The Art of Rap, For the Love of Hiphop

It all Starts with a Cause!

Originally my musicality come from a classically Indian background as well as a lot of Bollywood/Bhangra music which still carries in some of my melodies today. This led me to poetry which I had always written, in my mid 20s my friend, V1RXS (Resident Producer/Rap Sensei!), took me into the world of rapping it changed my life! I have never pictured myself being a rapper and I struggled for a few months to really open my eyes up to the history of HipHop and what it actually means for me to be a rapper. 

V1RXS set me some homework to research the flow of a rapper I had not heard of and gave me Something From Nothing: The Art of Rap, hands down one of the best hiphop docs out there at the moment. It runs from the influences of the music, at a producer level, with Afrika Bambaataa or more likely you may have known him as 'The Godfather'. He created a unique electro-funk genre, which fed into hiphop along with Grandmaster Flash and the Furious Five and Melle Mel being an MC for all these originals. It introduced me to Rappers who I was not so familiar with such as Big Daddy Kane, Immortal Technique and the great Rakim, each different, individual in their style and all have conviction in their bars. There are also more recent known artist such as Eminem, Kanye West, Mos Def, Ice Cube and Snoop to name a few. It's one of the best docmentaries to really give you the spark moment in hiphop, showing a real insight into the rappers thoughts, insider knowledge and for me the route of a conscious rapper. To buy the buy the DVD click here or hire on Amazon link here.

The Art of Rap drew my attention to Q-Tip, enlightening me to his career and the journey he had taken with A Tribe Called Quest. I didn't realise they had been around for so long. There's an incredible documentary called Beats, Rhymes & Life: The Travels of a Tribe Called Quest, shows the struggles of a creative mind and the dynamics of a group. I have watched a lot of music documentaries about groups but this one really stuck in my mind. How the financial change, along with the pressure to create amazing music can really affect friendships, relationships and the love you have for the art. If your a fan of A Quest Called Tribe (If you are not GO LISTEN TO ALL THERE MUSIC NOW click here!) or if you are looking to collaborate with others, I would really recommend this documentary, you can buy it here on amazon, click here. It not only shows you how things can change, how time can heal and in what seems like an instance, turn your conversations into silence. They also started as we all do, vibing with mates making new music, create the new new sound, throwing down mad flows and lyrics that shut down your jam session! Their love of rap came from the foundations of hiphop itself, the love of music, creators of new sound and a new voice. 

Hiphop Evolution is the school book encyclopaedia (physical wikipedia from millennials) of the full history, birth and evolution of the Genre. This starts right at the beginning, full 8 part series from 'The Foundation' episode 1, to 'New York State of Mind' episode 8! After I watched this it gave me a much better understanding of hiphop and the confidence to speak up in a crowd to say I am a Conscious Rapper! Started with the very first Sounds, DJ Kool Herc, Afrika Bambaataa, Grandmaster Flash in the South Bronx. To the birth of conscious rap Run-DMC, Marley Marl and he needs to be mentioned again Rakim! Move it to the West coast with game changers, Ice-T, NWA, and Dr Dre, head to the Bay area with MC Hammer and Tupac Shakur. It all comes full circle, bring it home with A tribe Called Quest, De la Soul who cultivates a Afrocentric, jazzy style. Again the link is below, if you want to get your hiphop knowledge up this is a must watch, click here for amazon prime or links to DVD below. 

You may have noticed I have listed NWA and Dr Dre, yes I know he was part of it, but for me Dr Dre and Jimmy Iovineare my idols. I always say if I could have the music skill of Dr Dre and the Business strength of Jimmy Iovine I would be unstoppable! Just like a genie wish, by magic The Defiant Ones was released, it was at this point I decided to pursue music as career and essentially leave my corporate world behind. I imagine you would have seen this already, its something I watch over and over again! It gives me such drive to overcome all obstacles, believe in your talent and just go for it! I have linked in the blueray, Amazon Prime link and the soundtrack because its INSPIRATIONAL! This goes through the musical life and careers of both of these music icons. The biggest thing I learnt from this is the belief you have in yourself should be unshakable, those around you may not see your end goal because they are conformed to the false limitations or rules.

 I am a Defiant One, I Make My Own Sound, I Make The rules. 

Stay Blessed, 

Nila xxx

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