THE GIFT

THE GIFT.

Hip Hop, and when I say Hip Hop I mean, Hip Hop. I capitalise each ‘H’ with intention, with pride, to add and undeniable emphasis. Like a clenched fist raised in the air by a man with a dream, Martin Luther King. The emphasis is a physical passion made visible through action. Each ‘H’ I pronounce loud and clear because when I say Hip Hop, I mean Hip Hop.
Just like the redundant, repeated routine days turn into weeks and weeks turn into months and months become years it’s easy to get caught up in the commercial, easy listening Hip Hop tracks.
Like knowing which road to take to work in order to miss traffic these tracks are the easy path to follow. But every now and then, just like reality, the universe throws us a chance for change. Something might happen where we are given a new direction to explore, a new road to travel. We are given a new set of eyes to see the day with, or a clean pair of ears to really hear with. This new chance inspires us, it seldom comes, but when it comes it makes us feel like we have been given a chance to become brand new, right our wrongs, turn negatives into positives, future hopes into present days and ambition kicks in.
This feeling usually comes drenched in a beat, filled with words that give a motion to these feelings. For me, there are only a few people that record this indescribable feeling, and, in no particular order these moving artists are, J.Cole, Jay Z and Common. Through these artists I have lived stories I’ve never known, tasted cultures I’ve never tasted, felt heart ache I’ve never witnessed. I was given hope when I was sinking, had relationships with people I’ve never met, and had insights into lives I’ve never touched.
Can I live? Through their words, even if only for a moment, I do. I live in a world that is distant to mine and each track gives me emotions heavier than the genuine reality of the present that I am breathing. How is that even attainable? How can words and a beat have so much power?
Each one of the artists has a gift, a rare opportunity to make a large number of people feel the way they do in just a few minutes. Just like we are all given a chance to feel brand new each day we wake, they are given the chance to spread a new story, take a new chance and every time they put pen to paper a type of magic is created.
Not only is ‘I Used to Love H.E.R’ one of my most loved Hip Hop tracks the record made me think about life with the same concept I imagine Common had for the track. After he spoke I no longer looked at situations the same, whether personal or public. I didn’t see a narrow minded opinion as an option. I might think I know what is going on; I might think I’ve gathered all the necessary and relevant facts to make a conclusion but Common taught me the conclusion isn’t always what you are made to believe it is. Open your mind, ‘cus who I’m talking bout ya’ll is Hip Hop’.
I have reasonable doubt when I see society suffocated in narcism and deeper meanings are lost to which I myself have fell victim to. But when I put in my headphones, find my space and listen, like really listen, the important things, the things that matter to me come back into perspective. Like a wave of euphoria I’m inspired again, I’m awoken from a dull and materialistic state of mind to a better place, a place where I want to be the best person I can be. A place where, no matter how dark the song that I’m listening to is  I’m transported to a place full of hope and purpose. Surely this power has to be a gift. And no that is not a question, a question mark is absent from my previous sentence because I have reasonable belief, I feel it. It’s a statement not a question.
J. Cole, J. Cole. I remember when I first saw him live, he stood centre stage, arm out towards the crowd and said, ‘I know the majority of you don’t even know who I am, but I appreciate you being here’, acknowledging the other established artists playing live at the same time. Cole told and sold stories that day to people that didn’t even know his name at the time. He told the stories from his heart and that moment, for me, is when Hip Hop became Hip Hop again. His words are life, not hidden by gold nor fame but exposed like an instagram photo with no filter, put out to spread and infect, but if his words are infectious I welcome the illness. His lyrics go further than skin deep – they stay with me.
These feelings may not awaken often, but when they do I feel alive again, I feel re-connected with the bigger picture, the greater purpose. I feel ready. I say to these inspiring moments of Hip Hop and to others blessed with this incredible gift, I remember you well.

Natasha Artwell.