Rosa Ree's Stern Warning: The Perils of 'Strong Language' in Music

Tanzanian hip-hop sensation Rosa Ree is offering an insightful look into the state of the hip-hop/Rap genre, her journey, and crucial advice for the next generation of artists.

Speaking on the 'Hip-hop' podcast, Rosa Ree, now a mother and self-proclaimed 'butterfly', shared profound reflections on the perceived disappearance of conscious messages in hip-hop, her unwavering resolve to carve her niche, and a cautionary message against the misuse of strong language in music.

The Fading Conscious Message in Hip-Hop

For Rosa Ree, hip-hop carries a fundamental obligation: "Hip-hop always has to have a cause".She contrasts this with genres like R&B, where themes of love can dominate daily.

“Hip hop always has to have a cause. RnB’s cause could be love all the time every day. There are hit artists who sing about love every single day... But when it comes to hip hop before you release a project you have to have a cause. So what is our message as hip hop artists?"

She laments that while many conscious hip-hop artists exist, they often struggle for airplay or opportunities on major stages. In her view, for pure hip-hop to gain commercial acceptance today, it frequently needs a twist of other genres like Singeli or R&B, unlike a time when raw, authentic hip-hop from artists like Professor J, MwanaFA, andCheed, was widely accepted and celebrated. She poses the critical question: "Where did we go wrong?"

Ree believes that modern society often prefers "to be lied to," making the "very concentrated" truth found in hip-hop less accepted. She suggests that the "truth hurts," prompting people to avoid self-reflection, opting instead for music that tells them “To just chill" rather than confronting their lives.

Despite these challenges, Rosa Ree maintains an optimistic outlook, stating, "We are breathing, we have a chance, we have voices, we have platforms, we have the opportunity to do something.”

Forging Her Path and Personal Evolution Rosa

Ree’s journey in the male-dominated hip-hop scene has been one of fierce determination. She recalls being explicitly told, "I couldn't do this music because I'm a woman". This adversity only fuelled her resolve.

“I was told I couldn't get a seat at the table; I had to create my table. Nine years later when you speak about hip hop you cannot stop speaking about the name Rosa Ree,” she said.

A Word of Caution to the New Guard

Addressing the current generation of artists, particularly their use of "strong languages," Rosa Ree draws from her past.

She admits her very first song was very raw, born out of anger from the industry's initial resistance to her as a female rapper.

However, she now warns against practices that have appeared smart but are not smart, specifically citing abusive language and drug references. She firmly believes such content destroys more than it builds.

“My very first song was very raw. Some things seem clever but they're not clever. And really, especially when it comes to insults or even things like maybe things like drugs, you know, people are pulling all the stops, so things that seem clever but they're not clever are more damaging than they are creating."

"We should be cautious about what content we put out because it will stay with you forever and it will live on for a longer time,” she cautioned.