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As a young female West African, brought to this country at the age of 10 by my mother and now living in Hackney, I look at life in a different way from what many people may imagine. I was always brought up to know right from wrong, and music helps me to think. When I feel down, I listen to music to overcome my problems.
Most people like I who grew up and studied in Hackney realise what a great
influence the area has had over our lives. Its reputation is often bad: violence, teenage gun crime and pregnancies, drugs and homelessness all seem to be increasing. But the good thing about Hackney is that it has a lot of talent and a bright future for young people who want to achieve their aims in a multi-racial, multicultural society. What they are is more important than their colour or where they came from. Much of the young musical talent seen on TV is from east London. The most popular form of music, particularly with the kids, is rap. Some people think that it encourages street violence but it only reflects our experience.
My friend Naila Boss is a good example of Hackney talent. Twenty years old, of Nigerian origin but born and raised in Hackney, she first sang in public in a church choir with her mum and dad before joining a female rap group. Her early influences included Michael Jackson and Aretha Franklin. In the hip-hop field it was Lauren Hill, Missy and Busta. She says leaving the group taught her to become a stronger individual.
The production company Rockizm signed her when they first heard her. She warmed up for Blu Cantrell, Ludacris, 112 and DMX (big concert, really nice guy) and worked with The Pirates and Shola Ama. An upcoming star, she features regularly on MTV Base.
Now with La Boss records, she’s been working with Chris Patrick from Rockizm, Wayne Beckford, JD (So Solid) and Fingaz (Big Brovaz). Her latest collaboration is with Jayme – another rising star – on ‘Blue Jeans.’ Her first single was called ‘La La’ and the second one – to be released shortly – is ‘Love is a Crazy Thing.’ She is also featured on a track called ‘Make You Love Me’ by a group called Blacksmith.
She says the strength of her performances and that of other rap artists is that they are singing about what they know and what they’ve done, not what they’ve seen or heard about. Naila likes having a good time going out with friend and her favourite food is Burger King and rice and stew.
There’s plenty more talent in the area and there are many organisations who can help develop it. If only people are willing to look past the negative side, they could see that there are good things
happening in Hackney.
Naila’s website is: www.nailaboss.com
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