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Publication Date: 2nd April 2008
ALBUM/DVD
As ROYAL PRIESTHOOD's FEMI 'SMOOFLOW' ILOYI
debuts his first feature drama, unflinching,
uncomfortable real-life Christian storytelling arrives...
debuts his first feature drama, unflinching,
uncomfortable real-life Christian storytelling arrives...
South East London. Saturday 12th April: FEMI 'SMOOFLOW' ILOYI's
DVD, BROKEN SILENCE premieres. Anticipation is already building.
I've an exceedingly soft spot - and tremendous
respect - for ROYAL PRIESTHOOD.
Way back in the early days of UKGospel.com
(this was around 2000 or thereabouts), when I
was driven by little more than a vague - but
strong - conviction about the viability of the
site, ROYAL PRIESTHOOD was the first group I
ever did a 'special' on...
respect - for ROYAL PRIESTHOOD.
Way back in the early days of UKGospel.com
(this was around 2000 or thereabouts), when I
was driven by little more than a vague - but
strong - conviction about the viability of the
site, ROYAL PRIESTHOOD was the first group I
ever did a 'special' on...
SMOOFLOW (left) and ROUCHEON
BACK IN THE DAY....
It's a very long way from that interview back at FEMI's mum's flat in Clapham.
About a four-member roster, two line-up changes (ROYAL PRIESTHOOD is now SMOOFLOW, his wife ROUCHEON and - unofficially - their 3 year old son KIEYEN), plus five albums, several audio production projects, and what feels like a million video promos later, in fact.
And the reason for my totally unashamed foot washing? Well, let me put it this way: I find people generally fall into two broad categories:
the 'manna from heaven' lot - who expect things to 'somehow' happen, and
the second, more clued-in group that actually MAKE things happen.
Guess where RP falls?
About a four-member roster, two line-up changes (ROYAL PRIESTHOOD is now SMOOFLOW, his wife ROUCHEON and - unofficially - their 3 year old son KIEYEN), plus five albums, several audio production projects, and what feels like a million video promos later, in fact.
And the reason for my totally unashamed foot washing? Well, let me put it this way: I find people generally fall into two broad categories:
the 'manna from heaven' lot - who expect things to 'somehow' happen, and
the second, more clued-in group that actually MAKE things happen.
Guess where RP falls?
-
-
-
DO WHAT YOU GOTTA DO...
SMOOFLOW's visual direction career grew out of the
necessary need to shoot cost-effective music videos a few
years ago.
Nobody was directing videos for artists on a tight budget,
and SMOOFLOW - in much the same way as he developed
his music production skills - dived in head first, shooting
videos initially for ROYAL PRIESTHOOD, but later adding
other artists as diverse as JAZ ELLINGTON, ADONYE GREEN
and TRYUMF, honing the requiste directing and editing
skills as he went along.
And a lot of that work didn't go unnoticed: ROYAL PRIESTHOOD were two-time 'MOBO UNSUNG' semi finalists, were nominated as 'Best Hip-hop' artists at both the OASIS AWARDS and Hip Hop AWARDS in 2002.
In the same year they pioneered a self funded anti-gun crime event called URBAN
necessary need to shoot cost-effective music videos a few
years ago.
Nobody was directing videos for artists on a tight budget,
and SMOOFLOW - in much the same way as he developed
his music production skills - dived in head first, shooting
videos initially for ROYAL PRIESTHOOD, but later adding
other artists as diverse as JAZ ELLINGTON, ADONYE GREEN
and TRYUMF, honing the requiste directing and editing
skills as he went along.
And a lot of that work didn't go unnoticed: ROYAL PRIESTHOOD were two-time 'MOBO UNSUNG' semi finalists, were nominated as 'Best Hip-hop' artists at both the OASIS AWARDS and Hip Hop AWARDS in 2002.
In the same year they pioneered a self funded anti-gun crime event called URBAN
TRYUMF's 'The Reason' video - directed
and edited by SMOOFLOW
and edited by SMOOFLOW
TRUTHS, a movement geared toward highlighting the growing gun and violence-related issues in communities, working alongside organisations like MOTHERS AGAINST GUNS with the support of local radio and TV.
In 2004 and 2005 they were also nominated for the 'Best Unsigned Act' at the URBAN MUSIC AWARDS (where RAYMOND & CO have picked up best gospel act a couple of times).
One of the key ROYAL PRIESTHOOD milestones to come out of that drive was the captivating STOP THE VIOLENCE montage video among several others, potently illustrating the can-do, pioneering and hard-working spirit for which ROYAL PRIESTHOOD has come to be known.
And now all that work has distilled into FEMI's
debut film, BROKEN SILENCE.
In 2004 and 2005 they were also nominated for the 'Best Unsigned Act' at the URBAN MUSIC AWARDS (where RAYMOND & CO have picked up best gospel act a couple of times).
One of the key ROYAL PRIESTHOOD milestones to come out of that drive was the captivating STOP THE VIOLENCE montage video among several others, potently illustrating the can-do, pioneering and hard-working spirit for which ROYAL PRIESTHOOD has come to be known.
And now all that work has distilled into FEMI's
debut film, BROKEN SILENCE.
BROKEN SILENCE...
The film focuses on the painful reality that many
Black youth, typically those who - by ccident or
design are difficult to reach - have to go through.
It is offered as the first instalment of a trilogy, documenting the lives of three troubled teens over
a five-day period, as they try to adapt to the
pressures of contemporary inner city life.
It also examines the effect (and suggested ease of availability) of guns on the street, including the impact it has on the physical and mental health of the characters.
BROKEN SILENCE's press release suggests it delivers a chilling portrait of a community in crisis, and - having seen a preview version - I have to agree.
And I'm not the only one. Even during the course of my writing this, support for the project continued to pour in from diverse quarters: CHOICE FM, REVELATION TV, UnitedByONE,
Black youth, typically those who - by ccident or
design are difficult to reach - have to go through.
It is offered as the first instalment of a trilogy, documenting the lives of three troubled teens over
a five-day period, as they try to adapt to the
pressures of contemporary inner city life.
It also examines the effect (and suggested ease of availability) of guns on the street, including the impact it has on the physical and mental health of the characters.
BROKEN SILENCE's press release suggests it delivers a chilling portrait of a community in crisis, and - having seen a preview version - I have to agree.
And I'm not the only one. Even during the course of my writing this, support for the project continued to pour in from diverse quarters: CHOICE FM, REVELATION TV, UnitedByONE,
THEO and BANABS in BROKEN SILENCE
URBAN TV, BEN TV and NO BLING TV.
No doubt there'll be more before official launch on April 12th.
It's an interesting time in the development of visual storytelling in the Black Christian community. We've a few more creators with a good understanding of the subtleties of visual language and - praise the Lord, saints - BROKEN SILENCE is one of those.
The cast's performance is enthusiastic and effective, delivering strong characters through the film, and the script commendable in its attempt to capture the harsher end of inner city living.
Based on what I saw, I'm guessing BROKEN SILENCE is semi-improvised in part, an effort that proves to be something of a double-eged sword: on the one hand the movie has an undeniably streetwise edge to it, but on the other it could certainly have benefitted from a tighter grip; the trimming of the plotline and a few scenes would have served the overall pace of the story better.
No doubt there'll be more before official launch on April 12th.
It's an interesting time in the development of visual storytelling in the Black Christian community. We've a few more creators with a good understanding of the subtleties of visual language and - praise the Lord, saints - BROKEN SILENCE is one of those.
The cast's performance is enthusiastic and effective, delivering strong characters through the film, and the script commendable in its attempt to capture the harsher end of inner city living.
Based on what I saw, I'm guessing BROKEN SILENCE is semi-improvised in part, an effort that proves to be something of a double-eged sword: on the one hand the movie has an undeniably streetwise edge to it, but on the other it could certainly have benefitted from a tighter grip; the trimming of the plotline and a few scenes would have served the overall pace of the story better.
BROKEN SILENCE is not perfect, but it's powerful. I defy anyone to remain untouched after seeing it.
And while the following might sound like a contradiction in terms BROKEN SILENCE is not really a Christian film in the 'evangelical' sense of the word; think of it more as a universally accessible, challenging tale devoid of stock Christian clichés...
In this context the clichés would have inevitably served more as an hindrance than help, putting BROKEN SILENCE in strictly Christian circles. As it stands, this drama is ready (and hopefully it will) to travel beyond the church. And the world's all the better for it, trust me.
The plot timeshifts between purely allegorical, and unpolished reality: first-person testimonies of a real-life homeless person (interviewed right on the street), and a balaclava-clad (presumably to protect his identity), drug addicted youth sharing their stories
STRONG STUFF...
punctuate the broader fictonal storyline.
To its credit, BROKEN SILENCE offers no naïve, over-rehearsed answers, and as a result of that I found myself - entirely involuntarily - wondering how I might play an active part in being a solution to the problem presented before me.
It does make uncomfortable viewing in places (someone gets offered a gun for purchase in a church - wait for the potential fallout on THAT), but for my money this is another much-needed wake-up call to the community - Christian or otherwise - in the same vein as GREENJADE and XLP's anti-weapon project, GUNZ DOWN is sounding the alarm about the very potent gun and knife menace facing a large number of 11-14 year olds in society.
I've almost run out of space (as well as time - I've been
writing this since late February) and I haven't even
mentioned 'VILLAGE NATION', ROYAL PRIESTHOOD's new
To its credit, BROKEN SILENCE offers no naïve, over-rehearsed answers, and as a result of that I found myself - entirely involuntarily - wondering how I might play an active part in being a solution to the problem presented before me.
It does make uncomfortable viewing in places (someone gets offered a gun for purchase in a church - wait for the potential fallout on THAT), but for my money this is another much-needed wake-up call to the community - Christian or otherwise - in the same vein as GREENJADE and XLP's anti-weapon project, GUNZ DOWN is sounding the alarm about the very potent gun and knife menace facing a large number of 11-14 year olds in society.
I've almost run out of space (as well as time - I've been
writing this since late February) and I haven't even
mentioned 'VILLAGE NATION', ROYAL PRIESTHOOD's new
AND THEN: THE ALBUM...
album.
Needless to say the project delivers in the same way as
FEMI's debut solo album, 'THUGS TO DISCIPLES' and ROYAL
PRIESTHOOD's last album 'BUILT TO LAST' did, offering a
smart balance of hard-core and widely accessible Hip-hop.
Add to that a very personal discourse, delivered with their trademark dense and streetwise lyricism, all underpinned by a pragmatic Christian hope.
Guest appearances include contributions from SILAS, GEO, MAD SABRE, and even two-year old KIEYEN drops a couple of verses which really have to be heard to be believed!
In case you're still in doubt: I like this album.
I'm loathe to give you any more detail about VILLAGE NATION. The album title and concept is built around the conceit (credited as an African saying) that it takes an entire
Needless to say the project delivers in the same way as
FEMI's debut solo album, 'THUGS TO DISCIPLES' and ROYAL
PRIESTHOOD's last album 'BUILT TO LAST' did, offering a
smart balance of hard-core and widely accessible Hip-hop.
Add to that a very personal discourse, delivered with their trademark dense and streetwise lyricism, all underpinned by a pragmatic Christian hope.
Guest appearances include contributions from SILAS, GEO, MAD SABRE, and even two-year old KIEYEN drops a couple of verses which really have to be heard to be believed!
In case you're still in doubt: I like this album.
I'm loathe to give you any more detail about VILLAGE NATION. The album title and concept is built around the conceit (credited as an African saying) that it takes an entire
village to raise a child, a point of view that perfectly complements what BREAKING THE SILENCE is attempting to communicate: there's only so much we can do as individuals, but as a community with a genuine - and collective - will to tackle a problem, there are little or no insurmountable barriers.
However the main reason for my being hesitant about revealing any more about the music in VILLAGE NATION is that the promo I had sent through had 17 shortlisted tracks (thanks, FEMI) and - as at the time of my writing this - the final track listing had not been announced.
I will say this, though: in ROYAL PRIESTHOOD I see something that rarely seems to have a high enough profile in mainstream Black Christianity: a basic willingness to simply get down and dirty; to abandon our almost automatic, reflex superiority complex that erects barriers around our need to understand without prejudging.
Like many ministries that you will hear very little about, ROYAL PRIESTHOOD grasped one thing very early on: often Christianity just can't (and shouldn't) be saccharine-sweet, overly
However the main reason for my being hesitant about revealing any more about the music in VILLAGE NATION is that the promo I had sent through had 17 shortlisted tracks (thanks, FEMI) and - as at the time of my writing this - the final track listing had not been announced.
I will say this, though: in ROYAL PRIESTHOOD I see something that rarely seems to have a high enough profile in mainstream Black Christianity: a basic willingness to simply get down and dirty; to abandon our almost automatic, reflex superiority complex that erects barriers around our need to understand without prejudging.
Like many ministries that you will hear very little about, ROYAL PRIESTHOOD grasped one thing very early on: often Christianity just can't (and shouldn't) be saccharine-sweet, overly
simplistic and aloof. Life isn't like that most times.
Sometimes you have to ask the hard questions, and be prepared to act on what comes with
doing that. Much of the time the answer will demand you leave your comfort zone in order to get things done and make a genuine difference.
I didn't get the chance to ask FEMI about his reasoning behind the choice of title for the trilogy. But the way I see it, at least two parts of silence have been broken here: the silence of our broad social atrophy - and that of complacency...
Every Black Christian - actually, scratch that - EVERYONE needs to see this at least once.
It might just break your silence too - and that's never a bad thing...
Yinka Awojobi
Content Development
UKGospel.com
Sometimes you have to ask the hard questions, and be prepared to act on what comes with
doing that. Much of the time the answer will demand you leave your comfort zone in order to get things done and make a genuine difference.
I didn't get the chance to ask FEMI about his reasoning behind the choice of title for the trilogy. But the way I see it, at least two parts of silence have been broken here: the silence of our broad social atrophy - and that of complacency...
Every Black Christian - actually, scratch that - EVERYONE needs to see this at least once.
It might just break your silence too - and that's never a bad thing...
Yinka Awojobi
Content Development
UKGospel.com
LINKS AND CREDITS
Words: Yinka Awojobi
Pictures and video stills: SMOOFLOW
Pictures and video stills: SMOOFLOW
ROYAL PRIESTHOOD - MySpace
Buy ROYAL PRIESTHOOD - UKG Shop.com
Buy ROYAL PRIESTHOOD - UKG Shop.com
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