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Lyrics from a cell now lyrics of the world?

Updated: 8 minutes ago

An immersive music heavy exhibition



It’s my conversation with Top Dolla that made me write the words above. We was talking about the music our community was producing, whether in grime or rap, there always seemed to be this element of “Badman chat” I’ll call it. “Badman” in the context of what I knew growing up was based on a Jamaican terminology describing a person who held no regard for societies and it’s rules the only rules they held was to the practicality of violence. 


Now I think you’d be well in your right to say that music like Dancehall and Bashment shaped the music created by black Londoners during the early 2000’s, but I think there’s more to it, as it wasn’t just Bashment being listened to, RnB was a big thing too. I can remember getting into a classroom debate with my friend Elliott at school for who was the better singer Joe or D’angelo, him siding with Joe and me D’angelo - I learned that day my classroom peers didn’t understand real music, I blame the parents and the teachers of Kelmscott! 


But back on track, what it really showed was that our listening was diverse. But what was happening? the conversation with Top Dolla brought us to a similar conclusion that the music was heavily influenced by friends and family who were entering the prison system. As these members of our community often would be the one’s pushing the boundaries for what’s possible showing gold chains, designer shoes, and cars we only imagined driving, it’s funny what’s possible when you don’t follow the norms. Rebels? without a doubt, though without a mission that definitely too could be argued. But these members of the community whose actions had been highlighted more due to the extremity of their ambitions pushed narratives of fast money, fast rides and hands marked with violence like 666 synonymous with the beast. 


The majority though at some point would get caught and end up doing a stint in prison. Communications from inside buildings founded with HMP would tell of glory of holding it down for the ends, “Badman don’t tek chat”, shaping the thinking of the connected young community outside. Trips to the music studio told new stories of this thinking, death before dishonour has been said. Music was simply a means for creatively communicating. 


In the early 2000’s rap and grime were the vehicle for telling the tales from the streets, today’s youth spread the topics of unrest  through the sounds of rap and it’s focused off shoot Drill. Different day, though same topics. Is it that lyrics of the cells spread further then we could ever of imagined, or is it that the issues of old have simply been given fresh paint…



An immersive one of a kind music heavy exhibition get your tickets by clicking the link above




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