Sheikh Haikel Sheikh Salim Bajrai (Arabic: شيخ هيكل شيخ سليم Šayḫ Haykal Šayḫ Salīm, born 10 October 1975) is a Singaporean rapper, actor, and radio personality. He won the talent competition Asia Bagus in 1991. As a multi media personality with numerous stints in radio, television, film, and stage, he has produced three studio albums and numerous single track albums to date.[1] He now runs a music school in Kuala Lumpur where they teach varied genres of music including, hip hop, classical, and rock.
Sheikh Haikel | |
|---|---|
 Sheikh Haikel in 2024 | |
| Born | Sheikh Haikel bin Sheikh Salim Bajrai 10 October 1975 Singapore |
| Nationality | Singaporean |
| Occupation(s) | Singer, rapper, actor, radio personality |
| Years active | 1991–present |
| Spouse | Anna Belle Francis |
| Children | 3 |
| Awards | 1991 Asia Bagus winner |
| Website | www |
Early life and education
editHe attended Saint Patrick's School and has a BA in Performing Arts and Psychology from the Queensland University of Technology. [citation needed]
Career
editActing
editSheikh Haikel first appeared on the big screen in the iconic Singaporean film, Army Daze. Army Daze made a return to the theatre in 2006 under the direction of Beatrice Chia and Goh Boon Teck, with Sheikh retaining the role of Johari Salleh. His next performance was as Jeff in the joint Singaporean-Malaysian film City Sharks in 2003 which he starred in alongside Nicholas Lee and Hans Isaac.
He has starred in many sitcoms in TV such as 3 Rooms and The Donnie Lee Show. He also guest starred various times on the critically successful Singaporean sitcom, Under One Roof.[2] He has also hosted ESPN's Football Crazy and is currently the host of Okto's Knockout.
Radio
editIn 2004, complaints were made to Singapore's Media Development Authority that he and his then co-host Daniel Ong made lewd remarks on air when a teenage male listener called in for advice on how to attract a girl he liked. As a result of these complaints, Ong was suspended from on-air duties while Sheikh was asked to leave. MediaCorp Radio's 987FM was cautioned and fined S$30,000.[3]
Sheikh Haikel was a DJ for the local broadcast channel 98.7FM,[4] and on the Breakfast Show on channel 91.3FM in 2008.[5]
Music
editSheikh's music is rooted in rap. He became interested in it at the age of nine, when his mother bought a Run DMC tape for him by accident, having mistaken it for a The Pips tape.[6][7]
Sheikh won the Asia Bagus Grand Championship as part of the rap duo Construction Sight in 1991. Construction Sight is credited as "Singapore's first ever rap group".[8][9] His first two solo albums For Sure and For Sure Too led him to win Best Local English Song at the Compass Awards in 2002 and 2004 for the hit single, Witulah. His third album 10.10.10 was released on the same date of his 35th birthday, 10 October 2010. He performed a series of songs at the President's Star Charity 2012.[10]
Business
editIn February 2017, seven years after convincing the founders of Fatboys The Burger Bar - together with his wife Anna Belle Francis, friends, inclusive Singaporean deejay duo The Muttons - launched FatPapas Burgers and Shakes; which is marketed as a halal subsidiary of the aforementioned Fatboys.[11][12]
In July 2024, Haikel together with his wife Anna Belle Francis and 5 business partners, launched a 50-seater 'Hai Ge Ji Hainanese chicken rice' restaurant at Bugis. He also co-owns halal yakiniku joint Wakuwaku Yakiniku.[13]
Personal life
editSheikh Haikel is a Singaporean of mixed Malay Yemeni descent.[14] He has one sister.[15] He is married to Singaporean actress Anna Belle Francis since 2002.[16] They have three children – Triqka (born 2004), Abbra (born 2006) and their most recent, Sheikh Juz (born 2014)[14]
In November 2010, Sheikh started a feud with Korean boy band U-KISS as they allegedly bullied him backstage at a concert in Bedok Reservoir.[17] After the event, Sheikh posted on Twitter, "U- Kiss my ass!!!".[18] Although he did not elaborate on what ignited the feud,[17] he also tweeted: "All u-kiss fans were to [sic] busy to notice anything else. I was to [sic] busy trying to get u-kiss on stage."[19] After another few tweets targeted towards U-KISS and their fans, Sheikh apologised for his banter on Twitter.[20]
Discography
editSolo albums
edit- For Sure (2002)
- For Sure Too (2003)
- 10.10.10 (2010)
- Eh Lah (2011; one track album promoting his upcoming album, Check, Check, 1–2, 1–2)
- Check, Check, 1–2, 1–2 (TBA)
Singles
edit- "Witulah" (With u lah) (Peaked at No. 1 on Malaysian music charts)[21]
Filmography
edit| Year | Work | Role | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1996 | Army Daze | Johari Salleh | |
| 1997, 2001, 2003 | Under One Roof | Johari Hassan | |
| 2003 | City Sharks | Jeff | |
| 2006 | Stories of Love: The Anthology Series | Fakri | TV movie |
| 2010 | Knockout | Host; Himself | |
| 2011 | Zero Hero | Pretty Boy One | |
| 2014 | Gerak Khas | Syed Jamal/Jimmy | Malaysian TV series Special participant |
References
edit- ^ "S.S., by Sheikh Haikel". Sheikh Haikel. Archived from the original on 25 February 2017. Retrieved 25 February 2017.
- ^ "Sheikh Haikel – Male Emcee Singapore". Artiste Entertainment. Archived from the original on 1 April 2014. Retrieved 11 October 2011.
- ^ Yong, Lee Sze (1 June 2007). "MediaCorp Radio fined $15,000 for raunchy content". New Straits Times. Archived from the original on 6 June 2007.
- ^ Mohandas, Vimita & Koor, Joyce (2008) "Hot Breakfast on 91.3FM", Channel NewsAsia, 6 June 2008, retrieved 12 July 2011
- ^ "Brand new Breakfast Show on Radio 91.3FM". AsiaOne. 6 June 2008.
- ^ Hidayah Salamat (4 November 2010). "Artiste Sheikh Haikel And His Big Comeback". is-asia. Retrieved 11 October 2012.
Regional talent show Asia Bagus gave birth to many superstar musicians, including our very own Sheikh Haikel, who recently made a comeback with his album 10.10.10.
- ^ "Sheikh Haikel". Centaur Dance Showdown 2012. Archived from the original on 8 October 2012. Retrieved 19 May 2013.
- ^ Razali Abdullah (4 April 2002). "A hip Sheikh, For Sure". p. 27.
- ^ Chandran, Nyshka. "This Muslim rapper slings halal country fried steak and hip-hop life lessons". CNBC. Retrieved 27 January 2023.
- ^ Lim, Gerard (26 September 2012). "President's Star Charity 2012 to help 55 beneficiaries". TODAY. Archived from the original on 29 September 2012. Retrieved 11 October 2012.
- ^ Salim, Zafirah (25 April 2019). "S'pore halal burger joint FatPapas to close its flagship outlet on Sept 12". Vulcan Post. Retrieved 27 January 2023.
- ^ "Sheikh Haikel & Anna Belle kini tauke Fatpapas, versi halal restoran popular FatBoy's - BERITA MediaCorp". BERITA Mediacorp – Berita Terkini, Melayu, Muslim, Islam, Singapura, Dunia. Retrieved 25 February 2017.
- ^ "Singaporean rapper Sheikh Haikel opens Hainanese chicken rice restaurant at Bugis". CNA (TV network). 10 July 2024. Retrieved 14 July 2024.
- ^ a b "Sheikh Haikel: Hip Hop Artiste, Dad for Life". Dads For Life. Archived from the original on 14 August 2011. Retrieved 11 October 2012.
- ^ Hidayah Salamat (4 November 2010). "Artiste Sheikh Haikel And His Big Comeback". I-S Asia.
- ^ "10 celebrity stories on the road". AsiaOne Relax. Retrieved 11 October 2012.
- ^ a b Juliana June Rasul (25 November 2010). "Haikel slams U-KISS on Twitter". AsiaOne. Archived from the original on 26 August 2014. Retrieved 19 May 2013.
- ^ "Sheikh Haikel". Twitter. Retrieved 19 May 2013.
- ^ "Sheikh Haikel". Twitter. Retrieved 19 May 2013.
- ^ "Sheikh Haikel". Twitter. Retrieved 19 May 2013.
- ^ Anne Freeman (22 March 2006). "MIDEM Music Spotlight: Sheikh Haikel". Music Dish. Retrieved 11 October 2012.