Turning A Voice Into A Roar And A Song Into A Movement With Sa-Roc

Friends, I’m not going to tell you what it’s like when a track moves you. When an inexplicable drum line moves your feet or when a lyric questions your inner monologue. I’m aware at this stage I may be preaching to the converted but this week’s pRhymetime was one of the most challenging I’ve written.

Chatting with Sa-Roc of Rhymesayers Entertainment, we delved into her latest single, Forever, and what hip hop really can be.

"I wrote the song for a myriad of reasons" she begins. "Starting with myself, personally, like many people I’ve gone through an incredible journey in learning how to see the beauty in myself, regardless of any perceived flaws, differences, pain or trauma. It took a long time for me to learn that. But as I was writing it I recalled so many stories and experiences from my life, friends and other people’s lives, women who are held to beauty standards, you know? Quite antiquated standards of what it means to be a 'proper woman' or acceptable to society. We bury all these things to fit with society, becoming ashamed of them, and not realising how powerful the things we see as 'flaws' are, in creating the strong, powerful important people we are."

Forever is undeniably one of the most important tracks to be released in hip hop this year.

"For a long time writing has been an effective vehicle for me to express or work through topics," she says.

"It enables me to channel emotions into something constructive and sure, that’s not always easy. It’s a balance, you know? You can share yourself with the world, but you also need privacy… we often see rappers falling into a braggadocios attitude and that’s a part of hip hop, I do it too. But the culture and a song's influence on the world allow artists to share something real, and something that could potentially transform someone’s life."

It’s always admirable when a lyricist lays their history bare for an audience of vultures to pick apart (or positively feed on if you’re cool with the vulture analogy). Yet, Sa-Roc’s approach to hindsight in the present tense questions who the 'vultures' really are.

"Perhaps experiences don’t define me, but they definitely shaped me. Those experiences were a lesson, lessons that furthered my growth as a person," she muses.

A bridging line in the track caught my attention, "My idols still move me". It’s not a punchline, it’s a string of words that taunted, instead making you question who these idols are and how they ‘move’ you. The imaginative nature of the line (and accompanying clip) have me asking, what is the importance of idols?

"Idols are important not to be worshipped but for inspiration. I’m constantly inspired to write better, be more vocal, or be more expressive, for example. While I understand they’re just people, it’s important to celebrate their contributions and influence they’ve had on our communities. It could be a teacher, a family member, a writer. Personally, I don’t want to be an idol, my goal is to share something real and something of value to the world."

The conversation comes around to gender equality in the music industry, Sa-Roc acknowledges the issue is a very big one.

"There’s definitely a disparity, certainly in opportunity," she replies. "Particularly in this genre. There’s this, sort of, ‘sensational content’ that’s valued more than others. But because men dominate this industry, they’ve pushed this idea of what the desirable female emcee looks like, how she sounds and how she presents herself. So many female emcees choose not to take on this persona because of that, because they don’t fit this ‘femcee’ prototype and very often are not afforded the same level of visibility because of that. So they are very often overlooked, because they’re unique to themselves, uneasily categorised, and therefore haven’t been offered a platform to share something different."

"For example, some female artists are vocal about their sexual liberation. That’s a beautiful thing and there’s nothing wrong with that! I’m saying there are different perspectives that need to be shared, there are different voices that are just as important to the conversation. I think it’s very intentional, there’s only one voice heard, you know what I’m saying? We’re starting to see a little more inclusion because not just women want something new, it’s because people, in general, want something new."

“It’s this archaic formula of ‘I can’t categorise this, so it’s not going to sell…’, ya know? But we’re also neglecting to factor in that marketing plays a huge role in what the public wants, or is told to want. So there’s this machine that promotes a false idea that this is what people want. The money just furthers the cycle too you know? Pay to play radio for example. So yes, I’m familiar with the phenomenon you’re talking about… sorry, I’m rambling," she chuckles. 

"I believe that because this is such a male-dominated industry and women have been afforded fewer opportunities within it, there’s almost this feeling that we’re up against this boys club trying to secure that one lucrative spot. That there can only be one or two reigning female emcees at a time and if there is more than one, there’s this fabricated beef between them and/or feeling of competition engendered by this tremendous lack of representation. We’ve seen how powerful of a force women can be when unified, especially within the past year, where we’re demanding inclusion and encouraging empowerment within the entertainment industry. We can only serve to gain from supporting and collaborating with one another."

"I think that when more women begin to get mainstream visibility in hip hop, and more opportunities arise, the culture will begin to change. In the '80s and early '90s, there were a bunch of women rapping! And not only was there a ton of representation, but there was a diversity of styles and perspectives that started to wane around the late '90s and early 2000s. As the inclusion narrowed, this culture of survivalism seemed to develop, which is definitely an effect of being marginalised. We’re not allowed to be part of a broader conversation of hip hop, we’re only allowed to speak about hip hop within the context of women. We’re only the best female emcee or the best female rapper, it’s not this rapper could go toe to toe with one of the greatest of all time and that’s very intentional. I want to hear about 'female' in every possible facet of music, and every one of them deserves a platform, you know?"

Sa-Roc continued to shed light on Lauryn Hill’s uninvited participation on this (ongoing) argument and within seconds I grew a small understanding of an exclusive paradigm. I reiterate my opening statement of preaching to the converted but wow, can we share a lil’ spotlight here with the artists that are undeniably talented and worthy!?

Sorry to get a bit preachy, but seriously; how can we take this conversation and move it from an online blog into actual community engagement?

“Well, when you say ‘we’ who are you referring to? Artists, community, society in general or…” Sa-Roc questions.

When I say we, I feel I share the same interests, audience, and love of music as you (both artist, reader and listener). So while my platform offers voice, it also offers listenership. How do WE as an aligned community, broadcast a positive message where we encourage inclusiveness?

"We all have a responsibility to be conscientious in what we say, the images we present. It needs to be inclusive. The previous imagery and expectations are unhealthy not only in their representation but also in their aesthetic value and social value. Let’s encourage critical thought amongst young women instead of placing value on how we look and sound, as young women."

"One of the reasons I covered these issues in the song was that during that time in growing up, I was practising self-harm, had low self-esteem, depression. I didn’t know anyone like me that had those feelings. I think there were probably many girls that felt that way but no one was talking about them. What’s positive is that now it’s displayed and revealed, there’s a wide-spread push not to adhere to a 'perfect body and life,' but realise that you already have one. We need open and honest dialogue about what we have experienced because we can let people know; that they’re not alone. Not for the sake of it or tokenism. But because it’s a reflection of the world we live in."

I’m requesting Sa-Roc’s permission to share this interview in its entirety. Through a lens of hindsight and honest address, we can all try a little bit harder in being more self-aware, and hopefully a little more positive.

Get online and check out her tunes, you won’t be sorry.