in Iran, Jangale Asfalt is considered the first Iranian hip-hop album. Its sound combines traditional instruments like the santour and tombak with electronic beats to back Hichkas’s rapping about Iran’s social climate. Some songs, such as Dideh Va Del, feature echoes of traditional vocals, while others like Vatan Parast lean more toward modern hip hop. The album helped give Iranian youth a new form of expression.

Controversy
After its release, Hichkas was arrested by Iranian authorities for releasing music without permission. He was released later but faced ongoing difficulties with local authorities. In an interview, he described selling physical copies of the album in Tehran without government approval and noted the lack of a system supporting musicians to perform freely in Iran.

Track listing
All tracks produced by Mahdyar Aghajani and written by Hichkas, unless noted.
1) Intro — Moghaddameh (1:22)
2) Eye and Heart — Dideh va Del (4:51)
3) Difference (Ekhtelaf) — featuring Reveal, Amin Fouladi, Bidad (3:42)
4) I'm Standing — Man Vaistadam (4:06)
5) Intro of The Law — Moghaddameh Ghanoon (0:31)
6) The Law — Ghanoon (4:10)
7) The Patriot — Vatan Parast (featuring Reveal, Amin Fouladi) (4:14)
8) That’s Me — Oon Manam (3:39)
9) Afoot — Barpa (3:13)
10) Prison — Zendan (featuring Reveal) (3:30)
11) Eye and Heart - Remix — Dideh va Del - Remix (featuring Reveal, Amin Fouladi, Bidad) (3:50)
Total length: 37:13

Personnel
- Hichkas — vocals
- Mahdyar Aghajani — producer
- Reveal — vocals
- Amin Fouladi — vocals
- Bidad — vocals

The Asphalt Jungle marked a milestone for Iranian music, introducing a homegrown voice for a new generation and blending traditional Iranian sounds with contemporary hip hop.