Publication date: 10 December 2005
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TWO MEN FROM TIBET - STILL ON A MISSION
From an observer's point of view, 2005 has been something
of an intriguing year. As I type this in early December, I
doubt anyone would contradict the view that the industry
hasn't delivered on the 'big-boom' releases that many of us
thought 2004 had set us up for...
However, the even better news is that '05 will probably be
remembered by watchers as the year when the significant
seed of some great music was sown, and the coming years (not just
2006) should see the world reap the rewards of this potent planting...
After raving so much about Birmingham in recent features, I return to
London for a follow-up piece on two guys who are working on an
album whose tracks are responsible for my fingers going into serial
'press repeat' on my MP3 player ('CLASSIC' is on as I type this...).
of an intriguing year. As I type this in early December, I
doubt anyone would contradict the view that the industry
hasn't delivered on the 'big-boom' releases that many of us
thought 2004 had set us up for...
However, the even better news is that '05 will probably be
remembered by watchers as the year when the significant
seed of some great music was sown, and the coming years (not just
2006) should see the world reap the rewards of this potent planting...
After raving so much about Birmingham in recent features, I return to
London for a follow-up piece on two guys who are working on an
album whose tracks are responsible for my fingers going into serial
'press repeat' on my MP3 player ('CLASSIC' is on as I type this...).
Judah
DJ Secret Weapon
JUDAH and SECRET, also known as 2 MEN FROM TIBET, released
their first newsletter day before yesterday, and I thought it a good
time to catch up after the FIRST PLAY feature I did on them way
back in June. Since then, they have completed plans for the release of their first album, TRUTH SYRUM (due out soon), have been on the road for quite a bit, and even found time to step out to New York over the summer.
Pics and questions by me. Answers by the guys. Nuff said. Enjoy this one...
Yinka Awojobi. Content Development, UK Gospel.com
their first newsletter day before yesterday, and I thought it a good
time to catch up after the FIRST PLAY feature I did on them way
back in June. Since then, they have completed plans for the release of their first album, TRUTH SYRUM (due out soon), have been on the road for quite a bit, and even found time to step out to New York over the summer.
Pics and questions by me. Answers by the guys. Nuff said. Enjoy this one...
Yinka Awojobi. Content Development, UK Gospel.com
STRANGE FRUIT...
...I started with a question about a growing trend among a lot of gospel artists trying to get the music and message out to the mainstream...
I'M STARTING TO SEE QUITE A FEW ARTISTS DEVELOPING THIS 'WITNESS-BY-SUBTERFUGE' APPROACH TO THEIR MUSIC MINISTRY, BY NOT LABELLING THEMSELVES AS GOSPEL MUSIC ARTISTS, ESPECIALLY OUTSIDE OF GOSPEL MUSIC CIRCLES.
YOU GUYS DO IT AS WELL. EXPLAIN:
The term 'gospel music' for us has become too limiting when we think about what God has
birthed in and through our music. The term gospel as we know means 'good news'. This good news for us is that in our real-life situations God shows up as our light of wisdom in the midst of the dark or confusing circumstance. This is what we show in our music. Our songs show all aspects of our human experience and our freedom in Hip-hop expression, but listeners will hear that God is the thread that holds us through it all.
Just because our tracks don't have scripture plastered all over them or 'Jesus' name, doesn't mean that He's not at the core of what we do through the TRUTH SYRUM Hip-hop experience!
Unfortunately, the term 'gospel music' carries a negative tag to the wider music community these days as it comes with a stereotype of it either being choirs, singing or people just spitting Jesus, Jesus, Jesus or preaching throughout a song about getting
YOU GUYS DO IT AS WELL. EXPLAIN:
The term 'gospel music' for us has become too limiting when we think about what God has
birthed in and through our music. The term gospel as we know means 'good news'. This good news for us is that in our real-life situations God shows up as our light of wisdom in the midst of the dark or confusing circumstance. This is what we show in our music. Our songs show all aspects of our human experience and our freedom in Hip-hop expression, but listeners will hear that God is the thread that holds us through it all.
Just because our tracks don't have scripture plastered all over them or 'Jesus' name, doesn't mean that He's not at the core of what we do through the TRUTH SYRUM Hip-hop experience!
Unfortunately, the term 'gospel music' carries a negative tag to the wider music community these days as it comes with a stereotype of it either being choirs, singing or people just spitting Jesus, Jesus, Jesus or preaching throughout a song about getting
saved.
And though some believers who are called into music service are called to do those very things very skilfully, for us, we've realised that our design as believers and our musical purpose doesn't fit in with this stereotype. We have only come to 'Do what WE do'. Therefore we have moved away from any such labelling so that our message is accessible to the wider world of listeners that we know God has assigned for the SYRUM to reach. People who may not even have given it a listen in the first place with a tag of 'gospel' on it.
HOW HAS THAT WORKED FOR YOU...?
Well, for us music is music and there are different messages within Hip-hop. Our music relates to all Hip-hop listeners - and in fact music listeners, so we feel that our music is within the genre of HipHop, and also is at least at the same standard as every other Hip-hop artist out there. Yes, we have our own sound which seperates us from everyone else and creates its own market, but the message from the TRUTH SYRUM album is one about life and realness, and is not preachy. We're just being who God has designed us to be - ourselves, and everyone can relate to that...
And though some believers who are called into music service are called to do those very things very skilfully, for us, we've realised that our design as believers and our musical purpose doesn't fit in with this stereotype. We have only come to 'Do what WE do'. Therefore we have moved away from any such labelling so that our message is accessible to the wider world of listeners that we know God has assigned for the SYRUM to reach. People who may not even have given it a listen in the first place with a tag of 'gospel' on it.
HOW HAS THAT WORKED FOR YOU...?
Well, for us music is music and there are different messages within Hip-hop. Our music relates to all Hip-hop listeners - and in fact music listeners, so we feel that our music is within the genre of HipHop, and also is at least at the same standard as every other Hip-hop artist out there. Yes, we have our own sound which seperates us from everyone else and creates its own market, but the message from the TRUTH SYRUM album is one about life and realness, and is not preachy. We're just being who God has designed us to be - ourselves, and everyone can relate to that...
ALL THINGS TO ALL MEN...
I DUG DEEPER....
LET'S TALK ABOUT YOUR RECENT TRIP TO THE STATES. HOW WAS IT...?
The trip to the New York was really good. It was a great learning experience for us on so many levels!
WHY DID YOU GO OUT THERE...?
We went originally because we had a hook up out there who just told us we really needed to come out there with our music and see what kind of feedback we would get. And see how things operate over there from a Hip-hop perspective.
The trip to the New York was really good. It was a great learning experience for us on so many levels!
WHY DID YOU GO OUT THERE...?
We went originally because we had a hook up out there who just told us we really needed to come out there with our music and see what kind of feedback we would get. And see how things operate over there from a Hip-hop perspective.
AND DO YOU THINK ALL OF THE PEOPLE (ESPECIALLY ALL OF THESE HIGH PROFILE SECULAR DJs THAT ARE FEELING THE MUSIC AT THE MOMENT) WOULD HAVE REACTED DIFFERENTLY IF THE MUSIC WORE AN OVERT 'GOSPEL' LABEL...?
Maybe, maybe not. What we do know is that previous experience in terms of overtly gospel music projects obtaining mainstream recognition and success is very few and far between, and has been usually marginalised, so there are no definites about that...
AND - AS THE JUDAH AND SECRET TRACKS START TO GET A GOOD RESPONSE -
HOW DO YOU GO ABOUT INTRODUCING THE GOSPEL BEHIND THE MUSIC...?
To be honest we're both very laid back peeps, there's no hype or mad convincing goin' on to get us to where we have got to today.
We've just let the music speak for itself and on a spiritual level God has done everything, opened every door we've gone through and closed the ones He doesn't want us to go through. We believe the music is effective enough, if not there would be no point in making it. When God gives us the opportunity to speak, we speak. We're learning to only speak what we hear from the Father!!!
Maybe, maybe not. What we do know is that previous experience in terms of overtly gospel music projects obtaining mainstream recognition and success is very few and far between, and has been usually marginalised, so there are no definites about that...
AND - AS THE JUDAH AND SECRET TRACKS START TO GET A GOOD RESPONSE -
HOW DO YOU GO ABOUT INTRODUCING THE GOSPEL BEHIND THE MUSIC...?
To be honest we're both very laid back peeps, there's no hype or mad convincing goin' on to get us to where we have got to today.
We've just let the music speak for itself and on a spiritual level God has done everything, opened every door we've gone through and closed the ones He doesn't want us to go through. We believe the music is effective enough, if not there would be no point in making it. When God gives us the opportunity to speak, we speak. We're learning to only speak what we hear from the Father!!!
STEPPING OUT
'...If you are able to publicise what you're doing enough, you would more likely be able to
And, we noticed that MCs, especially secular were more united in their music than it is in the U.K. The examples are there such as G-UNIT or some guys who we saw out there called LITTLE BROTHER who have a crew called 'JUST-US LEAGUE'. It appears that they are more willing to bring each other in on any opportunities for exposure. Their perspective is that the unity will make them all money in the end, and they make money off of each other if the various projects do well, so they make efforts promote each other when one of them has a foothold in the industry.
In our experience, we haven't seen this as much over here. People all go along their own separate ways building their own thing, and if they do make it big, I haven't seen many artists trying to bring through others that they have been rolling with. This is one of the reasons why we started rolling as part of ZIONNOIZ, so we could show this principle of unity and kingdom building. And at the end of the day we have a better reason than money to do this... Christ!
In our experience, we haven't seen this as much over here. People all go along their own separate ways building their own thing, and if they do make it big, I haven't seen many artists trying to bring through others that they have been rolling with. This is one of the reasons why we started rolling as part of ZIONNOIZ, so we could show this principle of unity and kingdom building. And at the end of the day we have a better reason than money to do this... Christ!
live off of it...'
AND HAVING BEEN THERE, WHAT'S YOUR TAKE ON THE DIFFERENCES BETWEEN THE UK AND US GOSPEL HIP-HOP SCENE....
The differences are that due to the size of the States if you are able to publicise what you're doing enough, you would more likely be able to live off of it, because the market place for Hip-hop is huge and even the gospel Hip-hop scene represents 10% of the market. Also what we noticed is that gospel Hip-hop is extremely hard core in its presentation of both message and style of music, especially when we were comparing it to ourselves, because our stuff is much more laid back.
The differences are that due to the size of the States if you are able to publicise what you're doing enough, you would more likely be able to live off of it, because the market place for Hip-hop is huge and even the gospel Hip-hop scene represents 10% of the market. Also what we noticed is that gospel Hip-hop is extremely hard core in its presentation of both message and style of music, especially when we were comparing it to ourselves, because our stuff is much more laid back.
AND THE SIMILARITIES...?
There are MCs just like us who are trying to make an impact with what they are doing, but
struggling to get the recognition or support that is necessary to go to the next level. Over there if your stuff is tight, you may attract the attention of labels but they would be asking
you to change up your message completely in order to fit in with the 50 CENTs of the world. Some of the MCs we met out there were in that very position but unwilling to sell out in terms of what content they bring on a record.
There are MCs just like us who are trying to make an impact with what they are doing, but
struggling to get the recognition or support that is necessary to go to the next level. Over there if your stuff is tight, you may attract the attention of labels but they would be asking
you to change up your message completely in order to fit in with the 50 CENTs of the world. Some of the MCs we met out there were in that very position but unwilling to sell out in terms of what content they bring on a record.
AND FINALLY...
NEXT STEPS
WHAT'S NEXT...?
Well, the album will be released and available on our website to buy real soon (at least from around January/February).
If you love Hip-hop - and if you love music - you will love this album. As far as the shows are concerned we're supporting our family ROYAL PRIESTHOOD at their album launch at Plan B in Brixton on the 14th December (make sure you are there) then we got a show at Sheperds Bush on the 22nd December.
Then in the new year we're gonna be again hittin' the shows, so check up on the site for all the updates...
THANKS!
Well, the album will be released and available on our website to buy real soon (at least from around January/February).
If you love Hip-hop - and if you love music - you will love this album. As far as the shows are concerned we're supporting our family ROYAL PRIESTHOOD at their album launch at Plan B in Brixton on the 14th December (make sure you are there) then we got a show at Sheperds Bush on the 22nd December.
Then in the new year we're gonna be again hittin' the shows, so check up on the site for all the updates...
THANKS!
I've been playing TRUTH SERUM for quite a while now, and can certainly relate
coming from. The music is strong, and owes a lot to the arrangements of classic Hip-hop,
Jazz, Soul and RnB thrown in. SECRET's beats and production make the project less of a
most, and JUDAH's flow is not only very clever, it brings a refreshing intelligence to the
TRUTH SYRUM is both deep and light, covering a wide range of life issues in a way that is
types of Hip-hop and - to some extent - good music fans, full stop. Tracks like QUEEN
DO WHAT YOU DO are full of crossover potential, and even thought-provoking joints like
have DJs, magazines and radio frothing: "Verses that bang like a gong and a beat that is your toes curl" - DJ MAG, "...a persuasive wibbler" MR SCRUFF,
and people are loving it" - HIP HOP CONNECTION...
DO WHAT YOU DO is playlisted on CHOICE FM and is on rotation, as well as playing on RADIO 1XTRA. It also charted in the B&S HIP LIST, compiled by DJ BIGGER, one of
D'YOU GET IT had been playlisted on DJ 279'S FRIDAY NITE FLAVAS show
20 chart.
And - you know how we do - TRUTH SYRUM will be available on both UKG Shop and UKG
coming from. The music is strong, and owes a lot to the arrangements of classic Hip-hop,
Jazz, Soul and RnB thrown in. SECRET's beats and production make the project less of a
most, and JUDAH's flow is not only very clever, it brings a refreshing intelligence to the
TRUTH SYRUM is both deep and light, covering a wide range of life issues in a way that is
types of Hip-hop and - to some extent - good music fans, full stop. Tracks like QUEEN
DO WHAT YOU DO are full of crossover potential, and even thought-provoking joints like
have DJs, magazines and radio frothing: "Verses that bang like a gong and a beat that is your toes curl" - DJ MAG, "...a persuasive wibbler" MR SCRUFF,
and people are loving it" - HIP HOP CONNECTION...
DO WHAT YOU DO is playlisted on CHOICE FM and is on rotation, as well as playing on RADIO 1XTRA. It also charted in the B&S HIP LIST, compiled by DJ BIGGER, one of
D'YOU GET IT had been playlisted on DJ 279'S FRIDAY NITE FLAVAS show
20 chart.
And - you know how we do - TRUTH SYRUM will be available on both UKG Shop and UKG
to where JUDAH and SECRET are
with clear elements of
US Hip-hop clone than
UK Hip-hop scene.
truly accessible by all
FOR LIFE, CLASSIC and
WHAT IF, TRUTH SYRUM
so airlock-tight make
"JUDAH and SECRET are just doing what they do
radio stations such as BBC
the UK's biggest RnB DJs.
and has entered DJ MR SCRUFF's Top
Spin! in the new year.
with clear elements of
US Hip-hop clone than
UK Hip-hop scene.
truly accessible by all
FOR LIFE, CLASSIC and
WHAT IF, TRUTH SYRUM
so airlock-tight make
"JUDAH and SECRET are just doing what they do
radio stations such as BBC
the UK's biggest RnB DJs.
and has entered DJ MR SCRUFF's Top
Spin! in the new year.
Watch this space...
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