Music
Mic Righteous is out to change the world
The UK rapper talks climate change, collaborating with Vivienne Westwood, and new album Dreamland.
Back in September, Mic Righteous performed at Soho venue The Box as part of The Climate Revolution Presents IOU. The Climate Revolution is an initiative started by the fashion designer and activist Vivienne Westwood, which aims to draw attention to environmental issues and support ideas around the green economy.
Westwood gave a speech on climate change, which she wants to deliver to Prime Minister Theresa May in person, while James Jagger and Mike Walker from Project O gave an eye-opening talk on the damage caused to our planet so far. This might not be typical territory for an MC, but Mic Righteous is known for his candid and controversial lyricism, and the tracks he performed from brand new album Dreamland were fuelled with an honesty that came straight from the heart.
A few days later, RedBull.com caught up with Mic to discuss the making of Dreamland, the Vivienne Westwood feature and how young people can get involved with tackling climate change.
How was the Climate Revolution show the other night?
Mic Righteous: The show was wicked man, I loved it. It was a wicked night. I was there with my brother, my friends, my family. It was a good vibe.
What I’ve heard from Dreamland so far sounds like this project is going to take us on an emotional trip…
The album has been something that I, and everyone around me, knew we needed to take time on. It was pre-meditated for a very long time and it’s all built up to this point. It is literally a documentation of that journey. Some of my earliest work is actually on the album. Back then, what I was going through, figuring out myself and figuring out how to deal with it – it did make me a bit emotional and a bit insecure. And then there's some of my most recent work, which is a bit more uplifting and positive.
You’ve always been an artist who’s not afraid to discuss real-life issues. What do you think makes other artists shy away from commenting on socio-political issues?
Well, I can only speak for myself and how I feel and I was just brought up to… I don’t want to make anybody feel like they’re not doing right. I just want to know that I’m doing more positive than negative. If I was given a platform and I was using it to other’s detriment and to promote myself and to put me in that light… then I’d be taking this gift for granted and for me that doesn’t balance well with the karma side of things. Especially when you take into account how hip-hop originated and where rap derives from – I believe we owe it to the culture.
I just want to know that I’m doing more positive than negative
You’ve spoken out about the migrant crisis. Do you think your first-hand experience of your family migrating to England is a big driving force behind that?
I guess so. A lot of it comes down to seeing it in its rawest, purest form. It’s a shock and I guess that’s the motivation. I feel like that’s what a lot of people need – the people with the mindset of: ‘This is our country and we’ve helped to build it and you don’t belong here’. When they’re confronted with the harsh reality of what it’s like… well, you put any one of them in the situation and it suddenly becomes understandable. For me, to see it and live it – I guess that is a big reason I feel that I have to do what I have to do.
When did you decide to get on board with addressing climate change and so on? Because it’s so easy for people to just turn a blind eye and not accept responsibility.
Yeah, what’s interesting is that for me climate change was just a theory, I didn’t have any evidence. It could’ve been just as fake as any lie or true as any truth. But I was asked to be part of the advertisement for the march in London, and I knew I needed to educate myself. I’m always up for self-educating myself, especially when you’re able to do it yourself and you’ve got no one giving you the knowledge. Because then you’re able to source it from where you believe the truth is.
I did my research to write the piece and then it went from there really. That’s how I ended up meeting Vivienne, as she was a key part of the march. She funded the actual advertisement, which was filmed by Fully Focused. Just working with people like that who have an energy and want to change something – it’s so inspiring.
How did Be There and the collaboration with Vivienne all come about?
Be There was a song that I’d already written before this. I met Vivienne a couple of times and then we decided that she was a suitable feature for the album. She mentioned to me that she’d written a rap. But I think it’s more like an inspirational speech, a motivational speech.
Watch Be There ft Vivienne Westwood below.
How can young people who want to join the fight against climate change get involved?
By uniting and educating themselves further. Ultimately it’s all of us that pay the price if we’re not able to carry on what we are. It’s down to us. It’s our responsibility as human beings to create a world where we can co-exist with nature without destroying it and ultimately destroying ourselves.
And what about your own personal hopes and goals over the next few years?
I just want to get my music heard by as many people as possible and that’s the main goal. Get my music heard around the whole world.
If you could sum up Dreamland in a few words or a sentence to your listeners – what would you say?
The greatest UK hip-hop album of all time! [Laughs] Why not… it’s my album, I can say that.
Dreamland is out October 28
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