Hip Hop and Happening
Award-winning poet and Tempo contributor, Dorian “Paul D” Rogers sat down with Marcel Lteif, Lebanese composer, producer, audio engineer, Hip Hop artist, and graduate of SAE-Dubai to share a coffee and good conversation about everything related to Hip Hop music.
Paul: You were born in Beirut, Lebanon. What are your memories of childhood?
Marcel: The strongest childhood memories I will always carry are my family’s struggle and the sacrifice my father went through to provide his kids with opportunities.
Paul: Beirut is known for having a lot of talented musical artists. Who were your Lebanese influences growing up?
Marcel: I was mostly exposed to Arabic singers such as Majida El Roumi, Fairuz, and of course the legendary, Umm Kulthum. When I became aware of the local Hip Hop scene, almost every artist I met influenced me especially the entire Underground961.
Paul: Who influenced you in American Hip-Hop?
Marcel: I was first introduced to Hip Hop when my aunt bought me my first Tupac cassette tape named “ All Eyez on Me.” I was maybe nine or ten years old. That album was my stepping stone to Hip Hop. I eventually found out about Africa Bambaatta, Pubic Enemy, NWA, A Tribe Called Quest, Brand Nubian, X-Clan, Kool G Rap, KRS-One and many others. I was listening to a lot of the commercial Hip Hop of the Late 90s and early 2000s such as DMX, Jadakiss, Xzibit, Biggie Smalls, and Eminem, but the artists who heavily influenced me into wanting to take rap seriously and made me focus on lyrical skills were Big Pun, Wu Tang Clan, and Immortal Technique.
Paul: You named some great artists and groups. What was it about their styles or message that inspired you?
Marcel: Big Pun is ahead of his time especially when it comes to his lyrical attributes and multi-syllabic world play while Wu Tang’s style influenced me in the type of metaphors they would deliver. Immortal Technique’s political knowledge and concepts in storytelling influenced me in understanding the different dimensions an artist can write about on a subject. KRS-One’s message about Hip Hop made me understand this genre as a culture and how acquiring knowledge about self can benefit everyone.
Paul: You have a very conscious element to your lyrics. Why are you so dedicated to speaking the raw truth about society?
Marcel: I think it comes from the simple fact that I don’t like to see people struggling. It also comes from the experiences of seeing families divided over greed and some perpetuated by politics. It’s the faults that I saw in myself that enabled me to start taking on the raw truth.
Paul: How is the UAE arts culture different from that of Lebanon?
Marcel: In my opinion, artists in Lebanon are more driven and hungry given the circumstances of our environment. I guess the experiences are different coming from a war-torn capital.
Paul: Where do you see yourself ten years from now?
Marcel: My career goals are to establish a company or production house that would promote independent artists.
Paul: What suggestions would you give to an up and coming Hip Hop artist or producer that wants to get exposed in the UAE?
Marcel: I am not at a level to be giving advice to any kind of artist since I’m still struggling in that arena myself. When it comes to creating an environment where artists can grow through skills and consistency, history has shown that a formula doesn’t exist. I’m a firm believer of embracing your own struggle, which is why I don’t have an answer to this question.
Paul: I’m glad you can relate to the struggle. I have a confession to make. I’m struggling to pay Dh 45 for this cup of coffee. Do you mind taking care of the bill?
