Crescendo Rapping

August 27th, 2019.  Room No 420. Those that say Rap is a form of Hip-Hop couldn’t be more wrong – it can be, and often is, a component of hip-hop, but its origins pre-date the hip-hop culture, tracing it back to the African Griot culture, which in turn has links with the ancient Egyptians. As a matter of fact, even in the English language, to rap, once meant to converse, before the origin of the present usage as a term denoting a musical style. However, what is incontestable is the fact that it is an intrinsic part of the Black rhetorical continuum, is in a constant state of flux, as it is enriched real time, drawing on past traditions and expanding them with the creative use of language and styles. Rapping is, call it rhyming, spitting, emceeing o0r just MCing, a popular form of vocal delivery, chanted in a variety of ways usually with a backing beat or musical accompaniment. The beat is usually provided by beatboxer, turntablist, or DJ.

It was about this rap music that Crescendo, the music collective of the Bhawanipur Education Society College (BESC) organised a workshop, not only for the collective members to acquaint themselves with the finer nuances of the musical form, but also grasp its full purport to perform and regale audiences with.

Aniket Mullick and Iftekar, college students who are celebrated rappers in their own rights were the principal attractions of the workshop. There were fifteen hardcore rappers in presence.

The speakers, after dwelling on the history and evolution of Rap music stressed on the importance of message – of writing lyrics that touch a chord in the hearts of the audience as the most important part of rapping. The fact that it is neither the beat, nor the style of delivery but the meaningfulness of the lyrics that differentiate between the merely good and the great, was repeatedly driven home.

Being practicing rappers, Aniket and Iftikar were quick to spice their sermons with ample doses of rap-talk that was lapped up by those attending the workshop. The hands on (or was it words on) way in which the workshop was conducted, encouraging the participants to take the microphone and perform all that they wanted to communicate was, naturally a huge hit.

(This report has been filed by Tariq Ahmed along with camera person Shouvik Das of the Expressions collective of the BESC)