FEN Magazine - Your destination for all things Arab, American and Art. » Arab-American Hip-Hop

VIDEO: Omar Offendum – “Destiny”

Seif Al-Din — Fri, 09 Jul 2010 16:08:26 +0000

This song’s niceness is clear. The beat gets your head nodding, the hook is catchy and insightful, and even if you can only understand half the verses, you know it’s deep. The video is directed by Laith Majali (Amman) and shot on location in L.A. and Beirut, and the record was mixed by The Narcicyst (Montreal) — this is East-West Arab-American-Canadian collaboration at its finest. Watch and enjoy: subtle but clever camera work, two places in balance and a richness that makes you want to watch it again. Omar’s solo debut and Laith’s directorial debut in the music world is nothing but a success.

Download “Destiny” for free here (right-click and save) and buy the album SyrianamericanA on CD Baby >>

6Qs with MC Omar Offendum

Lana Daoud — Fri, 09 Jul 2010 15:45:57 +0000

Omar Offendum is welcoming us to SyrianamericanA, a place where lyrics lure you into “cardamom strong,” and a nostalgic journey for home and history will light your senses on fire. Perk up your ears, and just try to catch up with the speed of Omar’s seemingly effortless riffs as the prolific lyricist searches for the “Arab Superhero.” I interviewed the self-described “old soul,” before his Los Angeles performance (an absolute must for music lovers and anyone interested in witnessing a hip-hop revival) where a calm, conversational demeanor quickly morphed for a profoundly energetic live show. With a foundation in architecture, and a refreshingly conscious supporter of the green movement, Offendum is literally and metaphorically building bridges.
STATS
Hip-Hop Album: Outkast – Aquemini
Best food joint from your travels: Kaza Maza in Montreal (Beet Root Moutabal & Pistachio Kabob)
Poet that comes to mind right now: Pablo Neruda

1. This is your first solo album. Can you talk about the transition from previous albums to SyrianamericanA?
Yes, this is the first time I’ve done an album entirely myself. Everything else prior has been collaboration, whether with Mr. Tibbz and the NOMADS, which was the first album I did, or the Arab Summit, or Free the P. Everything is a step to learn from, and build on. It took the making of those albums to find my own voice. Working with those guys and performing around the world, I was able to find what I was comfortable performing by not saying the type of messages I was well equipped to deliver, or saying ones I felt were not necessarily my thing. So yea, I definitely found my comfort zone on this album, where I’ve been able to tell stories that describe my worldview that go back and forth between the Middle East and the U.S.

2. Your audience is a part of a community that’s all over the place, who can understand being “back and forth.” Does that inspire the album?
Exactly. It’s not such a unique feeling to be spread out across the globe, but something everyone can relate to nowadays, especially our community. Most of my immediate family lives in the Middle East. My mother and sister live in Damascus, and my other sister lives in Dubai. I have one brother who lives in Boston now. We are all over the place, and I think you get that feeling on this album when you hear it.

That back and forth is part of the album, but in a fluid way. It’s about finding a home wherever you are.

LISTEN to “Destiny” from SyrianamericanA and check the video out here >>

3. Describe SyrianamericanA.

SyrianamericanA is a nation-state of mind where everything is connected and everyone is welcome. It’s a trip to Syria through an American’s eyes, and a trip to America through a Syrian’s eyes.

I feel as American as I do Arab, and I think that’s clear on the album. And it’s done with respect to hip-hop, not as some Arabic fusion project. I’m proud that the lyrics stand on their own, but there’s also a lot of great production on the album. I made some of the beats, and a beat maker from Montreal by the name of Habilis also did quite a few of the beats. He does a really good job pulling beats from Barbara Streisand to Armando Manzanero, which sounds random but he knows how to create a mood. Some beats also came from an up and coming producer called Oddisee in D.C., and also beats from a kid living in Tunisia, who I met online. The Internet helps shrink the globe.

4. You breathe new life into the essence of hip-hop, and also bring back poets and artists of our parents’ generation like Nizar Qabbani…
I often try to tell stories on an album. I translate in both languages where I can switch from one to the other through poetry. I conjured up a story about three individuals I met on an ancient street in Damascus, one of the oldest streets in the world. There’s also an Arabic tale Magnoon Layla, an old story of star-crossed lovers that I thought would be cool to flip to a hip-hop song.

There generally is not a lot of storytelling in hip-hop these days, even though that’s one of the reasons I was so drawn to it. A lot of what I hear has to do with bragging, as opposed to continuing an ancient, oral tradition that really pre-dates hip-hop. Hip-hop is the modern incarnation of music like jazz, blues, rock ‘n’ roll, or even older African and Middle Eastern traditions.

5. Is there a difference between your Arab audience in the Middle East and the U.S.?
There are similarities between both because both are well versed on all things Western. Middle Easterners watch American TV and listen to American music. Then you have people here [in the U.S.] sticking very closely to their Arab tradition and culture. Over the years, I’ve found that I can perform the same material anywhere I go, and because I’m comfortable representing an honest expression of myself wherever I am, I don’t have to change too much. I can perform the same stuff about Damascus in D.C. or Damascus, and people still appreciate the music and the message. I’ve performed in Arabic in the U.S., and Americans who don’t know what I’m saying tell me ‘that’ was their favorite song because it sounded different or was a faster rhythm. It’s not an entire set in Arabic, and they’re able to relate to everything else being said.

6. You’re part of what I call an underground mainstream. Can you speak to that?
I credit the Internet for making that possible, it’s shaken up the old record label system. There are only a handful of artists who are really huge and selling platinum records, and that’s not something you necessarily have to aspire to because you can build a core fan base and develop a following over the years.

You don’t have to compromise your own integrity or beliefs, and you can do it all at home because technology is much more accessible.

Also because of the internet, I can have fans here and in the Middle East. None of this was possible 10-15 years ago, when you would have needed to get your demo to a record label. And I’m really fortunate to have people who find my music entertaining and relevant enough to want to invite me to perform all over the world. I also think it’s important that the main bread and butter should come from performance. Anybody can put out an album, but I always felt there has to be promotion for what you can really offer. I personally feel it forces you to work on your craft.

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About the Author: Born and raised in Southern CA, Lana Daoud can find herself at home just about anywhere. She has a degree in History with a minor in Middle East Studies, and is currently a fellow of NewGround: A Muslim-Jewish Partnership For Change based in Los Angeles. Home is where the next great experience lies, heart belongs to her nieces, roots are in Palestine.

FEN FIVE – JUNE 2010

FEN — Fri, 18 Jun 2010 22:03:00 +0000

This month’s FEN FIVE has got us singin’ summa summa summa time. Kickin’ things off is Shakira’s “Waka Waka” to keep that World Cup fever going! Followed by Khaled M, Kentucky-raised, Tuscon-based rapper with “Beautiful Feeling.” (We couldn’t have summed summer up with a better title.) Next up: just in time for travels (or thoughts of traveling) to the motherland is Mahmoud El-Esseily’s “Salaam Ya Balady.” We also had to put some Canada-based artists in the mix: Massari’s “Real Love” and Narcy’s latest “Paranoid Arab Boy” (if you haven’t downloaded it yet, you can do so here for free >>). Til next month… Press play and let us know what you think below…

1. Shakira ft. Freshlyground – “Waka Waka”
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2. Khaled M – “Beautiful Feeling”

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3. Mahmoud El-Esseily – “Salaam Ya Balady”

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4. The Narcicyst – “Paranoid Arab Boy”

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5. Massari – “Real Love”

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Let us and the artists know what you think by leaving a comment below…

Khaled M: Less Politics, More Lyrics

Yusra — Thu, 17 Jun 2010 08:52:51 +0000

Libya isn’t exactly famous for hip-hop. And it’s not often that Libyans become rappers, but Khaled Muammer isn’t one to stick with the mold. Born in Tucson, Arizona and raised in Kentucky, he got his start in high school, battling it out with peers in the lunchroom. “I was such a bad kid,” confesses the 25-year-old reformed troublemaker, adding that he was just lashing out for not fitting in, for being poor, for growing up without a father.

“My father died when I was 9-years-old,” Khaled says. “He was involved in the opposition movement in Libya, he was imprisoned…and of course that impacted my life in a big way.” After his father’s death, Khaled’s mother of Egyptian and Libyan heritage struggled to raise four boys on her own in a country that was still foreign to her. “I grew up with a big community of Libyans that all knew my family before we moved to America, so it wasn’t like I didn’t have fatherly figures,” he says. “I had a lot of love growing up, but at the same time I had to worry about who to trust, who was really a friend and who wasn’t.” Adding that his father’s death was always a reminder of the harsh reality of politics.

While Khaled, who’s represented by Urchin Studios, may not rap about Libyan politics (he only has one track that deals specifically with Libya) his family’s struggle keeps his music sincere. In fact, it is remarkable that Khaled is not more outspoken about Libya, but he says his cynicism makes him reserved.

I don’t like politics,” he confesses. “I’m much more concerned with making music, and making lyrics important again. I’m settling for making sure I live my life the right way.”

To him that means adhering to the teachings of Islam, though he stresses his music is not Islamic. In a verse in the track “Beautiful Feeling” the rapper talks about his reluctance to sign with big labels that produce mechanical music: “I believe in Allah so I follow The Prophet, you believe in dollas, so u follow a profit.’”

LISTEN: “Beautiful Feeling”

“I don’t make straight up Islamic music, though there’s a lot in my music that deals with Islam,” he says. “I don’t ever wanna come off as preachy, it’s just this is who I am. I’m not gonna be like Justin Bieber and use the word ‘shorty’ in my songs if I don’t say ‘shorty’ in real life,” he laughs. “I just want to stay true to my convictions and make music that’s sincere.”

In college, Khaled majored in journalism but couldn’t see himself working for someone else. “I got to learning about freedom of speech, and what the media is in America, a conglomerate of companies that control what you write, and I didn’t want to be a part of that,” he says.

With music, I can speak honestly and sincerely and reach more people.”

During college Khaled began ghostwriting for several hip-hop artists which led to a chance encounter with Bone Thugs N Harmony manager Steve Lopell. Lopell invited Khaled on tour with the group in 2003, which also featured hip-hop artists Tech Nine and Insane Clown Posse. He says the experience taught him to build a core audience the grassroots way; by creating loyal, dedicated fans who will follow you around the country and search your music because they genuinely love it, not because it’s commercially available.

Khaled plans on releasing some new tracks and videos from an album that’s set to be released next month. Fans can check Urchin Studios for updates. He is performing as part of the “Taking it to the Streets” Festival in Chicago on June 19, which features an impressive line-up of Muslim artists, including Outlandish, Mos Def and Brother Ali.

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About the Author: Yusra Tekbali, 25, is a Libyan-American freelance journalist and blogger based in the U.S. Her work has appeared in The Tripoli Post, Al Jazeera English, CNN and The Washington Diplomat. She blogs about the representation of Arab and Muslim women in the media at http://muslimahmediawatch.org/ She can be reached at yusratek@gmail.com

6Qs with Radio Host Hass Dennaoui

Seif Al-Din — Thu, 10 Jun 2010 19:24:38 +0000

Jeddah, Saudi Arabia in most ways is an unideal place to launch a hip-hop radio station. Putting on concerts is practically impossible and the logistical process is not without challenge, but Hass Dennaoui is more than up for it. A music lover with a mission, Hass launched Re-Volt Radio in September 2009 and has grown it steadily since. While it still isn’t a bona fide radio station, listeners can stream a rotating set of songs on the Re-Volt site and as of this past April, listen to a live stream when Hass goes on air. With a new mixtape out and big plans for Re-Volt, Hass continues to play his part in helping a growing scene begin to thrive.

STATS
First Hip-Hop Record: The Notorious B.I.G.’s Juicy
Movie: The Godfather Part 2
Favorite Rapper’s Favorite Rapper: Biggie

1. How did Re-Volt start?
The idea for Re-Volt came up when I first heard The Narcicyst and K’naan. I just connected with what they had to say and I asked myself, “Why cant I hear these songs on FM radio?” Since all radio stations play the same rotation of songs without exposing new talent and songs that have a message, etc…I decided to do something about it. So I started the “Re-Volt Radio” blog to introduce artists I find, talk about them, interview them and stream their songs on the site.

2. Why hip-hop? Do you have plans to expand into other genres?
Actually hip-hop is just a part of Re-Volt. Lately, the main focus is hip-hop, only because I got introduced to this movement and these artists that are of Arab backgrounds reflecting a good image about Arabia. But Re-Volt is and will be expanding into other genres that harbor good talents, new artists and fresh music. Also I not only interview the artists themselves, but the people who are documenting and supporting the movement.

3. What’s the best thing happening in Arab Hip-Hop right now?
Well, the recognition is high for sure. I mean The Narcicyst is opening for Talib Kweli. Arab Hip-Hop artists are releasing albums, Lowkey made it on TV and BBC Radio for an epic performance, so many good things are happening.

4. What’s the biggest challenge?
Promoting the artists in the Middle East. This is what Re-Volt wants to grow into. I want to be able to get all these guys to perform in the Middle East, and I find that very challenging because sponsors look for commercial and mainstream artists. It’s sad, actually. On another level, the challenge for the artists is to maintain their path and reach success yet stay humble and modest.

5. Who’s your favorite Radio/TV personality or show host?
I’m a basketball fanatic – I like the NBA presenters, I relate to them. I really like Mark Jackson – I love how passionate he gets during the game, being an ex-player himself.

6. Tell me about the mixtape…
The mixtape came together in an attempt to gather the Arab Hip-Hop artists into one single track mixed by DJ Lethal Skillz who actually is a big part of why this was launched. It includes top heads of the Arab Hip-Hop genre. I have been getting amazing feedback and we are trying to make it downloadable so that people can enjoy it and blast it in their cars and MP3 players. Big shout out to Lethal SKillz and all the artists in this movement.

Ultimately the mixtape was created to expose Arab and pro-Arab talents worldwide, elevate the sounds of the Arab mixtape culture, encourage the DJs to step their game up and to keep your ears busy with the good stuff!

Check out Re-Volt Radio and listen to The Real Arabic Hip-Hop Mixed Tape here >>

FREE DOWNLOAD: The Narcicyst – “Paranoid Arab Boy”

FEN — Tue, 08 Jun 2010 16:57:05 +0000

From the House de Narcel comes the first leak off The Narcicyst’s upcoming mixtape, code named “Strep Throat” – which will be an amalgamation of Narcy’s inspirations in and outside of hip-hop. This is his lyrically-laced rendition of Radiohead’s “Paranoid Android“.

The Narcicyst – “Paranoid Arab Boy”

Download it for FREE and let us know what you think below…

FEN FIVE – MAY 2010

FEN — Fri, 21 May 2010 18:20:29 +0000

Leading off this month’s FEN FIVE is Toronto-based Arabesque featuring Nova Emad on “Caravan of Love.” We’re looking forward to getting our hands on his upcoming album Nuclear Ambition. Next up, Bad Brya from Morocco by way of Amsterdam — with a soft voice that will pull you into her world of lyrics and a perfect balance between smooth vocals and slow raps, you will want to check this track. We’re also thrilled to share D.C.-based jazz vocalist, Lena Seikaly, who we’re excited to have just discovered. Followed by a throwback from Wust El-Balad — “A’m Mina” is musically whimsical and for Arabic speakers, a fun lyrical riddle. Finally, because Simona Abdallah’s “Reach Out” club mix is the perfect send off into the weekend, we’ll leave you with that. Now, press play and let us know what you think below…

1. Arabesque ft Nova Emad – “Caravan of Love”

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2. Bad Brya – “On My Way”

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3. Lena Seikaly – “The Very Thought of You”

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4. Wust El Balad – “A’m Mina”

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5. Simona Abdallah – “Reach Out (Club Mix)”

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Let us and the artists know what you think by leaving a comment below…

VIDEO: Arabesque – “Understand”

Seif Al-Din — Tue, 18 May 2010 17:04:30 +0000

Toronto-based Arabesque just released this video last week. The second single off his upcoming album Nuclear Ambition, “Understand” tells the stories of landed immigrants as they struggle to assimilate. ‘Besque put the right ingredients together here — smooth flow, nice track and a well-directed video that puts real faces to the stories. It makes us want to hear/see the rest of the them…

LISTEN: Fortune Family

FEN — Tue, 27 Apr 2010 14:20:48 +0000

One-third Egyptian and hailing from the suburbs of Philly comes Fortune Family, consisting of Hobson (Owen Hobson), Reefer (Sherif Hamid) and Kane (Matt Kane). Their first mixtape (Altered State) came out last June and made its way around the college blogs. Now they’re back for more with their second mixtape — The Dead Rapper’s Society. “Act One” off this mixtape made our April FEN Five, and here are two of our other favorites. With Hobson’s sampling skills and the various lyrical styles they bring to the mic, we look forward to hearing where their creative growth continues to take them. Leave some comments and let us know what you think.

“Believe in Me” (Recognize the sample?)

“Holdin’ Texas”

Download Dead Rappers Society for FREE, and check Fortune Family out on Facebook for more >>

FEN FIVE – APRIL 2010

FEN — Fri, 16 Apr 2010 15:32:17 +0000

It’s officially Spring and the Arab-American music scene is in full bloom. This month’s FEN Five features some new faces and fresh sounds from all over North America. First up, Ayah — reppin’ Toronto, her soulful voice delights on this track produced by DJ Jazzy Jeff. Philly-raised, NYU student Sherif Hamid of Fortune Family sent us a track off their new hip-hop album. Indiana-based Salaam will take you back home with their song “Layla.” Music Without Borders puts a refreshing and innovative twist on Fadel Shaker’s “Allahu Aalam.” And finally, the Brooklyn-Based Balkan Beat Box gives us a lighter take on “Ramallah Tel Aviv.” You’ll have to listen to understand what we mean by that. Now, press play and let us know what you think below…

1. Ayah ft. DJ Jazzy Jeff – “Back for More”

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2. Fortune Family – “Act One”

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3. Salaam – “Layla”

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4. Music Without Borders – “Aalam”

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5. Balkan Beat Box – “Ramallah Tel Aviv”

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Let us and the artists know what you think by leaving a comment below…

FEN FIVE – MARCH 2010

FEN — Fri, 12 Mar 2010 18:28:38 +0000

This month’s FEN Five carries some of our favorite qualities of the Arab-American music scene — it’s eclectic, innovative and quinti-lingual. From the moment we heard Algerian-Canadian songstress Zaho’s francofied remix of Sean Paul’s “Hold My Hand” we knew it would get heavy rotation. Gaida’s “Almaya” is one of Seif’s favorites off her album which he’ll be reviewing soon. “Hustle On” is Omar Offendum’s modern ode to an age-old street hustle, and our favorite of the exclusives he sent over off his upcoming album SyrianamericA. “Catch Me”, off Toronto-based singer/songwriter/producer Sarah Shafey’s EP got put back into rotation as we began reviewing her latest album. And for the finale, Syrian-Mexican-American Nuriya mixes Spanish and reggae vibes in “Ya Vete.”

Can you name all five languages? List them in the comments and get a free track…

1. Sean Paul ft. Zaho – “Hold My Hand”

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2. Gaida – “Almaya”

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3. Omar Offendum – “Hustle On”

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4. Sarah Shafey – “Catch Me”

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5. Nuriya – “Ya Vete”

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Let us and the artists know what you think by leaving a comment below…

VIDEO: Omar Offendum – “The Fortuneteller”

Seif Al-Din — Fri, 12 Mar 2010 18:26:26 +0000

What Omar Offendum has done with this song (off his upcoming album SyrianamericanA) is brilliant. Not only has he translated and interpreted one of Nizar Qabbani’s greatest poems (originally sung by Abdel Halim Hafez), he did so with depth. If you’ve ever been asked to translate the meaning of a classical Arabic song to English, you’ve no doubt traveled the tripped-up path that is trying to explain the un-explainable. What takes one or two words in Arabic can take 10 or 20 in English. And it almost always sounds corny. But not here. Props to Omar — he’s touched the untouchable, preserved it’s spirit and given it a new life that will no doubt take it to new places and new ears.

Read the original poem >>

And here’s Abdel Halim singing the original:

Arab-American Artists to Watch at SXSW

FEN — Fri, 12 Mar 2010 16:17:42 +0000

One of the biggest and maybe the most enjoyable music-turned-multimedia festivals of the year, South by Southwest (SXSW) in Austin, TX has become the place to be for artists of all types and statures. From independents pushing their EPs on the street to big names selling out venues and lining people up around the block, everyone is (or should be) there. This year, we’re excited to see some Arab-American artists joining the mix. If you’re lucky enough to be in Austin over the course of the next 10 days, here’s a guide to who’s playing where and when.

Sunday – Film
Eyad Zahra’s The Taqwacores:

Date: Sunday 3/14 @ 4:30pm
Venue: Alamo Ritz 2

More details on the film’s official SXSW page

Trailer:

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Thursday – Music
The Paranoids (Omar Offendum + Ragtop + The Narcicyst) will be performing at the Immortal Entertainment showcase.

Date: Thursday 3/18 @ 8pm
Venue: Club 115 (115 San Jacinto)

Check out this track:

The Narcicyst will also be performing in the M FOR MONTREAL showcase earlier that day:

Date: Thursday 3/18 @ 6:30pm
Venue: Paradise on 6th (401 east 6th Street)

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Imaad Wasif:

LA-based rocker Imaad Wasif is also doing SXSW the right way, with four shows in one day!

All shows on Thursday 3/18

3pm
Venue: Spaceland/Echo @ Antone’s (213 W. 5th St)

5pm
Venue: 604 E 6th St above El Sol y La Luna

6pm
Venue: The NAIL/Distiller SXSW Day Party @ The Side Bar (602 E. 7th St)

8pm
Venue: Halle Cabana 6

Check out this video from Imaad:

Freestyle 101 with The Narcicyst

Seif Al-Din — Thu, 04 Mar 2010 20:13:23 +0000

In the beginning, a freestyle was a rap written about no particular subject — free of style or concept — solely for the purpose of demonstrating skill. As hip-hop evolved so did the term, to mean improvisational rapping, off the top of one’s head.

Today, the term is used interchangeably, but whatever form it takes, when done well, it can be the embodiment of hip-hop at its finest — as proven here by The Narcicyst. In a packed Public Assembly (Brooklyn, NYC), a little over halfway through his set, the DJ’s equipment failed. Left with his mic, the stage, the following act Audiopharmacy’s spur-of-the-momentness and an eager crowd, he saved the day and showed us what freestyle is all about — creating a beautiful hip-hop moment. Watch the video, then leave a little freestyle of your own for us in the comment section…

VIDEO: The Narcicyst – “P.H.A.T.W.A.”

Seif Al-Din — Tue, 26 Jan 2010 17:36:06 +0000

The jury’s still out on whether the coolest thing about this video is either: a) Narcy’s friend telling him he needs a “fatwa” b) the dancing Gitmo prisoners or c) the deeply symbolic cartoon cloud of Narcy’s thoughts dancing on the wall. Regardless of what wins, this video is fun and thought-provoking. While the topic may at first seem standard and overdone, Iraqi-Canadian rapper The Narcicyst gives us a fresh look at a trip through customs. And it’s directed and shot so well, we can’t wait to see what’s next from director (and Narcy’s sister) Hala Alsalman.

6Qs with Rapper The Narcicyst

Seif Al-Din — Tue, 26 Jan 2010 14:50:14 +0000

It may be safe to say Iraqi-Canadian rapper The Narcicyst (a.k.a. Narcy a.k.a. Narcel X) has a name for every talent, but then again it may not be. One of Arab Hip Hop’s pioneers; a writer, journalist and activist; and now an actor, Narcy is committed to taking all forms of his art to new levels — as proven by his recent inclusion in Global Hip Hop’s Best of 2009 on World Hip Hop Market.

STATS:
Super Nintendo or Sega Genesis: Sega Genesis
Favorite rapper: A mix between Nas, Mos Def and Pharoah Monch
Pac or BIG: Pac because he was very very complicated, and Biggie because he taught you how to be free.

1. If you had one chance to collab with any artist or musician in the world, who would it be and why?
Stevie Wonder, because he changed my life. His music has helped me through grief, it’s helped me through love, it’s helped me through pain. Stevie Wonder hits so many categories in my life.

2. How connected do you feel the Arab hip-hop scene in North America is?
I think the Arab hip-hop scene in North America is comprised of the same beautiful things and the same ugly things that the mainstream hip-hop scene has. So you have this whole faction of angry Arabs, who use religion and militancy because they think it’s empowering but they don’t realize that they’re further engendering the stereotype. Then you have the cats that are all about the money who are representative of capitalism. Then you have the cats like us that are in the middle, who like to party, but are aware that the party comes at a cost. So I think it’s about as divided as the Middle East is.

3. Where’s your favorite place to write, or create?
Either on my couch, or on a plane.

4. How does it feel to have made a “PHATWA” of your own?
It feels great! I held back on making a music video for a while, because I believe visuals are very important. We’re in a visual culture as human beings, so I think that if you get the visuals twisted then you get the whole song twisted and you get the whole movement twisted. So it was definitely a dream come true for me, and having my sister direct it makes it even better.

5. What cartoon character is the best reflection of you and your personality?
A lot of people call me Tasmanian Devil. But I feel like Ren and Stimpy together, as one. ‘Cause I’m a Gemini, so I have two sides of me that always battle each other. So it’s either Ren and Stimpy or Tom and Jerry.

6. Narcel X?
Malcolm is the perfect example of a man for me, because he was changing until his last minute. He was always very critical of himself and his people. So he as a man is an example of what I strive to be like. In no way would I want to replicate that because you can’t, but he’s a huge inspiration in my life. So my writing “Narcel X” is because I’m political but I’m also very human, and that was who Malcolm was.

Every human being is a narcissist one way or another or at least at some point in their life. And I think it’s the destruction of mankind. The metaphor of falling into your own reflection is fame as well. So this thing that we strive for will eat itself alive.