By Kent MacDonald
SPECIAL TO THE NEWS
Much like the rap game at North Nova Education Centre, the very same phenomenon has taken Northumberland Regional High School by storm.
The rap game seemed to have transcended both schools to the point that we could very soon see a nuclear warfare of words between rappers of NNEC against rappers of NRHS.
I was given the opportunity of speaking with two of the most relevant rappers at NRHS, who go by the names of Super Swain (Parker Swain) and Lil Tuna (Lucas Fraser). People say the best rappers on the planet come from humble beginnings, so I will let you readers decide on just how humble these two are.
Fraser began his career in July 2018, whereas Swain says he began his career when Lil Tuna opened his mouth.
“I think I was born with the rapping gene in me,” said Swain, when asked why he chose to embark on this journey.
All rappers draw inspiration from somewhere, right?
“Lil barnacle, Logic and Kendrick Lamar are who I draw inspiration from” said Fraser.
“I think I’m more of my own special entity, I don’t really draw inspiration from anybody,” said Swain.
When asked if NRHS even has the slightest chance of competing with NNEC in the rap game Super Swain said, “It’s not even close, you got Lil Tuna, you got Super Swain, OG Mac, People from Northumberland that are way danker then me and Lucas that you haven’t even heard of yet.”
Swain said if he were to challenge anyone it would definitely be Lil Keefe. (See A look inside the high school rap game at NNEC)
“If he’s saying he’s the best rapper in this county, I’d like him to prove it,” he said. “Lil Keefe raps about a fake life that he doesn't even live, I’d put him down in front of 20,000 people.”
When asked what sets him apart from other artists, Fraser said “I’ve been a lyrical genius since I was a fetus. I’m all about the gross and disgusting. No subject is off the rails.”
Swain quickly followed up to the question by saying: “I don’t confine myself to a specific genre; in the future there will be a little low fi, even some live acoustic.”
When asked about his motivations in pursuing the rap game, Fraser had this to say: “I’m just trying to have a good time with my friends, that’s all it is.”
Swain took a very different approach to the question.
“… I do it for myself because my only competition is myself.”
When the two were asked if their parents were aware of their craft, they both had very different responses.
“To my understanding up until New Year’s Eve my mom knew for a couple months, I got a fist bump from my dad and mom shook her head kind of like, ‘ugh’” said Fraser.
Swain says his parents do not support him rapping.
“I don't care, they are a part of the hating squad. Haters are my motivators,” said Swain.
People can check out these as well as other up and coming rappers here on platforms such as
https://www.youtube.com and https://soundcloud.com.
Kent MacDonald is a student at North Nova Education Centre who is doing a work-study program at The News.
A beginner’s guide to rap lingo
In case you are a parent or elder who does not understand the very sophisticated lingo used in this article, here are some definitions of the words used that once you hear may change your perception and give you a deeper understanding to the entire music genre of hip hop and rap:
Diss Track: A diss track or diss song (diss – abbr. from disrespect) is a song intended to verbally attack someone else, often as a response to someone’s diss track. While musical parodies and attacks have always existed, the trend became increasingly common in the hip hop genre fueled by the hip hop rivalry phenomenon.
Clout: Influence or power
Danker: Originated from the word Dank, describing something as really good.
Low fi: Music that is mellow, ordinary, quiet, but in a funky kind of way.
Haters: A person that simply cannot be happy for another person’s success. So rather than be happy they make a point of exposing a flaw in that person.
C.R.E.A.M.: Cash Rules Everything Around Me, originated in NYC, specifically Staten Island.
In a lyric: “Cash rules everything around me, .C.R.E.A.M. Get the money, dollar dollar bill, y’all.” –Wu Tang Clan, “C.R.E.A.M.”
Jiggy: Fly or cool and originated in NYC, specifically Harlem.
In a lyric: “Let’s get the dough and stay real jiggy.”
–Jay-Z, “Hard Knock Life”
Represent: From or exemplifying and it originated in NYC, specifically Brooklyn.
In a lyric: “What ya throwin on? Biggie Smalls, who you represent?”
–Notorious BIG, “Jeans and Sneakers”
Gangsta: means gangster or tough and it originated in L.A.
In a lyric: “Gangsta, gangsta! That’s what they’re yellin.’ It’s not about a salary, it’s all about reality.”
–NWA, “Gangsta Gangsta”
SOURCES: Urban Dictionary and Dictionary.com
