33 years ago the South African Apartheid regime decided to take yet another crushing step onto the non-white population by enforcing Afrikaans as the sole language of instruction at schools. The protests that ensued in Johannesburg’s black townships called Soweto (South Western Townships) on June 16, 1976 lead to the police shooting countless schoolchildren to enforce their “order”.
The incident marks one of the most decisive moments under Apartheid rule, one which echoed worldwide and slowly mobilized more and more people to oppose the white South African government, ending in boycotts and massive pressure on South Africa to introduce reforms.
To keep with the spirit, here’s a classic posse track that uses a vocal sample from Miriam Makeba and demands Nelson Mandela’s release. The ANC activist and lawyer was incarcerated for 27 years and became the symbol of Apartheid oppression.
Afrika Bambataa – Hip-Hop against Apartheid: Ndodemnyama (Free South Africa) (Video Mix) (1989)
ft. X Clan, Queen Latifah, Shango, Tashawn, Revolucien, Grand Puba, Kings Of Swing, UFTO, Malibu, Master Rob, Jungle Brothers, Positive K, Isis, Kid Sevile, Arthur 4X, Lakim Shabazz, Diamond D, Brand Nubians, Audio Two and more.
Despite my starting out with Son Of Noise, this crew here was actually the first I’d heard of. Gunshot put out their first 12″ in 1990 called “Battle Creek Brawl”. Its incredibly rough sound by DJ White Child Rix and the fiery delivery by Alkaline, Mercury and Q-Roc was like nothing I’d heard before. I’ve read that it was their music, together with Hijack’s, that coined the idea and sound of “Britcore”. They certainly did for me. At the time I didn’t even know where and how to get hold of the singles that they were releasing, so I was stuck with a few hissy radio recordings (and the good thing was: with the crackling and the distortion they sounded even better!) A few years later, while Vinyl Solution was still their home label, French label Independance issued the group’s first singles as one Compilation. Instead of the cover for the compilation which I haven’t found, here are covers of the three 12″es included.
Battle Creek Brawl (1990)
Clear From Present Danger / Interception Squad (1991)
Crime Story / No Sell Out (1991)
Compilation Tracklist:
01 Clear From Present Danger (4:47)
02 Interception Squad (4:04)
03 No Sell Out (5:18)
04 Crime Story (4:49)
05 Battle Creek Brawl (4 Minute Warning) (4:42)
06 Battle Creek Brawl (Apocalypse Bass) (4:37)
07 Clear From Present Danger (Instrumental) (4:46)
08 Interception Squad (Instrumental) (4:03)
09 Battle Creek Brawl (Instrumental) (4:42)
10 No Sell Out (Instrumental) (5:18)
11 Crime Strory (Instrumental) (4:49)
12 Battle Creek Brawl (Apocapella) (3:21)
And, from the same year, here’s another collection of singles, aptly titled The Singles. Some of the tracks are the same, but others are not. (Thanks, Wasteland Drifter.)
01 – Clear From Present Danger
02 – Children Of A Dying Breed
03 – No Sell Out
04 – Killing Season
05 – Social Psychotics
06 – Nobody Move
07 – Crime Story
08 – Interception Squad
09 – Mind Of A Razor (Remix)
10 – Battle Creek Brawl
11 – Children Of A Dying Breed (Burial Mix)
12 – Killing Season (Murder Kiss Remix)
13 – Colour Code
14 – Gunshots History (The 94 Lick)
In 1993, Q-Roc had left the crew by then, they released their first album called Patriot Games. White Child Rix’ production had become more sophisticated with more multi-layered tracks and a very effective use of vocal samples to add some catchiness. The flows had slowed down a tad bit so they could actually perform their tracks live on stage and the whole thing made for an amazing album full of bangers.
[anecdote] I remember one time in school camp, when I was in charge of preparing breakfast and waking up the other kids… I laid the tables and then popped in 25 Gun Salute turned on full blast in a tiny chalet up in the mountains… Talking about an early start… When you hear it, you’ll know how much they hated my guts for the rest of that day. Well worth it, though. [/anecdote]
1 Manhunt (1:29)
2 25 Gun Salute (3:01)
3 Gunshot History (3:49)
4 Reign Of Terror (2:58)
5 World War 3 (4:19)
6 Radio ? (2:10)
7 Day Of The Jackals (3:42)
8 Underworld Crime Soldiers (0:59)
9 Bombing In Five Minutes (3:08)
10 Patriot Games (4:25)
11 Mind Of A Razor (4:02)
12 The Cholo (0:25)
13 Year 2000 (4:38)
14 Bullets Entering Chest (5:10)
By 1997, they had finally put together another album called Twilight’s Last Gleaming. So the murky theme was continued. Content-wise, they’d relaxed a bit with their guns, battle, soldiers and blood theme and turned a bit more introspective. I seem to remember that the album was received with a somewhat lukewarm applause. And that may well have marked the moment where Gunshot was beyond their peak for their audience. I’d still contend that the album is slept-on and that it’s actually very solid and listenable. On this one, Barry Blue made a guest appearance before he’d join the group as a steady member on the next album.
01 Twilight
02 Maths And Stats
03 Millenium
04 Mask Of Phantasm
05 G. S. Vibe
06 Ghetto Heartbeat
07 Roots And Reality
08 Die Hard
09 True Fist
10 Gunshot Forever
11 The Silkmaker
12 Return Of The Gunshot
13 Kingpin
14 Untouchable ft. Barry Blue
15 Inner Space
16 Postcards From The Edge
In the year 2000, the crew dropped their latest and last album so far with International Rescue. Personally, I was a bit disappointed by it. While the production was solid and sometimes quite good, the MCs were lacking some of the drive and dopeness they displayed on Patriot Games. Some of the verses grate on my nerves, others I find just a bit forgettable, but that’s probably just me. Yet I’m afraid the only reason why this album didn’t disappear completely off the radar was the English Patient posse track with illustrous guests such as Blade, Task Force, Huntkillbury Finn, Icepick and MC Mello.
1. The Saga Continues… (Intro) (1:00)
2. International Rescue (3:54)
3. Shanghai Badbwoy (5:26)
4. Rinse Out (3:55)
5. Construct Destruct – Demo ‘91 (Skit) (0:38)
6. Pain (5:22)
7. Scream 3 (5:03)
8. Hail Mary (4:45)
9. Minus 10 ft. Huntkillbury Finn (4:11)
10. Bo Bo Bo! – Demo ‘90 (Skit) (0:36)
11. Everyday (3:35)
12. Pressure (5:19)
13. The Long Goodbye (4:11)
14. Badman Walkin’ (4:50)
15. The English Patient ft. Blade, Task Force, Lord Barry Blue,
Huntkillbury Finn, Icepick & MC Mello (5:02)
16. Whilst My Guitar Weeps (Outro) (0:35)
17. Shanghai Badbwoy (Remix) (4:40)
18. Weep Again (Encore) (1:16)
It’s quite safe to say that Gunshot will not release another album under that same name. (Is it?) Even their website gunshotuk.com was taken down.
To get back to the English Patient track with its analogy playing on UK Hip-Hop as the sick patient that needs treatment, it’s rather ironic that Gunshot as one of the pioneer crews that lament the state of UK rap didn’t quite survive into the 21st century while there’s now a host of MCs and DJs out there on the islands that seem to be doing increasingly better. Gunshot certainly broke down a few doors, but it was the generation following them that got a foot in. Well, except for old farts like Rodney P or Blade, perhaps…
And just one day before Narcy’s birthday on which his album drops, here’s a piece of “early” Canadian hip-hop history that’s been missing in my book for a long time…
From the city boasting such ridiculous talent as The Narcicyst, D-Shade, Rugged Intellect, Loe Pesci, Maybe Watson, Oddeo, Prophecy and more (see Muzion, for instance) here’s a gem from their earlier days. Rugged Intellect and Prophecy had a group called Blitzkreague, D-Shade was still in Shades of Culture, Narcy, Loe Pesci and Apocalyptik formed Patrick Batemen, which was just before Narcy teamed up with his Iraqi brethren from another omm Habilis and Nofy (SandhiLL) to become Euphrates, etc. etc.
Together, the above artists formed the Nine Majesty collective. And this “mixtape” compilation from 2001 offers an excellent cross-section through the buzzing Montreal underground scene of the early noughties.
01 – Oddeo ft. Don LoeFontaine – Nine Maj is… (prod. Oddeo)
02 – Nine Majesty – 6-Sick’s Verses (prod. SandhiLL)
03 – Blitzkreague – Stargate (prod. SandhiLL)
04 – Patrick Batemen – Aim at Building (prod. Apokalyptik)
05 – Loe Pesci – Gotta Eat (prod. Frankie-F&F Productions)
06 – Euphrates – Silk Robes (prod. SandhiLL)
07 – Watson – Arbuste de ma Connerie (prod. Pea-Why – Freudian Slippers)
08 – Loes & Oddeo – Dreaming Awake (prod. Oddeo)
09 – Rugged Intellect – Introduction to… (prod. SandhiLL)
10 – Euphrates – Iraqnaphobia (prod. SandhiLL, Cuts by DJ Xcape)
11 – Loe Pesci & Apokalyptik – Blackbook (prod. Apokalyptik)
12 – Watson & Proph – Showcases (prod. Watson)
13 – Euphrates ft. Rugged Intellect – Shalom Alaikum (prod. SandhiLL)
14 – Shade Of Culture – That’s Me (prod. Grand Theft)
15 – Rugged I, Narce, Prophecy, Watson – Impromptu (prod. Watson)
16 – Patrick Batemen – Imperial Vomit (prod. Vic Cabbage, Guitar by Dale Boyle, Sax by Brad Vines)
17 – Crux Mottolo – What’s Not to Love (prod. Classic Pesci)
It was about time I did an interview with this guy who I can safely call my favourite rapper of the last couple of years. And being the nice dude that he is, he immediately agreed to do this little Q&A with me. I feel honoured.
My regular readers already know who he is, and everybody else who’s been missing out so far better go and peep these posts here. Consider that required reading for your ass. ;)
But let him do the talking now and delve right in.
Whatup Narcy. Thank you so much for doing this. As you know I’ve been watching your moves for a few years now and this month is what I’ve been looking forward to for what seems like years… Wait, it has been years… Everybody’s waiting for your brandnew baby to finally drop.
Thanks for the support man! It means alot to an indy artist such as I.
But before we talk about your album and the stories behind it, maybe you’d like to introduce yourself to those who have the nerve to not know about you already.
Well, my name is the Narcicyst, I’m a writer/journalist/actor/MC originally hailing from Basra, Iraq but grew up between several places in the world. My city is Montreal, Canada. I’ve been here for a predominance of my life, so it’s the closest place i have to home. I used to be the frontman/MC of a three man crew called Euphrates, which also consisted of Nofy Fannan and Habillis – the production team that was known as SandhiLL. We dropped two albums in 2003 and 2004, then I went back to school and did my masters degree on Arab Identity and Hip-Hop – which was the Arab Summit’s Fear of an Arab Planet. In between those days, I recorded two mixtapes called Stuck between Iraq and a Hard Place. And I’m on the eve of releasing my first solo LP, entitled The Narcicyst. It’s an introduction into myself as a writer. I’m sure we’ll get into that later. If people are interested in reading up on some of my articles, please look up Narcel X and you can read some interviews Ive done with people that I look up to. Otherwise, I’m a human being trying to make a difference in this world!
Right, so now that the people out there know who we’re dealing with, let’s talk about the latest news first, cos I’m pretty excited about it. Your first full-fledged solo album is finished at long last. Tell us a little (more) about it. Who’s on it, is there a concept or a red thread running trough it, how did the tracks come together? I see you produced or co-produced 8 out of 18 tracks?
With the Euphrates records, we had a political agenda if you will, we tackled alot of personal issues that were running rampant on the political front being young Arabs. This album is self-titled and it’s literally about that, the Narcicyst, the Narcissism in the world, the human condition of self-preservation, our innate need to be ourselves and see things subjectively. The tracks came together naturally really, i worked on this album alone so it took time. I did everything from record my own vocals, mix, master, engineer and sequence everything. So it’s been a good process, I learn alot technically but musically as well. The record has alot of live elements, violins, drums, bass – that allowed me to learn the producer role and I really enjoyed it!
How is this album different from other pieces you’ve made, such as
your two Between Iraq and a Hard Place street makeover albums or the Fear of an Arab Planet album you made as part of The Arab Summit (with Omar Offendum, Ragtop and Excentrik)? I mean, all of these releases must have taken shape around the same time. How did you decide what of your material would go on which of these releases?
Yeah, the new album came together during the process of making the others. The Arab Summit was a collabo project, so I would send the tracks and mixes back and forth with the boys, they would give me feedback and we would come to a conclusion on it. Then the overall message and flow of the record was on me. That was also my masters thesis so I spent alot of time putting together the meaning of it. The mixtapes were made when I would feel a funk in my recording process, I would go back to these bangers that I enjoy and flip them, they would open me back up to go back to my record and really pinpoint stuff and make my lyrics refined and straight up in your face. When it came down to the new album, I recorded like 30-40 tracks, chose the best 20, cut it down to 16 and blaow. Then i went in an added the live orchestral touch to it, interludes. I finished the album in september, went out to Dubai to shoot a film and re-recorded two joints and added a new one, took two out and then came back to Canada. Re-sequenced the record, re-mastered and its coming out next week…whoa.
The Arab Summit
The earliest I know about, you started out with Loe Pesci as Patrick Batemen (feel free to correct me). Then came the Euphrates with Nofy Fannan and Habilis (R.I.P Nofy), then you went dolo and teamed up with The Nomads, the Philistines and mad people for side projects… If you look back from now, what’s been your greatest development as a human being and an artist from the early days to what you do now? Or to put it a bit more simply, how would you describe young Narcy as opposed to who you are now? (Still pretty damn young, I might add.) ;)
Well, I know now what I want to say, when I was recording in the beginning, I really just blanked out and vomited on tracks…. I didn’t really know how to structure songs and make a full song. Now it’s alot more organized, alot more musical, experimental and such. Working with other MCs is ALWAYS the shit, especially dudes that push you lyrically like Loe Pesci or Offendum. Those dudes are monsters. So I’ve grown man, but I still feel like a kid when it comes to the booth-a young man grown.
One thing I’m always interested in, and especially because you keep stressing how indie artists have a hard time making ends meet: How do you make your money anyway? Do you have a daytime job, can you get by on your music? And (to only touch upon music downloading on the by… *cough*) which aspect of your musical work actually earns you money? Album sales? Live shows? T-shirts?
All of it does, but I went and got my education so music isn’t the end all be all. I do movies, I teach kids, I write for newspapers, I do voice overs, I engineer and mix peoples records and songs. All that. Music is something I love to do and never want it to get tainted. So, independence is still there but I multitask like a good gemini always does!
Among other things, you wrote your Masters thesis to compliment the Arab Summit album (or vice versa). In both the thesis and on the album you address Arab identity in a hip-hop context. And in general, you talk about being Arab a LOT. What does it mean to you to be Arab? (Nice essay topic, I know.) I mean, to not formulate it as an anti-stance to Western ignorance, but in a positive sense. Which parts of you do you embrace as being Arab?
I embrace in what it is being an Arab as you would in your culture. It is my roots, and if I don’t water them they will die. That’s how I see it. So, being myself and being there for my people is key because even my people aren’t there for themselves. So I feel it is important to clear the air on who we are in my eyes, or who my generation is. Not to say I speak for them, but we are a generation in flux, it’s important to speak on it. But this new album isn’t like the past ones. This one is about being Human, as corny as that sounds.
Is being an Arab something that’s always been such a strong part of you, or is it something you feel has been thrust upon you by politics or “the West”? I mean, has there been some kind of an awakening at some point in your life where you said to yourself ‘I need to rep for my Arab brothers and sisters’?
Naw dawg, I’m Arab. I was born Arab. Being an Iraqi that never lived “home” if you will, it’s always been there.
Now about Canada… I’ve noticed Canadian hip-hop gets incredibly slept on. Especially in the US, which is even more tragic. Would you agree or am I just talking to the wrong people? What the hell is wrong with the world?
The world looks to America for new Hip-Hop, they really don’t look elsewhere. It’s unfortunate. Bah Humbug. But you know, growing up internationally opened my mind to the rest of the world. Hip-Hop in Europe is bonkers.
What’s the hip-hop scene in Montreal like? Needless to say, there’s a whole gang of extremely talented artists in your town. (Feel free to drop names.) But what’s the spirit between the linguistic communities? Are the French-English boundaries relevant in the hip-hop community? I’ve never heard or seen you do anything with French-speakers. Have I been missing out? Is there a reason for that? (Do you speak French, btw?)
Yeah i speak french. The hip-hop scene here is bourgeoning, it’s a beautiful and inspirational city. Loe Pesci, D-Shade, Northern Lights, Nomadic Massive, Kalmunity, Vox Sambou, Butta Beats. The musicians, the singers, the models, the people this city is like a long music video/movie. There is definetely a divide when it comes to the scene, I mean, we don’t get all the shows that a city like Toronto gets, which further creates a struggle for english artists. But it’s what you make it. Barriers are in the mind, if you push hard enough you can do anything.
Do you perceive Canada to be as preoccupied by religions and immigration and multiculturalism in what some people are selling us as an age of cultural war? Is there a clear difference and in how far (not)?
A friend of mine put it like this. “Canada is painted as this soup of multiculturalism, where the broth is thick and well-mixed. But the truth is, we are in a bowl with water, carrots, tomatos, peas, that are just floating. In no way are we ALL getting along. We all want to maintain our autonomy as long as possible” I kind of like that, cultural here does not get co-opted, we do as we please. I’m Canadian, but I’m also Iraqi. My friend is Haitian, but also Canadian. We don’t hyphenate too much, but sometimes you do, to simplify things ;)
Now for something that’s been bugging me for a while. I’ve noticed that you must have spent some time in Spain around 2007 or so, cos I’ve come across three tracks you guestspotted on. (Could I post these three for streaming or would you rather I didn’t?)
On El Puto Largo (of Dogma Crew, Malaga) -
Freedom ft. Dogma Crew (off album “Inspiración” – 2007)
On El Cerebro (Almeria) – Nómadas ft. Nephilim (off album “Simbiosis” – 2007)
On ZPU (Barcelona) – Yo soy un soldado (Gladiator Remix) (web-only remix, original version – without Narcy – on album “Contradicziones” – 2008)
I just need to know how that came about. Cos by the looks of it, they must’ve passed you round like a doobie. ;) How did you hook up with all these cats? – And is there more I missed out on?
Please stream them! I haven’t heard the last one with ZPU, that brother was ill. I met them in Sevilla, I went out for a Hip-Hop festival with my boys the FOREIGN BEGGARS from the UK. They invited me out and I hit the studio with Dogma Crew. I stayed in touch with ZPU and we did that one of the internet. Same with Cerebros. It was a pleasure, I love Spain dude, I wanna go back!
You’ve been posting out of Dubai for a while now. Obviously, you lived in the UAE as a kid, but what’s brought you back there? Is that where you hibernate? You’ve got an acting gig there, too, or so I seem to remember? What have you been up to?
hahaha, yeah I do hibernate at my parents crib. I was out there shooting City of Life, which should be out later in the year.
I just starred in that film, it was dream come true. I played Khalfan, a poor Emarati coming up around his rich friends and the alienation of growing up in a city that was changing around me. Look out for it!
Now I have three things I need to know and if you want this interview to go online you better answer to make me happy: (lol)
- Who’s the guy talking at the beginning of “Seven (Sab’aa)”? (”I’m a
narcisist…”)
You’ll come across it one day. It’s from a documentary about Palestine. ;)
- Where’s the vocal sample in the hook of “I.R.A.Q.” from? (Is that
Italian?) Damn I love that hook…
I have no idea, only Nofy and Habillis would know that. But I know it’s not Italian.
- What is it gonna take Habilis to put out the Euphrates instrumentals? (Official release or a myspace-CD-R-for-10-bucks-thingy, I don’t care. Do you have dirt on him that we can use to make him?)
You may give him an idea if he reads this. Habi, Do it!
And (this shit just never ends, does it?) as a very last thing: Where
can I buy your album? Is there a place I can get it from where you get to keep more of the money than others? (Amazon vs. Myspace?)
You can get my CD at iraqisthebomb.com on paypal. It will soon be up on itunes. The best place to get it is off my website!
Thank you so much for taking the time. It means a lot to me.
I can’t wait for the album and whatever else you may set out to do in the future. Much love and keep blazing those trails.
Dear reader, do yourself a favour and remember to…
Click for Narcy’s free mixtapes, his blog, myspace, videos and everything else Narcy.
I should not have to introduce you to Jeff Chang’s book of the above title cause it’s brilliant. Of the good dozen of hip-hop-related books I’ve read, this easily takes the cake and keeps the candles, too. Quite simply, if you know enough English and claim to be a hip-hop head, you should have read this or you will never know what the hell you’re talking about. ;)
Now, I’m not getting into posting e-books, but this is the companion CD to the book, basically a mixtape that takes you back into the history of hip-hop on an audio trip through soundbites and song snippets. Mixed by DJ Sharp and DJ Icewater, and narrated by Quannum Records’ own Chief Xcel, Gift of Gab, Joyo, Lateef and Lyrics Born.
The tracks are a bit tricky, because there’s often more than one song featured on one track of the CD. And I haven’t found a handy way of tagging the files. You figure out how you want that done…
PROLOGUE
1 D-Sharp Just Can’t Stop
SIPPLE OUT DEH
2 Kingston /73 – Lyrics Born
Zen’s in this time mix
3 Ballistic Affair – Leroy Smart
War ina Babylon – Max Romeo
Leggo – Jah Lion
Black Vest – The Upsetters
4 Dub Explosion – Lyrics Born
King Tubbys Meets Rockers Uptown
- Augustus Pablo
BLOOD AND FIRE, WITH MORE MUSIC
5 Bronx ‘68 – Lateef the Truth Speaker
6 War and Peace – The Gangs of the Bronx
7 Ghetto Brother Power – Ghetto Brothers
DJ KOOL HERC MAKES A NAME
8 A Creation Myth – Joyo
D-Sharps Back to Sedgewick Mix
9 Fencewalk – Mandrill
I Wouldn’t Change a Thing – Coke Escovedo
You’ll Like It Too – Funkadelic
Son of Scorpio – Dennis Coffey
Give It Up Turnit Loose – James Brown
Kool is Back – Funk Inc.
10 Call Me Herc – DJ Kool Herc
Shaft in Africa – Johnny Pate
11 The Start of Something Big – Joyo
SOUL SALVATION
12 BAM POWER! – Pow Wow & Jazzy Jay
Bambaataa’s Theme – Afrika Bambaataa
13 Bam’s Faith – Afrika Bambaataa & Jazzy Jeff
14 Live at the Bronx River – Lisa Lee
FURIOUS STYLES
15 The Summer of ‘79 at the T-Connection
-Grandmaster Melle Mel
16 Three Anonymous Rappers – Lyrics Born
Good Timing – DJ Icewater
17 Hip Hop on a records?!?!! – Chuck D
D-Sharp’s Hip-Hop on Wax Supreme B-Boy Mix
18 Rapping Ain’t No Thing – The Boogie Boys
Philosophy Rappin’ Spree – Super 3
19 Superappin’ – Grandmaster Flash & The Furious Five
Rapping & Rocking the House – Funky 4 + 1 More
At the Party – Treacherous Three
Daisy Lady – 7th Wonder
Expansions – Lonnie Liston Smith
Dance to the Drummer’s Beat – Herman Kelly & Life
It’s Just Begun – Jimmy Castor Bunch
1982 ETERNAL
20 Worldwide Understanding – Crazy Legs
D-Sharp’s at the Roxy Mix
21 At the Dixie – Fantastic Five Freaks
Rapture – Blondie
Jazzy Sensation – Afrika Bambaataa & Soulsonic Force
Mt. Airy Groove – Pieces of a Dream
22 Going Downtown – Popmaster Fabel
23 The Reagan Era – Kool Lady Blue
Genius of Love – Tom Tom Club
Here Comes That Beat – Pumpkin All Stars
The Message – Grandmaster Flash & The Furious Five
THINGS FALL APART
24 The Other Planet Rock – Chief Xcel
Indio Danca Na Roda – Curumin
(Quannum Exclusive)
25 Cokane in My Brain – Dillinger
26 Rick’s Ready Rock – Chief Xcel
27 The Batteram (Commercial Version) – Toddy Tee
WHAT WE GOT TO SAY
28 The Ultimate Black Melting Pot – Chuck D
D-Sharp’s Whylin’ On The Island Mix
29 Strong Island – JVC Force
Pump That Bass (Get a Little Stupid Yo..) – Original Concept
30 The Name That Changed Everything – Bill Stephney
As announced, I’m going to hit you with a bunch of African albums. Some of them are full albums by one crew, others are compilations made by well-meaning organizations in Europe who try to introduce the non-Africans among us to this vast continent full of music. I’ll have to admit that I don’t know too much about all of them, but I just figured I’d pass on what I’ve got my hands on so you can go and listen for yourself.
First off, there’s Positive Black Soul from Dakar, Senegal (West Africa). This duo consists of Doug E. Tee (Amadou Barry) and DJ Awadi (Didier J. Awadi) and they’re probably one of the very first African hip-hop crews who had international success beyond their continent. Active since the mid-80s as leaders of rivalling gangs, they used to compete with each other musically till they found out they were the perfect match and formed a crew in 1989. Their first release on cassette Boul Falé never really made it out of the country. With some help by French superstar rapper MC Solaar (himself a born Senegalese) and musical legend Baaba Maal, they eventually got a record deal with Mango Records and their second album Salaam enjoyed international success, followed by a tour through West Africa, America and Europe. They have since become the godfathers of Senegalese and West African hip-hop, making sure younger crews get some shine as well.
The album is made in Wolof (one of the languages spoken in Senegal), English and French – to make sure they are understood worldwide. This album must be seen as one of the biggest milestones in African hip-hop, as far as its international recognition is concerned.
Upon request, another album from the vibrant hip-hop spot they call Senegal. The beats are surprisingly choppy, boom-bap ones. Cats rapping over them sport English and Wolof styles (I think… well, how would I know…)
01 – Intro
02 – BMG 44 – 44
03 – Omzo – Missalu Aduna
04 – Shiffai – Shiffai
05 – Las MC – Africans Don’t Wanna Understand
06 – Shiffai – Never Forget
07 – Simon (Bis Bi Klan) – Chagga
08 – Sul Suli Klan – Mbedd Bama Woo
09 – Slam Revolution feat BMG 44 – Begguma
10 – Sen Kumpa – Deglu Xel
11 – Abass – Abass
12 – Slam Revolution – Wax Degg
13 – Real Fight – Ndax Sa Melo
14 – Yat Fu – Art Attendan
“We could live together if the cycle of your violence
didn’t silence our life with all your rifles… “
For one this is the preview of a track that’s going to be on Narcy’s long awaited album, now rescheduled for March 09. The fact that his album is finally dropping soon would be reason to rejoice.
Sadly – and much to my annoyance and fed-up-ness – people in a small place called the Gaza Strip are getting rained on by Israeli artillery and bombs – the varieties that actually hit and kill people most of the time, about 550 in the last two weeks, as opposed to Hamas’ about 7,500 self-made rockets that have killed like 8 people in the last 8 years. It’s bullshit to weigh one body count against another but just to get a sense of the power imbalance at hand here…
Always one to speak out against media bullshit and the misrepresentation and suffering of the opressed peoples, Narcy has made this track with Palestinian singer Shadia Mansour (who lives in London.) The great quality of this track is that it doesn’t spare the rod for some of the Arabs out there making shit decisions. It’s not as predictable as one might think.
The Narcicyst – Hamdulilah (Gaza Remix) ft. Shadia Mansour
Here’s what Narcy has to say on his track and why he made it.
Support the suffering Palestinians with a buck or two. Even the UN’s relief agency UNRWA is running out of food for them. And don’t give me the “Hamas had it coming” line. Those kids there have no business getting their houses bombed. UNRWA have been looking after the basic needs of Palestinians since Al Nakba in 1948, and they will continue to do so with no partisanship – if Israel and the international donors let them.
Oh, and here are the lyrics. I found them on his space (thanks ears) and cleaned them up against the audio. (FYI, hamdulilah means “praised be Allah” and bismillah means “in the name of Allah”. For more here and here.)
Lyrics:
Bismillah
Sends shivers when you hear it,
regardless of the hardship, we will never ever fear it
Hamdulilah
For your perseverance,
got me feeling blocked up like egypt’s border clearance
Bismillah
May God bless your dead and gone,
we say we undefeated, you say we’re headstrong
Hamdulilah
for the will to believe in life,
if you struggle God loves you man, relieve the strife
Bismillah
Please read Su’rat Yassin
for the purest always fall for the furious I’ve seen
Hamdulilah
to be grateful for your place you never know what
fate will bring us from the hateful.
Bismillah
for the souls anguish love
and the moments our brothers get snuffed out by slugs
Hamdulilah
we see through the politics, when a missile is issued
to kill and follow our kids….
Bismillah
Children have the realest dreams, waking up in cold sweats out in Philistine
Hamdulilah
You could really tell you see, turned the news on, heard they sent shells to scenes
Bismillah
two hours later in Gaza, the floor starting pounding and they felt the Ha’za
Hamdulilah
Hessa the policies lied, when a house was blown to pieces, and an olive tree cried
Bismillah
The ch’thib that move too fast out the mouth of Hamas and Mahmoud Abbas
Hamdulilah
We need real leaders instead of fickle beasts wicked streets
cripple beings rippling through the middle East
Bismillah
God while we’re on the subject please cut the strings off our political puppets.
Hamdulilah
bil rooh bil dem when soldiers creep
your men thinking that our souls are cheap speak….
Let the world know that hip-hop is the rock that we bring when we aim our slingshots
Bismillah
The claim you call Israel
and the way you defend it shames Ismaill
Hamdulilah
See we could live together if the cycle of your violence didn’t silence our life with all your rifles
Hamdulilah
Alaikum Alsalam, Arab Jarab when there’s harab man, 3laihum il haram
Hamdulilah
Ta’thamoon lil nas wal hu’ra, we refuse to have anymore Mohammad Al-Durrahs
To celebrate the spirit of “giving is holier than taking”, all rapidshare music downloads on this blog are switched to direct for the day of 24th December, starting with midnight CET.
I have a few gigs of direct download quota to kill, so dig in, dig back and enjoy. The only exception is movies.
This does, however, also apply for rapidshare links I posted over at strictlybeats. Get these goods while it lasts. When the quota is up, it’s over.
Enjoy.
First off, let’s not even get into another “general election analysis”, let’s just peep two of the best at the game, as they comment the exit polls as it happens.
Jon Stewart and Stephen Colbert teaming up for their election night special: Indecision 2008.
And as a special throw-in for this occasion, I give you the audiobook version of The Daily Show’s own America (The Book): A Citizen’s Guide to Democracy Inaction of 2004. A school textbook on the history of democracy and what America’s made of it, with the typical Daily Show twist. (More here)
Mind you, despite the heavy tongue-in-cheek approach and the hilarious sections from the foreword by Thomas Jefferson to the study questions and countless aside boxes, this is actually very enlightening and of great pedagogical value. The book is extremely well-made, the Daily Show writing staff and graphics department had a field day/year with this. So it’s well worth the buy, btw. But here’s to you folks who do not read, the audiobook for your ears. Enjoy.
files are available for one month only.
any artist or legal copyright owner who would rather not see their music on this blog, please leave a comment with a valid e-mail address and I will take them down as quickly as humanly possible. promise.
The Arab Summit
