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Lowkey, Logic and a new wave of political British hip-hop MCs Lowkey, Logic and a new wave of political British hip-hop MCs
(40 minutes later)
Jay-Z and Kanye West's Watch the Throne, which dropped in August 2011, epitomised the glut and profligacy in modern day hip-hop. "What's 50 grand to a muthafucker like me," Jay rapped on the track Niggas in Paris. "They ain't see me cause I pulled up in my other Benz," said Kanye on Otis. "Last week I was in my other other Benz/ Throw your diamonds up cause we in this bitch and up again."Jay-Z and Kanye West's Watch the Throne, which dropped in August 2011, epitomised the glut and profligacy in modern day hip-hop. "What's 50 grand to a muthafucker like me," Jay rapped on the track Niggas in Paris. "They ain't see me cause I pulled up in my other Benz," said Kanye on Otis. "Last week I was in my other other Benz/ Throw your diamonds up cause we in this bitch and up again."
Those who found the private jets, yachts and expensive cars too much to stomach at this time of dire unemployment in America included the veteran Chuck D of Public Enemy. In a response video he posted to YouTube, he rapped: "Whips [cars] wheeling is a million miles from what people's feeling."Those who found the private jets, yachts and expensive cars too much to stomach at this time of dire unemployment in America included the veteran Chuck D of Public Enemy. In a response video he posted to YouTube, he rapped: "Whips [cars] wheeling is a million miles from what people's feeling."
PE ploughed a lonely furrow for much of their career, but the 90s did see the rise of conscious rappers including Talib Kweli and Mos Def, while the likes of Lupe Fiasco still fly the flag. Almost literally so: at the 2011 Bet Hip-Hop awards he made a point of wrapping his mic in a Palestinian flag, while Erykah Badu performing with him wore the niqab.PE ploughed a lonely furrow for much of their career, but the 90s did see the rise of conscious rappers including Talib Kweli and Mos Def, while the likes of Lupe Fiasco still fly the flag. Almost literally so: at the 2011 Bet Hip-Hop awards he made a point of wrapping his mic in a Palestinian flag, while Erykah Badu performing with him wore the niqab.
It is hard to pin down exactly what many of these hip-hop artists are calling for: their messages can become conflated with other, less serious topics and often end up appearing woolly. Lupe has been labelled a sell-out by some fans; Common dismayed a certain section of his fanbase by using the words "nigga" and "bitch" on his 2011 album The Dreamer/ The Believer.It is hard to pin down exactly what many of these hip-hop artists are calling for: their messages can become conflated with other, less serious topics and often end up appearing woolly. Lupe has been labelled a sell-out by some fans; Common dismayed a certain section of his fanbase by using the words "nigga" and "bitch" on his 2011 album The Dreamer/ The Believer.
Equally, it was hard to discern the motives of Jay-Z and Kanye when they seemed to come out in support of Occupy Wall Street. Kanye made an appearance at Zuccotti Park but then Jay produced an Occupy-themed line in T-shirts, putting them on sale for a short period of time before the criticism came that he was looking to cash-in on the anti-capitalist movement.Equally, it was hard to discern the motives of Jay-Z and Kanye when they seemed to come out in support of Occupy Wall Street. Kanye made an appearance at Zuccotti Park but then Jay produced an Occupy-themed line in T-shirts, putting them on sale for a short period of time before the criticism came that he was looking to cash-in on the anti-capitalist movement.
"Jay-Z the rapper is different to Shawn Carter. The same way as Arnold Schwarzenegger is different to the Terminator," says Talib Kweli, trying to clarify the motives involved. "It's entertainment. Some people take rappers too seriously.""Jay-Z the rapper is different to Shawn Carter. The same way as Arnold Schwarzenegger is different to the Terminator," says Talib Kweli, trying to clarify the motives involved. "It's entertainment. Some people take rappers too seriously."
Despite these words, Kweli is touring the UK with a new generation of homegrown artists who aren't scared to deal in the explicitly political, while in the US there seems to be a growing number of young acts operating in the same vein. Chief among them is Immortal Technique, whose free compilation album The Martyr, released late last year, covered everything from elitism to metaphysics. His highly anticipated new record, The Middle Passage, is set for release this summer.Despite these words, Kweli is touring the UK with a new generation of homegrown artists who aren't scared to deal in the explicitly political, while in the US there seems to be a growing number of young acts operating in the same vein. Chief among them is Immortal Technique, whose free compilation album The Martyr, released late last year, covered everything from elitism to metaphysics. His highly anticipated new record, The Middle Passage, is set for release this summer.
"At some point people need to stand the f*** up. And that's what the album is about," he says. Technique's music promotes self-education, as illustrated in his song Fourth Branch, which ends with the exhortation: "Turn off the news and read, niggers. Read … read … read.""At some point people need to stand the f*** up. And that's what the album is about," he says. Technique's music promotes self-education, as illustrated in his song Fourth Branch, which ends with the exhortation: "Turn off the news and read, niggers. Read … read … read."
Commentators cited grime and dubstep as the soundtrack to the student protests and riots in the UK last year, but there's also been a rise in conscious hip-hop in this country.Commentators cited grime and dubstep as the soundtrack to the student protests and riots in the UK last year, but there's also been a rise in conscious hip-hop in this country.
Arguably the biggest name on the UK hip-hop underground scene is Lowkey (born Kareem Dennis), a 25-year old of English and Iraqi descent. His ancestry seems to have had a profound impact on his music, which is filled with refrences to imperialism – past and present – in the Middle East. "I think some of us submit to the dominant power or culture at the time. I think it is important to keep where you are from alive," he says.Arguably the biggest name on the UK hip-hop underground scene is Lowkey (born Kareem Dennis), a 25-year old of English and Iraqi descent. His ancestry seems to have had a profound impact on his music, which is filled with refrences to imperialism – past and present – in the Middle East. "I think some of us submit to the dominant power or culture at the time. I think it is important to keep where you are from alive," he says.
In the last 12 months, Lowkey tracks ObamaNation and Terrorist – from his album Soundtrack to the Struggle – have gained a combined total of more than four million YouTube views. He, along with Logic, another UK hip-hop artist, has founded what they call the People's Army – a movement of like-minded people coming together to create "positive change".In the last 12 months, Lowkey tracks ObamaNation and Terrorist – from his album Soundtrack to the Struggle – have gained a combined total of more than four million YouTube views. He, along with Logic, another UK hip-hop artist, has founded what they call the People's Army – a movement of like-minded people coming together to create "positive change".
While described as a conscious MC, Lowkey himself sees such terms as a way of "boxing [in]" artists like him. "I think the term is trying to turn what you do into a science and therefore a formula, as opposed to an art," he says.While described as a conscious MC, Lowkey himself sees such terms as a way of "boxing [in]" artists like him. "I think the term is trying to turn what you do into a science and therefore a formula, as opposed to an art," he says.
Why aren't artists like him promoted by the mainstream? "It's quite heavily suppressed by the mainstream media," he says. "It worries them, they don't like it.Why aren't artists like him promoted by the mainstream? "It's quite heavily suppressed by the mainstream media," he says. "It worries them, they don't like it.
"I think, as in all very lucrative industries, they are all shaking hands at the highest level," he continues. "The music industry, at the highest level, is shaking hands, in my opinion, I'm afraid to say, with the war industry. Which means voices like Immortal Technique and mine are going to be suppressed – even though it is clear that Technique has a larger fan base than a lot of signed artists.""I think, as in all very lucrative industries, they are all shaking hands at the highest level," he continues. "The music industry, at the highest level, is shaking hands, in my opinion, I'm afraid to say, with the war industry. Which means voices like Immortal Technique and mine are going to be suppressed – even though it is clear that Technique has a larger fan base than a lot of signed artists."
Lowkey's album went to No 1 on the iTunes hip-hop chart in the UK and Logic's recent album True Talk peaked at No 7, despite a lack of media support. Other UK rap artists including Mic Righteous and English Frank – who touch upon similar topics to Lowkey and Logic – are also gaining ground.Lowkey's album went to No 1 on the iTunes hip-hop chart in the UK and Logic's recent album True Talk peaked at No 7, despite a lack of media support. Other UK rap artists including Mic Righteous and English Frank – who touch upon similar topics to Lowkey and Logic – are also gaining ground.
"We're different from the rest," says Mic Righteous. "I think a lot of rappers talk about what they have and what you can never have. It's like rubbing it in someone's face. People are moving on from all this junk that other rappers are talking, and that allows them to look for other rappers, and what better people to look for then people like me, Lowkey and Talib [Kweli].""We're different from the rest," says Mic Righteous. "I think a lot of rappers talk about what they have and what you can never have. It's like rubbing it in someone's face. People are moving on from all this junk that other rappers are talking, and that allows them to look for other rappers, and what better people to look for then people like me, Lowkey and Talib [Kweli]."
"People are starting to listen," Logic adds. "It's the conscious era. We are the voice for society. People are changing.""People are starting to listen," Logic adds. "It's the conscious era. We are the voice for society. People are changing."
• Talib Kweli plays the Forum in London on Tuesday; the Ritz, Manchester on Wednesday, with support from Mic Righteous and Lowkey; the Polynesia in Cardiff on Thursday; and the Arches in Glasgow on Friday. • Talib Kweli plays the Forum in London on Tuesday and the Ritz, Manchester, on Wednesday, with support from Mic Righteous and Lowkey; also the Polynesia in Cardiff on Thursday and the Arches in Glasgow on Friday.