Naked
Nakedness, for dub poet Benjamin Zephaniah, is something akin to a state of absolute truth. ‘Dis is me, revolting in front of you / I’m not much but I give a damn,’ he chants on the epic poem that gives this album, the first one to move away from his habitual reggae backbeats, its title.
To this end, Zephaniah has assembled a formidable array of musical collaborators to put their own rhythms to his words. Any album that brings together tabla player Aref Durvesh, Rick Smith, from the Underworld dance duo, and the great reggae bass player Dennis Bovell, deserves consideration, especially when it’s been knitted together by drummer and programmer Trevor Morais. The result is an album where words and music assume a perfect fit: ‘Naked’ is all electro, scattering beats; ‘Uptown Downtown’ is powered by a well-aimed staccato rhythm; while (for perversity’s sake) ‘Slowmotion’ has an intense, trancey feel – maybe its own plea that we take life at a different pace.
Zephaniah’s words are no less hard hitting. Well known for his promotion of justice and tolerance, he unleashes a righteous anger in ‘Rong Radio’ which attacks media disinformation and its ultimate inhumanity.
But he’s too smart to be seduced by the eternal rebel pose. Nowhere is this more apparent than on ‘Responsible’, a poem that tackles sexism, black history and gangster attitudes head on. And for those who need some help getting the message? Naked comes with 36 pages of lyrics, all illustrated by Banksy’s witty and subversive street art.
- Product information
- by Benjamin Zephaniah
- Publisher
- One Little Indian
- Product number
- TPLP403CDL CD
- Star rating
- Product link
- www.benjaminzephaniah.com
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Benjamin Zephaniah: too smart to be seduced by the eternal rebel pose.
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Voices from the margins:
Multimedia: video, podcasts, and more.
- Poetry Slam in Zimbabwe
- The House of Hunger poetry slam held in Zimbabwe in 2006, and organised by the Pamberi Trust, showcased young artists performing inspirational work on issues from corporate power to child soldiers. The video features four of the poets.
Published by Pambazuka News.
- Iranian women speak out
- 3 March 2007, London. Women's rights activists marched through the English capital last week to celebrate International Women's Day with a protest against the misogyny of the Islamic regime in Iran and the threat of invasion by the US. Hear the voices of Iranian feminists Azar and Leila Parnian and the sounds of the demonstration as it passed through the heart of the city. Click here to learn more about the campaign.
Produced by Heidi Bachram.
- Raised Voices audio:
- Benny from West Papua on Corporate Power
- Vinayan from India on agriculture
