{"id":78785,"date":"2021-04-27T11:12:32","date_gmt":"2021-04-27T10:12:32","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/pan-african-music.com\/?p=78785"},"modified":"2021-04-29T16:34:40","modified_gmt":"2021-04-29T15:34:40","slug":"a-reece-todays-tragedy-tomorrows-memory","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/pan-african-music.com\/en\/a-reece-todays-tragedy-tomorrows-memory\/","title":{"rendered":"A-Reece battles remorse on Today\u2019s Tragedy, Tomorrow\u2019s Memory"},"content":{"rendered":"\n

A-Reece, one of South Africa\u2019s premier rappers, unveils a timely and totemic album, Today\u2019s Tragedy, Tomorrow\u2019s Memory<\/em>. The work hosts 13 tracks that command to be heard, written in all-caps, and wrapped in the eye popping cover art of Samurai Farai. Right from the jump, with the opener \u201cMARK 15:35\u201d, we find a spiritual weight to the opus and a broader reflection on the loss of A-Reece\u2019s father just a year earlier. The themes of impermanence, legacy, and duty pop in and out of boastful bars bolstering A-Reece\u2019s premier role in the African rap game. For the South African Hip-Hop Awards \u2018Lyricist of the Year\u2019, and 2021 MTV Africa Music Awards nominee, A-Reece has plenty to brag about. However, the young rapper has come a long way since his 2016 debut Paradise which he released at just 19. This go around we hear from someone who\u2019s been through a lot and had time to marinate on the in\u2019s and out\u2019s of life in music and beyond. Nonetheless almost every bar is quotable, and each track is pregnant with experience. It\u2019s fitting that A-Reece includes features from his older brother Jay Jody on multiple tracks, a slew of former collaborators like Ayanda Jiya and Wordz, and some fresh slated newcomers like BelaSalo or Stogie T. Despite the dense lyrics, the whole album feels effortless thanks to the Kanye West inspired production that matches soulful instrumentation and a carnal minimalism with A-Reece\u2019s confident flow. We caught up with A-Reece to pick his brain on the album and find out more about the many interpretations of his finest lyrics.\u00a0<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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This album feels especially personal. Can you share with us the meaning behind the title, “Today’s Tragedy, Tomorrow’s Memory” ?<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

I feel like the title is self-explanatory. I lost my father last year and it took a toll on me emotionally and creatively. It felt like my journey was starting to lack purpose until one day after having a conversation with an old friend and he told me not to take for granted the influence I have on the kids of today and how I can turn my pain into something positive by putting it in the music and overcoming it.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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The title and tracks are also capitalized. Is there a message there?<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

The capital letters emphasise the meaning behind every title. I feel like it commands attention. If you were to interpret it in a literal way it\u2019s almost like I\u2019m exclaiming.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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