Andrew Medina likes “older” music — R&B and rap.
“Stuff from the ’90s,” he explains. “You know, Eminem’s old albums.”
When you’re a Staples sophomore, the ’90s are ancient history.
Andrew is better known — on YouTube, anyway — as Rada. The name comes from his old Coleytown Middle School choir, Camerata.
Rada
“I can somewhat sing,” Rada says. “But I’m more of a rapper.”
Which is why these days his music consists of writing and rapping.
“I was raised on rap,” Rada reports. “My parents listened to it, so I was into it from a young age.”
He appreciates rap’s “freedom to say what you want. You can get anything out of your system.”
Two months ago Rada made his first recording, in a Queens studio. His 3 remixes include “Bonita Appelbaum,” by A Tribe Called Quest.
“The other stuff isn’t as old,” he says.
Ouch.
The recording process was stressful, Rada notes. “I had to do it over and over to get it perfect. There’s all kinds of voiceovers and background stuff.”
Reaction at Staples has been very positive, he says. Students like it. And his English teacher, Dan Geraghty, asked Rada to rap for the class.
“I don’t think I have a style — I just capture the beat,” Rada says. “Maybe I’m like Drake.”
Rada adds: “I don’t rap about ghetto topics, guns or degrading women. I was never into that.”
His songs are about “situations I get myself into, being with my friends, being with my girlfriend.”
He tries to erase the stereotype that all rap is negative. “It can be motivational, inspirational,” he says.
Rada hopes to take his music far, professionally. He’s starting locally — with a performance June 19 at Toquet Hall. It will be his 1st show.
“I’m nervous,” he admits. “But I’m getting lots of support.”
Everyone is invited.
Even rap fans old enough to remember the ’90s.
(Click here for Rada’s YouTube channel.)
To quote Clint Eastwood: “Rap is crap.”
Rada, I’m not sure if he wants to me to reveal his actual name, is an impressive young man who shows a real passion for writing—this passion, now fueled, is evolving into a desire to perform.
Regarding the genre: rap has always been an edgy (often subversive) voice of rebellion and angst. Rap has also explored the darkest corners of culture—from poverty to racism to corruption. Rap has also, at times, romanticized drug abuse, violence, sexual promiscuity, and objectification of women.
However, the same can be said about rock music, books, films, etc.
But out of all of those voices, many rappers have tried to focus on inspirational themes: honest ambition, passion, self-awareness, the American Dream, forgiveness, Truth, and even existentialism. Rada is one such voice. He follows in the footsteps of rap and hip-hop artists who are trying to avoid the lure of the darker side of the genre. 90’s rappers such as KRS 1 and Chuck D brought awareness and a call for listeners to understand the multicultural contemporary world. Those voices also asked listeners to explore their own prejudices and to come to terms with injustice and intolerance.
Writers who explore the positive deserve respect.
My favorite poet of all time—Seamus Heaney, the “Bard of Ireland”—has praised rap.
Heaney, a former Professor of Poetry at Oxford University and Harvard University, and winner of the Nobel Prize in Literature, said, ‘[Rappers have] created a sense of what is possible.’
Though I do not agree with the darker side of hip-hop, I do agree with Seamus Heaney—rap is an important voice, and understanding the motivations and conditions that created the genre are worthy of exploration.
Rada, stay positive and keep on writing!
Good luck @ Toquet!
medina your stuff is great! can’t wait to see you perform at toquet hall
your music is soo good medini! cant wait for toquet!!!!