Rap music forges an alliance

You might ask yourself what a middle class Bahraini, a 15-year-old school student and an ex-US Army recruit have in common and it would be a fair question ... but the answer is a lot less complex than you would expect.

Quite simply, they share one big passion that has made it possible for them to cross any, and all, of the usual barriers they would have had to getting to know each other. Rap.

IGrind Entertainment is the brainchild of 24-year-old performing artist/ producer/ sound engineer/ songwriter and student-of-life Richmond Shaw - aka, Hotline - who first came to this part of the world during two tours of duty in Iraq, but soon discovered the Arab world had so much more to offer than he could see down the barrel of a gun.

"During my previous time in the Gulf I noticed a need to vent, and lack of artistic expression. It was intriguing to me how some people didn't have the freedom to express their desires without fear of ridicule and persecution.

"I made it my personal mission to return and help destroy some of these obstacles, as well as destroy the stereotype that all Americans aren't willing or can't 'adapt' to the lifestyle in this region. Me being here isn't just for great music it's also for a great message of hope, that there are ways of expressing yourself peacefully."

Born into an environment in which if you didn't learn fast you burned fast, Hotline was faced with the types of decisions that many people never have to make, at an age where you're supposed to still be enjoying childhood.

"Needless to say I've had to mature faster and in the process I learned how to adapt for survival.

"Everyone feels like they regret or would change some aspect of their lives but I credit my upbringing for giving me my relentless work ethic and passion. It has taught me that the things we take for granted are usually taken away."

This part of the world isn't famous for its rap culture so in order to pursue what he loves, Bahraini rapper DBoy had more than a few obstacles to jump over, but nothing he wasn't well able to deal with.

"The Arab world isn't well known for its rap culture," admits DBoy, "so I needed a strong method of exposing myself.

"I decided to use the internet as my main channel of distribution. It has been very hard to gain respect and acceptance for what I do. "Arabs are very competitive people, much like many people all over the world. But to stand out and do something that's relatively unique in my society caused an instant negative response right from the start.

"People have even gone to the extent of telling me that I'm a disgrace to Arab people! Ha ha, you need to understand though that it's only natural for humans to be competitive and accept that some people aren't going to like what I'm doing, but the majority will!"

On the upside of things, with rap and hip-hop not being big part of the culture in Bahrain, it allows for a different type of development than in the States and makes it easier to move forward with their goals.

"The scene here, as well as the rest of the Gulf, is in its infancy," says Hotline. "It's due to a lack of resource or desire but it's growing slowly but surely, and I'm happy to be one of the pioneers to help bring hip-hop to the Gulf.

"I take pride in helping people artistically. The USA is like a battleground of hip-hop hopefuls. I mean, honestly, if you're not on point dealing with your knowledge of hip-hop as well as talent you will not be taken seriously where I'm from. So I pride myself as saying I'm one of those chosen few that are considered as a student/teacher of the hip-hop culture. And I feel very honoured to be referred to as the Gulf's No 1 hip-hop artist."

For younger rapper, 15-year-old St Christopher's School student, MoneyMar it's been an easier journey, with DBoy and Hotline already having set the groundwork for him.

He said: "Although it isn't part of the culture many people do listen to rap. Most of my friends listen to all kinds of music but the majority of them love rap more than anything else, so it's very easy. Also, I have help from both DBoy and Hotline because they have been doing this for longer than I have so they give me tips and ways to make myself better and better."

While for many of us music is just a means of relaxation or something to dance to on a night out, for the likes of DBoy, Hotline and MoneyMar it's a form of expressing who they are and exorcising the demons that we all fall prey to at some time in our lives.

"I just hope that people listen to my music and get a whole new outlook on life and themselves," says DBoy. "There's a lot of negativity in this world and I feel that it's good that people have that feeling, because it shows that they're aware of bad things happening.

"I think my music helps people channel that feeling of negativity into a positive method of change."

Along with writing, producing and recording a long list of music in home studios that they have set up in their bedrooms, the boys have been keeping busy and already have a healthy following of fans who have been able to keep up with them on Bahrain radio and television as well as watching them performing live at several gigs in Bahrain, Dubai, Qatar and Pakistan, with a trip to the UK planned for this summer.

Added to which IGrind also has a team of hip-hop break-dancers, 'Over Dance Crew', who have performed in front of the Prime Minister Shaikh Khalifa bin Salman Al Khalifa and the Crown Prince and BDF Commander-in-Chief Shaikh Salman bin Hamad Al Khalifa as well as at many venues around the country.

And from one that's both seen them in action and played their music on the radio, I have to admit, if I close my eyes, I could easily convince myself that I was listening to any of the multitude of top rap artists that swarm the charts.

Hotline and his IGrind team will be on stage at 7.30pm on Friday at the Ritz-Carlton Bahrain Hotel & Spa opening the show for Kelly Rowland - see Page 30