UNTOLD STORIES - DRAGG RAP

Untold Stories is working to engage more of the Hull community with the Library Service.

Untold Stories is building an archive of oral and written histories and will create a range of

contexts within which people of all ages can create and share poems, stories, written history

fragments, slogans, raps, stage and screen plays and visual interpretations of their writing

for exhibitions and performances in libraries and other community buildings throughout Hull.

Untold Stories is part of Hull's Creative People and Places project funded by Arts Council England and the James Reckitt Library Trust.

DJ Redlocz (WestHullFM) is the creative director for the Real Yap project which is a year

long documentary film. Each artist is asked to recite or freestyle a cypher that relates to their

life as an untold story living in Hull. A 5 minute audio interview, including documentary

photographs of the artists in action in a chosen setting delivering their vocal piece.

Lawrence aka Dragg is a visually impaired artist who delivered a rap cypher for the Real Yap

Project talks to Redlocz about his craft.

Q. Where were you born and how come you came to the UK?

A. I originate from Zimbabwe, I migrated to the UK to join my parents who had moved here to study and work in the early 2000.

Q. When did you feel you had a passion for rhyming?

A. I always loved music as a child, loved dancing and the arts in general but I developed a

love for Hip Hop in my early teens.

Q. What do you mostly write about in your raps?

A. I am very versatile with my writing style, most of my lyrics are inspired by real situations in my life from friendships, relationships, personal life and everything else in between.

Q. What is the first song that you rapped to or rapped?

A. I don't really remember the very first song I wrote to be honest, but the first song I actually

released at the start of my career is one called What you need, featuring my then high

school friend, Laura Prescott.

Q. What famous rapper do you admire and why and which famous rappers have you learned

from?

A. I am inspired by a various number of artists, the list is too long to go through. The likes of

Cassidy, Jadakiss, Fabolous, Xzibit, Young Jeezy, The Game, Canibus, J Cole have all

motivated me to become the artist I am today. I would say Jay Z is one of the MNC's I have

studied and learnt from both inside and outside of music!

Q. How do you practice?

A. I don't really have a method of how I practise my craft. I live music, eat music, sleep and

drink music. It is something I constantly think about and it's just in my DNA if I am being

honest, so I am always thinking of lines and new melodies and ideas in my head no matter

where I am or go.

Q. Who was your mentor/teacher?

A. I've had a couple people who have helped me out through my career this far. When I

came in the game I was only 14, so I didn't know as much about the business and the

politics of the music industry as I do now. A guy called Jinx, who was also a rapper and

producer from a group called Projekt Feenix, based in Hull at the time mentored me and

basically showed me the ropes and a good 60% of what I still apply today to my music. After

Jinx's return to Africa, I began working closely with Full Flava Promotions and built a good

relationship with Redlocz, who was also managing Projekt Feenix prior to us working

together. Redlocz has also played a part in helping shape my musical journey. Outside of my

music career, we have expanded into a number of business partnerships.

Q. Have you entered in any competitions?

A. No I have never entered any competitions, apart from auditioning for X Factor with Laura

P back then (didn't get to the televised auditions anyways).

Q. How do you find the Hip Hop/Urban scene in Hull at the minute?

A. The Hip Hop scene in Hull is growing slowly but surely. I see more and more young talent

coming up. We are nowhere near where we need to be to compete with the bigger cities

around us but we need to build home grown platforms that will help push our music to the

other markets. We are working on it though, so watch this space!

Q. You are visually impaired, but it wasn’t always like this, from what age did this happen and how?

A. I lost my eye site through meningitis when I was around age 12.

Q. I know guys like Stevie Wonder and Ray Charles are exceptional talented when it comes

to music the loss of sight seems to give them that higher sense to excel in music. Is this true

you have some type of sixth sense when it comes to listening, creating and composing

music?

A. Ermm, I don't know if I have a sixth sense or any extra ordinary qualities, but I guess if

you only have your ears to help you fine tune your sound and perfect your craft, you are

more likely to pay attention to more detail compared to some people who maybe rely on

visual clues or technology all the time to do certain things for them.

Q. I see you have some good producers, videographers and rappers who you work with, how

do you manage to get good links and why do think they agree to work with you?

A. There's a thing called social media, when it's used correctly it can be a great tool! Most of my relationships with industry people is through social media and sometimes knowing someone who knows someone who knows someone. If I am in the studio and I come up with a song which I feel may suit a certain artist, at times I just reach out to that artist and they either agree to work with me or they don't really. I think when they have agreed, it's mainly because they saw the vision of where I was going and simply liked the music and just want to be a part of it!

Q. The best tune you enjoyed working on?

A. I enjoyed working on "Holla at you" featuring Amandi Music because, it was really the first

time I worked with Amandi. He is an exceptional RnB singer/Songwriter from Boston. I had

been following his music for a while but never reached out to work. It was also my first time

working with Platinum producer/Songwriter, OD Hunte who I had also been studying for a

while. When I finished doing my part with OD, I just remember saying to him I know this

singer who is super talented and he seemed a bit sceptical about the idea because he had

never heard of Amandi. I forwarded the track to Amandi and the following morning I got a

demo of the chorus back, forwarded it to OD, All I remember is him being on my phone

hyping up about the song and the rest was history! The music video topped it off which

ended up being a great concept and song!

Q. The most famous tune you have done and how successful was it?

A. I would say the most successful song I have done to date is "Let the beat breathe"

featuring Lady Leshurr. It is close to half a million views on youtube and has hundreds of

thousands of streams on Spotify and Deezer.

Q. Is it true you just memorise all your rap songs like Jay Z, is it an art form or are you just

born with this skill?

A. I'm not sure how to feel about the Jay Z comparison because that's some big shoes to fill,

but yes I do memorize all my rhymes. Like I mentioned earlier I tend to come up with ideas

at random times and at times in the most obscure places, so you don't always have time to

write it down, so I just store it in my head and use it when I get the right beats for the ideas.

Also because of my vision impairment, it would be hard to trying to read and record at the

same time so it's just easier for me to do it from my head. I think anyone can do it if they

practise, it gets easier the more you do it.

Q. The Real Yap Project is a unique and exciting urban project that is part of Untold Stories

supported by Hull Culture and Leisure Ltd and James Reckitt Library Trust.

We have been recording talented artists that are passionate about their lyrical art form for

the Real Yap How do you feel about being part of this exciting lyrical project ?

A. It is a great honour to be part of the` Real Yap Project` and to be part of the Hull History. I like that the next generation will be able to see and hear me do what I love the most, it’s a

good feeling.

Q. Have you ever been involved with a lyrical project like this bringing all the lyrical art forms together?

A. No I have never done a project like this before.

Q. What do you hope to achieve from being part of such an exciting unique project?

A. I just hope to be part of history in the making, and write my name in Hulls Hip Hop history books!

Q. Do you feel it`s good for the City and what do you hope to achieve from being part of it?

A. I think it will benefit a lot of artist who maybe didn't have a platform to push their art, and

some of those maybe we didn't know about will get a chance to come to the forefront as well

and shine!

Q. What advice would you give to any musicians or up and coming artist like yourself?

A. I would advise anyone who's making a come up in music to stay consistent, keep making

good music and have self belief. Once you believe in your music and you are passionate

about it, the listeners will feel that energy and buy into it! Also it's important to read, watch

and learn from those who have done it before you and also those around you. The music

industry is a tricky business where not everyone has your best interests at heart, so it's

important to know your rights as an artist and what you are entitled to, also what those who

work for you or with you should or shouldn't be doing.

The Real Yap film screening will be held at Fruit Humber Street Hull on Wednesday July 19th, free admission doors open 6:30pm. You can catch Dragg and the other Real Yap artists

performing at the event.

Please check our facebook page Real Yap Project for information/enquires please email

redloczhull@yahoo.co.uk