A Sojourn into Self Expressionist Rap Artistry
There is poetry in rap. In fact, rap in itself is poetry; it has always served the use of language in a creative manner to evoke emotions. It also serves the artist in that it offers for them a medium for expressing their emotions. And this is exactly what TrueWerdz, apparently, sets out to achieve with ‘For the Playback’; self-expression.
Was he successful in this quest for self-expressionist rap artistry?
The instrumental arrangement of ‘For the Playback’ is spatial. It might invoke in someone the impression that it is pays generous tribute to some era – perhaps the earliest of them – in contemporary rap history when the genre was mostly one of the borderline elements of every aspect of life relegated to the underground. Perhaps this choice of instrumental arrangement is intentional; a tribute to the past. And if so, then it may be seen that ‘For the Playback’ deserves a spot in the ongoing story of musical arts that – though caught up in the constantly widening gulf that exists between imminent oblivion and an elusive future – maintains a bridge between two great eras and everything between them. It is reminiscent of a time when the basics was the norm. This, perhaps, is another plus for ‘For the Playback’. Maybe this is critical acclaim which never, in many cases, appeals to mainstream audiences.
Rap music has its essence in the lyrics. It is just as they say about the proof being in the eating – and to be honest, in recent times, there’s been some ‘eating’ that have not gone down so well with informed palate. Let us keep focused on this one before us and leave unsavoury proofs for a much later time. In talking about ‘For the Playback’, we will find for ourselves the necessity to talk about the different forms that poetic expression has taken over time. But then, this should be for another day. We should instead see ‘For the Playback’ for what it is.
It is not uncommon to come across artistic works which are nothing more than artists talking about themselves – or what they feel about themselves, lost in the euphoria that comes with a perception of the depths of their genius. TrueWerdz talks – about self, about arts, about genius, about his knowledge of place – and with a sense of comparison that is all too noticeable within any community of artistry. This isn't in any way bad – nor exactly good. This is artistry.
Everything is permissible in the arbitrariness of the Arts – as long as the one is creative about it. After all, what crap has Eminem or Lil Wayne not creatively talked about? Yet they'd sparked something innately appreciative of informed artistry in the psyche of listeners. And yes, we can’t just talk about lyrical content without mentioning delivery. This, TrueWerdz does satisfactorily – a test of his talent, maybe. Yes, a test of his talent. Perhaps it is wrong to draw such conclusions so hastily. It just might be wrong to make conjectures on TrueWerdz based upon this one song. Hence this means that it is time to check out TrueWerdz’s complete discography. You should too.
