Music IS

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By Robbie MeredithBBC News NI arts correspondent

" It's like the 90s - my dad told me Back Then with the whole rave scene that helped bring people together. "

From rave then to rap today is the generational journey taken by over 30 young Northern Irish rappers.

They can be heard on a new mixtape called NI's Finest, which is about to be released on streaming services like Spotify and Apple Music .

A 21-year-old rapper known as Rich Smicks from east Belfast is one of those involved.

And his musical partner is a 21-year-old rapper called Durtburd from west Belfast .

" I grew up in west Belfast , he grew up in east so we did this project to kind of bring the two together and break barriers down, brick by brick, song by song, " Durtburd told Bbc News NI.

And according to him, rap is The Ideal way to do that.

" I think it's truly working class music, it truly brings people together because everyone is united through The Struggle .

" It's music that people can relate to.

" The name is Freedom Writers , we're calling it - it's basically about being brought together through music, things like that, " added Rich Smicks.

And like the unifying rave scene in Northern Ireland that his dad remembers from three decades ago, Rich says " it's the same now with the rap".

" You've got people coming from east, west, north and south. "

Capturing Real Life in music

Like some other rappers, They wear masks when performing and their tracks are often hard-hitting, covering what They see and hear around them in the areas of Belfast in which They Live .

" The main things would be focusing on the long-lasting effects of The Troubles , paramilitaries, life in Belfast today, " said Rich Smicks.

" I would touch on corruption in the government, in Stormont, things like that as well as My Own battles with depression and things like that.

" Just whatever I'm feeling - it depends on The Song . "

Durtburd also tries to capture " Real Life in Belfast " in his music.

" The struggles people actually go through like addiction, like juggling debts, like just trying to survive and keep yourself sweet, " he lists as subjects for his lyrics.

" As well as the trauma that's been handed down to us from our parents and older generations from The Troubles . "

But their Music Is varied, according to Rich Smicks.

" Me and Durtburd, we'd have room-shakers, the wee dance tracks, so we mix it up! "

Eighteen-year-old producer Kantuftw from Dundonald also has a track on the mixtape, the largest ever put together in Northern Ireland .

" My music varies in different styles but what I like about it is that some of the songs speak With You , " He Said .

" They 're not depressing, not sad, but The Words and lyrics would impact Other People who are going through the same things. "

Kantuftw is especially proud of some of his tracks that address things such as Mental Health .

" A lot of people struggle with that type of stuff and it's like if people listen to that music that will help them, " He Said .

" A lot of Young People , if They do hear someone going through similar experiences, it's more like a coping mechanism to know that They 're not alone and know that there's Other People going through the same things. "

Some of the rappers involved were among those behind.

The NI's Finest Mixtape is the brainchild of James Ayo from Hotbox Studios in east Belfast .

It has also been supported by organisations like the PRS Foundation and the Rio Ferdinand Foundation.

'This is what we do'

Some of the recording sessions were captured in.

" There's a lot of rap happening in Northern Ireland , " James Ayo told Bbc News NI.

" So I thought let's put this mixtape together to show how big it is.

" It's not just in Belfast - we have rappers from Derry, from Newry, places like that, and it's to showcase how serious it is to them. "

But even he was a little taken aback by The Number of local rappers who wanted to be part of it.

" I was a bit shocked but at the same time this is our community, this is what we do, " he explained.

" It's quite big already within the rap community in Northern Ireland but being recognised outside of that is a bit hard sometimes. "

Durtburd and Rich Smicks are hoping that will change.

" We don't really get the recognition and it's only started out really properly but I always knew we were going to take it over, " said Rich Smicks.

" The likes of Dublin, London . . They 're already established - we're not.

" Hopefully One Day They will notice us, The World will recognise it. "

NI Finest Mixtape is launched on 10 and 11 November with performances at The Deer 's Head, Hotbox Studios and The Crescent Arts Centre in Belfast .

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Source of news: bbc.com