“I have always said that our culture is our greatest asset…I am a proud product of it and a fearless protector of it.” On June 20th, 2019 these words echoed throughout the stage as T.I received the honorary ASCAP Voice of the Culture award. The award, presented by political pundit, Angela Rye, is the first of its kind and celebrates a member of the ASCAP community who has made great strides in influencing both music and culture.
“Before making my own photos, I expressed myself in front of the camera through movement. Over time, I branched out to see what the world looked like through another lens. Since then, I’ve grown to become inspired by challenges — my favorite being manipulation of the human eye. Though perspective is subjective, I’ve captured mine for your, and my own entertainment.”
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“‘Runnin’ is my attempt to teleport people into my mind that is constantly racing with thoughts. It’s about escapism and is meant to depict the sensations of wrestling with your inner self — how wrapped up you can get in your own mind when there’s a whole world around you.”In her own words, Nerika describes her hit song Runnin, a track that is about both world and self. She perfectly fuses two worlds together on this beautifully blended dancehall, pop track. Runnin features Djembe drums and an infectious rumble that celebrates Nerika’s reggae roots all paired with lyrics that flow between English and Patois, leaving listeners satisfied and As a talented artist who first made her debut on MILK, Nerika’s ability to remain so versatile is one unmatched by an artist of her age. We caught up with the rising star to find out the making behind the hit single:
On her musical inspirations:
“My dad put me on to reggae music as a child, especially Bob Marley. Through experiencing different seasons of life, the inevitability of growing as a person comes with this enlightenment process that no one can really prepare you for. Your eyes open and see the world differently. It expands and that’s when you start to call many things into question, experience new kinds of pain, and even self-doubt. Going back to my roots after experiencing more life I realized this stuff is the truth. Bob Marley preaching to my soul.”
On inspiration behind running:
“Runnin is inspired by a Bob Marley & The Wailers song “Running Away” in which he speaks of the burden of internal conflict but reminds us that no man’s pain is greater than another although it may sometimes feel that way. He says “It is better to live on the housetop (running away) than to live in a house full of confusion.” Finding time for solace and introspection through solitude is essential, but at least for me, insolation is never the solution. The people around me are the ones who truly restore my energy.”
On-premise behind running:
“Runnin is about both the self and the world. It’s about fighting back from internal struggles and how the external factors in our society can affect that especially when you feel like you don’t have a voice or control. It’s also about good, evil, and the spectrum that lies in between. The idea of “you reap what you sew” due to the circular motion of life and energies. History continues to repeat itself, but the goal is progress. In our current age of overstimulation through social media trends, fake news, politics, and cultural waves it’s easy to feel a bit overwhelmed. We feel the weight of these things every day, but we can hope the time of a revolution is near.”
Behind the music video:
“ The same reason why you can feel so lonely in a world of millions just like you. “You keep on runnin, but you never get away”. Sometimes you just need to look straight in the mirror and be honest with yourself. We often times fool ourselves into believing false realities, but you can’t run away from the truth and deep down we always know it. The video symbolizes a surreal dream-like state rooted in bits of my reality. It unmasks the truest voice which isn’t always the loudest amidst all of the madness that can take place in one’s mind. The music video expresses me reclaiming my power in my voice and identity in Chinatown — a city I spent a year of my life living in.”
You can watch the sizzling video directed by Kamau Wainaina & Jeffrey Soffer below:
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