The latest release: An Emotional Victoryis out now oniTunes.
Currently working on:The Quantum LeapE.P. (Working title) with friend and co conspirator Nutty P.
The Red Tape E.P. with fellow west london rappers The Locksmiths, Mr13, Raw Smiles and Big Friz.
A Modern Day Panther (Free Download), with rapper Genesis Elijah and fellow revolutionary, DJ Mutiny
Battles: Previous: Nishi vs Innuendo (Manchester) Next: Nishi vs Cronikal (Nottingham) 06/11
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Why Rap: I'm a performer. If I'm not rapping then I'm acting, if I wasn't on stage I'd be on set. If I couldn't write, I'd play the guitar. They say music sooths the soul and this is the instrument I learned to play.
Why Battle: Force is nothing without resistance, I challenge myself in all aspects of my life and music is no different. Battling is deep routed within hip hops origins and at the essence of its cultural heritage. While many of our favorite rappers would be afraid to step foot in the arena, Nas puts it well in 'Rule' when he says "Ain't nothin without struggle, listen up, it's critical
We used to fear arms, now the weapons are chemical
In Hip-Hop, the weapons are lyrical
To be the best you challenge the best, then the blessings are spiritual".
What's The Message: There's nothing cool about being an idiot. Wake the fuck up and educate your mind, share what you learn. Knowledge is power and together we are strong. ------------------------------------------------------ Business:
Live shows: are said to be "Explosive and fully engaging.. With the energy of a young Red Man."
For details on pricing and availability please email: bookings@80sbaby.co.uk Producers: if you would like to send me beats, please email an mp3 with your contact details to nishibakery@gmail.com with "Beats for Wordplay" in the subject line.
Clothing designers: Provided you promote a value greater than capital gain for its own greedy sake, I'm happy to wear and help gain exposure for your independant brand.
A good example of this would be 'Death Before Dishonor' (http://dbdstore.co.uk) a cult London brand that has built it's following by refusing to pull punches. Images are often inspired by true "Blood and Guts" hardmanisim, with a definite ironic twist, throwing it straight back at anyone foolish enough to embrace thuggery.
You can contact me directly through twitter: @Wordplay
Dubbed "one of the most important MC's in the game right now", with his intelligent wordplay, brutal style and passionate delivery. "Well known for his work with rapper Lowkey; a favourite all over the scene and reminder of the essence of hip hop for many".
“WordPlay is among the absolute zenith of British MCs that are carrying more than theirfair weight of intellect and integrity that keeps this scene rolling..
A favourite all over the scene, and a reminder of the essence of hip hop for many.” - Nino - http://www.britishhiphop.co.uk
Whether navigating the rugged kicks and snares of a hip hop instrumental or going head-to-head against one of many skilled wordsmith's battling for recognition amongst the scenes underground. Wordplay has “proven to be a versatile lyricist with impeccable technique, pairing raw vocab, and esoteric colloquialisms with well thought arguments and intelligent subject matter.”
His latest release An Emotional Victory proves an example of this versatility. A conceptual album varying in moods that range from an up beat Ode to Marijuana called 'The Reasoning', through to 'Killing me inside', a heart felt self critique of an inability to deal with his mothers terminal illness both emotionally and financially.
His style is self analytical, appearing super critical of his own behaviours. In an interview he says "I think a lot of the time our opinion of our own behaviour and our level of respect for one another is jaded by our own ego. I’m like the spot light on those behaviours. I notice them because I hate them and I hate to see them in myself.
There is a questionable conflict between being anti establishment and remaining a commercially viable investment. Where other artists appear to have alienated themselves, Wordplay has sustained an increasing level of marketability despite his negative social critique. Perhaps an example of where a more complete evaluation and personal analysis can leave a less defensive audience more susceptible to new ideas. When asked to describe where his market lay, he replied in "...that self loathing dollar". A reference to a Bill Hicks joke from the 90's.
“WordPlay is lyrically one of the finest artists the United Kingdom has to offer,
with his appealing marriage of hard flows and intelligent content,
he is a breath of fresh air in an otherwise largely saturated genre.” - UKHH.ORG
Wordplay has been involved with several group projects including Mongrel and the Peoples Army.
"Mongrel merges the UK indie music scene with a hip hop community ignored for the large part by the wider media. Tackling themes shied away from by mainstream musicians, Mongrel was mixed and dubbed by Adrian Sherwood of ON-U-SOUND."
As a result Wordplay toured, opened for and performed with UK Top 10 Band Reverend and The Makers at events from Clapham Commons Loaded to Glastonbury and T in park Festivals.
Wordplay features on an album Better Than Heavy which was distributed worldwide as well as being Released free attached to copies of The Independent newspaper on March 7th 2009
Wordplay is also an active member of Peoples Army, a non profit organization started by fellow Rappers lowkey (Poisonous Poets) and logic (PDC).
"Life is short, so if I put it here, I must feel a way..."
R.I.P Gil Scott Heron passed away on May 27th, at the age of 62.
I was given a Gill Scott Heron cd when I was about 13, and in my ignorence I thought it was an album by Jill Scott (American soul and R&B singer-songwriter, poet, and actress.) untill threw it i my cd player and skipped to the song with the most interstting tittle... "whitey on the moon".
At that age it had a significant impact on me, positively (in my opinion) contributing to the type of artists I've become.
I feel bad that I can't remember who's gift it was, but thank you!
Recently:Tunisia/Egypt
My girlfriend is Tunisian and had made me aware of the growing unrest there almost a month prior to the media explosion and Ben Ali's subsequent fleeing of the country and his position in government.
Despite showing me youtube footage of her grandmothers village being guarded by its young men on night watch, knowing she had little more than milk and rice to eat. It appeared still, a time for celebration.
I was personally humbled to witness revolution in a more literal sense. The practical handling of consequences that seem mute in a western society, where we fear any measure of change or discomfort.
While many self proclaimed revolutionaries embraced this as fuel for a slow burning fire, it remained to me an example of the true catalyst for revolt, desperation. Necessity, beyond bravery or self righteousness. Tunisia has suffered from a brutally unfair regime where even a good education can do little to raise your standard of living.
"The percentage of educated people in Tunisia is statistically much higher than almost any other country in the Arab world."
They have a large middle class and yet the majority are unable to afford food and basic living expenses.
Unlike the comparable luxury that most westerners have come to take for granted, yet appear to fear losing more than their own liberties. The people of Tunisia had no choice but to demand change, and at a very real cost.
Whilst the people of Tunisia continue to face the aftermath of revolt, the media has moved it's focus over to Egypt. Where it wasn't much of a surprise that following their neighbours example, civil unrest had also grown.
The past 10 days have seen an unconfident America struggle to define it's position, with both Joe Biden and Tony Blair speaking out in support for the man before a concerned Obama appeared to concede that Mubarak should step down and that a peaceful transition of power should be made.
While I think we collectively have a unified romance with the word freedom, beyond that I find there to be little that those at the top of this pyramid and we at the bottom share in ideology.
I doubt the Western leaders would have been too sad had Mubarak kept control, as a question looms of who might replace him, and how accommodating they'll be to US and Israeli foreign policy. Not to mention reported fears of an "Egypt-Style Revolt In U.S" plaguing the Obama Administration.
Back in Egypt, and in an effort to manipulate public mood Mubarak withdrew police and social services which appeared to have encouraged looting. More recently we saw Pro-Mubarak supporters loudly dressed in red yash-maks and bright camel throws riding in to Tahrir square with clubs and whips.
Prison planet wrote:
"That’s a “look at me” get-up if there ever was one.
But why camels – a uniquely Arab symbol? And why such blatantly Arab looking head-covering?
Well, pictures of millions of peaceful protesters wearing largely Western clothing is a universal image of people power.
Mubarak and his backers couldn't’t have that, could they?
Instead, it is obvious that they were trying to make a statement.
The statement is that there will be chaos unless the protesters go home and agree to let Mubarak stay in power, at least until September’s elections".
Egypt also shut down the various DNS servers used by Egyptian internet service providers throughout the country. With the exception of one, The Noor Group, which still had 83 out of 83 live routes to its Egyptian customers.
"Why was Noor Group apparently unaffected by the countrywide take-down order? Unknown at this point, but we observe that the Egyptian Stock Exchange is still alive at a Noor address.”
Ironically, the DPI (Deep packet inspection) equipment that telecom egypt use, was supplied by Narus, now owned by Boeing, but originally founded in 1997 by Israeli security experts to create and sell mass surveillance systems for governments and large corporations.
Over the past two weeks we've seen a number of defensive plays from the Egyptian government leaving it's populace vulnerable and attempting to cause wide spread panic. Take note, for this is a fraction of what our own leaders will do to keep control.
