It's been a while since I've highlighted an artist in a RJNAS, which wasn't because of the lack of (new) musicians, but it was more a question of me finding some free time to explore the music of those performers. Well, now that I've found some, hold unto your headphones for a whole new experience.
The musician I'll be highlighting goes by his artist name Rapsen T, who was born Tooy Pepsen Jurston on 6th September 1998 in the District Brokopondo in Suriname. He grew up musically, because of his fathers interest in music. Rapsen T started in a group called Young Class in his teenage years, which he left after some years and the reason for calling his music a whole new experience, is because of his lyrics being written in his native tongue, him being born into one of the tribal communities in Suriname. Listening to his songs makes me want to learn the tribal languages even more.
Mbey Mi (Fix Me) is one of his more recent songs, which came out this year and according to a news article - that's how I came across Rapsen T's name and music - he has come a long way if it comes to the quality of a music video. The same could be said from his songs, after I listened to his earlier songs.
Back to Mbey Mi, I appreciate the subtitles and from the lyrics I find this young man to sing about love and heartbreak in a mature way. He sings "Fix me, but don't betray me" and asks the woman not to take advantage of his great love for her.
So We Live was in collaboration with Rise- L, in which they sing about how they live in the ghetto and even named an impoverished neighborhood called Sunny Point in the song. During the civil war in the 1980's many have fled their villages and were forced to occupy abandoned or unoccupied housing projects (or homes), that weren't habitable yet.
That's a little backstory about Sunny Point, but these two artists sing about (from the small amount I can understand) having God before them and themg focusing on working towards living a better life.
In Mi Keh Sabi Rapsen T sings about (from what I could've translated) being blessed and searching the love within, despite negativity and jealousy surrounding him. The beat has some Afro influences and there's even some dancing and cultural influences from his tribe.
If you appreciate Rapsen T's music, want to collaborate and/or link up with him, here's where you can follow him:
- His YouTube channel: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCXLEw_gWYA7mhu6H6t1Gh-g/videos
- His Facebook account: https://m.facebook.com/profile.php?id=100008704059008
- His Instagram profile: https://www.instagram.com/repsen_t/?hl=en
- His Snapchat account: https://www.snapchat.com/add/lbrepsen6
- His Tik Tok account: https://www.tiktok.com/music/original-sound-6963699412145048326
