"The essence," says artist Broken Science at a recent interview, "is lost in today's hip hop". In his first solo mix-tape, Show N Prove, first year Tufts graduate student Ajahne Santa Anna, using the pseudonym Broken Science, will take his music back to "the essence" in hope of reaching a large audience.
He calls it a mix-tape instead of an album because the beats used are recycled from such established artists as Jay Z, Ghostface and even legendary singer Curtis Mayfield. He hopes to use the familiarity of these beats to get his audiences' ear and use his unique lyrics to get to their mind.
Released this past Tuesday, Show N Prove includes 17 tracks in which Broken Science will attempt to prove his rhyming skills. According to Santa Anna, you don't have to be a hip hop fan to appreciate those skills, "I want everyone to know about Show N Prove... even if they don't like hip hop I want them to have been exposed to my album".
Although this is his first solo venture, Show N Prove is Santa Anna's second release. His first album, The Foundation, featured a varied group of emcees under the "Iron Mic" production company. Along with vocals by Broken Science, The Foundation featured three emcees: Idealty, Freeze and Tenth Noble, Tufts graduate student Connell Cloyd. The album also features backup singer Eshena Davis.
Santa Anna traced back the origins of hip hop in order to give perspective of its present state, "Hip Hop was a way people of color from urban neighborhoods could express themselves, whether by cutting a record or in a rap battle... "
The hip hop culture that Santa Anna was raised on is much different from that of younger generations who, according to Santa Anna, started listening to hip-hop music in 1997 and missed a 20 year period of groundbreaking music. These newer fans think that what they listen to is "real hip hop", however, as Santa Anna explained, "they have not heard the earlier music and therefore have nothing to compare the new stuff with".
In response to a question on the messages that today's hip-hop sends out to the youth; Santa Anna had a lot to say. "All of the lyrics that have bling bling and shooting up people are absorbed by youth. There's more to urban life than these things".
Broken Science commented on the brainwashing effect that hip hop is having on youth as well, "Rappers who use negative themes like bustin' their gun is heard, but when a rapper tries to spit knowledge, it's seen as a bad thing to be educated." This emcee is committed to changing that mentality. His own emcee name, Broken Science is a reflection of his dual nature, the urban streets which he grew up in and the "Science" or education he has acquired at Tufts.
What inspires Broken Science? The need to hear that "nod your head" beat along with the creative rhymes that originally made hip hop music such a powerful presence in our country. "Since no one else is making it right now, I will, because it's what makes me feel good," Santa Anna said about his drive to make music. The confidence in which Broken Science expressed his conviction for making the true form of hip hop is the same confidence he has for its success. "Show N Prove," claimed Broken Science, "will show and prove to the public that I am nice on the mic."
Santa Anna started rapping in high school, mostly free-styling with friends back home, in Springfield, MA. His freshman year he began writing and performed his art for the first time at an Onyx Open Mic Show. His spoken word piece was also published in Onyx, the Tufts literary magazine, shortly thereafter.
The release of his first album, The Foundation, had in large part to do with a hip hop performance at Hotung Cafe by Broken Science and Tenth Noble, collectively calling themselves C.R.U.M.B.S, which stands for Corporations Rape Use and Manipulate Black Style. C.R.U.M.B.S represents their social consciousness that they aim for in their music. The crowd at Hotung responded to C.R.U.M.B.S with a strong love and energy that made the rappers start thinking about making more music for the people. However the cycle that took Broken Science into the recording studio did not begin with this event.
Tufts senior Alexander Ramirez, in collaboration with Santa Anna, initiated the creation of "Iron Mic", the production company that releases the music of Broken Science and other artists, including Tenth Noble. Both students met the summer after their sophomore year when ideas of a production company were causally mentioned. After being encouraged by many other friends to start such a business, Santa Anna importantly noted, "Alex was the first person to call back..." Less than two years later, the first album under "Iron Mic", The Foundation, sold about 400 copies.
Santa Anna also has high expectations for the future of his music, but is already planning a future in video game production using his degree in Computer Engineering. In his plans, he spoke about owning his own recording studio and getting more media exposure for his music, "I want to be interviewed for magazines like Vibe and The Source. I want to be recognized, whether it be for more than five years, or less than one, I want to get my message across".
Show N Prove will be sold at the Campus Center for $5 till the Oct. 31. Any questions on the album or for the artist can be emailed to Show_N_Prove@hotmail.com.
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