Publication date: November 17 2007
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UKG FIRST PLAY
Street Psalmist. Record executive. Freestyle blogger and self-styled
rebel... About 18 months ago KARL NOVA risked the relative
safety of his membership of GK REAL, and added a solo artist venture
to being part of the award-winning group.
Now he's on the verge of releasing his first full album (the first of a
promised trilogy), following his REDEEMED BEATS mixtape debut last year...
rebel... About 18 months ago KARL NOVA risked the relative
safety of his membership of GK REAL, and added a solo artist venture
to being part of the award-winning group.
Now he's on the verge of releasing his first full album (the first of a
promised trilogy), following his REDEEMED BEATS mixtape debut last year...
PHOTO: ATUNBI
INTRO
I'M A HUGE FAN OF KARL NOVA'S WORK...
He's shrewd, typical of a growing number in the contemporary UK scene in adopting an almost
subversive attitude in an attempt to keep the gospel temporally relevant. Result? A connection
to modern Christian life beyond the potentially constricting bounds of modern liturgy...
It's an understandable approach, in view of that fact that KARL plies his creative trade as a
Hip-hop artist, an art form that is still considered at best entirely unsuitable, and at worst
plainly demonic in some circles...
'Just I AM: The Prequel', the first of a series of semi
autobiographical projects is released in early 2008.
The album series is a palette of intensely personal stories,
honestly exploring contemporary Black Christianity in the UK.
KARL is Nigerian by national origin, with much of his personality
shaped by the fact. His world view offers a perspective that is at the is at the same time from within and outside UK society
(delivered in a voice that he says posseses a US, 'Yankee Twang'), culminating in a strange
subversive attitude in an attempt to keep the gospel temporally relevant. Result? A connection
to modern Christian life beyond the potentially constricting bounds of modern liturgy...
It's an understandable approach, in view of that fact that KARL plies his creative trade as a
Hip-hop artist, an art form that is still considered at best entirely unsuitable, and at worst
plainly demonic in some circles...
'Just I AM: The Prequel', the first of a series of semi
autobiographical projects is released in early 2008.
The album series is a palette of intensely personal stories,
honestly exploring contemporary Black Christianity in the UK.
KARL is Nigerian by national origin, with much of his personality
shaped by the fact. His world view offers a perspective that is at the is at the same time from within and outside UK society
(delivered in a voice that he says posseses a US, 'Yankee Twang'), culminating in a strange
grey shade of pride, protest and pointed criticism in the same space.
He is uncomfortably honest, and his MySpace page - rich in
journeys into his psyche - offers constantly changing music
from the forthcoming albums.
Almost embarrassingly frank, KARL openly shares a wealth
of thoughts on everything from sex, the wider music industry,
Black theology, poetry, gun crime and faith.
This isn't comfortable, all-answers Christianity.
With blog titles like 'The N Word' exploring the pro and con
arguments around the use of the word (including an intriguing reference from Acts 13),
and 'Cash Rules Everything Around Me, C.R.E.A.M' (an appropriation of the WU TANG
CLAN song of the same name) as well as 'Murder, she wrote and they replied with gun
talk', KARL is going to places that many Black Christians discuss, but rarely on open
platforms like music albums and social networking sites...
He is uncomfortably honest, and his MySpace page - rich in
journeys into his psyche - offers constantly changing music
from the forthcoming albums.
Almost embarrassingly frank, KARL openly shares a wealth
of thoughts on everything from sex, the wider music industry,
Black theology, poetry, gun crime and faith.
This isn't comfortable, all-answers Christianity.
With blog titles like 'The N Word' exploring the pro and con
arguments around the use of the word (including an intriguing reference from Acts 13),
and 'Cash Rules Everything Around Me, C.R.E.A.M' (an appropriation of the WU TANG
CLAN song of the same name) as well as 'Murder, she wrote and they replied with gun
talk', KARL is going to places that many Black Christians discuss, but rarely on open
platforms like music albums and social networking sites...
Over the months KARL has gathered a significant following, (over 27,000 MySpace page
views from a standing start) with most of his blogs generating a combination of passionate
responses, some controversy, plus intelligent feedback at his pointed and articulate
musings.
His is an astute approach. Behind the seemingly random series of musical and transcribed
thoughts is a sharp intention to - at the very least - provoke not just thought, but direct
action.
The complicated Black Christian psyche has much potential, but - if KARL's unsubtle
suggestion is anything to go by - very little will be achieved if we maintain the seemingly
inert status quo.
Something needs to give. And it would seem KARL NOVA for one wants to be a part of
making that happen...
views from a standing start) with most of his blogs generating a combination of passionate
responses, some controversy, plus intelligent feedback at his pointed and articulate
musings.
His is an astute approach. Behind the seemingly random series of musical and transcribed
thoughts is a sharp intention to - at the very least - provoke not just thought, but direct
action.
The complicated Black Christian psyche has much potential, but - if KARL's unsubtle
suggestion is anything to go by - very little will be achieved if we maintain the seemingly
inert status quo.
Something needs to give. And it would seem KARL NOVA for one wants to be a part of
making that happen...
LINKS & CREDITS
WORDS: Yinka Awojobi
PICTURES: Top: ATUNBI.shutterchance.com Middle: Tom Pytlos.com
KARL NOVA ON MySpace
PICTURES: Top: ATUNBI.shutterchance.com Middle: Tom Pytlos.com
KARL NOVA ON MySpace
SUPPORT - Buy the music
> KARL NOVA's CDs will be available on UKG Shop.com
> Selected tracks will be available on UKG Presents.com as free downloads
> Selected tracks will be available on UKG Presents.com as free downloads
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