RE-VOLT MAGAZINE ISSUE 06 by RE-VOLT MAGAZINE

ISSUE 06 • APRIL 2014

YOUR MONTHLY SOURCE OF REAL HIP-HOP & ARAB CULTURE

re-volt magazine is a new platform under the same roof as re-volt blog, which initially started as a space where views on mainstream music can be openly discussed, where the music industry is put on the stand and criticized, and lastly, where underground, talented unrepresented artists are given a chance to stand out. Our main focus is to expose hip hop as a positive genre and detach it from the corrupted mainstream hip hop. Starting up an online magazine will benefit this message, as re-volt magazine will reach more readers worldwide and will enlighten people on the power of the word and the role of hip hop in the Arab region. Aside from the well-known elements of hip hop - which are MC, BBoy, Beatbox, Graffiti, DJ and Knowledge re-volt magazine also focuses a great deal on any other forms of expression/art that concretize the richness of our Arab culture. The list includes films, documentaries, initiatives, events, companies, charity organization, etc... A mic, a choreography, a vocal percussion, spraypaint, a vinyl record, a book or a film... We choose all the above. The power of the word to inform, to represent and to stay real! EDITOR HASSANE DENNAOUI ASSOCIATE EDITOR | GRAPHIC DESIGNER Hanane FATHALLAH CONTRIBUTORS If youâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;re interested to write for re-volt magazine, email us revoltmag1@gmail.com

Cover Artwork Ali, the Greatest by Justin BUA Three-time world heavyweight champ and international icon Muhammad Ali, who was crowned “Sportsman of the Century” by Sports Illustrated in 1999. “It was both an honor and a privilege to have painted this living legend.” - Justin BUA

R E V O LT / R E P O R T

>> RETROSPECTIVE Music: Temporary Escapism. You DJ-ed in the shelters during the war in Beirut. Looking back to it now, what did you gain from that experience in that specific stage of your life? Playing for the kids in shelters growing up during the civil war in beirut made me realize how strong and important music can be and how music is not just “Music” for example music it can heal, it can move, it can make u forget, love, hate, stand up, unite, divide, etc..... depends which direction you taking musically and what you are trying to ultimately achieve through one’s music. Tell us briefly about your early beginnings. And how did 961 see the light? My early beginning started in mid 80’s when I saw “Rock It” Herbie Hancock on MTV: this was the changing point for me from a bboy to wanting to learn and become a DJ - and specially a “Scratch DJ”. From there, I opened my eyes into Hiphop, loved the culture and was hungry to learn about it, it’s history and the more I know about it the more I fell in love with it. From bumping WU Tang 36 Chambers days to listening to Big Pun, Fat joe and hearing all these and other rappers mentioning Lebanon and Beirut in their music. It came to my head one day I wannt to reach a level where I see the likes of WU and such bumping Arabic Hip-Hop music in their ears, hit them back with music from my country or give back to HipHop but we didn’t have “Arabic HipHop” yet so this was the beginning of the Journey... Fast forward to 2001, I established 961 UnderGround as a platform to host the best talents I believe have what it takes to shape Arabic Hip-Hop, to unite people from across the country in Lebanon, despite their religious and sectarian backgrounds and prove that Hip-Hop can be used to unite and break the barriers in Lebanon - eventually spreading out across the region and to the rest of Arab Hip Hop heads worldwide. 961 Underground was never a group; it is a platform but all the people who repped 961 shaped 961 and contributed to the success and peak that we had.

In you opinion, where do you see the state of Arabic Hip-Hop now? Since we started doing Hip-Hop back in mid 90’s in Beirut upon my return from Africa till this day, Arabic HipHop has come a long way: it’s been evolving by the day. The only thing I would love to see more are ‘live’ Arabic Hip Hop acts. The most successful creation to date - and something similar to the roots that we have in Arabia - is Fareeq El Atrash which was formed by the fam Johnny Damascus. Also, I would like to hear feel good hip-hop: I dont want to start a revolution everytime I want to hear Arabic Hip-Hop. Sometimes I just want to chill out and listen to some feel good music even though I’m a revolutionist myself. Check out my 1st album released in 2007 “New World Disorder” The title says it all! haha Your path is filled with great achievements, do you have any regrets & if so what are they? No regrets only lessons learned hamdulellah Where is your dream performing stage? Biggest Stage!!! Worldwide Tour hosting all the Best of Arabic Hiphop from every corner of the 22 Arab countries; that means Levant/Gulf/NorthAfrica form this super Arab HipHop Crew and we go Worldwide... You said “DREAM” so there you go. What keeps you motivated? I’m an Aries, Fire Dragon sign. I love continuous challenges, I get bored quickly and I love to keep challenging myself. But honestly, I do what I do for me because I love what I do. This by itself is a blessing. In the process, if i get recognition and respect it’s a plus but won’t change the fact that I am doing what I love to do most.

R E V O LT / R E P O R T

You’ve moved to Malaysia. How has this impacted your life? And tell us about your DJ-ing life there? To put it in the right context, I did a temporary move to Malaysia first due to the lack of opportunities in Middle East in my domain of work due to the political situation. My real name is “Hussein Mao” and the sect I belong to that i’m labeled with is the most hated at the moment so that acts against me and minimizes the opportunities that I can get. So, I need to work double the effort to sustain. The beauty of being in a place outside of Middle East - Malaysia for me at the moment - people don’t care what your religion is, how you pray, if you go to a mosque, church or a temple as long as your a good human being your are accepted and respected equally which is one of my dreams to see happening in our parts of Arab countries. I don’t need a visa to come to Malaysia but I do need a visa to visit Dubai... Enough said When is your new album coming out? And what can we expect? Third Album is under works. This time it is going to sound different from the usual DJ Lethal Skillz sounds. I’m going to be reflecting on the new stage of my life that I reached. I promise you feel good music throughout, with the usual hiphop foundation of course, global connection and features represented on the album and def the usual conscious and messages that matters to the times we live in at the moment, Turntablism element represented and lots of live instrumentation injected. Who are you listening to at the moment? & in One word describe the state of Arab Hip Hop. Gummy Soul, Yassin Gaye, Marco polo, Hamorabi, Fareeq El Atrash, and lots more... State of HipHop: “FAYAH!” Wal3aneh 3al Lebnaneh

Tell Re-Volt Magazine something not a lot of people know about you. Haha there’s a lot under my sleeve that’s where the name Lethal Skillz comes from let me see... Hmm aight here’s one: I’ve been on a health personal challenge for the past 1 year and a half and hamdulellah I am half way there and it’s going all great. Eating healthy, working-out daily, practicing martial arts like Muay Thai/ MMA Conditioning/Systema and promoting healthy living through juicing fruits and vegetables daily to improve health and boost immunity and help the community ;) Check out our page on FB called “The Main Squeeze” if you would like to know more about it. MUCH LOVE TO RE-VOLT FAM! Keep doing what you doin, and we DON’T stop! Interview by Hassane DENNAOUI a.k.a. BIG HASS revoltmag1@gmail.com

[FOLLOW DJ LETHAL SKILLZ] via FACEBOOK https://www.facebook.com/djlethalskillz961

LOCAL FLAVA’ | Q&A MOGHAZI

MOGHAZI | Hijazi & Hip Hop Fusion 1. What inspired you to be a producer? Ever since I was a kid, I’ve always been curious about music, music softwares and musical instruments. Then, during the age of 17, I started learning how to play ‘oud’ and soon after that I wanted to develop a different skill that was known more internationally; so I started learning how to play the keyboard. After learning all of these and some other musical production softwares, I found myself able to produce full tracks of high quality music and of course these skills comes gradually with lots of practice and can’t be learned overnight.

[FOLLOW MOGHAZI] Twitter @MoghaziMusic soundcloud.com/moghazi-1/

2.Your beats have a lot of hijazi feel to it. Do you get credit or attack for linking and fusing it with hip hop? I was a bit surprised on how the fans loved it and it was actually beyond my expectations, because I felt that what I produced was something simple. 3. What’s your dream? My dream is to develop my studio and upgrade to a professional level and make music that will be internationally known.

F E A T U R E

1. When did you realize that Hip-Hop is what you want to do? In middle school a friend gave me a copy of ‘Illmatic’ as a gift. I listened to the first track “New York State of Mind” about 30 times. It inspired me to write my first rhyme. I was so excited and needed to share it someone. My grandmother was the only one around. I shared the verse with her. She loved it and told me that no matter what I do, I needed to do that. I never forgot that. I’ve been making music ever since. 2. Where do you the state of Hip-Hop now-a-days? When Mos Def dropped “Black on Both Sides” he said hip hop is where we are. In other words it’s where our collective consciousness is. Our collective consciousness is constantly evolving and growing. It’s also stagnant sometimes. I personally haven’t felt in tune with hip hop in a long time; at least mainstream hip hop. At this moment in time I think things are shifting because our consciousness is shifting. People across the world are becoming enlightened and demanding a better quality of life. Art must reflect the times in which we live and help us reimagine what what’s possible. Otherwise it ceases to be art. I hope the culture gets more of what Jay Electronica and Jay Z dropped on the “We Made It” Remix. I believe there are number of unknown great artists that will see the light of day soon. 3.You have travelled the world under the exchange program of the State Department. How was that experience for you guys? Tell us about your visit to Lebanon? Those trips changed my life.There is nothing like seeing the world while doing your art. It’s every artist’s dream, but for me it didn’t come without a cost. While it was an

amazing opportunity and experience to travel all over the world, it became increasingly difficult to deal with an agenda that does not align with my beliefs. At the time many members of The Lo Frequency felt that way; that’s a large part of why we don’t do those programs anymore. On the other hand, we met some of the most incredible people in our travels. The beauty in those trips came from the genuine human interactions away from the cameras. Our mission was to connect and share with people through our music. I think we were successful at that. Lebanon is another home to many of us. We truly have family there. We loved it so much we traveled there twice in the same year. The first time we passed through Beirut on tour. The second time we came to do an artist residency and International Hip Hop Academy. We created one of my most memorable songs and collaborations with some of the best artists in Beirut and the region (Traditions). 4.Your lyrics are all about mind elevation. What made you choose that path? I learned about the power of words and music very early in my career. I have always known it is my responsibility to use my talent to uplift people. Otherwise, I will face the consequences of abusing the blessing I have been given. 5. What are you currently working on? I’m still pushing “Footprints.” I have a few more videos coming out soon. I’m also finishing and album with my business and artistic partner Asante’ Amin. That’s due out

F E A T U R E [FOLLOW CHEN LO] http://www.iamchenlo.com

Q&A

A VISIONARY

CHEN LO later this year. I’ve also been working with Soul Science, my production company, on a few pretty major music and multimedia productions that include history, culture and social commentary. We’re getting some traction with one we recently created called ‘Soundtrack 63’ I’m heavily involved in and international accessories platform called ACCENT that exposes global artisans of color to a wider marketplace. I’m the creative director of the men’s product lines. Lastly, I’m always building with the youth. I’m running the music production division of the Adobe Youth Voices Academy at Urban Arts in New York. It’s an amazing place to be.

6. Throughout your musical career. Do you have any regrets? I don’t have any regrets. It has all been about learning and growing. I’ll get to where I’m supposed to be. 7. Tell Re-Volt Magazine something not a lot of people know about you. This may seem random, but most people don’t know I speak a bit of German. Thanks for the opportunity. Interview by Hassane DENNAOUI a.k.a. BIG HASS revoltmag1@gmail.com

s p o t f . y . i .

ARTWORK | GRAFFITI REMOVAL BY BANKSY

Connect with Luka Lesson on:

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Q&A

Australian Conscious Hip Hop Artist & Slam Poet

Luka LESSON You Said “Everyone is scared of making a mistake. But that’s the beauty of poetry, there are no real mistakes.” - Can you elaborate on that? I don’t believe in rules for poetry. Inherently in all of us there is a knowledge of language and what sounds good and what doesn’t. I believe in the oral traditions all cultures have held for much longer than page poetry, and the power of storytelling in a community. The are no mistakes in that, there are always ways to improve, but nothing is a real ‘mistake’. How did you become a slam poet? Man, I think it found me, though I know that’s a cliché answer. I was writing raps already and spotted some of Lemon Anderson’s work on line. Then I hit a hard point in my life and poetry kinda dug me out of that. So in a way I needed to do it, rather than it being a choice. Now it has become a big part of my life.

You’ve said that Khalil Gibran is your all time favourite artist/poet. Can you tell us what attracted you to his writings? I was lead to Khalil’s work by a friend whose parents were from Syria & Lebanon. My friend’s mother would read Khalil’s work from a beautiful big golden volume in Arabic for hours and I just dove into his writing. I’d never really read anything like it. The Prophet’s sections of Marriage, Work and Children are never too far from me and used as a reference often. his story is also what draws me to him. He was brave. Anything can be used as an inspiration to an artist. What was your special moment? The one that made you realize that this is what you want to do? For me it was about a year of a moment. I had a period of heavy depression and physical sickness in 2008/9 and writing helped me a lot.

I was in serious trouble. Although I don’t think poetry can replace fitness, healthy eating, doctors or other forms of personal development, it really did provide for me a very strong platform from which to grow and change and pull myself out of the rut I was in. In 2011, I won the Australia Poetry Slam final and toured internationally for three months. I ended up performing alongside Lemon Anderson at the Auckland and Sydney writers’ festivals at the end of that tour and I think that’s when it clicked. What does Hip-Hop mean to you? I grew up in Australia, I’m not from 1980s New York, or the West Coast in the 90s. I don’t rap like I’m from those eras or places, but I’ve learnt to be brave from them. Learned to play with words from them. Learned to represent my story from them, not pretend their story is mine. That wouldn’t be Hip-hop. Hip-hop for me is about a global community,

acceptance of cultures, and ingenuity. About making the most of what you’ve got and developing skills that you can’t fake. About replying to the majority with stories from the minority. A reclamation of identity. As well as straight up “Peace, love and having fun”. The Poem “Please Resist Me” is one of my favourite. What inspired you to write such a poem? Growing up as a son and grandson of Greek migrants there was a lot of racism around me. Australia can be very racist, bigoted and violent. In primary school, I was the darkest kid in my class. Considering I’m touring in South Africa right now and tonight I’ll probably be one of the whitest guys in the venue, that’s totally crazy. Please Resist Me is my way of saying: What doesn’t kill me can only make me stronger, and points to the insecurities that people have inside themselves when they discriminate on the basis of skin colour, language, sexual preference or creed. I have a show called “Why HipHop?” In it , i try to change the wrong perception people have about this culture & support the essence of it. For Luka , Why Poetry? Because it pre-dates Hip-hop and I’m a purist. Haha. Nah, truthfully I love how poetry strips it back. How honest and vulnerable poets can be and how raw it is. I mean bad poetry is really bad, because it is inyour-face bad. But good poetry and real heart being shared on a stage changes you. And then words become action. And the whole room feels it. I love that. And I love that it is being done with nothing but a microphone. I also dig that more women feel comfortable or are accepted and heard in the poetry community. Too many guys rule rap shows around the world and I’m kinda over that alpha vibe.

Your words are powerful yet calm. How do you find the balance? Shouting or being loud is not power. Or strength. I’ve learned that along the way. I find the balance by being that way in life. I think so much art is for shock now, people are used to it. Calm words, but powerful writing will last. I prefer that. Who are you currently listening to? Right now, lots of Jean Grae. We just did a show together in South Africa. One Blood Festival raised funds for young people living in Joe Slovo township. And she is just too dope. So underrated, she beats most male rappers hands down. You’ve performed with Omar Offendum & The Narcicyst. From your experience, how do you see the Arabic Hip-Hop movement? (I haven’t performed with the boys, but I hosted them and showed them around when they were in town. I’ve performed with Amir Sulaiman) I’m inspired by it. Unfortunately, most rappers from the greek Diaspora are pretty cheesy, so it is good to see a bunch of people making quality music and bridging the gaps between worlds, staying true to the art-form, staying on the political movement and still staying grounded in their cultures. Plus they’re just good guys to kick it with, we’ve had a laugh and mutually appreciate the global messages we are putting out in the world. In one word. How would you describe Australian Hip-Hop Artist “L-FRESH The LION”? Committed Your dream performing stage would be..? There is an ancient amphitheatre at the Acropolis in Athens, Greece. I’ve been watching videos of all the greatest performers doing concerts there since I was a kid. It seats about a thousand people and sits just below the Parthenon. I hope the ancestors have that planned for me.

What are you currently working on? & would you be interested to perform in the Middle East? Right now I am getting ready to release my new album: EXIT. It will be out on May 1 for free. The vision is to give it to 20 Million people worldwide so I’m working on that. And I’ve been dreaming about coming to the Middle-East for a minute, I think next year, in 2015, it will happen. I’ve been planning with some Lebanese friends to visit Khalil Gibran’s village and museum in Bsharri, so hopefully that can also be a part of it too. If you would define poetry using the “Luka Lesson” dictionary. What would it be? :) Found in every culture and history of the world, one of the first art-forms, poetry is the free and unsanctioned expression of oneself - an answer to the call of every human’s soul: I exist. Tell Re-Volt Magazine something not a lot of people know about you? If I don’t get in the ocean at least once a month I start acting crazy. Took me a while to figure out, but now I live there.

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You’ve spent some time in the Arab Region (UAE) & now you are based in Montreal. How does that translate in your artwork? I was born in the UAE to Iraqi parents, and immigrated to Montreal as a child in the midnineties. For so long, I lived in Montreal physically but mentally and spiritually was in the East. I feel so connected to my roots as an Iraqi, and have spent time in many major Arab cities, mostly Beirut, Amman, Baghdad and Dubai, and travelled many others. Each place has its own stories, and its own significance to my life. My artwork is mostly “Iraqcentric” because its a fact of my identity, and because of what Iraq has gone through in the past decade. I was trying to fill that void for a long time, as I felt that no one was really “speaking” about Iraq and the injustices there. However, today, I’m more at peace with who I am, and where I am. I see that coming out in my more recent work, where I’m not so much focused on one particular place, but more on the universality of being human. Despite that, I’m constantly inspired by the ancient civilizations of Sumeria and Mesopotamia and the rich, vibrant visual history of the Arab world, which you’ll find as references in much of my work.

How would you define your style & techniques? I am a multimedia artist, so I like to experiment with all kinds of different media. I’ve worked with everything from painting, collage, sound, video, digital. This is the reality of the world we live in today, where one piece of artwork gets transformed dozens of times through different mediums. An artwork can start off as a moment in time captured through a photograph, then printed, collaged on to canvas, painted, scanned, digitized again, edited into video and ends up uploaded onto YouTube to be shared on social networks. Its crazy. But I’d say technique aside, concept and research has always been my favorite part of making artwork. Creating a narrative, telling a story, and sending a message, while considering the social, political and historical context of the work. How did the Warchestra project come to life? Warchestra was born out of my frustration of how Iraq, and the Arab world in general, was portrayed in the media in the West. As an Arab growing up in North America, I knew that I came from such a rich culture and heritage, but no one else did. I also saw through all the lies and propaganda that were being fed to us in

F E A T U R E

the media after 9/11. I wanted to do something to make that voice heard, to change the way people saw, heard and experienced the war in Iraq. So Warchestra evolved into being a project that reimagined weapons as musical instruments, and highlighted culture in the backdrop of war, all the while telling the horrific stories of trauma that Iraqis, and other Arabs/Muslims, live every day. I collaborated with many talented musicians and poets to create the soundscape for each painting, and together with the Narcicyst, cut it as a fulllength experimental album.

happy to be back in the studio working on my artwork after a short hiatus since having my first child last year. For now, I’m not putting myself under any pressure to finish anything before the years end, so no promises yet! However, I’m excited to say that I’m collaborating with Sandhill for his album release so look out for that! And I’ve also done the artwork for The Narcicyst’s Arabic record “El Nargisee” also due out this year.

What are you currently listening to? I’m really lucky to have a prereleased copy of Sandhill’s latest album due out next month. Its great to have talented familyhe’s my cousin. I also get sneak peaks at The Narcicyst’s new music while he is mixing at homehe’s my husband. I’m also really enjoying the Stromae album, and the latest Daft Punk record. We’re not related.

Was there any project done in the Arab World that made you proud. If so, please tell us about it.? The first art biennale in the Arab world happened in Baghdad in 1974.

Which Arab Woman artist inspires you? My mother, the artist Sawsan Alsaraf, who inspires me daily, and surrounded me with creativity and art since the day I was born. What can Sundus promise us in 2014? I’m currently working on a “multimedia graphic novel” about a young girl’s story of survival. Its in quotations because I have no idea how its going to turn out, but its based on a short story I wrote a few years ago. I’m

Tell ReVolt Magazine something not a lot of people know about. I love to sing! I’ve sang backups on a couple of tracks for the Narcicyst... and performed them during the Montreal Jazz Festival in his 2012 performance. Music is my second passion. I played piano since age 4, and had my own radio show on CKUT FM in Montreal playing music by groundbreaking Arabs, from Warda to Alaa Wardi. Peace!

{FOLLOW SUNDUS ABDULHADI} http://www.sundusabdulhadi.com via FACEBOOK

ON THE GO | Q&A RUBEN SANCHEZ

4. You’ve done a lot of workshops with the the youth. How important are these workshops for you? It’s is great to see people interested in graffiti, you can learn the technique, you can learn the history but actually in real life, you must learn and practice graffiti in the streets, and here is quite risky. 1. Was there something specific that triggered your passion to do Graffiti? I think it was my existing relationship with skateboarding, which took me to the streets at a very early age. I found the same freedom and opportunities in both. 2. Has your long stay in Dubai, UAE, influenced your graffiti style? Yes, in a way. I’ve been exploring the arab geometric patterns and local wildlife in some of my pieces during this past year. I’m using local wood and materials too, like old signages with arabic inscriptions, I love it, it looks quite exotic to me. 3. Who are three of your favorite graffiti artists in the Middle East? Those who are not afraid of breaking the rules.

5. What’s on the horizon for Ruben? I will keep exploring the Middle East, I love it. I have great projects coming up with Tashkeel for the city of Dubai. I will paint and travel as much as I can, I will reply my emails and I will try hard not to be an idiot. 6. Tell Re-Volt Magazine something not a lot of people know about you. I play flamenco guitar, El Seed is teaching me break-dance moves, I was a cat-wolf in my past life. [FOLLOW RUBEN SANCHEZ] http://www.iamrubensanchez.com https://www.facebook.com/roobo

TOP 5 TUNES on my headphones

➔ RECOMMENDED VIDEO

BLITZ THE AMBASSADOR Success

THE ARAB HIP HOP FESTIVAL

3-5 APRIL 2014 | DOHA, QATAR http://arabhiphop.theyouthcompany.com/ “re-volt magazine will be covering this event! Our very own Big Hass is attending the Arab Hip Hop Festival in Doha, Qatar. Stay tuned for an exclusive report in MAY | Issue#07!” ----------------------------Arab Hip-Hop Festival is a first of its kind event that aims to bring together young hip-hop enthusiasts and top artists from around the MENA region. Arab Hip-Hop Festival aims to promote new ways to develop and unite Hip-Hop fanatics around Middle East & North Africa. It’s set to enrich different experiences for everyone in the region and help promote Hip-Hop culture and talents. Based on the key theme of street culture and hip-hop, and the belief of its rising popularity & evolution in the generations to come, the Arab Hip-Hop Festival strives to provide a platform for Arab youth to break boundaries without disrespecting traditional values, while highlighting hip-hop as a dominant genre in modern pop culture and entertainment. Talents featured include: breakdancing, rapping, beatboxing, graffiti and DJs

TALAL HASSAN FOUNDER / CREATIVE HEAD www.fn-k.com

ON THE GO | Q&A THE GHOST

Emiratti Hip Hop Artist THE GHOST 1. Do you remember what made you fall in love with Hip-Hop? I would definitely say it was the music released during the golden age in the early-mid 90’s. I wasn’t necessarily aware of record labels like Def Jam, Profile, Sugar Hill, Tommy Boy, and whatever artists they housed at the time; but i did stumble upon a cassette tape labeled “Friday”; which was the actual soundtrack for the movie. It was pretty much my introduction to Hip Hop music, and ultimately lead to my infatuation with the entire culture. 2. The Ghost. What is it that you hope people get from your name? I’d like to be known as one of the artists that broke barriers in terms of bridging the gap between the West, and the Middle East, in a legitimate way. At the end of the day, good music is good music. For us to be taken seriously, the perpetrators of this region who call themselves “rappers” may need to take a back seat in order for Middle East Hip Hop to truly shine. We all have different roles to fulfill, so there’s no reason for everybody to be a rapper. Just thought I’d throw in my 2 cents in there.

3. What do you think is needed for an Arabic Hip-Hop Artist to breakthrough? The same amount of dedication as any other successful artist in the game. I, for one, stopped looking for excuses as far as why our current situation may take twice the effort. These obstacles come with the territory. Your ability to overcome them will only strengthen your character. Bottom line is, persistence always beats resistance. 4. Is the industry making it hard for underground Arab hip-hop artists? The industry here makes it difficult for a Hip Hop artist PERIOD. The lack of knowledge, and misrepresentation of the culture makes it even more difficult. That’s where artists have to take responsibility by attempting to change these misconceptions. 5. Is Radio Play as important as before? I think radio play will always be important for any artist; but nowadays we have the Internet at our disposal. It kind of simplifies things as far as being able to promote your music on your own. But to me personally, I always felt like having a track played on the radio is like being recognized by that

radio station’s region; which is what any artist should aim for. I can’t say I’m a fan of listening to the radio, because 90% of what we hear is pretty much the same. Not to mention that its extremely difficult for a “local artist” to be included on a radio station’s playlist. I’m only relating this to the scene in the Middle East. There are a few cats out there that took the initiative and provided artists with a platform to showcase their talent; so, salute to them, and that’s where it stops.

9. What are the projects that you are working on now? Can we expect an album? I’m spending a considerable amount of time working on my sophomore mixtape/album “Training Day”. The concept behind the name doesn’t really relate much to the actual movie itself, but more of a showcase of an artist’s growth and development as an MC. My first mixtape “Recruitment” was sort of an in house kind of project with appearances limited to my close affiliates at the time. Training Day is where I step into the gutter, so to speak. I’m taking a different approach this time around in terms of content, production, as well as guest features. Hopefully the music will speak for itself. 10. What are you currently listening to? I’ve been listening to compilation mixtapes lately in order to stay up to date with the current state of hip hop. So, there’s no one artist in particular.

6. From the Arab world, who have you collaborated with? Deen, Kaz Money, Dany Neville, Rone Jaxx, DJ Outlaw, Prince Q, DJ Lethal Skills. 7. In Sept’13, you performed in the half time of the Kobe Bryant health & fitness event. How did that opportunity come to life? & how did it feel? Initially, the organizers were interested in having a rap artist create an anthem exclusively for the event. My name kind of got thrown into the mix and they ended up contacting me for the job. It was an interesting experience because I was literally creating that song according to their needs, as opposed to having complete creative control. They wanted a song that could be identified from the jump, which ultimately lead to their decision to remake the classic record “Jump Around” by House of Pain. I also did an original track for the event that didn’t see the light of day due to its…originality. But it was an interesting experience nonetheless. It was an honor to perform live in front of Kobe Bryant, and all the other celebrities involved. 8. Did you ever try rapping in Arabic? Can’t say that I have, but it’s definitely something I’d like to consider for future projects. I believe Arabic rap has gone through several stages in the Middle East. It may not be at it’s peak at the moment, but I truly believe in it’s potential. Not to mention people being more receptive to the idea of Arabic rap nowadays.

11. Tell Re-Volt Magazine something not a lot of people know about you. I’m an employee by day with a regular 8-4 job. I’m also a student by night, majoring in Marketing; and last but not least, an MC by midnight. So that’s pretty much the schedule I’m dealing with on a regular basis. Interview by Hassane DENNAOUI revoltmag1@gmail.com

LOCAL FLAVA’ | LOST WALLS (eL Seed)

eL Seed | LOST WALLS | A Calligraffiti Journey Through Tunisia Lost or forgotten were the walls that now proudly carry the messages of calligraffiti artist eL Seed. “Lost Walls”, his first book, beautifully and poetically documents these walls, handpicked during his road trip around Tunisia. “Lost Walls” is a calligraffiti journey of discovery for eL Seed, who chronicles the painting of 24 walls in four weeks. Inspired by the reaction to his largest project to date, the minaret of the Jara mosque in his ancestral home of Gabes, eL Seed decided to set out on this month-long personal journey across his motherland, painting “lost” walls along the way. This book provides unique and rare insight into the world of calligraffiti and the Tunisian people. PRE-ORDER your copy http://www.fromheretofame.com/books/lost.html

YOUR MONTHLY SOURCE OF REAL HIP-HOP CULTURE A mic, a choreography, a vocal percussion, spraypaint, a vinyl record, a book or a film... We choose all the above. The power of the word to inform, to represent and to stay real! If youâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;re interested to write for re-volt magazine

email us revoltmag1@gmail.com

LOCAL FLAVA’ | MOHAMAD MAKKI

Q&A

Saudi Director of “TAKKI”

ّ ‫محمد‬ Mohammad MAKKI | ‫مكي‬ Mohammad Makki was born and raised in Jeddah. He has won several awards for his films in festivals and competitions across the MENA region. 1. Do you remember the first time that you realize that Filmmaking is what you want to do? Yes, it’s when I realized I didn’t get bored of it. Also, whenever I watch a great film, all I wanna do next is make a film. 2. We are sure you get a lot of great feedback on the Takki - was there one comment that really stuck in your mind? Yes, there are a couple of comments are memorable. There was this non-Saudi person who commented “thanks for bringing up the non saudi issues. thanks for telling our story” and another person said “thank you for making us cry, laugh, sad and happy”.

3.Your thoughts on the Saudi filmmaking industry? It’s evolving: we are getting better at this. More filmmakers will rise. 4. Do you think Saudi Arabia will ever have a cinema? Inshallah one day, as long as we keep telling great stories with whatever we have, whenever we can. 5. Do you have any regrets? Not really, hamdilah. 6. Tell Re-Volt Magazine something not a lot of people know about you. I’m single.

[FOLLOW SULLEE J] via Facebook https://www.facebook.com/ sulleejmusic

Q&A

LYRICAL POWER

SULLEE J 1. Do you remember your first verse? Since poetry was a way of coping, ever since I can remember, my shield behind all my emotions, I’d say has always been my faith. I found a piece I wrote almost 7 years ago, a little before I started putting words into motion, and a line from it was “”if you take your step, He’ll grant you effort/if you’ve gave your best, He’ll hold your hand forever/do it for God, for He loves you most/ do it for God, that should be enough to know” and It just made me realize, I began with faith, and that is always how I will allow myself to remain. Music is my cope, God is my hope! 2. During the course of your career: You have had lots of achievements. What is the one that stands out the most? I’d say flying across the world to a destination like “Norway” being only one year into music at the time, and opening for a legend like “Mos Def ”. It was unimaginable. Persistence was the key, and for that to occur, in self you must believe. 3. What do you think about the state of Hip-Hop now-a-days? Hip Hop remains the same ultimately, however, what is being portrayed as hip hop is demeaning to it’s reality. Hip Hop is a universal language, one which speaks to the heart before it reaches the ears. The industry has deprived itself into believing ignorance is the only way out. People are afraid! They are afraid to stand together, and so they would rather just follow the leader, and not

take the risk of actually making a change. One must not be “Egotistic and Prideful” when trying to unify a body of people. I feel like most artist begin with a positive vision, but when a little fame is attained, they start forgetting. 4. In your words what would you describe as “real” hip-hop? Ecstasy of the soul, Wisdom from the heart, Morphine to the pain, Energy of the brain. 5. Tell Re-Volt Magazine something not a lot of people know about you. I wanted to be a boxer before music, but after the accident, I lured away from that for a while. Also, Important to know i’d say for a lot of up & coming, even though I’m following my heart and dreams, I’m still getting an education. Knowledge is something no one can steal from you! with with the #Knowgram 6. Who is Sullee J currently listening to? Not the radio. 7. Who would you like to collabo with? Nas 8.You have visited Saudi twice, how has the visit to Makkah been? And tell us about your upcoming projects with Run Junction? The visit was ultimate bliss, felt my mind, body and soul constrict. The journey is always spiritual, nothing less than a miracle. Run Junction is my family, and I’ll always support. We got one track on their upcoming album coming out called “Mind Circus” and a surprise with Tim Granite off of #WarMachine.

LOCAL FLAVA’ | BARTER MARKET

Salem BAJNAID | BARTER MARKET (Al-Balad, Jeddah) What sparked the idea of the Barter Market? We wanted to experiment with the possibility of creating a space that permits goods, services and knowledge to flow more openly between people without the mediation of money. A space where everyone’s participation was valued and encouraged and the culture of consumerism is suspended, even if temporarily, in favour of a cooperative one that emphasises sustainability and solidarity. Therefore not only did we open the market to all potential barterers, but also partnered with the recycling project Trochet to help further promote their cause. How did you approach the Hayya Jeddah committee and what was their feedback? The permit to hold an event in the Balad festival was ready beforehand, so we used it. How was the feedback from the people? Overwhelmingly positive! The visitors to the market showed a natural grasp of the trading mechanism to the extent that some setup their bartering tables on the very first day and others remained throughout the 5 day period. It was especially the response from children that confirmed our success. Not only were the children

‫سوق املقايضة‬

bartering under the supervision of their parents, but a few even agreed to work for half an hour or so and assist curious visitors in exchange for an item of their choosing to collect by the end of their shifts. Moreover, the online interaction on @barterksa is still continuing with the majority requesting a sooner than later follow-up to the market. What is next for the Barter Market? We hope our experiment will inspire a network of barter markets that emphasise the values and benefits of this model and its contribution to the circulation of wealth on a more equal footing. Becoming free of the culture of consumerism means becoming dutiful to ecological and social justice and more attuned to genuine human relations. So instead of the popularity of the ‘Duty Free Zone’ phrase we propose to popularise an alternative phrase ‘Dutiful & Free Zone’ where people are dutiful to their environment and community and free of wasteful consumerism.

[FOLLOW] Salem BAJNAID’s initiative @barterksa

ON THE GO | AYMAN TAMANO

rector

Di aker // m m l i F

‫ أي‬MANO ‫م‬ ‫ن‬ ‫ت‬ ‫م‬ ‫ا‬ ‫ن‬ ‫ و‬an TA

Aym

[FOLLOW AYMAN TAMANO] via Twitter @Ayman_Idriss

1. What inspired you to become a film-maker? Back in school, I have always written short stories, regardless of how poorly written or how improper the structure was, I love doing it. But it is the learning process of telling a written story through motion picture that really motivates me to pursue the art of digital filmmaking. This “film” world is an endless learning experience and to spend every day trying to learn something new is a continuous challenge. I want to make a really good movie one day, when I have enough knowledge, and that inspires me. 2. Throughout your career, what has been the highlight so far? In 2013, I was the Director of Photography for a music video by the Hip Hop Artist Qusai. After the long 3 day shoot was over, the Artists, Executives and Directors left the set. I stayed behind to help the rest of the crew pack up the equipment and load them in the truck, after the set was empty, I sat with the crew and listened to them share stories about their experience in throughout the shoot. That moment remains special to me because that’s when I decided that no matter what position I hold on set, I will always be the same person, especially with my crew. No title can change that.

3. How can people see your work? I believe that if the work is really that good, then people don’t need to make too much of an effort to see it. 4. What is your message to the upcoming film-makers just starting now? Ask questions all the time. Practice all the time. Be your worst critic. Oh, and don’t let well-known snobbish film-makers with arrogant attitudes bring you down. If you’re persistent and passionate enough, one day you’ll be standing in the same position they are, and once you’re in that place. Stay humble. Because always remember, you’re a film-maker. You will always need to learn something new. Interview by Hassane DENNAOUI a.k.a. BIG HASS revoltmag1@gmail.com

REORIENT Middle Eastern arts & culture magazine www.reorientmag.com

Contemporary art from the Middle East www.artclvb.com

CARTOONS

Discuss this cartoon on Twitter #revoltmag_cartoon #khartoon

Reflection: ‘Are those obsessed with covering up women are even more obsessed with naked women?’ (Khartoon!)

s p o t f . y . i .

ARTWORK | “Mosaic Collection” by Helen ABBAS | http://www.helenabbas.com/

FEATURE | DANA DAJANI

Dana DAJANI ‫دانا د ّجاني‬ Actress | Writer | MC

1.You are a multi-talented woman. Did you know that you would succeed in all these fields or was it a chain reaction, going from one field to another? I want to be a great performer. So that I can live from my art, I take on many different roles and projects—both corporate and creative. But acting and writing are at the heart of them all. It’s funny that acting and writing are two elements of storytelling that I didn’t always integrate together. For years, I wrote only for my peace of mind, or on creative assignment, and I performed published plays. Once I started doing solo-performance in Chicago about 6 years ago, my passion for poetry resurfaced and I started writing for the stage. Since I moved to Dubai 3 years ago, I’ve written and performed a lot of original and experimental work, from monologues, musical poems with my band Floetics, and short plays! I wasn’t always confident in the pieces, but the response from the public has been amazing. I am most proud of the two short plays I co-wrote, directed, and acted in for the Short + Sweet play festival in Dubai 2013. “Yeki Bood/ Yeki Na Bood” is an Arabic farce with a modern twist on the story of Adam and Eve. The other piece is a hip hop drama called “MiC Prophecies” which I co-wrote with Dubai-based rapper, Jibberish. We wanted to “put hip hop on trial”, but how to do that in 10 minutes and with two people? We ended up writing a scene where a journalist meets a with a hip hop artist named Gemini for an interview. She slowly peels away at the layers of his pop-culture façade, to get the heart of his music and raison d’être. He responds with a breakdown of the system, and why he plays the game. The kicker? Its all written and performed in verse! It is one of my favorite pieces. But to answer your question, I don’t create such pieces with “success” in mind. I create them for the sake of creating. Because I love making something that others may find stimulating or entertaining. Generally people appreciate the passion that goes into such work, and al7amdulillah, I am grateful that success has followed!

2. We know that you have some favourites when it comes to Arabic Hip Hop. Can you drop a few names? Can I be honest with you? I was first introduced to the wicked world of Arab hip hop in… Chicago! I saw DAM, Shadia Mansour, Mohammaed Al Farra and the like all for the first time in Chicago! I am a huge fan of intelligent hip hop of Omar Offendum, and Narcy- music with soul. El Far3i is fantastic. Malikah is awe-some. Eslam Jawasd is a great friend, and I really enjoy the work he is doing in Dubai to bring out more hip hop artists. 3. Regarding Poetry. Who is your inspiration? And what are the topics that inspire you to write? I write in two ways: in the moment, and on assignment. In the moment, I try to capture free-flowing thought in rhythm. On assignment, I have worked for up to two weeks on a poem to get it just right. Even then, it takes a lot for me to leave the editing process and call a piece “done”. For me, editing is 90% of the process of writing! In high school, I got into the work of Saul Williams about the same time I was introduced to Rumi and Sufism. I was totally overcome with the love-aware language of both, and this influence is evident in a lot of my earlier work. Lately, I have been inspired by music and rhythm. Kate Tempest is a huge influence; I am a huge fan of her and of Hollie McNish. Both English spoken word poets, they write about the gritty and mundane every day life, or they reinvent classic tales, its brilliant. In the past few years I have been trying to soak up as much as possible about the Hakawati style, stories, and tradition. I am working towards reviving the Hakawati in contemporary Arab society. Relevant, rhythmic, epic story telling through heightened language—I’m all about it!

FEATURE | DANA DAJANI

4. Tell us about “Love Letters From Palestine” . In 2012, I was invited to perform at fundraiser for Palestine in Dubai. I decided to write a new piece for the event, but at that point, I had not been back to Falastin since 1996. I found it very hard to write from my own perspective without sounding trite. So as any actress would, I created a character through which to tell the story of Palestine. This character is a 7ajjeh who had been nick-named “Nakbeh” since she was born on the day of the catastrophe. And though her whole life had been a displaced tragedy, she still had a heart full of hope, patience, and sassy attitude in abundance. I worked on the poem for about two weeks, completing it just in time to read it at the fundraiser. During sound-check, the event’s organizer heard lines from the poem and promptly pulled me aside to tell me that I was forbidden to perform “Love Letters from Palestine” at the event because it was “too aggressive.” He invited me to perform one of my monodramas instead. So I did, and I forgot about Love Letters and disregarded it as a failed creative experiment.

In the three years that I have lived in Dubai the performing arts scene has changed dramatically. There is a new grassroots performance space called The Courtyard Theatre, and the poetry and spoken word scene is booming. Still there is room for growth—I would love to see actors and musicians performing their art on the street like in Europe. I want to see more original performances coming FROM Dubai—we have so much talent and yet we only value imported entertainment. One thing I know for certain is that we need more performancefriendly venues in order to cultivate that talent. My longterm goal is to create a professional resident theatre in Dubai to create world-class original productions for and about the Middle East.

A year later, I visited Palestine for the second time in my life. My friend Hanan had organized the trip, and as she is a documentary filmmaker, I thought it would be a great opportunity to collaborate on a film project during our time together. I sent her the poem. Once Hanan heard the piece, she took advantage of every opportunity to have me perform. Her encouragement and promotion of the poem actually helped me sink into the character of the 7ajjeh. We filmed “Love Letters to Palestine” as I circled el jidar in Bethleham. The video will be edited and submitted to a poem-film festival by the end of April, and available online!

7. Out of many highlights & experiences in your career. Can you pick the top 3 to share with our readers?

5.You are currently based in Dubai. How do you see the support of local artists in the city? One of the reasons I left Chicago and moved back to the Middle East is because I believe that as Arabs, we export so much of our potential. We go abroad to study, we get married and raise our families abroad, then contribute to foreign industries and economies, all the while complaining that there are no opportunities at home! When I was in the US, I performed in many plays about the Middle East, but none of them were written by Arabs. I was grateful that western playwrights were giving Arabs a voice in the theatre, but knew truly that it wasn’t an authentic voice. So I moved back to the Middle East to invest in cultivating the performing arts scene; to revive our ancient oral traditions and create contemporary narratives as well.

6. Where is your dream performing stage? Last year I was lucky to perform at the Sydney Opera House, which is definitely one of my top few stages. The next floorboards I’d love to tread are at The Globe Theatre in England. That is definitely a dream I am working towards—I love Shakespeare.

Best Actress- Tropfest Arabia 2011 I translated a poem by Nizar Qabbani into English for a short film festival. Out of hundred of submissions, we were in the top 12 which were screened on the Corniche in Abu Dhabi to 12,000 people who came to watch our films! That evening, I won “Best Actress” for my performance in our film “At First Sight”. Drama Therapy I spent a few months in Abu Dhabi co-directing a drama therapy program for children with Autism in the UAE. The program culminated in an amazing performance of dance, song, and comedy in December of 2013. I was so proud of all the kids involved, and still see a few of them regularly! The experience was recorded as a documentary film and is currently in post-production Sydney Opera House In August and September of 2013, I was one of two international artists invited to Australia to develop and perform a new production about the life of Swami Vivekenanda. Our cast of 12 actors and 5 musicians performed at the Sydney Opera House and then toured the production to Brisbane as well! What a dream come true. It was such an honor to perform in such an icon of culture and the arts.

8. What’s your dream? A free Falastin, a full belly and a safe home for everyone, a return to the earth, and simplicity, love overcoming greed, passion overcoming pragmatism and finally always being able to support myself and others through doing what I love. 9. If you were selected to speak at the UN regarding Palestine & you only have 1 sentence to say. What would that be? If I could, I would perform “Love Letters From Palestine” or another poem. Heightened language stirs emotions. We need to inject some human feelings into the situation, and put faces to the countless numbers and stories to the endless list of names! Empathy is a game-changer.

10. Tell Re-Volt Magazine something not a lot of people know about you. Thank you! I have recently collaborated to create an album with Aaron Kim, a cellist and electronic music producer in Dubai. The EP is titled “type two error” and features 4 very different tracks of my poetry and Aaron’s music--“beats like bones on a drum” is a hip hop track, whereas “paint for me” is a bit of ‘sensual electronica’, à la Massive Attack. “this cosmic metropolis” is a great dance tune, and “prayer for the damned” is witchy weird. I don’t think it’s will be a very commercial album, but Aaron and I absolutely love it! Find us online and check it out https://www.facebook.com/typetwoerrorCD

Films & Documentaries | WALL WRITERS: GRAFFITI IN ITS INNOCENCE

WALL WRITERS: GRAFFITI IN ITS INNOCENCE (2012) Directed by Roger Gastman Before graffiti’s worldwide movement, these were the names written on the walls. Plot Outline WALL WRITERS uncovers the origins of wall writing in New York City and Philadelphia in the late ‘ 60s and features interviews with writers such as New York’ s TAKI183, the first wall writer to garner mainstream media attention. TAKI, as well as Philadelphia’ s CORNBREAD, were paramount in making graffiti the phenomenon that it is today. https://www.facebook.com/WallWriters

ALBUM RELEASE |HASEEB

THE FUTURISTIC EP | HASEEB I want to give you all a chance to get a FREE hard copy of my new album, ‪#‎TheFuturistic‬. Many of you who have been following my music career for a few years now may have noticed that I have recently retitled myself as an artist and am now making music under my birth name, HASEEB. One of my good friends asked me when I started going by HASEEB. My answer, “Since 1990, where have you been?” To sum it up, this project is my identity statement as an artist and as a human being.

Too often in this industry, artists forget who they really are and adopt personas and try to be someone they are not. Anyone who has known me since elementary school will know that I have been writing, rapping, and have been a part of Hip Hop culture since I was a child. Why do I need to be Futuristic when I can just be HASEEB? If you listen to this project, you will have an understanding of who I am. My goal with my latest project, #TheFuturistic EP, was to create a tangible form of audible art that many people can relate to and understand.

This project is not just for Hip Hop heads, skaters, Muslims, males, females, or any specific sub-group or demographic. I firmly believe that anyone can listen to this project and take something positive from it while enjoying themselves. I encourage everyone who reads this to take a second and vibe out with me. [FOLLOW HASEEB] Twitter @akaFuturistic Download EP http://haseebthefuturistic.com Watch my music videos http://youtube.com/bamnfamilytv

ON THE GO | Q&A HASEEB

1. What made you get into Hip-Hop? I have been into Hip Hop for as long as I can remember. Even before I knew exactly what Hip Hop was, I can remember my older brother watching music videos every day. I didn’t dig a lot of the stuff on TV, but every now and then a joint like “You Got Me” by The Roots, or Superstar pt. Zero by K-OS would be on rotation. In about 7th grade I got into DJing because I had watched the movie Juice for the first time. Shortly after that, the older homie Ramsey gave me a CD which had a bunch of Golden Era classics on it. The rest is history. 2. How do you see the Hip-Hop scene in general? There are many different scenes and sub-groups/genres within the Hip Hop scene. The cool thing is that you can be whoever you want to be and make whatever you want to make. The wack part is that there are really no filters on the internet which separates the wack from dope or real from fake. I guess all that is subjective anyways, 3. Internationally. Name couple of artists you would like to collabo with? The Narcicyst, Paris Wells, LowKey, and the Russian production team my boy Waju works with. I’m sure there are many more..

4. What does Hip-Hop mean to you? Creative expression, culture, unity, and an outlet for people like myself. Hip Hop is being fresh and intelligent at the same time. To me Hip Hop is the way I wear my hat, the way I make beats, write verses, and interact with the world. 4.1 How important is your Islamic faith in your hip hop career? My Islamic faith is the most important thing in my life. Islam transcends the realm of Hip Hop, or any other worldly thing for that matter. Now, I don’t only rap about my faith, but you can definitely hear tidbits and references which point back to my faith. 5. Tell Re-Volt Magazine something not a lot of people know about. I am confident that I can beat Ray Allen in a three point shooting contest...Ask about me..lol..also, I am a Game of Thrones nerd..the HBO series. Interview by Hassane DENNAOUI a.k.a. BIG HASS revoltmag1@gmail.com

s p o t f . y . i .

ARTWORK | “Dance with me” by Homa ARKANI (IRAN)

ARTWORK | “Marilyn” by Homa ARKANI (IRAN)

ALBUM RELEASE | FAREEQ EL ATRASH

‘AL MAWJEH EL TARSHA | FAREEQ EL ATRASH Fareeq el Atrash Logo | designed by Omar Khouri Album cover | designed by Farah Fayyad The entire album ’al mawjeh el tarsha FOR FREE on Soundcloud https://soundcloud.com/fareeqelatrash/sets/fareeq-el-atrash-al-mawjeh-el [FOLLOW FAREEQ EL ATRASH] www.facebook.com/Fareeq.el.Atrash

Photo credit | Raymond Gemayel

ON THE GO | Q&A JOHN IMAD NASR

Q&A

BEIRUT-BASED HIP HOP BAND

FAREEQ EL ATRASH | ‫فريق األطرش‬ Your sound is unique and entertaining. How did you guys form Fareeq Al-Atrash? I started working with emcee Edd Abbas back in 2006, originally as a producer/rapper duo. As our project gathered momentum and we wrapped up our first recording project, we eventually convinced our friends from the scene, FZ & Chyno to join the group. I am a massive fan of The Roots and thought it would be interesting for us to perform as a live band, so we went with that and it’s been our sound ever since. We are currently a crew of three vocalists and five musicians, with Fouad Afra on drums, Tarek Khuluki on guitar, Jeremy Chapman & Nidal Abou Samra on horns, and myself on bass.

2. What is it that you hope people get from the group name? Funny and most of all memorable. 3. How’s is the support in Lebanon for underground artists? We support one another in the scene as artists pretty well, I am really proud to say that. There are a few select venues where we can perform in Beirut that are definitely really good. Regrettably, there isn’t much of a nightlife culture elsewhere in the country that we can perform in, as the general state of affairs here is well, pretty dismal. A few companies & radio personalities do a really good job promoting and sponsoring local underground artists, but overall we don’t have a whole lot of mainstream exposure.

4.Tell us about your latest album “Al Mawjeh El Tarsha”. What do you hope people get from it? I hope that people can listen to this album and just chill or vibe to it, really. There’s definitely a “message” involved in most of the songs on this album, but we also try and make music that we personally simply like and have fun creating, performing, so I hope that comes across to listeners and they can have fun with us too. 5.As a group. What has been the highlight of the crew? It’s hard for me to speak for the whole crew, but for me personally, I guess I love performing live. And performing with a horn section has always been a dream of mine as a musician. So pretty much every time

Photo credit | Raymond Gemayel

ON THE GO | Q&A JOHN IMAD NASR

Iâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;m on stage and I see our emcees kicking rhymes and the horns start doing their thing, I still get a bit too excited and feel like I want to stop playing and just check out what is going on around me on stage. Luckily, I keep my excitement in check and keep doing my job most of the time. 6. What is it about Hip-Hop that you love? I love hip hop because I think it has a combination of simplicity and complexity as a form of expression that allows for more freedom and playfulness than most other forms of music. You can literally make a hip hop song from and about nearly anything or everything, for better or worse. It can draw upon any other music that came before it or even after it, and give a remarkably direct vocal expression to the best and the worst in all of us. Hip hop is also a direct descendant of funk music, so as someone who lives and dies by the funk, it is only natural for me to gravitate towards it.

7.How do you see the state of Arab Hip-Hop at the moment.? I think the technical ability of rappers and producers in the Arab World has gotten really impressive as of late and I feel proud to be a part of the movement, for real. It is an unfortunate and ironic situation, but I think the relative lack of material success that can be gained from being a rapper in our region has helped in keeping more materialistic themes away from the local lyrical culture, and I find that most people make hip hop music simply because they love it or really feel like they have something to say. It is a blessing and a curse, since Iâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;d love for people to be able to make a good living from something they truly love, but it isnâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;t the case at the time being, sadly. I am also happy that in the last two years, various different styles and topics are being pursued at a high skill level by different artists in the region. I think that helps build an audience for homegrown, especially Arabic-Language hip hop. Slowly but surely, there might be something for everyone, I hope.

Photo credit | Raymond Gemayel

ON THE GO | Q&A ARAP

Q&A

Boombox Arabic Hip-Hop Event in Dubai

Eslaam Jawaad & ARAP

What does Hip-Hop mean to you? Eslaam Jawaad: Poetic expression. A powerful way of connecting thoughts.

From your interaction with Arab Hip-Hop Artists , do you believe that Hip-Hop culture is fully understood?

MOHALIM: Everything, its the thing i was first introduced to back in the late 80’s, and it stuck with me ever since. From doing graffiti and listening to LL, KRS One and Just Ice, to making my first beat and performing for the first time, to now working with the best artists in the business and playing my part in setting the standard for rap music in this part of the world.

Eslaam Jawaad:By some yes, by others no. At Boombox is geared to hip hop fans. At activist events, a lot of people don’t get it but know you got passion.

How was the feedback from the Boombox event in Dubai? Eslaam Jawaad: People said it was the best Boombox so far. A few fans came up and totally made us feel like we doin our job right. Inspiring people. MOHALIM: Great, everyone loved it and even though it has been a long time since we’ve seen each other, it still felt like we never parted ways.

MOHALIM: Yes, but Hip hop culture is not a thing you should understand. If you like or are into any of the four elements that make up Hip Hop, you get it. It differs for every country, everyone will interpet it in there own way, but its still a universal feeling and movement which is recognised by everyone that’s part of it.

Organzing & setting up events especially in the Arab is a tough deal. How were you able to bring legendary acts to Dubai Eslaam Jawaad: Having personal relationships with artists helps in terms of cost. Most come out for very little or even free, just to show love n support. But that real Hip hop is very niche in Dubai and isn’t sustainable so sponsors are always necessary to help cover costs. New Material: Arap is back together. We are already recording. Whether we release tracks one by one or as an album is yet to be decided, but it’s definitely a group effort, and spirits are high. Keep posted on twitter and Facebook with our individual accounts and new Arap page coming soon! Interview by Hassane DENNAOUI a.k.a. BIG HASS revoltmag1@gmail.com

F E A T U R E

1. What inspired you to get into DJing & Production? I got into hip hop at an early age (around ‘89). As I got deeper into the music I realised that I could only buy the underground tracks that I wanted to hear on vinyl, and so I started collecting records. I was a listener and a fan primarily and still am. I bought my first turntable (JB Systems Disco 2000) off a friend. Around the same time some of my other mates started playing jungle and hardcore, and I thought I might aswell start djing as nobody was really playing hip hop in my crew. Over the next few years I’d start playing on my local pirate radio station, and playing at, and throwing parties at local venues. In ‘99 I moved to London and got more into djing and in particular scratching, learning a lot from my friend DJ Daredevil - I even set up a DJ society at my University and taught a couple

of kids how to mix. My first taste of production came as one of my friends got into it. He started off on a Roland Groovebox, then an MPC 2000 and he taught me how to use both. When I started working I got the money to buy my own and I got an MPC 2000XL. I was making beats regularly but to be honest it wasn’t until I linked up with SolPhonic that I started to take things a little more seriously, up until then my beats had been more experimental, or scratch beats intended for me to practice over in the lab. 2. How do you see the independent music scene in Dubai at the moment? What is the kind of support you are getting? I’m based in London nowadays although I still represent a couple of artists over there. Recently we released an EP by Toofless (and

SufYan) entitled ‘Neospective Glitch’. I reached out to a few people and the usual good ones were supportive enough to give it some exposure. The scene itself is quite unique in the fact that it’s quite small, yet a lot of people seem to want to work independently - whereas artists in other parts might be more supportive of each other in order for the scene to develop. I see the scene there as stifling, but a very good stepping stone into other territories if you know how to maximise on the positives. Independent artists might not get the support from mainstream media, but then why would you want that when they possess a mainstream audience? The country doesn’t possess either the mass audience interested in supporting independent music, or the infrastructure of blogs etc. to promote it and so it’s limited in that respect.

F E A T U R E

3. Tell us about “Another Music”? Initially it started out as a radio show on Ness Radio (www.nessradio.com), featuring hip hop, soul, funk, jazz, beats from all other the world. I then started a blog by the same name to document the shows, and also promote other material that I liked. When I had my first release in 2011 ‘Who Is Wriggly Scott?’ I had a remix of one of the tracks ‘Stay Focused’ featuring The Narcicyst and Jibberish which I wanted to put out and so I launched a bandcamp page which turned into the net label. So similar to how I started djing it all evolved organically, I never really set out to do any of this it just happened. I just started co-hosting a new radio show on NTS radio (www.ntslive.co.uk) but am still looking for a home for the Another Music show. 4.You’re one of the few that still keep the art of turntablism alive. How do you see the future of this artform especially in the Arab World? Actually I spend the majority of my time in the lab nowadays producing. People in the UAE call you a turntablist as long as you play vinyl, I always preferred to refer to myself as a club dj that can scratch and juggle a bit, mainly due to the fact that I had friends who had competed in the DMCs and ITF battles, and I don’t fully deserve to take the title ‘turntablist’ as I was never committed as them. Others in the UAE have a slightly distorted opinion and will use the term a lot more loosely to refer to themselves (note: being able to baby scratch does not make you a turntablist) although there are some pretty committed djs there called Skratchproof Crew from the Philippines pushing turntablism. The future of the art form globally has been suffering a little since its popularity around the early 2000s dropped off, although what with Q Bert’s new album coming out I think there will be

another renaissance. Vinyl sales are also on the up and there is heaps of criticism for djs that use digital controllers with beat synching, CDs are now less popular due to downloading music, and so djing on vinyl is and always will be around. It’s still the best medium to play music, and djing with it is a lot more fun than pushing a bunch of flashing buttons. In the Arab World obviously Lethal Skillz is still pushing it more than anybody, he’s done so much for the scene over the years and too many people overlook that. He seems to be getting sharper still, we used to cut together back in the day, he’d probably kick my arse now. 5. Who are you currently listening to? Currently Kutmah’s show on NTS Radio which is where I play monthly also. I just bought the new Freddie Gibbs and Madlib LP, Mo Kolours, Darkhouse Family, Vanilla Pluto, Reggie B, Jameszoo. I tend to buy more music around the periphery of the traditional ‘rap’ type of music nowadays. I also tend to listen to a lot of jazz, funk, soul and psych music. Recently I bought an LP of disco versions of John Carpenter tracks which is pretty cool. Eprom and Mr Carmack seem to be releasing a lot of stuff recently also. All in all I think it’s a very exciting time for hip hop music if you are willing to shake off the chains, and by that I mean you can still get good more traditional sounding music by people like Edan (apparently he’s working on a new album) but you also have the other end of the spectrum with artists such Oliver the 2nd or Jonwayne. 6. Do you think being played on FM Radio is as important as before? It depends what you want from music really, and what target audience you are after. there are artists now getting European tours based mainly on their soundcloud plays, you can

also get crazy exposure from playing on internet sites such as Boiler Room. It is however a great way to catch the interest of other people that might not know about you, and offer them something different to what they would usually hear on the radio. I believe it still has a wider audience than internet stations, but we have other ways of reaching fans nowadays. 6.1 What are the new things you working on now? I dropped a lo-fi remix project last year on soundcloud and cassette called ‘16 Love Stories’. Since then I have been working on some beats for UK-based MCs, some tracks with Toofless, potentially Jibberish and also an upcoming solo project which might go under a new alias. I found myself releasing music before for the sake of recognition - which is all to easy to come by in the UAE - and now I’d rather take more time and release something really good. Taking the time out has made my beats a lot stronger, my mixing better, I’ve been observing what djs play in clubs in London and what elements of the mix make people react in certain ways. I’ve learnt a lot over the last year and hopefully will have some releases ready soon. 7. Any Messages from you to re-volt magazine readers. Just to keep supporting independent music and platforms such as re-volt. If you want to hear more of our music, or mixes by me you can check them out at www.anothermusic.net. Also to artists living in the Middle East always try to collaborate with other artists, and think regionally beyond your borders - your music will flourish and so will the scene.

ALBUM RELEASE | J-FAM

J-FAM | J-FAM Album released on APRIL 1st 2014 J-FAM is a bilingual Jeddah based Hip-Hop and R&B group. Comprising of four rappers (2 Arabic & 2 English),three R&B singers (2 English & 1 Arabic) & two producers, the group and its diversity combine to deliver a sound that is both unique and exciting to listen to. The Group and its individuals, one of the first of their kind in the region, are and have always been regarded as innovators in the Hip-Hop and R&B field.

The Group ::Rappers:: 1- Balla Skillz (English Rapper and Band Leader). 2- Black Drama (Arabic Rapper). 3- Ali Bash (Arabic Rapper). ::Singers:: 1- Ayzee (R&B Singer) 2- MH (R&B Singer) 3- Timba (Arabic/English R&B Singer) ::Producers :: 1- Don Zbeet (Producer) 2- Maff the Concept (Producer)

::J-FAM Links:: Get J-FAM’s Latest Music And Works http://j-fam.bandcamp.com/ [FOLLOW J-FAM] Twitter @JeddahFAM https://twitter.com/JeddahFAM Like J-FAM on Facebook @J-FAM https://www.facebook.com/JeddahFAM J-FAM’s Newest Photos & Videos Live Instagram @jeddahfam http://instagram.com/jeddahfam

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ARTWORK | “Diary of a Mad Arabian Woman” by Tamadher Al Fahim, Bahrain