TUGGS.T.A.R PRESENTS.....

“THE AFRICA E.P: FROM HERE TO THERE AND HOME AGAIN” was an attempt to tell part of a story of African migration and settlement. It is a period in history that has not had a lot of exploration, and I love to bring untold stories to light. I was able to draw on my own family’s story as inspiration to elements in each poem. 

After going home to Ghana in December 03. I realised a lot of my material for the LP concerned my relationship with hip-hop. I didn’t have anything that could strongly connect with my people back home. The African poems I had written were done after the concept of my LP was devised. Thus I decided to precede the LP with an EP for it was more important my first offering connected with the people and communities I spawned from. 

I always believe that it is important to be true to the foundation that made you. I am aware “The Africa E.P…” won’t obviously attract people outside politics, Africa or poetry. It is heavy in subject matter and delivery, at times humorous but overall very intense. However I am a politicised Ewe, Ghanaian, African and Pan-African from the conscious community in London whose favourite form of expression is poetry, who loves fusing history in my subject matter. That is my foundation and I hope this E.P shows that.
For those looking into African thought and want to become acquainted with a true commentary and heartbeat of Africans in Britain, then this will satisfy that thirst. I don’t purport to be the voice, though only one of many voices with an opinion and perspective that usually isn’t heard outside the home. 

These words weren’t designed to please anyone but to tell the truth of words from my heart. I feel most commercial black music eg hip-hop and R&B is designed to be pleasing with irrelevant subject matter to the lives of Africans worldwide. Poetry unbars us and gives us back our voice. 

I apologise for the length of some poems. However, I have much to say and feel too few people speak on subjects that need to be spoke about. Too many of us are too afraid to speak our mind on issues affecting us as black/African people. My words are not meant to offend though to only speak the truth the way my heart sees it. I hope as I grow as a writer I will stream line the length of my pieces. But here is my first offering I hope you enjoy it.

“THE AFRICAN C.D: FROM HERE TO THERE AND HOME AGAIN”
Loosely based on the journey of my family and myself.
 

Dear Listener

When starting out on the poetry road, I quickly became known as an Afri-centric political poet, (Which I don’t shy away from) though, I would never have guessed I would produce a CD based on love and relationships.
Over the years I have grown to understand the importance and impact of relationships on us personally and the wider community. As a result, I wrote a number of poems on this subject. More than being personal experiences, I wrote them to reflect the different stages our generation were at, and to essentially assist us in understanding our different journeys, hoping it would act as some form of aid to our issues.
I realised while performing them, that the pieces really touched the core of some people. I didn’t want these poems to die with my memory. Hence I began the process of creating Season of Lost Love.
Commenting on relationships is tricky, because people go through a myriad of experiences individually, which ultimately effects their choices. And as relationships are no longer a function of a community, but individual choices, people understandably feel offended when their actions are discussed.
The back bone of this CD concentrates on the current situation in black male, female relationships. It’s a subject people feel very cagey to discuss, especially in art. Thus I decided to step to the fore and document this time, because it’s something that is discussed much in the black community. It was essentially this climate that gave birth to most of these poems. It’s the reason why the interludes are so heavy. All these conversations were real dialogues, recorded in Canada and UK between people from Toronto, U.S, Jamaica, and Black/African British. It’s interesting that Black people in both Britain and Canada are a million miles from each other, yet are having such similar experiences. From the first album I said, Toronto and London are a tale of two twin cities, this emphasises that.
I realise my words are often very sharp and cut to the core, but I always try to remain truthful, and to not offend people’s personal choices, while at the same time remaining true to the principles and perspectives often vented by Africa/black males and females. I don’t know if I managed to find that line, but I would like to know your thoughts.

During 2007, I have been very quiet on the performance circuit. As an artist in his own right, I had to re-evaluate my relationship with poetry. So beyond just the love we have for our partners, we also have the love for our art form being discussed. Being an artist is a gift and a burden. Many times I’ve debated giving up, but I’ve always been pulled back. Many of these personal conversations are referenced on the CD.

This is not a club CD, though it is very listenable. It’s a very heavy album, while at the same time very musical too... I realise some poems are long, but at the same time I introduce the concept of the poetical song, which I hope to take further if I put out another CD.
I am essentially a social commentator, commentating on the life and times of this generation and community. I hope you find the time to listen and to develop more conversations from the words you hear. Thank you for listening.

Much Love 4ever

TUGGS.T.A.R