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When it sprouted from the cracked pavements and towering public housing projects of the Bronx, hip hop was a powerful means of social comment. Much like the rock n’ roll artists of the 1950s, punk rockers of the 1970s and protest music throughout the twentieth century, hip hop artists gained a voice as they expressed their views via the music they made. More than thirty years after its birth in the boroughs of New York, hip hop continues to deliver socially conscious thought instilling it into the minds of its listeners the world over. Having made its arduous journey around the globe to Australia, Requiem takes hold of hip hop’s ability to reach people with his debut EP, Coffee, Biros & Death. This rural Victorian supports and uplifts hip hop’s original objective as he voices his local and global concerns for all to hear.
With production handled by Raze Productions and Pabstrakt with the final product mixed down by Australian hip hop icon Trem of Lyrical Commission, Coffee, Biros & Death is rather nicely put together. While in hindsight, none of this would have been made possible if it weren’t for Requiem who has openly put his heart and soul and then some into this salient five track EP.
With an impressive intro compiled of movie exerts, Requiem launches into full-swing with Soapbox. Proving he’s definitely got something to say he delivers chaotically calculated commentary to the sharp, jabbing horns of Raze’s handiwork. A painful tale of isolation and the adverse life on a rural dweller, Isolation Lights twinkles while Requiem’s frank honesty simply shines. Delirium maps the often delirious mind state of an addict whatever their poison is, be it alcohol, amphetamines, petrol, prescription drugs or coffee. Requiem’s mournful sorrow and sympathetic pity is accented by the hook’s whirring strings. Shocking at times, Delirium is not easily forgotten. Requiem is decidedly preoccupied with the world’s wrongs and personal struggles as songstress Dhivia rounds things off on the mellow Afflictions.
Covering depressing and dim subject matter with conviction and compassion, rather than leaving a bad taste in your mouth, Requiem manages to bring forth important issues that need to be addressed but are often ignored. Hopefully with these issues off his chest, Requiem will follow on and consolidate in the future with some optimistic and upbeat reflections. With an obvious unbridled passion to share his thoughts with the world, Requiem is destined to go places.
