Miami-based hip-hop artist and activist MECCA aka GRIMO was featured on Coming Home Haiti, Revolt TV’s documentary on Creole-language rap that appeared on the network recently. This marks one of several times that mainstream, international media has taken note of that musical genre. Mecca aka Grimo discussed being part of the doc, and what he has been up to lately.

Kreyolicious: How did you get involved with Coming Home Haiti?

Who’s Crazy Film Academy was asked to continue their film series and their next stop was Haiti. They already traveled to Cuba and Peru and Revolt Tv really liked their vision. So, as they were preparing to make arrangements for their trip, DJ Efn and Michael Garcia, who are two good friends of mine from the hip-hop scene in Miami. They invited me to roll with them since they knew that I am heavily involved in the Hip Hop Kreyòl scene and the Haitian Community. They both felt like I would be a helpful asset on the trip assisting in translating and introducing them to Haitian hip-hop artists that I’ve worked with on prior projects.

Kreyolicious: Was the fact that it was a Revolt TV production a major factor in your agreeing to be a part of it all?

Not at all. I would’ve been down to explore and bring light to the influence of hip-hop in Haiti—even if Revolt TV wasn’t involved. We are all thankful that Revolt TV embraced this series because it’s important to know how certain types of music styles integrated into different cultures, and how it affects the progression of the culture. Also, I was very delighted to be able to go back to Haiti and meet up with fellow artists, friends and family that I haven’t seen awhile.

Above: MECCA aka GRIMO poses with other members of Miami’s artistic community at a screening of Coming Home Haiti.

Kreyolicious: Why do you think the movement warrants so much attention?

The movement warrants this attention because Haiti has been through a lot of adversity. When a nation has gone through the struggle that Haiti has gone through you have to ask yourself what is keeping them inspired and alive. Hip-hop feeds the soul. It energizes the spirit. The youth in Haiti find hope in hip-hop. It’s a way for them to express themselves, and feel good about what they are accomplishing. We all feel the same when we say music crosses language barriers. So, no matter what language we speak, music operates on frequencies that drives us all. The movement also promotes social and political change. Through music, we are all messengers of the art form. So, we keep it alive in its truest form by talking about what is real to us.

Kreyolicious: What is the current state of Miami’s Creole rap scene?

There’s a few of us spread out through out Miami’s hip-hop Kreyòl scene, but the heavy hitters are in Haiti for sure. We are all influenced and driven by the beautiful country of Ayiti. We all want to do so much more. At the very least, our contribution is to preserve the language and culture so those that come after us have something to feel proud about. More artists of Haitian decent are coming out [of] the woodwork and making an effort to connect with the culture these days…which means that we are becoming more proud of who we are as a people when we are able to reflect our culture through our every expression.

Kreyolicious: What projects are you working on currently?​

I’m currently working on my book titled Haiti was Born in Me, which includes a cultural guide towards the rear of the book after the poems and readings. The book will be out in April for National Poetry Month. I’m also working on a project called “We Dem Zoes”, which is our musical expression and perspective being of Haitian descent living in America. Spearheaded by 103.5’s The Beat, DJ Epps, the project includes other artist such as Grimass, Stichiz—who is also an on air personality for 103.5 The Beat, myself MECCA aka GRIMO and the producer of the project, Magnificent Beats. Look for our first single and video “Test of Strength” to come out soon. On the last Friday of every month, I host a poetry venue called “Poetic Lakay”, which allows artists from the community to come and share their work of expression. Our 501(c)3 non-profit organization Children’s Hope Chest of Dreams reaches out to the underprivileged youth and teaches conflict resolution and anger management and resolution skills. The organization also offers cultural-based programs and mentors youth who have entered the juvenile system.

Be sure to keep up with Mecca aka Grimo…

MECCA AKA GRIMO ON INSTAGRAM | MECCA AKA GRIMO ON TWITTER | MECCA AKA GRIMO’S ORGANIZATION CHILDREN HOPE CHEST OF DREAMS | MECCA AKA GRIMO ON SOUNDCLOUD

Infertility is the big story in Haitian band Gabel’s latest song “PKFP”, the acronym for Pa Ka Fè Pitit (Can’t Birth Babies). What a great idea! And how brave of this band to come forward with a song on this sensitive, nearly taboo subject in some circles and communities.

Turns out that infertility is becoming a major preoccupation even for people in their twenties and thirties! According to WCNC.com, more and more Millennial-aged women are freezing their eggs, and women are getting married later and later in life, and putting off having children. The fear of infertility is so strong, The Knowridge Science Report stated that more employers are offering egg freezing as a health benefit for their employees.

What Gabel has done essentially, has been to take this increasing problem and turn it into a sort of anthem–albeit private anthem. Will this song be a dancefloor hit? Or will it be one of those songs that couples comfort themselves with in the privacy of their homes? There’s this stigma with infertility and all.

I could not help but be reminded of another song called “Pitit Deyò”, that figured on my list of Top Haitian Music Baby Mama Drama songs. People may sing and dance along to “Pitit Deyò” in public, but I wonder if they will embrace “PKFP” the same way. The difference between “Pitit Deyò” (The Sidechick’s Kid) and “PKFP” is that the narrator for the first mourns over circumstances (illigimacy) beyond his or her control, and whereas “PKFP” is even more personal. When you listen to the lyrics, there’s some undercurrents of self-blame even.

In the video for the track, director ISmittyProduce gives us a shot of a crushed baby girl’s cup, and a weathered, beatdown book that looks like it may have been a pregnancy or expectant parent guide in dryer days. Then in-between scenes of the wifey delivering the news of infertility to the guy, we see a First Reader-type-of-book in flames. Some powerful visual metaphors.

It would have been even better to put a male and a female infertility storyline side-by-side to emphasize that infertility can stem from both sides. Have to mention though…the female lead in the video has a very supportive husband. He didn’t accompany her to the clinic to help her take in the infertility diagnosis, but at least he’s doing his share of chores in the house!

The main message of this song is that it takes a great many sacrifices to sustain true love. It may mean keeping your work, remembering your vows, even if this may mean never procreating with the person you love.

This band really went went out of their element for this track. So, like, bravo, and major—actually thunderous—applause for Gabel.

Have you heard the Gabel PKFP song? What did you think of it?

CLICK HERE to buy Gabel PKFP and other music from this band! CLICK HERE to read previous articles on this band!

Dance hall Creole duo Vogge released an EP recently containing the song “Back to Back”. The musical style of the duo is quite rambunctious. This rowdiness and playfulness manifests in their music video for the track.

The four-track EP entitled The Lust Edition, also has its share of love songs, or should I say anti-love songs. The track “No Love”, for instance, has one of the narrators telling his girl, “Don’t wait on me”, as he chooses to chase and idolize money, power and trifling pursuits instead.

The aforementioned “Back to Back” outlines the adage, “One day for the hunter and a day for the prey”. It’s all about how your actions can catch up to you, and the fact that there’s going to be a day of triumph and a day of malediction for all.

Undoubtedly the most heavy-hitting track on the EP, “Places” plays with a little bit of everything. One can note the base reggae sound of the band, but there’s also some Haitian pop thrown in there, and even West African rhythms. The lyrics are more substantial.

There’s also this other track “Do Ba”. It surpasses “Back to Back” in terms of partying spirit. I can see folks at a contemporary nightclub jamming to this for sure. The lyrics are so very catchy, that one wonders if there’s a dance to go with the song.

Vogge’s sound is rather different from the Haitian bands I’ve listened to. The heavy leaning towards dance hall, and the blending of world sounds, including R&B. They seem to have a thing for experimentation. Now, according to the band’s website, this is its second EP. If a full-pledged album is what’s next on their plate, following the direction of “Places” will take Vogge to more places.

This has been yet another edition of KREYOLICIOUS music, brought to you by your favorite chick KREYOLICIOUS!

VOGGE MUSIC EVERYWHERE!

Be sure to check out Vogge’s website by going here!

And don’t forget to support Haitian music. CLICK HERE to purchase Vogge’s tracks! | VISIT VOGGE’S FACEBOOK PAGE

Check out one of their music videos below: