Tariq Nasheed

Tariq Nasheed, who also uses the monikers “Tariq Elite,” “King Flex,” and “K-Flex,” was born in Detroit, Michigan, and spent his early years there before moving to Birmingham, Alabama. Seeking more opportunities and a different social environment, he independently relocated to Los Angeles, California, at the age of 17. His early career involved extensive travel, during which he studied diverse cultural interactions and relationships. These observations, combined with insights from self-help psychology and street-level interactions, led to the development of his unique dating techniques, which he termed ‘G.I.C.2′ (game, intelligence, and common sense, squared).

Nasheed initially gained prominence as a “game advisor,” teaching his G.I.C.2 techniques in the Los Angeles underground scene. This led to the publication of his first book, “The Art of Mackin’,” in 1999, which sold over 250,000 copies and is noted for establishing a foundation for the modern “seduction” industry. His literary career continued with several additional books, including “Play Or Be Played” (2004), “The Mack Within” (2005), “The Art of Gold Digging” (2008), “The Elite Way” (2009), and “Foundational Black American Race Baiter” (2021). Parallel to his writing, Nasheed expanded into media, appearing on television shows such as “The Tonight Show with Jay Leno” and “Late Night with Conan O’Brian,” amongst others.

His career underwent a significant shift towards documentary filmmaking, focusing on subjects related to Black history and racial dynamics. This transition was marked by the production of the “Hidden Colors” film series, which began in 2011. Notable works in this series include “Hidden Colors: The Untold History of People of Aboriginal, Moor, and African Descent” (2011), followed by sequels in 2012, 2014, 2016, and 2019. He has also directed and produced films such as “The Eugenist” (2013), “1804: The Hidden History of Haiti” (2017), “Buck Breaking” (2021), “American Maroon” (2023), and “Microphone Check” (2024). In 2023, he established the Hidden History Museum in Los Angeles, dedicated to showcasing Black history and influential Black figures.