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Music fans in Bahrain are set to sample a slice of hip hop heaven next month as a pioneer of the genre prepares to perform at the kingdom’s second Jam Up event.
Darryl ‘DMC’ Williams, best known for his work with Hall of Fame icons Run DMC, will be performing live in concert to conclude a three-day extravaganza that will also incorporate a meet-and-greet session, a visit to a local charity, and a motivational talk session in front of a private audience.
The influential megastar, who has been at the forefront of the hip hop industry since bursting onto the scene in 1981, talked exclusively to GulfWeekly about his first visit to the kingdom.
He said: “This is my first time in Bahrain and I’m really excited too! So many people tell me I’m really going to enjoy it so I’ll make sure I make the most of my time there.
“I believe that Bahrain’s hip hop scene is booming and that with me performing and fans coming to see the show, we can complement each other and also show that musically and lyrically we can encourage each other.”
As part of the Jam Up event, which was created primarily as a music-based platform with the sole objective of empowering Bahrainis and Bahrain-based musicians, local bands are invited to audition at Room 2 Rock in Adliya this Friday for a chance to play alongside DMC on-stage during his performances of classics such as Walk This Way and It’s Tricky, as highlighted in last week’s GulfWeekly Leisure Guide.
DMC had some special words of advice for his prospective bandmates. He explained: “I want the musicians to be themselves and bring their individual personalities to the songs rather than play a like-for-like cover we’ve all heard many times before.
“It’s very important to me that I’m playing with the musicians here instead of bringing my own band. This is not only to show my respect for their talent ... but there’s really good music and musicians here and that should be the highlight of our showcase.
“It’s an honour to be able to perform here and it’s a privilege to be able to meet and perform with the musicians here. I will be inspired creatively and also educated about the budding hip hop scene in Bahrain.”
Also performing alongside DMC at the live gig, to be held on May 8 at Club Wrangler, Juffair Grand Hotel, will be local performers DJ Outlaw and Flipperachi.
This will follow a ‘meet-and-greet’ session with the artists at Virgin Megastore, City Centre Bahrain, on May 6, a visit to a local orphanage on May 7, and an exclusive ‘motivational talk’ session for a set audience in partnership with Red Bull, to be held at Malja on Amwaj Islands.
Jam Up organiser Jude D’Souza, who has been hard at work bringing DMC to the kingdom ever since Guns N’ Roses virtuoso Bumblefoot’s final note rang out to rock fans at the first event, stresses that Jam Up will keep pushing the boundaries of artist-community relations in the kingdom.
He said: “Our first Jam Up was extremely successful and we have already set a very high standard for ourselves. We would like to maintain it every time we invite an international artist to Bahrain. The calibre and prestige behind an iconic artist such as DMC provides the right opportunity to inspire local artists.
“Through Jam Up, we aim to provide opportunities by allowing local artists to develop synergies with international artists and producers by exposing their music to them live. It is a genuine cause we fight for; these artists need to be heard outside the Gulf bubble.
“We believe in maintaining a certain standard while deciding on bringing in artists. We felt there was an immediate need to invite the icon DMC to Bahrain, to give his first ever live performance in the Middle East. We are extremely proud of bringing in such a legend to the country and being associated with him.”
According to Jude, speaking during a media launch event at The Domain Hotel in Manama on Monday, the decision to jump to the opposite end of the musical spectrum from rock to rap, was completely intentional.
“As Jam Up is not restricted to one genre of music, it is important that the inspiration and influence of iconic artists are spread as widely as possible,” he added. “The essence of our project is about promoting original, independent musicians and artists across all genres of live music. The hip hop community is very important to us as its influence over youth in Bahrain is tremendous.
“Our efforts are not restricted to one genre of music; it’s spread across different genres as we are about promoting original, independent musicians and artists. We aim to deliver warm intimate live gigs with select artists, which creates special memories for the fans.
“Our first event did leave a great impact and lasting memories for all our fans and supporters. With our next instalment, we look forward to another exciting opportunity to jam up with everyone once again!”
