Cuban Mic is joined by Fari X and RaggaFwresh, a Boston musician by way of Trinidad and Tobago. He talks about his rap influences, mixing reggae and calypso, and performing at the Boston Caribbean Carnival and Boston City Hall. Also: they discuss the lack of support in the Boston hip hop scene, RaggaFwresh's role in an upcoming film, and a live performance of his latest single, "Ah Bacchanal".
WBCA Podcasts
The Tape Deck Hour
What's going on? You should boy keep it Mike. It's a one or two point nine tape deck. And tonight we're doing something special here, man. I got a guess in the building. Um, yes, you know me. I'm I'm going on to the fullest map. But we're going to train it out here, man. I will take it over to the islands here. Maybe going to the, to my people side and finish that. Yeah. So I, I, I know nothing. I don't think they were going to go to another world here, man. Um, I got an artist here. Um, I played this during last month. And, um, when I played this during that, I was grooving. I was growing the background. No, no one here saw me except for the, the phone lady bugging out. But, um, he has a music video, which we're going to discuss later on. Um, you know, he, uh, you know, got, got some joints. He's going to be playing also. And he's always be performing. I got the homey rack of fashion, the business one, buddy. All right. All right. All right. Thank you very much for having me. Appreciate you guys. I was the traffic. Oh, traffic was, well, you don't know how Massachusetts, uh, traffic, especially coming in the Boston is always takes you an hour to go. What? Two, two, three miles, man. Listen, man, I was coming from the airport. It took me a little bit of an hour to get over here. Oh, yeah. Especially if you are missed at one turn, man. Don't forget about it. Yeah, right. Everything rerouting. And, um, and I also got, uh, I'll be crewing, I'll be current guests in the building. I got the homey. Fairy X, the bus going on homey. Hey, hey, hey. That's the queen, right? Yeah, man. Last time she came over here, she pretty much took over the show. Wasn't a tape, tape deck. I was a fairy X. I don't know what she's talking about. She takes over every show, but it was, it was, uh, it was boss. Mushy was pulling over here. I couldn't even have taken it. I had nothing left after the show was over, but it was one one. How about he's talking about how you doing, girl? I'm doing well. How are you? Everything's good, man. Everything's good. But yeah, man, I got the homey rock of fresh here, man. He got a lot going on, man. He's an artist DJ. He represents West Indian Boston to the fullest. And I just found out 10 minutes ago, he's an actor. Who won't talk about the acting skills he's having out here? Got some acting chops out here, man. So, um, tell us about yourself, man. What's going on? Yes, everyone. I have those going on. My name is Raga Fresh. Um, you know, local artists here by way of Trinidad and Tobago. Um, you know, doing music, musician DJ, um, promoter. Um, I mean, every, I try to get my hands in everything, all the, all the above. Anything has to do with, uh, especially with the Caribbean entertainment. Um, been doing music. I would say, I think it started off DJing at the age of 12. Yeah. And, um, you know, just actually just had a passion for just music in general. Um, I remember even as a, as a young man, as a youth man, as we say in Trinidad. Um, I remember getting my own, you know, finding my own, uh, work job, get my own money, having to go to record stores and I'm, I'm getting paid. I mean, at that time, you know, I was hustling an extra, but, um, getting paid like, you know, $300 and just going to spend all of that on, um, on, uh, records at the records store where other, you know, other kids was probably trying to buy shoes and stuff. I'm over here buying 45s and 12, you know, and 12 vinyls. Um, just trying to, you know, just perfect my craft and just, you know, be noticeable for my musical talents. That's what's up, man. Um, what, what drove you to do the type of form of music and before I even continue on, I want to, um, a podcast, um, I'm ready for my evening rates because I am, like, you know, the tape deck is very mainly based on hip hop and R&B and Cuban music. So it's like, you're actually making history on the show. Cause you're like the first like non hip hop artists. Very, not traditional. I hear that. So I'm glad you work with the big barriers and, you know, I don't mind it. Cause I like to bring any type of style of fashion. And I like to get educated here. Well, then comes to this kind of genre music. So thank you for that, man. Appreciate you. What, what got you to drove to the, I mean, DJing, I mean, I know it's kind of big in the West Indy culture out there. So you started so young, what got you so inspired to be a DJ first? Well, I was growing up watching my family, my cousins on the music in the West and these, especially as it's like a big part of our culture. Yeah. Um, and I just had so many ideas that I just had to get loose. Like I had a, I had an idea of blending beats and, and also just creating different sounds and also, um, I mean, I've always wanted to write, but didn't have the confidence, um, in my early years. Um, and then, you know, I just watching my, my, my elders, my peers, I mean, even down to my grandparents. I mean, I remember certain holidays where you all had a, you know, they line up the kids and say, whoever dances the best, whoever winds the best again, $5. So you're getting, you know, so these type of things just influenced me. Um, and I just want, you know, when the music, as Bob Marley said, even the music hit it, you know, you feel no pain, you feel no pain. So I just, you know, I fell in love with, with everything about music and not just Caribbean music. I mean hip hop, I play everything. I'm very, I'm very big on versatility. Um, you know, if, if those who do listen to my music, if you listen to my, my lyrics, it's not, it's tradition. I keep the traditional customs, but I also add a new flavor to it. You can tell that I put my, my heart into what I, and, and my mind and, and soul into what I write, you know, what comes on, what comes off from the pen. So, um, you know, that being said, there's a lot of passion that I have in, in my music and what I do and everything that I do. So from DJing, you were able to transition to music. So you said you were 12. So what age decided to like mess them up with the, what the soccer game in the music? So soccer has always been a, uh, a love of mine, first love of mine. Um, I say 12, I was DJing. I said from 12 to, I mean, up until now, of course, I mean, I've always been DJing, but when I got into actually, um, writing music, I would say I was probably like 15, but then when I actually started to record it, I was about 19. When I made my first, you know, recorded and believe it or not, it was actually rap music. It was like the hip hop. It wasn't even so-called dance. Okay. So what art have we listened to before you got to it? What was in your playlist? Um, I love my playlist always was, um, definitely, I loved mob deep. I loved, um, I love people who actually said stuff in it, like, oh, those stories in the room. So A.C. Naz, um, Wu Tang definitely, um, I would also say rock Kim. Yeah, um, and this is hip hop wise. I mean, I have other, you know, other genres. I have, I have other influences, but hip hop wise, definitely, um, those artists I mentioned, uh, method men, of course. And I mean, Jesus, so much more, but I mean, we talk in the golden era. We're talking 90s gold. Yeah. So you went to that boom, bab zone, like the work style. Well, that's as well. The thing is, even if you was to talk about music, even from the, from the South, I mean, music back in those times, there was, there was passion. It was quality in those music. There was a lyric. You, you actually told a story, you know, certain people like Naz, people like Scarface, he's always from Texas, but I feel that music, two parts of the way, you know, so, um, basically that, that era, I feel like really influenced me and, and maybe better as an artist, because I actually have things to talk about versus, you know, some of the music that I hear nowadays, I just feel like it's just a rerun of the next artists. And, you know, it's not really too much, uh, content or much passion in, in what they doing, as far as what I'm, what I see nowadays, not everybody, you know, but definitely music has changed. And I know, you know, it's different generation, different years growing up, but I'm from the era where, you know, even movies, everything has substance, you know, you have some to talk about. Movies is different. Every day, we're making movies from the 90s. So, you know, I come from that era. So that's what I think, you know, uh, it's, it's my advantage, you know, for the most part. Um, but yeah. Yeah. So, um, so you, um, so before the, the soccer team got into hip hop. So, I mean, so wherever at the hip hop, it got trans trans trans to the soccer. So like, I'm not really, I remember the soccer music. And so who are the artists like soccer wise that you will listen to after the hip hop thing, but I'm going to take a stab at it. And he's going to be like my blueprint to, to, to do this genre of music that I represent and take it down seriously. Sure. So the thing is, um, when you grow up with your grandparents, I mean, I remember going to see my grandfather. He was very, he, he had, um, finals and I would play his finals. But a lot of the old time Calypso artists like Arrow, Sparrow. We have a composer named Kitchener Kitchener. Actually, believe it or not, I don't know if you heard this song, um, by Harry Belafonte, um, there he started. Yeah, that's actually a composer. He actually stole that. He, he, he, he admitted in his interview before he passed. Oh, he stole a lot of music around those times. But that, that, that song was actually, um, created and composed by Lord Kitchener, who is a, who, um, pastor, he's a legend in Calypso. Um, be honest with you for the West Indies, before there was Reggae and everything else, there was Calypso, there was still pan music that comes from Trinidad. That's the, that's where everything comes from. So, um, these type of artists is what influenced me because they actually told stories that when it was speaking, I actually envisioned it in my head and then going forward in my era, I would say, it's more like, uh, artist named Marshall Montano. He's a very, very big artist, but, um, he's like basically he's the Michael Jackson of Soka. Really? Yes. All right, write that down for me. I got to, I want to get familiar with this music. Yeah, Marshall Montano. He, um, we have, uh, he made all kinds of major collards with hip pop, uh, even reggaeton artists and everything else. So you'll definitely, if you Google him on YouTube, you'll definitely see, um, another artist who was my, I say is my favorite artist. Number one, who's my biggest influencer is a guy named Bungee Garland. Um, this is in 1996. This is when I actually came into being Raga. You know, I've had this name since I, since, uh, my preteens. But this is why I actually came into my style is just from listening to this name, because I had it in my head. And at that time, you, you couldn't really mix reggae and calypso. It was like almost forbidden. So I never knew that. I thought you guys got along with the music and like, I mean, we loved it. But if we're, if you was ever in, uh, uh, say you went to a Soka, uh, band launch and all Soka party, the second, you can play the slow reggae. You know, the Barris ham and the stuff and I'll be okay. But the second you went to dancehall, everybody looked at you. Like, what are you doing? Yeah. And like the record scratch. Right. And the same thing when you went to, um, you know, a dancehall party, if you played some Soka, there'll be a thing. But then, you know, over time, we, it, it, there are new genre, new genre formed with people of my generation. And we turned it in, we turned into something called Raga Soka. So it's like a blend of reggae and Soka together. And this jump, this guy, this bungee garland, um, who's my favorite artist to this day. He basically bridged that gap and inspired me and others like me to come with this form. And that's how I became Raga, you know, with it. I was always known to be Raga because even though I, I, I listened to the apartment. I DJed and I had a lot of friends from, you know, American friends. They just call me Raga because it's like, you, you the guy that, you know, you do the parties. You, you know, the girls want to come to the parties and you, you do the dancehall. And we don't know what you be saying, but it sounds good. You know, I'm like, you know, so, um, but yeah, um, basically that's how I got into, um, like I said, Soka's always been in my culture. But that's how I basically got into being what we call Raga Soka artists. Dope, dope, dope. All right, man. Well, listen, man, I want to get to one of your joints right now. Now, before when I bring an artist over, like, before we get to the join, I want to talk about the song, the production, the meaning behind him when you get to this joint, man. So this joint I heard right now before I got over here, which I was digging. Um, it's called set good. Yes. Yeah. So let the quarter for a quick second before we, um, get with the song. Was it about, you know, was production around it? What was the inspiration around it? So, um, set good was me trying to bring a sound that include that, um, involves, um, Soka and Afro beats. Um, it was originally, originally it's Afro beat, um, rhythm, and, um, or I should say instrumental. And I wanted to give my thing is always big, being big on versatility. And also I like to challenge myself. So I said, listen, Soka and Afro beats is basically the same thing. I mean, Soka derived from, you know, our ancestors in Africa, you know, so it only makes sense. And I said, you know what? Let me make a sound and make a song that'll bridge the two together. And, you know, I heard this beat, fell in love with it. And I just had the, you know, the, the, the flow and the lyrics. Just kind of probably wrote that, that, that verse. It was in five minutes, and the melody just came easy. Nice. So I, the beast started talking to you. So you just went in. I just went in and I just, you know, just felt right in love with it and just went in. And, um, and believe it or not, this song, I mean, I, I, I believe that I had confidence that it would do good in the islands because, uh, Afro beats is big in the islands. Yeah, but I was so surprised of the love that I received from, um, countries in Africa. Like they really loved it. I even had dances reach out to me. You know, they want to do choreography. I asked them from permission and sending me the, the visual content and everything else. I mean, I have, um, other, um, I guess telling the agencies in Africa, I mean, all over Africa, all the countries of Africa, I mean, you talk about Ghana. We're talking about Nigeria, especially Nigeria and Ghana. Those are the biggest, uh, support, but they love the music. They love the sound and I still, you know, me growing up with Africans. And I actually had my step, my stepfather from Nigeria. Like I knew the culture enough where I can speak on things that they can relate to as well. Bad. No doubt, man. So man, we're going to get to this drum right here and say good. Keep in mind, right? Go fresh. One or two point I can take that. Let's rock it out. John. That's way. No time. Oh, you. I'm going to get to this drum. And I'm going to get to this drum and I'm going to get to this drum. I'm going to get to this drum and I'm going to get to this drum and I'm going to get to this drum. I'm going to get to this drum and I'm going to get to this drum and I'm going to get this drum and I'm going to get to this drum. I'm going to get to this drum and I'm going to get to this drum and I'm going to get to this drum and I'm going to get to this drum and I'm going to get to this drum and I'm going to get to this drum and I'm going to get to this drum and I'm going to get to this drum and I'm going to get to this drum and I'm going to get to this drum and of course you listen to more of my music and it was just a hit from there honestly. I believe and we actually have a song that we're working on together as a matter of fact, something for the lovers on them. Yes, we do, we have a record that we're working on. We're going to definitely, I think you're definitely going to like this one. I hope I get it as soon as possible so you'll get it, you'll get it when you get it. Thank you. You guys haven't disappointed me so far so I know whatever you guys are going to put out, you ain't going to let me down. So you guys got an ear for music and I know your pink gaming to be played with so I don't have to worry about that. That's a fact. Go ahead. Keep on. No, I'm going to stop right now. So this is why you, this is why, you know, yeah, listen, but, oh, that's not good. Yeah, but one more thing for, before I gave back to you, to Rada, I know you said that it was a show. So I know you because from our first interaction, you've got this gift that, you know, whatever, when you ever you meet somebody and they gave you that debut, you just very quick to just be on the go and just work with this person regardless no matter what. So then it really just took that one show and they were like, yo, let's do this. Yeah, you know, it's a process too because you got that, you know, sometimes out of the show, you want to see it, they got like a demo tape but they could perform on a mic and kill it because it's not just performance, but the fact they got your other performance, that's pretty impressive. So it's also, you know, I go off the energy as well, you know, and he has great energy as you see. And he's, he has great energy. He's very talented and he's easy to work with, you know, so that's just basically what it is. Can I ask you a question? For me? You know what, anybody's easy to work with when you realize you're working with a person that's no nonsense. If you bought the nonsense, then nobody's gonna be easy to work with. I think that's where me and her came in, you know, whenever we said we were gonna do something, we was gonna do it, it wasn't like, oh, we should do a chart together. Months go by, I don't hear from you and, you know, no, I'm very like straight to it. Like, that's it. I don't play no games and that's it. So I'm pretty easy to work with. I'm straightforward and people actually appreciate straightforward people when it comes to business because there's no great lines, you know, they know what's happening and that's what it is. Yeah, that's that. That's that's that Sagittarius December energy because you hate November Sagittarius, but that's another conversation. Did I really say that? No. I'm sorry. I was a peasant because I was beneath. I was a peasant. So I wasn't above your December, take your tariest level. Oh my gosh. The audacity, y'all, I got you all taken that out of the job. No, no, I was sent out to all the sads that was born in November. Yeah. Y'all. What's up to y'all? Yeah, babe. But, you know, yeah. I was talking about, I was talking about, when she came over here last, a couple of months ago and she told me that you performed at the Boston Carnival. Yes. How was that experience? I'm performing, I mean, the performing in Boston, Massachusetts, you know, we're critics over here. Yeah, I know. That's why. So definitely, it makes you stay on your toes. You definitely want to give them quality performance. I love that I actually had a fear of performing. I think that was at first. It was the only thing that I really wanted to think I saw as a con, but at first because I'm more of, I'm one of those guys that like to be in the back, you know, low key, you know what I'm saying? But it took me, you know, after I got off of that and of course, with Fari's coaching, I overcame that and now I just, I just love it. I'm a lyrical performer for most parts. So I like to do, you know, I like to sometimes doing a little freestyle on my performances and stuff, just to let the audience know that I'm in tune to them. This is, you know, the real raw talent. This is nothing where, you know, as to be too rehearsed or whatever, I'm one of those people that appreciate the natural form of things sometime, you know, and I think others do too. So, yeah, Boston Carnival is always a pleasure performing my city and the city people that I know that love me and stuff and my support is here as well. So, you know, and also did a little performance downtown in City Hall. It was a big, big performance. That's actually one of the biggest one of the year, actually, for Memorial Memorial or Holiday. Okay. It was a big event down City Hall for Memorial Holiday and I was one of the headliners as well for the performance. And it was a great experience, a lot, it was like, I can't even imagine how many thousands had to be at least seven to 10,000 people in there. Oh, that's what's up. Yeah, but it was really good. And I just look forward to doing more and putting, you know, the Caribbean people of Boston on the map as well and just, you know, listen, there's a lot of culture here. A lot of people don't know that, you know, and they look at things from Boston, they see ruins and they see a bunch of other, you know, other faces but don't know there's a lot of culture in the city here, you know. There's black people in Boston. I'm getting tired with the internet saying there's no black folks, no bosses. Right. Yeah, we have knee rules in Boston. Yeah, there's many. Just give your heads up. And many of us. All shades. All shades. And everything. Right. Yeah. You know, Boston American and like, what's in the Boston for we out here? Latino black bars. We out here. Yeah, you know it. Yeah, man. Sure. But before I want to pick it back on what you said, you got this thing that you improvise and it reminds me of a lot of the Cuban culture going a lot of at least what Caribbean like salsa singer. They have this thing they do like an improvising kind of thing going on. So I want to see what was that improvising thing looking like when you got to do is like a crop participation thing or is this one of those things like a top of the dome where you just take everybody off off guard and you go off script. It's a little bit of both actually. Yeah. The patient is always key when you perform and I've seen that watching other performers while you're watching firing performance well crop participation, but once you can capture them and then throw in even if it's a you're throwing a little extra bar or two, you know, you might see a certain type of a section with, you know, could be certain people popping bottles in this section or certain type of girls, certain type of energy, you just call them out. Now that gets everybody else lord in and stuff. So yes, a little technique that I learned, but yeah, definitely off the off the dome as you say, yeah, cool, cool, cool. I always every time I bring an artist over here, I mean, what I do on my show is I'm very big on bringing like local artists because I like to support my own. What is, and you said a couple of seconds ago when you, you know, digital performance, you, you get shown a lot of love, what is the support looking like you as coming up as an artist? You feel this little bossing is supporting their own in, in that, in that department or does anybody fill those out for stuff from your own personal experience? So it's, I would say it's a mix, I will say that Boston, people do support, do support their own, but if that buzz, say you're not, that buzz doesn't come fast enough, you know, then you'll start to see sometimes I've seen that things stop the dwindle or, but be honest with you, what I also feel is that some people also support you when they feel as popular to as well. So, you know, you could be making noise in your city, but if you're not, if they don't see you in another city or on another platform, then, you know, that's where, that's where that's where it stops. It gets tricky or whatever, like the, the, the, the, the, the riding stops pretty much. Right. And then the certain rivalry where I feel like they shouldn't, they shouldn't have like one of my songs, I believe, hopefully play it here today. It goes into that song called stay up, but it deals with, you know, just, just the fight, the craps and a battle type of mentality, you know what I'm saying? And I feel that Boston being the size we are on it and, and, and such a, we have a small dynamic, we should definitely stick together and help that, help that dynamic grow. I mean, even for carnival here, there was, we have, we're known to have the third best carnival in the United States is Boston. Really? Yes. Never do that. Yeah. And the beef, who was beating us before was New York City, but now a lot of New Yorkers come to Boston because a lot of rules have changed in New York City. Like, you know, and, and, and someone have to do with the legal side, someone have to do with how they have the Jewish community at, cause it's happening right in the heart of Brooklyn. And that's the Mecca where, you know, a lot of the Jewish civilization, that's, you know, they walk and everything else. So they're not exempt or they make a way for them to have their space and everything during the carnival. So that means that there's been certain restrictions, but people come to have a good time in Boston and Boston, it's not just Boston, it's Worcester as well. So it's like a two, it's like a whole weekend event. Okay. Yeah. So I'm going to add in as far as like the support in Boston. So in the hip hop scene is totally different than the Caribbean scene, all right? So it's completely different. So the hip hop culture in Boston is very non-supportive, okay? They only support each other's basic teams or their hoods. So to say, you know? They also, what he said, if you're not popular, they're not dealing with you like that. You can be pretty daggone dope, but if you're not buzzing like that, they're not going to really deal with you like that. And also, for an example, someone I just recently did a feature with, he was saying how people, you all were talking about how a lot of people think that Boston is filled with other faces, you know, Caucasians. And it has a lot to do also with like the hip hop scene when they're looking at rap videos and stuff where there's all these Caucasians in the video because our own people don't support each other. And the artists were saying, hey, I just, I had X amount of video shoots. I'm telling you all to come out, but you're not coming out, but yet all these other people are coming, but you're not coming. They don't come in support because it's a lot of jealousy. So they don't come and they don't show up for each other like that. So I see that being in this part of the culture, you know, and I pay attention to things like that. So if you're not buzzing like that, they're not coming. If they feel like you're better than them, they're not coming. If they feel if they even think you're from another hood, they're not coming, you know, so the support is just kind of slim. So what's the variation of things? If you're not buzzing, they're not going. And even if you're competition, they're not going. If you're from a different hood, yeah. But if you're, but say you're from a different hood in your competition, but you're actually really buzzing like he was saying in another state, or they seen you with certain artists that are coming. They're coming. And they use you. Exactly. They'll use you for that. But then that's that and then it kind of stops there and they'll do what they got to do with you then. And then they'll probably fall off the bandwagon after a certain amount of time. But yeah, the support system is not there like it should be. And that's why Boston is where it's at when it comes to hip-hop, they're not where they should be. And they're down. And that's why a lot of them leave and go to other states to pop off because they're not from getting a love here. Absolutely. When they didn't say, you know, for you to make it out of Boston, you have to make it out of Boston. And that's even the same with the R&B artists too. They go through the same exact thing as the hip-hop artists here. It's the same exact thing. And you can have the best talent. I mean, I know other artists that are very talented in even myself, I like to set myself apart from, you know, and even though they see I get love on the outside as well, there's some from other artists, Caribbean artists that's in an area, they don't really show the support. Even when you try to, believe it or not, I've only been able to work with one other Caribbean artist here. So many. And I was able to work with this gentleman, okay, big up Sean John. And it was no problem. I reached out to other artists. Hey, you know, it's clever. Let's do it for the culture. Let's do it for Boston. They were thinking about themselves and then, and I'm like, you know what? No problem. So, you know, I leave that right there because really and truly I was, I'm thinking bigger than myself. I'm thinking about, you know, for the culture and everything else, but not everybody's like that. And it's sad because I, I don't go to New York and I perform in New York. I go to these other places and the DJ perform, everybody is, is they have their, everybody's close knit, you know, other New York, I mean, even when they come up here, although events, I have New York DJs, they're coming and even they're coming with other DJs that's not even on the bill, but they come in the show to support. Show love. Exactly. And this is what, this is what Boston is needing PSA to Boston. Do better. What the hell? Do better. Yeah, for sure. All right, man. Look, we're going to get to the next join right here. Stay up my G. Stay up. This basically, this is, um, oh, go ahead. I wasn't. No, no, go ahead. Cause I want you to give me the premise of the journey. You give me a sneak pick of what it was, but I want you to complete definitely partner. Yeah. So I mean, basically what we're saying, um, this song really, it speaks to that, but it also speaks to just you supporting, you know, your brother or your sister, you know, supporting your bird, you know, your sister, you know, um, you know, if they're doing good root for them, it's oftentimes, um, and I see it amongst our people as well, um, where a person will get up, get up, get up, get up, get up, get a better status in life for just things will start doing, going well for them and studying them, helping the next friend or a brother and assistant up to that level or bringing them up with them. They're pointing, they're looking at them and letting them basically leaving them down there. No. Yeah. You know, or if you see somebody doing good for themselves, you don't shoot, you don't root them on your, you're basically hitting on them. Oh, you think he's good. Oh, you think he's this? You think he's that? No, you know, take that, you know, um, don't, don't hit on your brother and your sister and be inspired by them, you know? And this is what this song is for. I made this song. I put a lot of passion in this song because I had friends that when I became, when I took my, um, you know, making music as an artist, more seriously, you know, it rubs, it rubbed them the wrong way. It's like, okay, you're doing the DJ. Like, why don't you just DJ? Why you have to do this and that and that, you know, why can't you just stay with one? Because now they feel like they have to do that, you know, be an artist too, but that's not in your, that's not your skill set, that's probably not for you, you know? You might just want DJ or if you do want to just do it, nobody's not stopping you. So I mean, this song was inspired by, you know, things like that also, what we just talked about as far as, you know, the crap in the barrel mentality. So I'm very, this is one of my favorite songs, um, lyrically and just the whole message in general. There you go. Let's rock it out. Yeah. Stay out of my G. Your boy. Your 2.9 tape, they rock a fresh in the building. Let's rock it all, y'all. One time. Let's rock it all. I have an issue, why windows developing our lives, I'm all y'all tissue, why do I feel with my chin, with my pistol, they love them showing, but they're never really weak to just me, they tell them what you never did, I listen, anybody else gunshot, what the lift comes, though if it's dry, I've been moved different, eyes on the prize, one of the other missions stay on the grind, no intuition, boy, success, men must have it, women are self-explanable, women are self-explanable, rich habits, some boy deems to blow on it, get tragic, violate them, it's freeze-ratching, segregation, I'm on the near shot, then move on away, don't feel the here shot, with them by mine, congregation, but I show love down here, on the next one, (upbeat music) (upbeat music) (upbeat music) (upbeat music) (upbeat music) (upbeat music) (upbeat music) (upbeat music) (upbeat music) (upbeat music) (upbeat music) (upbeat music) (upbeat music) (upbeat music) (upbeat music) (upbeat music) (upbeat music) (upbeat music) (upbeat music) (upbeat music) (upbeat music) (upbeat music) (upbeat music) (upbeat music) (upbeat music) (upbeat music) (upbeat music) (upbeat music) (upbeat music) (upbeat music) (upbeat music) (upbeat music) (upbeat music) (upbeat music) (upbeat music) (upbeat music) (upbeat music) (upbeat music) - All right. - Yeah, yeah, yeah, that was paid off by G by the homie, Rocco Fresh, y'all. I got Rocco Fresh in the building. - You done know. - With the Queen Fariacs. - Hey. - What's going on? - What's happening? - Body, body, body, body, body, body, body, body, body. (laughing) - Yeah, man. We out here vibing behind the scenes. You ain't gonna tell everything that's going on, but we vibing, we vibing, we vibing, we vibing. Yo, so listen, man, like I said, before we got this show going, I was talking to Fari and before, I mean, before we got this thing going, I'll find out that you were a rapper, I mean, so-called artist, DJ, and you're also an actor. So you're pretty much like a triple threat right now. - And he's a rapper too. - He's a rapper too. - Oh, he got bored? I know he was bored. - Yes. - Oh, quadruped threat. I'm sorry. - Yes he is. - You ain't no R&B singer. So are you an R&B singer? Is there something I can be sharing in these ladies too? - I think he secretly might be a singer to sing. I'll do everything else. - All right. - Jeez. - Jeez. - All right, man. So you got the acting thing going up, and you got a movie coming out. - Yes. - And it's directed and produced or written by Fari? - Yes. - Yes, sir. - So, okay. So it's a feature film coming up. I guess you both going at it. I'm your main character on it? - Yes, I am one of the main characters, for sure. - Yes. - I play Fari's love interest on the movie as well. - Okay. - Bet. - Yes. - And it's a lot of, I mean, you don't wanna get into details, but I'm assuming it's a lot of adventure, betrayal, gunplay. - Oh, definitely. - Yes. - All the, all the... - Suspense, lots of suspense. - Lots of suspense? - Yes, suspense, action. - All the great attributes to making a good film and a good thing about it is, you know, it's just gonna be filmed in the great city of Boston, you know, Beantown. - In Atlanta. - In Atlanta, excuse me, yeah, in Atlanta. I mean, you go more into detail. - Go ahead. Go ahead. Go ahead, I wanna know what you know. I wanna hear. - You know, this is basically, you know, a lot, I would say, someone of a life story of Miss Fari X. And just, you know, hence why, you know, we shoot in multiple places, but, you know, definitely rooted in Boston. - Correct. - My role, I mean, I love my role, just because I know I can definitely play it well well. I mean, I live it almost in a sense. Well, as far as the boss mentality type. - Very boss. - Yeah, you know, so I was on, you know, she asked me, I was honored. I definitely feel like I have something to offer and contribute to this. And plus, just hearing her, knowing her life story and, you know, seeing her vision and just knowing how talented she is, I mean, it's a win. And I said, yes, I would love to be a part of it. It'll be an honor. - Yeah. So the takeover is inspired by my book, which was a bestseller is called "Scars," Steps to Queenism or "Scars." And so it takes a lot from that book. And then I added other things into it to give it more spice, you know, and the suspense that it has. But it's about a young girl who is from Boston who came up in a very tough time, a tough era, the crack epidemic, okay? And her parents fell victim to crack cocaine. They also was street hustlers, pimps, et cetera. The young girl slipped into foster care into the system. She went through the whole DYS thing, jail, got out. And basically she fell in love, you know, with someone who was her alike. So they started getting money together in the film. They got money together. And it was just basically taking over the city, taking over the country, you know, doing what they do best. And... - Now a couple of stuff. - Yes, doing what they do best. And a lot of people said that, say that the film reminds them of a modern wire. - Okay. - And that's what they say. - You know, I was thinking of a black bonding. - I would never say black. (laughing) - They say, they say, they say why? (laughing) - They say why? They say the wire is power. - Yeah. - They say the wire and power. But see, the thing is I never watched power. So, but they say that it is... - Oh, you don't watch power? - No, I never watched power. And they said it reminds them of... - You mean to tell me your murder is you. You mean to tell me your murdering mindset that you be writing all the time, all this murder, drugs, sex, and mayhem, you never watch power? - I've never watched power. And they said it reminds them of power in the wire. - Right, I'll go get your girl, go talk to her. - Who raised her, I don't know. - I am, I watch more so ID channel, okay? I watch a lot of that. - I could relate. I could listen. - I'll be scared sometimes. - I watch a lot of ID channel. And that's what I watch, you know? And I watch a lot of hood flicks, you know? And I grew up to hood flicks. So, that's what I watch, you know? So, I guess I'm not really a TV show type of person. I don't watch... - You don't have to watch that. - You watch the wire? I want to see one? Oh yeah, I watch the wire. - Think right of the wire. Think right of the wire, and trust me, you will not be disappointed. This is right up your alley. - Right. - Right up your alley. - You know, it's funny because they don't, like I said, they don't make those type of films, like how they used to like New Jack City and stuff, but I said why, I said not why. Power come, in this generation, in this era, came close to it. - Yup, came close to 100%. - Yeah, 100%. - Yes, for sure. - Yes. - For sure, you like it. - A lot goes on. - Well, with them saying that reminds them of power, I was just like, okay, that's good. I didn't really know how to, like okay, I guess, you know what I'm saying? - That's good. - We're sitting dizzy. Thanks for looking out. - Yeah. - I gotta watch this. - Now you gotta watch. - Yeah, you gotta watch. You're having an assignment to do now. - Yes, we got some binge watchers. - Yeah. - I don't know. It's hard for me to watch, you know, movies like that, and to read books when I'm writing something, or I'm doing something, because it takes my focus off what I'm doing. So I like to watch things and read things after I'm done. - I guarantee you this. You watch power, it inspires to do more writing. - Exactly. - More writing. - It's the same thing. - 'Cause the people that wrote that show, they're sick in the head, just like you. So they'll have a lot of merch. - What are you talking about? - They'll have a crazy, they'll have a crazy murder's mind here. - People like David. - You watch ID. - Listen, ID, that's in your music video, and the way you pop the video, you were done dirty. So it's a lot. - Everything, okay. - Listen, I watch that video and I just be, I don't watch up until a certain point. - Listen, my mom stopped doing this video. I'm like, oh, so this is what happened. I don't blame you, but I hear this. I'm like, I don't blame you, but I hear this. - Look, that's Nikhira in action in "Everything," which that's the character in "The Takeover." - Yeah, Nikhira, oh my gosh. - That's Nikhira, Nikhira is, that's who you saw in the video "Everything." - So when she started tripping, right, you just hum that little note. ♪ Everything I do ♪ - Yeah, I know, I know. - But you liked that song though, you said. - I loved it. - You said that's your favorite. I think that's what you said. - That was what I said. I loved it. - He's smart. - Yeah, then he don't know. He might be like, like, homeboy. - Like, homeboy. - He's like, never since in that. I didn't say that song. - No, I did my whole assignment. Look, I tried to do as much as investigation as I can when I try to bring the artists over it. I say, and I'll say this, you know, because my man's in the building. This is probably might be my first challenging, you know, interview because I don't know the brother from a hole in the wall. - Right. - So I was just trying to get something out of him. And I'm going to find nothing online. It's just for the music that I got out of him. So the fact you sent me something about him, I was able to get a quick paragraph. - That's what the man is just supposed to do. - I wanted to make sure you knew who you were talking to. - Yeah, and I had to take my show back quick before you end up doing something that, you know, the mic's not properly and you just... - Look, I didn't say that that was quiet. So let me just quiet, like, keep my mouth shut. - But I just appreciate the impulse. So it's not all bad. I appreciate it. You need somebody like that in the team, you know? So I'm not, you know, I know my guy here is in good hands. I don't have to worry about that. - Well, this thing is true in most of my music. My music is mainly, is mainly loved and played internationally. And, you know, the people that the dynamic of, the equipment dynamic of Boston, you know, they see that as well. But like I said, I mean, it takes, you know, it's them to really, to push it. Like, in Trinidad, I mean, Jamaica. And I mean, I get producers that call me all the time, even my first song, which really was the one that put me on the map, the song called "Dewit." That was the producer that just reached out to me and said, "Listen, I want, if you can write me a song, I want it to be like this." It was a little raunchy and I executed it. Now, raunchy songs is easy for me to do. I mean, it's easy for most people. - I love that song. - But, oh, okay, so that's all you have to tell me. Well, after you don't tell me the story about the week, I got a funny story to tell you. But go ahead. - Yeah, yeah. The wit and the, and he asked for it to be like that. And I mean, personally, I like to write songs of substance. I don't like, even if I'm gonna say something crazy, I like to use a lot of metaphors where, you know, it can go over the little ones head. But you as an adult will understand it or let's just say, and I love to make music, but I don't have to use a lot of profanity as well. I feel like if you have to substitute profanity for what that means, your vocabulary needs some upgrading. But yeah, you know, he asked me to write the song and that's why I was doing it from there. I got other music from other producers that I write. I wrote music for other artists as well. I'm big on writing. So, you know, you, for you, if you're in the Caribbean, you know, if you wrote shows with Caribbean dynamic and you're in the Caribbean music scene, definitely, definitely, my name does ring bells for sure. So, and I got a lot of respect from artists and everything. That's how I'm being successful as well with my DJing, my sound crew, sounding family. Usually, I don't know if you guys here, usually on Carnival Saturday or Carnival Day in Boston, you might hear a big truck go by blasting some loud. - Yeah, yeah. That's us. - Okay, gotcha. - The only ones that take that route. - Gotcha. - So, that's up. - Mental note, mental note. - So, if you ever go up there, you'll see me on the truck. My whole sound system, we're like 30 deep, build our own boxes and everything from scratch. And we have, you know, several DJ, several sound men, you know, lighting and everything, big up to sounding family one more time. I just want to let you know that this music thing just, it goes deeper than just being an artist. - No doubt, no doubt. - Ragor freshes up next. - All right, I like that. I like that. That's not the promo out of what it is. - Yeah, don't know. - This is bad, we're about to over unwrap this out. But I'll say this, you two made history here in the tape deck to the fact that you got a so-called artist out here, you know, bringing hip hop, I mean, from a hip hop station, bringing some so-called flavor out here. And so I appreciate you coming to the show. - Appreciate you on me. - And you two made history because you're the first two local artists that got the song banned on my tape deck show. (laughing) And I fought hard. I really fought hard again. - I'm rest here, D with his band. - D with? - You know what I'm saying? I sent you the editor version. - I don't wait to tape deck it. I try, I fought. - I sent you the editor version. - Yeah, they both edited. - They both edited, and the people looked at me up still, like you must have lost your Cuban mind. (laughing) I fought hard for y'all. I fought hard. I'm like, okay, we just-- - Appreciate it. - Yeah. - At least I know that they understood the word play accent because most time they don't even understand, you know, but I mean, hey, they don't-- - Oh, we got some West Indies in the building, so yeah, I can't get away with it. - Okay. (laughing) - Nah, nah, nah, nah, I can't get away with it, man. Yo, man, so we able to better party hip-hop before we get out of here, man. What's up next for Mr. Rocco Fresh, man? - Well, definitely doing the acting, you know, take over, actually working right now, currently in the studios, working on the soundtrack for the take over as well. Definitely got some more projects going up, you know, with Fari X. Carnival's, of course, gonna be doing some traveling as well. You know, the DJ thing never stopped. And, you know, and anybody else who wants to inquire more about, you know, Rocco Fresh, you can definitely, you can definitely listen to my music on my Instagram. R-A-G-G-A-F-W-R-E-S-H, underscore, Instagram. - All platforms. - All platforms as well, yes. And Facebook, Rocco Fresh. You definitely gonna hear more of me in the night, and I also do hip-hop collabs as well. So, definitely, you know, going YouTube and just search me up, man. There's only one Rocco Fresh. So, it's not like you're depressed. Rocco Fresh 1, Rocco Fresh 2, you know, it's Rocco Fresh only. - The one and only Rocco Fresh. - The one and only Rocco. - We gonna do it right here, baby. Check this out, man. There's a boy keeping Mike listening to the tape deck one on 2.9. And we're not done yet, man. I got the homie, Rocco Fresh, and he's about to perform for us, man. - Yeah, yeah, you're done now. - You know, I can't pronounce it that long, what is it called? Avocado. - Avocado. - Avocado. - I think he's the avocado. I'm taking Latin right now, I'm in my Spanish world right now. - Yeah, I hear you. - Avocado. - Avocado. - What does that mean? - So, Avocado is like, and it depends on the user, but it's like an excitement. It could be something that's like, something that's just going on right now. So, it could be a celebration. It could be, it could be even a big fight, whatever. It's Avocado. So, everywhere is Avocado. Everywhere there's gonna be excitement. And usually we say this when, you know, during carnival season, you're gonna go to a party, you know, the festivities, the lively entertainment, the energies, it's Avocado everywhere you go. So, and for the West Indies, it's usually a good thing. So. - Bad, that's what's up, man. So, check it man. My man's about to come up here and break this thing down and kill this right now. And bear with me. We about to set things up and tear it out, man. Bear with me. I'll be back, y'all. - Well, I'll be sure to give you a mic and listen to one of 2.9 tape deck. I got the whole miracle fresh right here. He about to kill it right now. And tear the roof down the tape deck on the 2.9. Go get him kid. - Don't know. - Don't know. 30 of them set. Shouldn't know how big of a self boss and big of a self. What do you mean? Old Caribbean. Rather fresh than the place to be. That's in one tree. We're not test two. What about you? Yeah, yeah. WBCA 102.9 FM Boston. There we go. So, we turn left. You're rollin' good. You're rollin' proper. When they come to roll. You don't mix up my tongue. So long it's been since I see ya. I'm flyin' anywhere to meet ya. Give me the whole thing of pieces. Petas are our different species and we up in our vibe. I'm feelin' swankin' and my head nice. When we outside, we don't watch price. Boy, I beltin' red waist tonight. Cannibal, ya know ya's my wife. So kara man, y'all are this life. I think in one, don't tell me things twice. If you're still, then please stay inside. One time. Cannibal is woman. (singing in foreign language) ♪ And I want to be right where you are ♪ ♪ Where you are ♪ ♪ Never too far ♪ ♪ Never too far ♪ ♪ Everywhere is our bakanal ♪ (singing in foreign language) ♪ When we go, you pretend they're great to show ♪ ♪ Everywhere is our bakanal ♪ ♪ Your next one, lady ♪ ♪ I cannot resist the road it callin' me ♪ ♪ Now here in advance is my apology ♪ ♪ Next two days is no behavior ♪ ♪ Now that we pass all this flamers ♪ ♪ Let me see you walk that way ♪ ♪ That's a, that's why it's a special boy ♪ ♪ Long time I didn't mind the eyes ♪ ♪ But, but, and it is such a joy ♪ ♪ I know I start gettin' on but but no regrets ♪ ♪ We don't much about it ♪ ♪ So can we from the wind attack ♪ ♪ With tag out ♪ ♪ To the next ♪ ♪ And we do with target, hanibal is woman ♪ ♪ Never can I lend a boom boom ♪ ♪ Hanibal is woman ♪ ♪ Every from the Caribbean, right so, eh ♪ ♪ Right where you are ♪ ♪ Where you are ♪ ♪ In the sun, in the hot sun ♪ ♪ Blue water ♪ ♪ Let me go, let me go ♪ ♪ Everywhere is our bakana ♪ ♪ Eh, eh ♪ ♪ Our bakana ♪ ♪ When we live as our bakana ♪ ♪ Until I bakana ♪ ♪ When we go ♪ ♪ Give it on the gritty show ♪ ♪ Everywhere is our bakana ♪ ♪ Me tell her there's something, right ♪ ♪ But I toss the, toss the for white knife ♪ ♪ Toss the for white knife ♪ ♪ Give me all the gala lemon ♪ ♪ No fat test ever too far ♪ ♪ When we toss the ♪ ♪ I'll give all that some lyrics ♪ ♪ Just know it ♪ ♪ And give all that some lyrics right now ♪ ♪ Yeah, yeah, yeah, yeah, yeah ♪ ♪ No, we not have this real bakana ♪ ♪ Let's stop shelf for me ♪ ♪ Cough money deep ♪ ♪ When we practice on me ♪ ♪ Up like rocket ♪ ♪ And he linked them solid ♪ ♪ If you mention carnivore ♪ ♪ A woman not a topic in our world ♪ ♪ So kajonki ♪ ♪ On a mission ♪ ♪ And she broke it down ♪ ♪ I changed the game ♪ ♪ Rep the new key ♪ ♪ Start the ignition ♪ ♪ Cane valez woman ♪ ♪ Kept you from the crib ♪ ♪ Yeah, must do a bakana ♪ ♪ Cane valez woman ♪ ♪ And I want to be right where you are ♪ ♪ Where you are ♪ ♪ Never too far ♪ ♪ Never too far ♪ ♪ Everywhere is our bakana ♪ ♪ Our bakana ♪ ♪ When we win is our bakana ♪ ♪ Hey, until I bakana ♪ ♪ Wait, the greatest show ♪ ♪ Everywhere is our bakana ♪ ♪ Until I bakana ♪ And it's that. Turn it out, pick up yourself. 1002.9, thank you for having us. Rather fresh one time. This is what I'm talking about, baby. Mm-hmm. My guy. Good looking out, man. Yeah, you appreciate your having me. This is what it is, man, from Cuba. Turn it out, being talented. All the way to running a lot of times is the way we put it down to your boy, keeping Mike. But listen to 1002.9 tape deck. You can catch me every Friday from six to seven. I'll see y'all saying tape deck times, saying tape deck channel. I am out. Thank you, my brother. Appreciate you. You know you always got an open door at the tape deck. So whatever you got coming up, Let me know you already know it's open partner appreciate you - That's right. - That's right.