"Like many hip-hop artists, Toki Wright's interests aren't limited to music. But the Minneapolis rapper's extracurricular activities are far more ambitious than starting a T-shirt company or launching his own signature energy drink. Wright is a community-service worker for non-profits like Yo! The Movement, a writer who almost covered Rwandan hip-hop for The Source (Wright was so overcome by the experience, he found himself unable to complete his story), and a certified teacher who currently heads the nation's first accredited hip-hop diploma program at McNally Smith College of Music in St. Paul. His understated style of rhyming is equally high-minded and bobs with a thirst for observation. Currently supporting the Rhymesayers release A Different Mirror, Wright stops by Emo's tonight as part of The Fresh Air Tour with Brother Ali. The A.V. Club caught up with him to discuss his long-time relationship with Ali, throwing concerts for kindergarteners, and how he won over Rhymesayers by sheer force of will."
The A.V. Club: You grew up listening to soul, funk, and hip-hop. What attracted you to performing in one style over the others?
Toki Wright: What attracted me to hip-hop was being able to see people that looked just like me commanding large crowds of people. It was many artists all over the country, all over the world, and they wanted to stand up, be heard, and get people to jump around with them. I didn't always know the words, but that fascinated me. It’s that kind of power every kid wants to have. Everybody wants someone to pay attention to them.
AVC: You've toured with Brother Ali for three years. What's your relationship like with him?
TW: We started as friends before working together. I was in a group in a whole other section [of Minneapolis], and he was running around with Atmosphere and those guys. We had a discussion that it would be a good idea for me to come out with him. At the time, I was running a youth organization, and a lot of my time had been taken up taking care of these kids. I had always been working in hip-hop, organizing events for the youth, but my own performance had always taken a back seat. I wanted to go out and work with somebody I respected and got along with.
0 COMMENTS:
Post a Comment