Rapper LOGICAL TRUTH, 20, real name KWAME MIGUDA, is a Kisumu based hip hop artiste with a distinctive style and bias to spread social consciousness and improve society. KEVIN OGUOKO met up with him.
Q: How would you describe your rapping style and what makes it unique from the rest?
LT: My music involves positive and uplifting messages with an emphasis on logical truth. I do not use curse words like other rappers do, and this makes my music distinct. I believe that my words are inspired by God, who I believe inspires and write the lyrics through me and the people who tell me they have been moved, entertained, educated or are now more informed by my music.
Q: What influenced you to choose this type of rapping style?
LT: Being the last born in my family, gradually crafted me to the person I am today. My siblings encouraged me to always strive to be a better person. The people I have interacted with in my lifetime have also been a huge influence on my choice of art and its in depth content. My brothers, for example, exposed me to conscious rap music by the likes of American rapper Talib Kweli, among others.
Q: What do you hope to achieve or change with your rapping style?
LT: A mental and spiritual reconstruction of the entire human race. I hope to change of hearts, thought processes of human beings, to a state of peace, love, honesty, respect and positive morals. Importantly, I strive to stop the objectifying of our precious women in music, especially in hip-hop. The next generation should know better.
Q: So do you always practise what you preach, or rather what you rap?
LT: (Laughs) Like any normal 20-year-old, I have erred a couple of times. I, however, have made a conscious resolve to change for the better. I, for instance, smoked bhang and chewed khat popularly referred to as miraa way back, but managed to kick the habits. It is rather sad that most of the mates I used to do that with are still caught up in that. I trust they will change; if I did, so can they.
Q: What else do you do apart from rapping?
LT: I am a student at Maseno University, Kisumu City campus studying Business Administration. I am also an upcoming writer, currently working on the finishing touches of my first poetry book. With the content in place, all that remains is a publisher.
Q: How has the reception of your music been so far?
LT: If you asked me the same question a couple of years back, I probably would have replied negatively. I, however, believe that we have made some significant achievements along the way. I always assume that people do not recognise me until I meet a random person and they point out “Logical Truth I love your verse content...” or something of the sort.
Q: What type of challenges have you faced in trying to break into the mainstream market?
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LT: All around the world, secular music that praises immorality, alcohol, drugs or sex tends to sell better that conscious music. In the long run, hopefully, people will come to accept our style as more helpful. God pulls the strings and time will tell before he lays his hand on my strings.
Q: Do you do anything that materially impacts on the society apart from just singing about it?
LT: I run a community based organisation with my mum; Raynor Miguda.It is called ‘RYWA’ which is an acronym for Revolutionary Youth And Women Artisans. She has been in the practice of rehabilitating street dwellers, orphans and vulnerable children for a long time. She has mentored me and I have joined her. We promote activities that will increase access to basic human needs such as education, health, food to them, and also promote art and craft amongst the vulnerable children as a practical base for ensuring future self-reliance.
Q: On a day-to-day basis what activities is the organisation involved in?
LT: Majority of those we work with are primary school pupils. We meet them every Sunday from 2pm to 5pm where we train them on card making, paper beads making, painting and drawing, among other items, which we sell. The returns gained are re-invested on them in terms of paying their fees and taking care of their basic needs. The returns are not adequate, so we occasionally dig money from our own pockets to support extra needs. We are paying school fees for three of them in Form One.
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