{"id":28019,"date":"2016-05-24T14:56:27","date_gmt":"2016-05-24T12:56:27","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/sodwee.com\/blog\/?p=28019"},"modified":"2016-05-24T14:56:27","modified_gmt":"2016-05-24T12:56:27","slug":"introducing-kemba","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/sodwee.com\/blog\/2016\/05\/introducing-kemba\/","title":{"rendered":"Introducing: Kemba"},"content":{"rendered":"

Introducing Kemba<\/strong> today, a prolific New York Emcee who used to roam the Bronx in a past life as YC the Cynic. He recently ditched that name for the much easier to name-drop Kemba<\/strong> instead. Resetting his creative direction at the same time and coming back in a big way front and center with a rather politically charged weapon of mass destruction. Here, is \u201cThe New Black Theory\u201d, preceding and giving us a sweet appetizer of what is sure to be a well received new album called \u2018Negus\u2019\u2026 out on July 22nd.<\/p>\n

Born, raised and heavily rooted in the Bronx, Kemba\u2019s background in rap started at an early age, formerly known as YC the Cynic, the emcee \u2018outgrew the name completely\u2019 he says.<\/p>\n

\"KembaI\u2019ve been YC since I was 12 years old,\u201d he says. \u201cI outgrew it. I was limited by the sort of Golden Era brand that I built as YC the Cynic. Now I\u2019m able to let my true inspirations and influences show through melody as well. Starting new as Kemba feels like the next step in my evolution.<\/p><\/blockquote>\n

Influenced by contemporaries like Pharrell Williams<\/em>, Mos Def<\/em> and Goodie Mob<\/em>, Kemba<\/strong> isn\u2019t afraid of saying it like it truly is and address issues of our modern times. The first single off \u201cNegus\u201d does just that and more, it\u2019s called \u201cThe New Black theory\u201d and cuts through any crap lying around right to the essential lines.<\/p>\n

The song is inspired by this empty distinction between marginalized people and the undertones of victim-blaming, while also speaking about respectability politics: the theory that conforming to more mainstream sensibilities will stop black people from being harassed by police, women harassed by men, etc. The single artwork is just as controversial.<\/p><\/blockquote>\n

It\u2019s a refreshing spin as you hit play. Produced by Franck Drake, the track samples a famous bar from 2Pac\u2019s \u201cDear Mama\u201d and incorporates the theory and term \u201cThe New Black\u201d made popular by Pharrell saying that\u00a0\u201cThe New Black doesn\u2019t blame other races for our issues. The New Black dreams and realizes that it\u2019s not a pigmentation; it\u2019s a mentality.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cNegus\u201d, Kemba<\/strong> debut album under this new moniker, will drop on July 22nd. Listen to the this brilliant track \u201cThe New Black Theory\u201d below :<\/h3>\n