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Spotlight on Sky'z Da Limit

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Spotlight on Sulaah

In-Depth look at the CHHM

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Kreyol Hip Hop

Johny Jacques:
In-Depth at the Kreyol Hip Hop Movement

Continued...

I'm Not going to get too deep into it but Seca isn't the only artist who is pouring his/her heart and soul out using this music. In NYC and the greater NY area you have Bennchoumy whom I simply label the hardest working Haitian. Benn is the type of character to make fans before they even hear his music. I was hearing about this artist before I even realized he was part of the movement. From his image and character offstage you would never connect him with his powerful, political, cultured and rooted hardcore lyrics that he boasts on stage. VDC is another bunch from New Jersey who you have to see to believe. VDC stands for Voodoo Child and you know they are in the zone when you hear them chanting what has become a slogan on the underground "V O O D O O Ceeeeeee". To those that remembered and were fans of the cartoon Thundercats in the 80s, well that's the closest thing I can compare to VDC. They are like the Chicago Bulls of the 90s, just a group of guys each with a special skill that compliment each other so well, but unlike the Bulls and Thundercats, in VDC there isn't a Lionel or Jordan because everyone is the master of their own domains and just mesh together perfectly.

New York City can not be mentioned without everyone's favorite Haitians from Harlem. The first question I am asked when I make mention of these two groups if "there are Haitians in Harlem?" Well that tells you the dedication and love these artists have for this little country of ours. Growing up in an area where Americans, Africans and Hispanics dominate, these guys still hold Haiti up high and refuse to let go. Some of them weren't even born in Haiti yet their Kreyol would say otherwise. Two groups called Neg Marons and Bourgeoizie. Each so distinctly different from another yet both of their stories are intriguing. Neg Marons is made up of two MCs, Mike P and Suicide, and comes with a blend of Kreynglish which is pretty much tells the story of Haitians who grew up in America. I find their CD which was nominated for 2 Underground Hip Hop awards this year, to be the easiest way to get people into Kreyol Hip Hop. Haitian Americans can easily understand and relate to the way they speak and the commercial value they bring to the movement. I do see Neg Marons as the first Kreyol Hip Hop group to truly have commercial success and be seen on stations such as MTV or BET. Now Bourgeoizie is led by Jesus and BAM and is definitely special group of Haitians. Their art far surpasses the music as they say "anything you want we got". Bourgeoizie currently is pushing a documentary called "Lost In Haiti" that I will not get too deep into otherwise I'll be writing a completely new article. I will be posting a new article solely on this group in the weeks to come because one paragraph alone just can't tell their story.

Outside New York City you have highly notables such as Mecca AkA Grimo from Miami. Mecca is another recognizable figure in the movement and has recently starred in the Haitian film Kidnapping. In Orlando rests Skyz Da Limit who is one of my favorite political groups in the movement. Coming back up north to Boston you have Jules and the Neg Noir crew. Jules is somewhat like what NAS is to American Hip Hop. His lyrics would have you think this man attended Harvard and majored in politics and history. He's complimented by Lion Paw whom the only comparison I can think of to him is Jamaica's Sizzla.

There are just so many others and every week I am introduced to another artist or group. The fore mentioned are just a handful of many who make up the core. In the center of the nucleus is one person. A short, shy, perfectly black woman who's smile depicts something of innocence. Looking at her, you would never have guessed in a 1000 years she was such a powerhouse in all of this. She, yes SHE is the reason why this movement keeps moving. Her name, Sulaah Bien-Aime, and everyday I find out the value of this woman to the Haitian community as a whole. Sulaah has touched many Haitians in some ways that they just don't realize. I will be talking to her for the October newsletter so I won't delve too much into her in this article but just know, this is the motor behind the Kreyol Hip Hop Movement. She's definitely one to look out for.

I can write all day about the Kreyol Hip Hop Movement and its dynamics. I just may. I have just given you an introduction of the movement here but there are many different aspects of it which I wish to touch on in the future. I want to introduce the Haiti factions of this whole thing and I am beginning to now make the connections to see right into Haiti and what's going on. The movement is picking up steam here in America but in Haiti it's just taking over the country. For those of you who are letting this bandwagon pass you just imagine this. 50 percent of Haiti is under the age of 21. That means there are over 4 million children in Haiti. Hip Hop is the voice of their generation. Not to put down any other form of Haitian music because that's not what the Kreyol Hip Hop Movement is about. Konpa will always be in us but Konpa falls short in many aspects and doesn't truly represent us, our country and what we are going through. We have Racine which does in some ways. I see Hip Hop as the middle ground. It's a music that takes the form of whatever you want it to. It can sing to you and make you dance; it can tell you stories and best of all, it can speak what you feel in your heart. Open your eyes, ears and take in what these artists are saying. Approach the movement open-mind and you will find yourself swept off your feet just as I did and like me, you will soon realize The Kreyol Hip Hop Movement is the bridge that will bring us back to our Haiti and bring our Haiti here to us in America.