Interview With LapienZa - Are You Fly ?
January 12th, 2009 | Published in Interviews
Lapienza is an emerging, talented young rapper. A rapper born in Libreville Gabon who moved to Netherlands and now is living in Paris, France. Throughout his numerous journeys, Lapienza was surrounded by a diversity of sonorities, from african local Gabonese Hip-Hop to European and American Rap music, he started building his own musical background; a proper background he kept on developing through his constant interest in discovering varying musical environment such as Jazz or Reggae. His rap translates his connection to the streets as well as the blessing he feels to be doing, and really, I should say experiencing, his music. He just released his first EP under the label No Clue Entertainment, it is self-entitled LapienZa and we’re happy to be giving you his first interview.
Lapienza, you released your first EP-Album this week, tell us about yourself and how did it all start for you ?
Amsterdam, sometimes around 2005, me and my bros found in ourselves a true passion for riming, so we were out there whenever we could just share the passion with other kids in the streets. We even went to other cities: Rotterdam, Brussel, Paris and more… just to freestyle. But as far as I’m concern, I believe the major turn was The Roots’ concert at Paradisio in Amsterdam that same year. I mean… I still feel like I went in there and never really came back, it pretty much changed my life. I came out with totally different life’s goals… I was so impressed by the « Black Thought » performance that deap inside, I knew exactly from that point that I wanted to take it to the next level. And everything after that just slowly came together, leading me to where I am now, EP 2008, and answering to your interview… but it’s just the very beginning.
Which song of the Album would you play to someone that hasn’t heard of you ?
Definitly Fly. It’s probably the most sincere song that came out of my soul so far, it took me few minutes to write it down. And if you really get the lyrics and the melody, you might just get to know me a little bit better, understand who I truly am in life.
How would you describe your Rap ?
Most of the time, it’s simply a description of my environment, the things I see, the things I experience and the way it makes me feel. Other times it’s just me having fun on beats, playing with words, at the end I just love to do that, it’s my favorite game.
When you recorded Superstar you stated it made you feel like one of these timeless rappers, I assume there’s one you admire, which one of them gave you the will to go down that path ?
Man… there are so many artists I have admiration for, and that even goes beyond rap music itself. So, to make a long story short I’d just say, that in the process to make me wanna rap up to that level, like I said earlier, back in the days in Paradisio, Black Thought from The Roots really scored a point.
What are your influences ? You were born in Gabon, did African music play a role in your rap ?
Well… to be honest, a big part of the music I bring is most definitly influenced by US Hip-Hop, as well Eastern and Western Hip-Hop. I mean that’s where it all started right ? But I was born in the middle of Africa, the Gabonese culture is also taking a part of it. Everybody knows that african culture is wealthy of sounds and colours. It might sound strange to certain people, probably because they ain’t from there, but Gabonese Hip-Hop is still the one that touches me the most, I wouldn’t change it for any other.
So yeah… I consider my African culture the little extra to my musical background and abilities, it allows me to bring something different to what’s already going on, just by being myself.
You’re a great emerging rapper. In the times where Kanye West or 50 Cent are releasing their album, what can people expect from Lapienza ? Do you think they leave out a little bit of space in the market for artists like you ?
I think there’s always a place on the market for new artists depending on what they got to bring. But I’m not really worried about that, I just do my things. I focus on making music that I deeply believe in, and share it with as many people as I can. By comparison to artist like Kanye and 50, well I guess the least you can expect from me is the same level of music creativity but from a different approach. They’re from the States, I’m from almost everywhere else !
Speaking of Kanye and 50, we know they aren’t exactly best friends. What’s your preference ?
I’m a big fan of Kanye’s last album « heartbreak &808 » and my bro told me he’s crazy on stage, ain’t had the chance to see it yet but i’m looking foward to do so.
What’s the next step for you ? I heard you might be going on tour…
Actually, knowing that we haven’t an exclusive contract with the booking agency, shows are still casual moreover we’re still working on new songs and the show rehearsal will be the next step, anyway some dates will come up soon in order to provide the fans some live versions but we’ll take it slow, step by step.
Can we expect a Full Album release soon ?
Yeah for sure… I’m already working on it. Can’t tell when it’ll come out yet, but soon, really soon !
I wish you the best, thanks Lapienza. You can get his E.P from the iTunes Music Store - the link is just right there for you.
Lapienza’s myspace: www.myspace.com/lapienza