BSC is proud to expand its mission and introduce ILTM – a new weekly video series filmed in culturally relevant spaces. I Listen to Memphis is about Memphis music today, the musicians who make it, and the places and culture that fuel it. We are here to inform, inspire, and share the best of Memphis music.

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Idi Aah Que and Teco Tate first discovered their lyrical chemistry in English class at East High School. The task before them was easy enough: draft original works of prose and recite them in front of the class. A pretty simple assignment for two, young, aspiring rappers. But it wasn’t just the mutual recognition of “Hey, I want to be a rapper. Hey, me too” that brought Que and Teco together to be Hippy SOUL. It was that the collaboration on this high school project uncovered a shared vision of an entirely different holistic approach to Memphis rap.

They had little use for the usual themes and imagery. Hippy SOUL redefines these norm by pulling from their own experiences and passions: local history, martial arts, anime superheroes, the near-yet-so-far legacy of Memphis music, their circle of comrades, and the formative experience of that high school English class from way back when.

But this is still Mtown and we do have a history to respect. Speaker-ripping low end, menacing synth melodies, and the trademark, staccato high hats are pulled straight from the Memphis rap playbook. My Dojo burst out of nowhere last year and put the rap world on notice. The studio version is represented by a killer video crafted by filmmaker Quentin Lamb. This installment to the I Listen To Memphis video series is a raw, visceral take on My Dojo performed live on stage at Memphis music institution, The HiTone Cafe, and features the additional energy of drummer Ra’id backing up Que and Teco.

For two decades The HiTone Cafe has been a dojo for Memphis musicians. It’s been the proving grounds for an entire generation (or two) of artists and bands. It’s where the North Mississippi All Stars played their earliest sellout shows. It’s been a Goner Fest destination since the beginning. Every Memphian has a different answer for the best show they ever saw at The HiTone. It’s good to have constants in an ever-evolving music scene.

 

Director – Christian Walker
Produced by Waheed AlQawasmi “WA Films”
Cinematographer – Jordan Danelz
Camera Operator/Editor – Jared B. Callan

Special thanks to Pigeon Roost Collaborative and Inherent Media.

 

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