Yaseen Live in cairo
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Entering the home studio that Yaseen and TNT of the rap duo Invincible Voice (I-Voice) have built in the Palestinian Refugee Camp of Bourj el Barajneh gives do-it-yourself (DIY) a whole new meaning. A small bedroom - which on this day was subject to enduring electricity outages - is converted into a base for mixing, producing, songwriting and entertaining the journalists that have started to take an increasing interest in these boys’ story. We enter the dark studio, leaving the door open to let the outside daylight in. Grey sponge sounds-proofs the walls of the ground-floor converted bedroom, and Tupac paraphernalia decorates them. This is one of the first “production houses” inside the camps of Lebanon, and is playing a big role in spreading the rap bug in refugee camps across the country.
I sit down with yaseen and TNT, two of the politically charged rap group pioneering a small movement of rap artists emerging in the camps - who describes their trajectory in the hip-hop world since they first started rapping and making beats in 2002. yaseen, 20, and TNT 19, taught themselves how to mix and record starting the group with a basic desire to voice the concerns of their generation. They raised money for equipment to record their first album, “Ella Mata Vol. 1″, through working various menial jobs and having friends in Australia sell and distribute their CDs. Signed on by a production company in Jordan -((eka3 productions))- for their second album,
I-Voice’s songs are primarily inspired by daily life in the camps.
Hearing the themes they addresses and seeing the sights that inspire their writing, there is no shortage of material to keep their music flowing. And there is certainly no shying away from voicing disgust at the dire state of camp life in Lebanon. Aside from daily survival in the impoverished camps, recurring political clashes between Palestinian parties further complicate the difficult living conditions. yaseen and TNT expresses how the songs are relevant to youth on themes like Arab unity and inter-Palestinian politics that he feels have lost sight of the Palestinian cause, as in the song “Inkilaab” (Revolution).
I-Voice is gaining momentum internationally as hip-hop takes shape as a definitive voice for the Palestinian Cause.
Yaseen & TNT pointedly suggests that the best hip-hop is born out of struggle, showing his deep interest in knowing the personal history that led their musical heroes to rappers stardom. They relays, “In the beginning, We were scared of [hip-hop]. I didn’t want to talk about the ‘typical’ rapper stuff.” Presumably, the glamorized “bling, money and women” in today’s hip-hop evade the reality that they wishes to portray in their music. “We discovered hip-hop through listening to artists like boot camp click , Wu-Tang , 2 pac - biggie . Once we knew more about it, we started feeling it…. Hip-hop really is about the hard life you live, and the artists that I like the most, all of their stories begin with something big”, they adds.
For the musical evolution of I-Voice - everything is about self-education. “We love hip-hop. And we need to be educated to be good at it,” they tells me as he relays how their love of reading history and politics has shaped the words that are often considered too sharp by their own community members who seem to have passed through the same phase of hesitation and acceptance with hip-hop. The duo’s sharp-worded criticisms of local politicians, the media and NGOs made their music controversial at first resulting in warnings and threats against performing songs like Inkilaab that are most vocal on these issues. But they says how more recently many people in the camps, including elders that once condemned them, have expressed that the lyrics are real and something that speaks to them. This acceptance, they adds ” it gives us a type of power. Let’s us keep spreading the message”.
Even when their songs aren’t blasting blatant systemic injustices, the conveyance of the day-to-day nuance of growing up as refugees in Lebanon posits powerful delivery. “Everything around us inspires us. we can pick up a pen and write about the street in front of us,” referring to the eventful, cramped and poverty-stricken alleys around the camp. These sights are documented in their song “My Daily Life” which pens their journey from their doorstep to a friend’s house describing this route and observations in the camp succinctly in an uncensored flow.
The lyrics they chooses, and the depth with which they describes their music shows that they found quite a way with words. Picking and choosing a theme, yaseen and Turek assess how they can approach songs and lyrics with a different lens. Along with the ability to lyrically play, I-Voice’s 100% Arabic sound, an authentic brand they have labeled T-Rap (Tarab Rap). The idea is to mix rap music to live arabic inst like tabla o'd ... that has an authentically Arab feeling. They plan on recording with live musicians to give “everything an oriental” feel. And they blend in the sounds around them, recording the daily life in the camps and mixing them with their own beats to add another layer of closeness for the listener.
They own ambitions are not only about igniting youth consciousness, but making the skill as accessible to anyone who wants it. Though their professes to be a self-taught amateur, they take the opportunity to make the music available for youth that want to explore it. And so other groups spread like seeds. Only one rule applies - no copyrights are granted. Songs can be shared, sampled and used as freely as they are recorded in the home-built studio. yaseen works with Studio Camps, - www.youtube.com/studiocamps - promotes the use of collective visual works through experimental film on the side, as well as an organization in Egypt called Arab Digital Expression www.arabdigitalexpression.com - he works as sound trainer . While a second album is slated for release by year’s end.
by Sana Malik from "www.Thisisworldtown.com"
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The House of M would like to thank you for your friendship & support in our battle against DR. WACKTAGON THE AUTO-TUNED VILLAIN... We'd also like to invite and encourage you to check out our new video "In Your Mind" and our newly launched website http://www.houseofmutants.com.. You'll love it... Thanks again...
Hi there!! I saw you last night and I really liked your show! Really nice to hear arabic rap! I felt like buying your Cd but unfortunately I had no money so I'd like to know any webpage to buy it online if possible. Good luck!!
Eyo, what up guys!! Great show yesterday night! I hadn´t the chance to say bye but of course we gotta keep in touch. I hope you can get that shiva, shiva, good stuff bro, hehehehehe. Take care and enjoy Bcn!! One Love.
Adelanto del próximo Videoclip dirigido por Patric C. Taladriz para Xclusif&Conflict Films y masquepalabras Records Teaser promo MENTENGUERRA & NOGLOBAL
Puedes descargar mis trabajos!! Download ma mixtapes!! Clicka!!!!!
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