Whether it’s transcending Hip Hop, or just making someone stop in the middle of their day and sing “Walk Hard”, The Band Belief has made a huge impression on the Hip Hop circuit. I recently caught up with the Richmond native group to discuss Hip Hop, society, and the motivating factors behind their drive to the next big thing in music.
Whether it’s transcending Hip Hop, or just making someone stop in the middle of their day and sing “Walk Hard”, The Band Belief has made a huge impression on the Hip Hop circuit. I recently caught up with the Richmond native group to discuss Hip Hop, society, and the motivating factors behind their drive to the next big thing in music.
When and how did you guys start?
Carroll and I(ONE) had been friends for a while. He had always been a student of Jazz and Classical, and I’m pretty sure I was born with a mic cord instead of an umbilical. I can remember rhyming in the streets from a very young age. One thing we had in common was the belief that Hip-Hop deserved more soul, more substance(also, the concept for our name). In comes Wes with his vocals, and Will – one of the sickest drummers in VA. Grace, our female vocalist joined us after her tour in Italy, and The Band Belief was formed. We started playing at any place in Richmond that would let us, and have come a long way since then.
What is the inspiration behind your music?
Reality. It’s the greatest inspiration of all. Real people; real stories; real life in general. There is enough creativity and energy in realness to inspire you for days. Don’t get me wrong, its mad fun being fantastical, but there is something so genuine about being able to relate to the lives of everyday people, and project that through mics and amps.
What has been your most memorable show?
Although we’ve had a lot of memorable shows – from sharing the stage with Grammy winning artists, to supporting great causes like RockTheVote and anti-violence rallies – one of the most memorable shows we did was the Special Olympics Walk-a-Thon. To see kids laughing and dancing, and having a great time really brought smiles to our faces. It was an amazing opportunity to be part of such real joy.
What direction do you think the Hip Hop movement is headed towards?
Hip Hop has always been the voice of the people – more so in these times than ever before. You can go on YouTube and see people rapping in different languages from all around the world. Recently, though, the industry as a whole has been lacking in regards to substance. There’s a lot of great talent out there. The world’s going through a very interesting, and yet very turbulent phase. Hip Hop is becoming more aware, and relevant – largely due to its crossover between other mediums and cultures.
What is Belief?
Belief is one of the most universal emotions humans experience. It’s what gets us up in the morning, and gives us the strength to make it through – day after day. That’s what The Band Belief represents – music that positively impacts everyone, and highlights the universality of all people. Our music isn’t limited to one genre – we combine jazz, funk, classical, HipHop, R&B; anything that inspires us to create a good track. The most important thing for us is standing up for the collective values people of our era hold true – belief in a better system, a better world, and in a greater good. It’s time for Hip-Hop to take back creative control, and once again become the voice of the very people that breathed life into it.
by Shahan Jafri
