Issue #2: Rap Legends in the English Countryside?
A journey to a film festival in a rural English town, Amy Winehouse as a rap samurai, Irish underdog stories, and more...
The World of Rap
Last night, The World of Rap screened at Tone Coffee Shop in High Wycombe, England. It’s a hip-hop oriented cafe and event space, and although it's small, it has an ‘if you know you know’ kind of vibe, attracting those with a deep reverence for the culture (Masta Ace, Ras Kass, among other legends have been through here).
I was coming off the heels of an academic conference in Belgium, and I took a few (cough *many*) trains to get here. I had no idea what to expect. I just showed up. And within 5 minutes of arriving, I was engaged in a conversation spanning ‘what is hip-hop?’ to 'is grime hip-hop? to how to uphold the genre’s historical context for newer generations, and so on. I instantly felt like I was in the right place.
Among the folks I chatted with last night included Afrika Bambaataa’s former manager and the son of none other than KRS One (who I quote at the beginning of the film)! KRS’ son, Pryme, actually hosted the whole event – which was more of a live DJ/emcee set broadcast over the radio than a film festival, and then they played The World of Rap at the end. As someone who wants it to be appreciated by hip-hop heads, what more could you ask for?
So far, World of Rap has picked up two awards, and I'm awaiting notification from several other festivals.
Episode 2: Jamaica coming next!
Trying to bring the dream to fruition, one step at a time!
The World of Albums - Lupe Fiasco, Samurai
Apparently, in a voicemail to her former producer, the late great Amy Winehouse once described herself as a samurai battle rapper. From the perspective of Amy as a protagonist, Lupe uses this narrative to explore the creative process more broadly (i.e., his own career, mediating between art and business, how to satisfy the industry and how to satisfy his own artistic desires, etc.).
There aren't many artists who could pull that off while simultaneously showcasing elite talent (the internal, multisyllabic rhyming on “Cake” is insane).
Despite having had mixed commercial success over the course of his career, Lupe remains in my top-10 rappers of all time.
TOP 3 FAVORITE TRACKS: Samurai, Cake, Outside
The World of Songs - Tierra Whack, Imaginary Friends
Tierra Whack exudes originality. Both sonically and lyrically, “Imaginary Friends” captures the vibe of a little kid in their bedroom, conjuring non sequitur, dream-like imagery:
“When I grow up I want to hang from a ceiling / the roof is leaking; the roof is leaking teardrops”
Tierra’s evocation of a hurt inner child provides a playful but also melancholic departure from the sea of trap and drill that's dominating the genre right now.
The World of International Tunes - Kojaque, Eviction Notice
When I was living in London as a grad student, a friend invited me to go see Kojaque live. I had never heard his music and didn't know who he was but decided to join, and he has since become an artist I love (it's more satisfying when you discover someone out of the blue like that, isn't it?).
Kojaque comes from Cabra, a blue collar part of Dublin where becoming a musician isn't typically a viable career option. As the title of his first project suggests (“Deli Daydreams”), he dreamt of becoming a rapper while working a deadend job but was eventually able to make it happen. He's the only Irish rapper I know of, but so far Ireland's track record is on point (the song I shared is actually a rare ballad in his catalogue, but he can spit too).
The World of Lyrics - Marlon Craft, Survival of the Fittest Freestyle
When it comes to getting on a mic and dropping bars, Marlon Craft is nice. I mean really, *really* nice. His radio freestyles are some of the best out there. He's keeping alive a tradition of technical emcee-ing that's at risk of getting lost as more and more hip-hop artists prioritize waviness/vibeyness over lyrical substance.
This whole verse is fire, but just to pull out a few of my favorite quotables:
“I'm living out my dreams true definition of sleepwalk”
And
“I was born to do this shit check my initials homie”
If you like this one, also check out this freestyle on Sway in the Morning. In 8 years of doing the show, it's one of the only times Heather B has given the artist a pound after the verse.
What’s In Your World?
As always, hit me with any thoughts/reflections on the content. This blog will continue bringing you updates on the film project while spreading the love and unity of hip-hop from all over the world.
Please also share with anyone who might dig!
One love,
Joe
Really enjoyed the read and then listening to the music you linked! The Marlon freestyle on Sway's Universe was crazzzzy. Really hit some deep topics of the top of his head.
Hope you're well my friend.