Rap's Core Voice
Flying caterpillars and toilets, deformed people and dolphins in puddles: these are the unsettling images featured in A$AP Rocky's latest music video, “Tailor Swif”. Filmed in Ukraine before the onset of the war with Russia, the video has since evolved into a manifesto of social protest. After all, isn’t this what rap was born to be?
Gray skyscrapers set the scene for a historical era dominated by absurdity and controversy. People, animals, and random objects appear where they don’t belong, creating a vertigo of intense chaos and disconnection. Does it remind you of anything? In his latest music video “Tailor Swif”, A$AP Rocky intentionally illustrates how everything is the opposite of where it should be or what it should do.
The song, a teaser from the album don’t be dumb, sets the tone for the musical direction that Rocky intends to take - a clear political manifesto addressing the chaos of contemporary times and the sense that every living creature on earth is losing its minds amidst the turmoil. The sublime music video, directed by Venia Heymann and Gal Muggia, depicts a hypothetical apocalypse, juxtaposed with an unsettling calm. It almost feels like there is a lens of normality filtering everything that is going on in the visuals. The rapper and the video’s subjects remain unaffected by the surrounding madness, reflecting a state of obliviousness that allows the current system to persist.
A$AP Rocky aims to return to the roots of rap, a genre originally born to expose injustices and cleverly influence public opinion about certain matters. Ironically, he began filming in Ukraine with this intention in mind, even before the war erupted.
“Tailor Swif” ultimately joins the ranks of works that embody the roots of the genre, standing alongside masterpieces like This is America by Childish Gambino or Alright by Kendrick Lamar. These songs have become symbols of resistance against discrimination, much like Strange Fruit by Billie Holiday (1939) or Get Up, Stand Up by Bob Marley (1973), just to name a few. So, does rap still have that original power to move the masses to rebellion or wake up those who are asleep?
Every country has its rules, but in Italy, one rapper who consistently addresses political matters is Ghali. His music often revolves around global issues, sparking debate and discussion on important themes. In the latest edition of Sanremo, the iconic Italian musical festival, he voiced his opinion on the delicate subject of genocide, challenging much of the public opinion at that time. Armed with just a mic, an angry voice, and the determination to give a suppressed voice a platform, he made a powerful statement. Several emerging artists hopped on his wave as well, joining the cause, confirming once again the resonance that the genre has with its unique way of sliding like swords and thriving a movement of people.
via GQ
In recent years, we’ve seen an evolution in rap and its purpose, at times nourishing dry mouths rather than confronting cold hearts and blind eyes, diverging from its original intent of raising a flag in the midst of indifference. Some rappers tend to focus on their own boundaries, while others push beyond them, broadening their horizons to a wider view. However, the original flame still burns - sometimes with the wind, and sometimes against it.
