Hakeem Khaaliq (also Hakeem Abdul-Khaaliq) is an American cinematographer, television producer, film director, photographer, multi-media activist, graphic design artist, and visual anthropologist. Before his career in film and television he worked as a music producer, music publisher, music supervisor and radio personality.[1][2][3][4] In 1995 Khaaliq founded Radio Bums® and in 2010 he co-founded Nation19 magazine / APDTA with longtime partner Queen Muhammad Ali.[5][6][7]
Khaaliq was born and raised in South Central, Los Angeles, CA. His dad was a stuntman with work featured in the film The Spook Who Sat By The Door.[8] Khaaliq is also the great nephew to prominent photographer Addison N. Scurlock.[9] Khaaliq credits longtime family friend Howard Bingham and his mentor Jamel Shabazz as his greatest influences in photography. Early in his career, Khaaliq began directing and producing documentary films (the first film he directed starred Snoop Dogg and Sean Puffy Combs), but his passion for social change and activism led him to direct and produce films focusing on pressing global issues.[10][11]