A self-proclaimed “beacon of truth,” this hip-hop artist from Boston, Massachusetts is one of the best new storytellers of the genre and is taking the East Coast by storm with new music.
His debut album is “SAVIOR,” a 14-track project that explores the contradictions of life – from politics to religion to culture and even individual personality traits. The album is slated to drop on all digital distribution sites on Christmas Day, 2017. That date was chosen intentionally, and he hopes the irony won’t be lost on anyone that he’s releasing an album called “SAVIOR” on Christmas Day.
“Most of the album is one running theme,” he said. “It’s thoughts about my relationships with religion and an allusion to everyone’s idea of a savior. It’s about believing in yourself as your own savior, which is contradictory to how we think about the role of God. And it’s also about the tension between good and bad. In hip-hop right now there’s a lot of push for negative content. I’m trying to move away from that, but still represent reality and stay true to myself. I’m not at all perfect. In this album I talk about all the detrimental things I did in my past, but also talk about positive aspects of life and love.”
Sicnarf said the overall tone of the album is melancholy with an undertone of hope. Some songs are positive and mellow, while others are grungy and tough. Some songs explore humanity’s ongoing search for an outside force to act as a savior in their lives, while others are about self-realization and finding strength within.
“A lot of my songs are very political and talk about all the stuff going on right now in today’s society,” he said. “With this album, that’s the message I’m trying to get out there. Whether it’s music or drawing or painting, we all have different facets of ourselves that make us great and give us the capability to be our own saviors. This album is kind of representing that.”
Originally from Cameroon, Sicnarf moved to the U.S. in his teens. He didn’t start exploring rap and spoken word until his early 20s. It began as an outlet for his thoughts and emotions. Eventually in college he formed a spoken word organization and slowly transitioned into music after graduation. Some friends who were also interested in music came together with him to form a studio. Although it’s been a few years since he and his friends have worked together on music, he has used that time to find his unique voice and niche within the industry. This debut album is his attempt to define himself as an artist not only to the people who have been following him for the long-term, but also to a wider audience.
His roots and upbringing are reflected in his music. His drum and bass-heavy sound selection pairs perfectly with a an approach that is best described as “lyrical,” with a cadence that sporadically ebbs and flows from melancholic inflection to agile. He’s already been hailed as one of the best storytellers in his city, and is notorious for his freestyle, recorded content and visual art.
“The way he plays a lot with inflection in his voice ties in really well with the way he’s able to tell a story,” said Feven Abadi, Sicnarf’s manager. “That also adds to the theatrics of his cadence when he raps. It’s really very unique.”
Though Sicnarf has been releasing elements of “SAVIOR” via social media in the month leading up to Christmas, the full album will deliver the full creative brilliance. He’ll follow this with a music video of his first single, “Bonafide,” on Jan. 5.
To listen to Sicnarf’s music or to follow him on social media, please visit:
https://www.facebook.com/SicnarfSoul/
https://twitter.com/Sicnarf_soul
https://www.instagram.com/sicnarf_soul/
https://soundcloud.com/sicnarf_soul
https://www.youtube.com/channel/UC4A1SvA-t62MhBF8Bgglxkw
