C U L T U R E inequality , etc . My art leans on the activism side of things quite a bit . I think the reason is that I am passionate about my community and being able to make effective change .
GMI : Art and the media have been used to promote and change mindsets for a long time . Many issues are being spoken about . For example , patriarchy , feminism , and sexuality have been huge themes over the years . What are your thoughts on this , and what message do you think that we should send to people with our words and our actions ? turned the pain into purpose , and this is where I found my voice . Since then , I have endeavoured to encourage , empower , and inform my community and the next generation of Coventry artists .
GMI : Walk us through your creative process . What inspires you to get up in the morning to create a rap track or a poem , and do you think that artists need to have a deeper reason that explains why they speak before they stand before an audience ?
JB : My creative process is simple ; I tend to write about what I am passionate about . I like to jot down small ideas and then build on them . I have hundreds of voice notes on my phone , some melodies , others words and sentences . We cannot always wait for inspiration , so I find this a good way of storing potential gems that can be extracted when needed . I feel like , as artists , we have a duty to represent our times , our communities , and our experiences . We can ’ t devoid our audience from our authentic selves , nor can we devoid our art from authenticity . It ’ s important to understand why you are doing what you are doing and always keep in mind that words are powerful and they can either cultivate or corrupt .
GMI : What issues of prejudice and discrimination do you address in your work ? Would you say that your own art or work speaks into artivism in any way or even explores the right to freedom to speak as an artist ?
JB : I tend to write on issues of racism and other forms of discrimination such as gender inequality , social
JB : Art and the media are the biggest tools of communication , especially in this age of social media . The sad thing is that there are a lot of negative things put out there , and a lot of mixed messages . It ’ s important for us as artists to continue changing the narrative and shaping the minds of the next generation . The message I think we should be sending young people is one of positivity and encouragement . Young people are dealing with things like body dysmorphia , depression , and anxiety due to social media , so we , as artists , must try our best to promote positivity .
GMI : You have worked with Southern African artists and poets in Beirut in collaboration , as well as being featured in the BBC Contains Strong Language festival . In your own opinion , how has this experience changed you ? Have you grown in your craft ? What have you taken away from all these opportunities ?
JB : The projects have helped me tremendously . I have learnt so much about the craft of poetry and the
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