Abid Tounssi, known by his stage name Salah Edin (born 23 June 1980), is a Dutch Moroccan ex-rapper and actor.
Biography
Salah Edin gained recognition as a rapper (first in Arabic, then also in Dutch) in the 1990s and broke through to a larger audience in 2006 when he signed with Dutch hip hop label TopNotch.[1] His third album, WOII, was slated for release in September 2011;[2] the title is a reference to World War II, but carries other connotations as well, with the initials also referring to Willem Oltmans and Geert Wilders.[3] That same year, he acted in a short Moroccan film, with another film already finished and a TV series in the making.[2]
Edin has had a few encounters with controversy. Politician Geert Wilders (of the PVV) used a photograph of Edin for his 2008 film Fitna which was critical of the spread of Islam in Europe and worldwide. Edin's photograph in the documentary was identified as a photo of Mohammed Bouyeri, who was convicted for murdering Theo van Gogh.[4] Edin filed suit, and in response, according to Edin, Wilders offered to appear in a rap song with him. He refused, and the judge decided in favour of Edin, ordering Wilders to pay €3,000 to the rapper and €5,000 to the photographer.[3]
Discography
Demos
2003 - Hakma
Albums
2007 - Nederlands Grootste Nachtmerrie ("Netherlands' Biggest Nightmare", TopNotch)