MUSIC
Poland's premier rap and hip hop artist Liroy has returned to the music scene with the release of his third LP Dzieñ Szaka-l'a-Bafangoo cz. 2 (Day of the Jackal-Bafangoo Part 2). Set to repeat the success of his platinum-selling first album, Albóóm, Dzieñ Szaka-l'a could bring rap into the Polish mainstream.
According to popular rumor, the album's release was delayed for a year due to lightning striking Liroy's private Gdynia studio, Def Noizz. Liroy explains: "A year ago I almost finished all my material and before mixing we had lightning coming. Everything was f**ked up. That's why the LP came out a year later. I changed the plans, I changed the music, I changed everything. And I thank God that the lightning struck." And he adds, "I'm really happy with the LP ... I think that it's the best I ever did."
Produced by the artist himself, the record has a sound unique on Polish hip hop records and is softer and more commercial than its predecessors. However, Liroy's lyrics are still at the cutting edge, reflecting the urban poverty he grew up with in his home town of Kielce and the problems of everyday life in some pretty tough language. "This is hip hop, you know," says Liroy. "I'm talking like I'm talking day by day. I think that it's what I say, not how I say it, that makes my records sell like they do. People feel that I'm real."
From his studio in Gdynia Liroy runs two record labels. Def Noizz is strictly hip hop and X is devoted to different styles, mainly rock and techno. His production work with Polish bands of all styles and contacts with foreign musicians, including Ice T, the Lordz of Brooklyn and Malcolm McLaren have given him a wealth of experience and made him the only Polish rapper recognized among hip hop circles in America. In 1995, on a visit to Poland, the infamous American rapper Ice T gave Liroy the informal title of "Original Gangsta." Currently the eclectic artist is working on a hip hop mix of Tom Jones' 60s hit "Puppet Man" for Jones's new album.
Another project Liroy is working on is the Kielce-based Rappmania festival. This was originally to be held on the weekend of Aug. 7-8, but had to be postponed due to lack of time and money. Liroy now hopes it will take place some time in September or October. The aim is to make it an annual event bringing in foreign rap artists and promoting Polish talent. "I want to do this festival to show Europe, to show people from different countries, that we got hip hop here," Liroy says. He estimates that in every Polish city there's 10 or 15 hip hop bands. "I think that in two years it's going to be the major style in this country," he says.
Describing the place of his music in Poland, Liroy explains: "Hip hop is not a Polish thing, it's international. You can put some pieces of Poland... some pieces of yourself... into this music, but it's always going to be American style, no matter where you are... Every country that uses it makes it sound real."
Barnaby Harward
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