The irony of it all was that hip-hop has been identified as a bad influence among the youth because of its violence-filled lyrics, which glorify gangsterism. When the American embassy decided to pump half a million Pula into the rap music project here it was more than just another way of empowering the local hip-hop artists. The instructions were that they must come up with positive, inspiring, violence-free lyrics, which would make the youths realise the so-called good life promoted by rap music is in fact a breeding environment for HIV AIDS.
When a US Embassy officer, James Smith, got onto the stage as OJ, he may have stepped onto the podium in basketball regalia, looking hip-hop, but the hippy looking guy immediately slated the core of rap music, attacking the influence of the likes of Biggie Smalls, Tupac Shakur, Lil' Wayne, Jah Rule, and making it clear to the theatre that those rappers' music is bad influence that should not be copied. No wonder when the US Embassy chose someone to come to Botswana to work with local artists, they did not go for the established guys who rap sex, women, money and fast cars. They went for Will Power, known only for his positive lyrics. It was the night of re-invention of the form of hip-hop as even the likes of Botswana's own rappers, Scar, Kast, and Zeus, put aside their usual rap lines to do something more positive. On the night of the launch of the project, Zeus proved that positive lyrics (without the swearing) can still move the crowd when he performed a song called I am, which undoubtedly set the tone for the evening's performances, thanks to the vibrancy of the music that reverberated throughout the theatre hall. The back up dancers did their thing with grace, breathing a new meaning into hip-hop performances, while huge graffiti decorated the stage.
The local rappers may have pocketed money from the rap project but if the evening's show was anything to go by, they also gained musically from the project. The stage performances of the likes of Kast, Zeus, and Scar showed marked improvement after they learnt new moves from choreographers hired specifically to make the evening something to remember.
The US Embassy-sponsored project also features three local rappers, in Treff, Spurt, and Enigma, who also feature in the recording. Seven other newcomers were featured, including the well-known Cibil Nyte, who won the Channel O, Africa MC competition last year.
The performances continue throughout this month in various towns to coincide with the Month of Youth Against AIDS (MYAA). Amongst others the countrywide tour will also see workshops held with theatre groups, church choirs, and schools, US Embassy spokesman, Laona Segaetsho, said.
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