![]() ![]() “More than ever before, hip-hop artists are publicly acknowledging their mental health issues, promoting anti-stigma campaigns around mental health, and normalising seeking treatment for mental health issues,” they write in BMJ Opinion today. While Psychodrama was an important and justifiably celebrated album, it was not the first time that hip-hop has tackled issues surrounding mental health – and this, say Drs Akeem Sule and Becky Inkster, co-founders of social venture Hip Hop Psych, is what makes the genre such a valuable tool for understanding some of the underlying causes and triggers of mental health problems and tackling the stigma that often goes alongside them. But he showered praise on the album, describing it as “genuinely gripping” and “the boldest album to emerge from UK hip-hop’s renaissance. The Guardian’s music critic Alexis Petridis highlighted the challenging nature of the album, referring to the specific track Lesley, which depicts in harrowing detail the fallout from an abusive relationship, writing: “In a world where artists seem terrified of their audience hitting the fast-forward button… it’s a big ask to confront listeners with an 11-minute rap track, especially when the subject matter is as unremittingly grim as that of Lesley”. The album follows Dave’s therapy sessions, as he discusses his older brothers and the impact that their prison convictions had on him, as well as his struggles with mental health and the challenges facing black working class youths in Britain. Earlier this year, British rapper Dave won the 2020 Brit Award for album of the year for his debut studio album Psychodrama, becoming only the second artist ever to win both this and the coveted Mercury Prize. ![]()
0 Comments
Leave a Reply. |
AuthorWrite something about yourself. No need to be fancy, just an overview. ArchivesCategories |