From Survival To Music
I’m Sam from Gaza City, also known as Hicats Sam or HS. I’m 23 years old, and I graduated from the University College of Applied Science with a diploma in Software and Database.
I started learning music and writing my own songs in 2023, at the beginning of the war, after trauma changed my life completely. That is when music became more than a dream for me ,it became a way to survive and tell my story.
The story began when the IDF bombed our house. My family was under the rubble , my mother, my father, my two brothers, and my cousins. In one moment, I lost everything I had: my home, my laptop, and the small studio I was building to begin my passion for rap and Arabic music.
I lost almost everything, but I never stopped believing in music.
After that, we were displaced to a school because we thought it would keep my family and me safe. But the bombing never stopped. Suddenly, the army was outside, shooting at the school, and we were forced to flee again to the south.
During that displacement, I saw things I will never forget ,bodies on the ground and dogs eating them. That moment stayed inside me, and it became part of the pain behind my music.
We reached the south and started living in tents. During that time, I was writing tracks like 'Homeless'and'Lost Mom' and 'Bad Story' . I kept listening to rap music, teaching myself English, and shaping the sound that would become HS Real Music.
I decided to rap in English because it is a global language. I believe my story from Gaza City can reach people around the world through cinematic rap, emotion, and real lyrics.
I spent years with almost nothing ,just trying to survive each day while still planning for my future in music. When I came back, there was no home left. My whole town had been destroyed, and I could not find a real place to stay.
Alhamdulillah, I’m living in a tent right now with my family. I won’t lie ,life here is extremely hard.
Even now, I’m trying to survive the day, find a way forward, and keep chasing my dream of becoming a rapper and music artist. I want to keep creating songs, visuals, and stories that show what life in Gaza really feels like.
Along the way, I met people who believed in me: Qasam, Raji, Billy, and Garry. Raji is a rocker and has a band in Gaza called Osprey V ,yes, rock is still alive in Gaza. Qasam is a producer with a studio, and he helped me record my music.
Billy from the United Kingdom helped me improve my flow, delivery, accent, and confidence. Learning English without real practice is hard, but his support helped me grow as an artist.
Garry Mc from Ireland, the leader of The Kabin Studio, also helped me improve my music skills. I appreciate all of them deeply. They are a gift from God, and their support helped me keep going when support was rare.
Why I choosen NF's Fear Track
I am a big fan of NF, and 'FEAR' is one of the tracks that speaks to me the most. I feel every word, because it reminds me of what I have lived through during the war in Gaza. I changed a few lyrics in the cover to make the story closer to my own reality in Gaza City, where I am still trying to survive, create music, and keep my voice alive.
I spent five months working on this track. It sounds insane, but this is life here in Gaza City. I tried so hard to release it as soon as possible, and I did everything I could to make it real.
The FEAR music video by Hicats Sam is out now on platforms, and this is just the beginning.
