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The Evolution of Rap: Decades of Sound, Storytelling, and Global Impact
What started as rap music over breakbeats has grown into one of the most influential music genres in the world. Dive into the history of rap from its community-driven beginnings and golden age innovation to its tech-driven rise and worldwide reach.
Banginclude & Nova Zef - Classy (SiLVA Remix)
Banginclude & Nova Zef – Classy (SiLVA Remix)
Banginclude brings the 808’s with Global Rhythms & Nova Zef brings her Raw Vocal prowess in this years Global-Rap Anthem called “Classy”. Nova Zef uses her voice in her latest release to promote gender equality in the current political climate. As a social activist Nova wishes to inspire oppressed women by giving them a taste of how it feels to embrace true self and show that being a confident…
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Second track off Superfreak Records’ newest mixtape by some of Korean’s finest HipHop artists!
An interview with Kenya's Muthoni Drummer Queen
Muthoni Ndonga is a giant of the Kenyan music scene. Whether delivering an unbeatable flow as Muthoni Drummer Queen or in her role as founder and CEO of one of East Africa’s finest music events, Blankets & Wine, Ndonga has clearly earned her titular crown. Her artistic and entrepreneurial supremacy is such that it’s no surprise to learn she’s also known as ‘the boss lady’.
Or perhaps that should that be boss ladies? For on the forthcoming concept album SHE, Ndonga channels the experiences of eleven different women across eleven different tracks, telling their stories across sleek, powerful beats provided by Swiss production duo GR & HOOK!. “These women are mainly urban dwellers”, Ndonga explains, “and all of them are layered, complex individuals. The topics I chose to cover include love, failing marriage, difficult relationships with mothers, entrepreneurship, betrayal, among others. Expect a roller coaster of emotions delivered on some amazing instrumentals.”
The singles released so far suggest SHE is going to be Muthoni Drummer Queen’s strongest work to date, from the anthemic, reggae-tinged ‘Million Voice’ (which we premiered last month) to the incendiary ‘Kenyan Message’, a strident Swahili tribute to Grandmaster Flash that shames everyone from the country’s politicians to disgraced former FIFA president/crook Sepp Blatter.
We recently sent Muthoni Drummer Queen some questions on music, politics and past lives; read on to find out her early music loves, her hopes for the rescheduled Kenyan election, and how she overcame family pressure in order to break into music…
Hi Muthoni. We love the way ‘Million Voice’ encourages strength through collective solidarity. Have you always had a powerful voice and ability to speak up for people, or is it something that has developed over time?
Muthoni Drummer Queen: That’s a great question. I never really thought of myself as a voice for the people, more like a voice with the people. From my first single ‘Cool Waters’ I have always presented my thoughts on what is happening in the Kenyan society and I suppose over time I have become more comfortable in that role. I do shudder at the use of the word “activist”, I think we are all powerful, that’s what governments/politicians all over the world know, that people are literally the power, and that’s what they hope we never learn.
Your flow on the track reminded us a bit of M.I.A., is she an influence on your music? What other artists past or present do you find inspirational?
Why thank you. I love M.I.A. though I didn’t have her in active consciousness while writing/recording ‘Million Voice’. Lauryn Hill, Anderson Paak, Bryson Tiller and Missy Elliot are my present and previous yet still current loves.
Your previous single ‘Kenyan Message’ addressed some of the failings of the Kenyan government. It seems things have grown more chaotic even since then. What are your hopes for the re-run of the election?
That the election is credibly run, that the electorate aren’t too apathetic to the cause and turn out to vote and that we find a new normal that is less maddening than where we are now. One can hope.
Fingers crossed. Tell us what sort of music you listened to when you were growing up?
I listened to a whole lot of rhumba from Congo, some pop music from South Africa and pop-house music from the States.
When did you start making your own music and what was it like?
I think I wrote my first song when I was 11, I think it was even pretty cool, but it was not till 2004 that I decided to be a musician, write music and put on performances. On one hand it was super exciting in that I was coming into a dream I had always wanted to pursue but didn’t think I could (parental/societal pressure). On the other hand it was the hardest/most challenging thing. My mum was completely against it so I had no real family support and no resources so everything was good will + beg/borrow/steal. It was super tough.
When did you adopt the title Muthoni Drummer Queen and where did the name come from?
I played a show in 2008 and the picture I found was of me playing the drums, so I captioned it “Drummer Queen” and my fiends thought it was cool so I adopted the moniker in 2009. Ive been playing traditional percussions since I was 14 years old so I guess it had to evolve into something 🙂
Your forthcoming album sees you adopting the characters of eleven different women. Which woman’s story did you particularly enjoy telling, and which was the most challenging?
That’s interesting – I have no favorite as yet. Each song is so dear to me and so complete in its intention, I am struggling to see how I could possibly make any my fave. ‘Caged Bird’ was probably the hardest because it felt too close to home. That and the 2nd Verse of ‘Criminal’…
Speaking of multiple characters, your press release talks about past life experiences – which one stands out as the most unusual, and why?
Shaka Zulu’s harem. Nothing can explain that lifetime. The things experienced…
GR & HOOK! produced the album – how would you describe your music-making process with them?
This is the third studio album for me, and the second one with Hook & GR! It’s clear that each time is different. The first album The Human Condition is quite like SHE in the sense that they are both concept albums, but SHE has come out of a three year relationship making music, playing gigs and growing a friendship with GROOK! This time we really did make things together from scratch and we were able to bounce off each other’s energy more naturally.
Can you send us a photo of the view from your window?
How would you describe Nairobi’s music scene right now. Any artists we should be checking out?
Blossoming! Finally! So excited that we’re done trying to chase the “sound like Nigerian pop” dream and more space is emerging for a spectrum of sounds. Best part is that the audience is demanding for more and rewarding the growth with streams on spaces like SoundCloud, attendance at events and sharing the music with new/potential fans. Artists across multiple genres are collaborating with one another and it’s really an exciting movement.
What are the top things you’d suggest visitors to Nairobi should go and see/do?
Must do: Drive out to Olepolos and have an awesome day eating roast meat in an unmatched scenery, do the morning game drive at the Nairobi national park, attend Blankets & Wine music festival (quarterly day into early evening live music party).
What’s the biggest challenge facing musicians in Kenya at the moment?
Monetization of influence.
Finally, where in the world would you most like to perform?
Tokyo, Japan at a massive festival. I think we would kill it!
No doubt. Muthoni Drummer Queen, thank you!
Bathiya and Santhush (BNS)
Also known as BNS, Bathiya and Santhush are a Sri Lankan rap duo with a real focus on using the vocal-orientated genre to highlight social and political issues. The track below, a collaboration with fellow Sri Lankan MC RapZilla, specifically deals with child abuse, while previous tracks have found the pair talking about their country’s political situation.
La Dame Blanche
Singer and multi-instrumentalist La Dame Blanche adds hip-hop, a bit of cumbia and a sprinkle of afrobeats into a pot and mixes it all up. Releasing through Swedish label Wakan Tanka, La Dame Blanche’s sound is original and totally inspired by her Cuban roots.
Check out ‘Kikiriki’ from last year’s La Dame Blanche 2 album (available from Bandcamp here).
Avrupa'dan Takip Etmeniz Gereken 5 Rapper #1
Eastside? Westside? Dirty South? Midwest? North? Peki ya GLOBAL RAP?
Elbette hip-hop denince akla ilk olarak ABD geliyor, e gayet normal gelmelide. Ama hip-hop'ın anavatanından çok uzaklarda, denizaşırı ülkelerde de bu kültür, bu müzik yaşatılıyor, yapılıyor. Kendinizi neden Amerika ile sınırlandırıyorsunuz o halde? Rap müzik dinleyicisi -hatta raple sınırlamamak lazım her müziğin dinleyicisi- yeni sesler keşfetmeye, müzik ufkunu geliştirmeye, genişletmeye heves olmalı, peki nerden başlıyacağım ben buna diyorsanız buyrun buradan başlayın... Kulağınızı ihya edecek 5 Avrupalı rapper/grup.
Stupeflip
Memleketi: Paris, Fransa
Önerdiğim Parçası: Stupeflip Vite !!!
Stili: Punk & Rap, Deneysel Hip-Hop
Şövalyeler gibi giyinmiş Gangsta Rap yapan beyaz Fransızlar düşünün, anormal geliyor değil mi? Alışılmışın dışında... Evet Stupeflip kesinlikle alışılmışın dışında, ama onları bu denli popüler yapan, dinletende bu zaten, kendine has tarzları. Fransız Rapiyle ilgili olan herkes mutlaka biliyordur zaten bu elemanları, şayet Fransızca rap dedinmi 4 isim akla gelir; IAM, NTM, MC Solaar ve Stupeflip
Grup 2000 yılında King Ju, Cadillac ve Salo tarafından kuruluyor. King Ju ve Cadillac mikrofonda uçmuş sözleri ve vokalleriyle harikalar yaratırken Salo'da aynısını beatlerde yapıyor. Grubun üzerlerinden hiç eksik olmayan maskeleri ve garip kostümleri var, bu da onlara ayrı bir mistik hava katıyor. Konserlerine ise hiç girmiyorum zaten, biliyorsunuz siz Fransızların konser anlayışını. Grubun 3 albümü var; 2002 çıkışlı Stupeflip, 2005'de çıkardıkları Stup Religion ve 3 sene önce çıkan son albümleri The Hypnoflip Invasion
Fresku
Memleketi: Eindhoven, Hollanda
Önerdiğim Parçası: Alleen
Stili: Storytelling ağır basıyor, spesifik bir stili yok
Fresku bundan 5 sene önce fabrikada çalışan, sıradan ve fakir bir hayat sürdüren bir işçiydi, şimdiyse Hollanda'nın en popüler rapperlarından biri. 7 yaşına kadar Curaço adasında büyümüş fakir bir ailenin oğlu, lisede başarıyı yakalıyamamış ve okulu bırakıp geçimini sağlamak için fabrikada işe başlamış. Bir yandan da hobi olarak rap yapmış, arkadaş arasında ufak satırlar, gelişigüzel parçalar ta ki youtubu kanalına Brieff aan kees parçasını yükleyene kadar. Ertesi gün uyandığında bir bakıyor 7 bin izlenme ve iltifat içeren yorumlar, ardından bir de TopNotch'dan onunla iletişime geçmek isteyen bir eleman. Ve böylelikle Fresku Hollanda'nın en ünlü labellerinden birinin bünyesine giriyor ve 1 sene sonrasında da debut albümü Fresku'yu çıkarıyor. Yakaladığı şöhret ve kazandığı sayısız ödül onu şu an Hollanda'nın en iyilerinden biri yaptı, 2 sene önce çıkardığı Maskerade'de epey övgü topladı. Google ile adını aratırsanız görsellerde kolyeli, dövmeli clubber bir adam görebilirsiniz, kafanız karışmasın millet Fresku aynı zamanda skeçler de yapıyor.
Beogradski Sindikat
Memleketi: Belgrad, Sırbistan
Önerdiğim Parçası: Balada Disidenta
Stili: Politik, Harcore Rap
Uzunca açıklamıyacağım bu kalabalık hip-hop ailesini çünkü oldukça popüler bir grup ve sanırım Türkçe olarakta haklarında epey bilgi vardır. Genelde yozlaşmış politika hakkında rap yapsalarda oldukça milliyetçi bir gruptur. Ha bizim için önemli mi, elbette Kosova hakkında yaptıkları şarkılar biraz geriyor beni ama kaliteli müziğe her şeyden önce büyük saygı duyarım ve dinlerim. O yüzden dostlar sizde şans verin bu elemanlara, belki 6 albümlerinin hepsine göz atmanız zor ama; BSSST... Tisincina ve Svi zajedno'ya bakın en azından.
Madhat Mcgore
Memleketi: Edinburg, İskoçya
Önerdiğim Parçası: Get Down On Your Knees
Stili: Grime
28 yaşındaki Madhat şu an İskoçya'nın en iyi rapperlarından biri, büyük çaplı organizasyonlarda sahneye çıkması, İngiltere'den kaliteli rapperlar ile işler yapması onu ülkesinde epey popüler yaptı. Music Comes First Records'a katıldıktan sonra çıkardığı The Theophilus Carter LP kesinlikle dinlenmeli.
Cro
Memleketi: Aalen, Almanya
Önerdiğim Parçası: Easy
Stili: RAOP (Rap & Pop)
Bu pandaya da uzun uzun değinmiyicem çünkü sanırım artık bilmeyen kalmadı, ilk çevirilerimizden biride Cro'dan ve sanırım yaklaşık 7-8 parçasının Türkçesinide kanalımızda bulabilirsiniz. Yakın zamanda -hemde bayağı yakın 1 hafta önce- ülkemize geldi kendisi ve mükemmel bir konser verdi. Bu sene çıkardığı Melodie albümü tavsiyemdir.
