Blackface: The changing face of Hip Hop

Blackface (Hasani Levy) on stage at the Big Breakout
event, where he supported international star, Mya.
Blackface came on stage with the Hollowpoint dance
troupe, in an electrifying, high-energy, tightly
choreographed dance routine.
 

Blackface, who has made a name for himself as an
original and imaginative Hip Hop artist locally, and is
now set to become a star in the international arena,
with his new single, ‘Move it.’ Blackface will be
throwing a big party to celebrate the new single, on
17 June, rather than 18 as previously announced.

By Christopher Tobutt

Friday, May 27,  2005

Blackface is the stage name of local Hip-hop artist Hasani Levy, who was born in Brooklyn, and grew up in the New York Borough. Blackface’s parents are both from the Caribbean, however, his mother from Jamaica and his father from the Cayman Islands.

It is no surprise, therefore, to find that this artist’s music is informed by both of these cultures.

“Caribbean music and Hip-Hop have been such big motivators in my music it’s impossible to separate the two, so I've been on a quest in my career to blend them. This is what people are hearing, the blending of two cultures, which fully describes myself,” said Mr Levy.

Rap stars Tupac Shakur (‘Pac’) and Biggie Smalls, are two of the artists whom Blackface describes as his biggest influence. While Blackface’s lyrical intensity and integrity mirrors that of Tupac and Biggie, Blackface has brought new elements into both his stage show and his music, elements that go with his own personality and cultural identity.

“I’ve heard people say that I remind them of Pac in some of my songs and others say they hear a touch of Biggie. However they all say I have my own sound and my own voice, which separates me from everyone in the industry right now. I think I have found my own style and I’m currently cultivating it.

“I will say that my music is often referred to as very reflective of my past experiences, who I am and where I come from. The feeling I convey in my songs comes directly from my own joys and sorrows,” he said.

Like many Hip-Hop artists, Blackface’s music articulates a sene of disaffection. But it also expresses the tension of maturing and coping with life, of facing responsibilities, of moving from the outside of society into the inside without losing your integrity or the fire within your soul.

he implied violence in Blackface’s music is therefore really a metaphor for the struggle of everyday living, rather than the hackneyed violent imagery of gangs and guns.

“I don’t believe that only showing the negative side of my life or certain stereotypical images of black youth in my lyrics do my talent justice,” says Blackface. “I also write about the real life issues of single parent households, taking responsibility as a man in being a father. I talk about working a nine to five, going to the club, meeting women, having fun, things people talk about and do everyday.

“People tell me the biggest draw they have to my music is that they can relate to it, and can feel the emotion in my words. This gives me the inspiration to stay in the studio all night recording.”

As far as recording goes, Mr Levy has just finished laying down his first single, called ‘Move it,’ which has attracted the attention of Grammy award winning mixing engineer, Ken Lewis, who has mixed for world famous artists such as Usher.

A recent triumph in Blackface’s career was his show supporting Mya at the Big Breakout concert, which he performed with backing from local Hollowpoint dance troupe; it was a tightly choreographed show, performed with an electric intensity as Blackface instantly connected with the audience.

What is also exceptional about Blackface is the way he marries the dangerous intensity of his lyrics with the energy of his dance routine. Music and movement combine to tell Blackface’s own particular story.

“My show at the Mya concert has been evidence of my growth in performance Mode. My show was meant to test my performance abilities as an artist. It’s one thing to be able to go in a studio when no one is around and record a track, but when you have to get out in front of an audience and get it right the first time, every time, that is the true test of what it takes to be an artist. That show was really a defining moment in my career. It made me realize that I'm on the right track.”

Blackface could be described as a balancing act; he balances anger, outrage and disaffection as he takes up his emotional baggage and walks the high wire from the outside of society to the inside.

This is essentially the ambiguity that Blackface explores, is what gives his performance such a dangerous and exciting edge. At times, the high wire seems about to snap with the tension; somehow it never does.

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