A group of almost 20 young people, all of them music-involved and street-involved, came together last week to plan events for others in the rap generation to come and see. Their thinking was, if other kids who are on the edge of making serious choices - giving in to drugs, falling in with gangs, kicking in the doors to crime - see them excelling and having sincere fun with music, maybe they will follow that path instead.
A lot of these young performers have already made all of those unhealthy, destructive choices.
"It not only resonates with Aboriginal youth here, it goes across the world," said Redman Lil Chief of the duo War~Dub. "Me, I grew up in Calgary and at one time I was labelled the No. 1 youth offender on the Calgary police list. Now I have a different life, but I've been doing hiphop since I was a kid. It has been there for me. We can make a positive impact on the community."
"We are all living proof that hiphop has gotten us through hard times in life," said Verbz In the Mix, a soloist who has opened recently for Eminem's band D12, Evil Ebenezer, Swollen Members and Belly. "We were there, too. I remember when I first saw local artists, but they were up on a stage doing it, and I was impressed by that. Now we're the ones up there, and someone is out there watching us and we can help those aspiring artists, and give them a better thing to focus on."
MC Philosophy was a gang-affiliated crook in his younger days, but now he operates BC Central Playaz Entertainment, a hiphop production company for local recording artists.
"If there is a child who wants to change their lifestyle, I have a facility to do that," he said. "I can help them express themselves, be creative, all therapeutically. Youth are scared. I was, we all were. Music matters to your mood, it affects you. If you spend all your time listening and performing harsh, negative music, that is how you're going to feel, so we have to show youth a positive way. I believe working together we can start a fire in P.G. and really bring out the rap game."
The other half of War~Dub agreed. "It's a sense of pride," said Bryan Seymour. "It is a sense of identity. You may not make all the most positive choices, but you can get up there and step up for people, and feel a new thing that's good. It builds your confidence."
ADULTS IN DA MIX
Recently a small hiphop/rap show was held at the Youth Around Prince Centre. It sparked the dialogue now unfolding to hold more and bigger events.
"What happened at that show has rippled across the area and people are talking about it and people want more and more," said social worker Ivan Paquette who is himself a musician and survivor of the street life as a youth. "They want to listen to what you guys [local artists] have to say. Music brings people together."
"The feedback we've been hearing is 'we need something to do' so we are listening to the voice of youth, we are doing what they want, and they are doing it themselves, it is youth reaching out to youth with their own unique voice," said Catharine Kendall of the Justice Education Society and the Connaught Youth Centre Society.
The next event is scheduled for Friday night (6 to 9 p.m. at the Connaught Youth Centre). It is for ages 15 to 29 and their family members. Not a full-blown concert, this is a casual gathering with music, refreshments, and connection opportunities.
Kendall and Paquette are hearing one call louder than all others: youth want a safe, active, 24/7 drop-in centre. Events and partnerships are being planned to turn this goal into reality.
ARTISTS WITH A GOOD RAP
These performers and recording artists came together last week to dialogue about helping local youth find positive endeavours like music.
Verbz In The Mix
Ace Drow
Intimidation of 5percent
The Host of 5percent and Wrek-neyez
Mad Dog of 5percent
Prophacee of 5percent
Talksick of 5percent
Phil 'MC Philosophy' Roy of BC Central Playaz Entertainment
CDub of BCCPE
Young Rego of BCCPE
Coral Henry of Lead'z and BCCPE
Prosain of BCCPE
Danielle Molesworth of BCCPE
Redman Lil Chief of War~Dub
Bryan Seymour of War~Dub
Barbara Ann 'Dovey' Senft
