The name Wake Self may not resonate with people like the names Drake or Kanye West, but 2016 could be the year that changes. With an official cosign from J Dilla’s mother, Ma Dukes, the Albuquerque, New Mexico-based emcee’s new concept video for “Still Love Her” pays tribute to the pioneers who paved the way for Hip Hop culture.
From Ice Cube’s Death Certificate and Nas’ Illmatic to Slick Rick’s The Great Adventures of Slick Rick and Big Daddy Kane’s Long Live the Kane, Wake Self reinterprets various classic Hip Hop album covers while using clever word play to clearly illustrate what hip-hop means to him.
“I love the feeling Hip Hop gives us when you see or hear something fresh,” Wake explains. “I love seeing rooftops, trains, billboards and walls freshly painted, and seeing old pieces becoming weathered by the years. I love seeing this culture keep kids and adults out of trouble. I love seeing people find themselves through the cultivation of an art form. I love how Hip Hop has connected the whole world and brought so many nations together.”
“Still Love Her” appears on Wake Self’s upcoming album, Malala, named after Nobel Peace Prize winner Malala Yousafzai, the young Pakistani activist. Much like Malala’s yearning for a revolution, Wake feels an obligation to educate people on the musical history of Hip Hop culture.
“With all the focus on image nowadays in music, I want to see some freshness and great subject matter come back into songwriting,” he says. “I hope to inspire other artists with how I approach my music.”
