Rise-Ascend & Direction
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Rise-Ascend & Direction

Alexandria, Virginia, United States | SELF

Alexandria, Virginia, United States | SELF
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"Rise-Ascend Explains Making Hip-Hop Music To Stop The Persecution In China"

Exclusive: The Washington D.C.-area emcee explains about the oppressed Falun Gong practitioners, and his new album with Swedish producer Direction made in solidarity.

In 2009, rapper Rise-Ascend (f/k/a Ankh Amen Ra) released his debut album, Divine Composition. The Washington D.C. area-based emcee did not have an agent and he was not signed to a record label. He was just making music for the world to hear.

Not long after, he received a Facebook message from a producer in Sweden named Direction, who expressed an admiration for Rise’s lyrics. The two began to collaborate through cyberspace, and the pairing proved to be a success: “Once I heard his music, over the course of sometimes 48 hours, sometimes three days or so, I would have a song written, and you know I would send him a message back like, ‘Hey Man, the song is done, let’s keep moving,’” recalls Rise-Ascend during a recent phone interview with HipHopDX. “Then after awhile it was like, ‘Hey we need to do an album,’ so we went ahead and made an album.”

That album, Hurry Up, Tell the World, is hugely important to both Rise-Ascend and Direction for many reasons. For one, it is their debut collaborative effort, showcasing both of their respective talents. More importantly though, it promotes an awareness of human rights injustices in China - specifically, the ones being levied against the Falun Gong practitioners. It is an ideology both Rise-Ascend and Direction adhere to. According to Rise-Ascend, “Falun Gong is a cultivation practice: a practice of mind and body and it’s something that helps people to improve their morality and their spirituality…And it’s something that’s really been the core of my personal development.”

Central to Falun Gong are three pillars known as Falun Dafa: truthfulness, compassion and forbearance. Rise-Ascend stresses that his and Direction’s adherence to Falun Dafa has helped them spiritually. Rise-Ascend changed his stage name- which had previously been “Ankh Amen RA” - and he felt more uplifted and positive than ever before. But the injustices in China only fueled his passion further: “Once I found out that on July 20, 1999, the Chinese Communist Regime started viciously persecuting Falun Dafa practitioners in China, I knew that I needed to use my voice and use my music to help inform people and tell people the truth about Falun Dafa.” He doesn’t see it as a task, though. Instead, it is more of a privilege than anything. “Obviously Hip Hop has a history of…bringing awareness to issues. So for me it was natural to use our music to inform people about the persecution of Falun Gong.”

“The most viciously persecuted group in China are Falun Gong practitioners. Some people know that Christians are persecuted in China, Muslims are persecuted in China. Pretty much anyone who doesn’t believe in the Communist ideology is a target for persecution.” Rise-Ascend noted that Falun Gong practitioners are vulnerable to being attacked in their own homes by the Chinese Government, a disturbing fact, mainly because their mission is to promote truthfulness, compassion and forbearance. They also are spreading awareness about government-sponsored torture chambers and brainwash centers, something the general public is not fully aware of. Rise-Ascend asserts, “They [practitioners] could at any time have their house raided, you know, be arrested and be placed in a torture chamber and be murdered simply for trying to be a good person.” He firmly stands by this analysis of the injustice.

Aside from Hurry Up, Tell the World, and their spreading awareness about the mistreatment of Chinese Falun Gong practitioners, Rise-Ascend and Direction are currently promoting their new single, “Split A Mountain,” available for free download on their website MusicToStopThePersecution.org. Citing a desire to target a wider audience, Rise-Ascend notes that the track “…does have a Dubstep type of feel, it has that Electronic, new-age type of feel to it, but yet it’s s - www.hiphopdx.com


"Das passiert, wenn Facebook-Freunde Hip-Hop machen (German)"


Zwei Musiker lernen sich auf Facebook kennen und produzieren gemeinsam ein Album – ohne sich je getroffen zu haben und nur per E-Mail. Das Ergebnis? Astreiner Hip-Hop mit brisanter Botschaft.



Der Rapper „Rise-Ascend", 33, lebt nahe Washington D.C., USA. Vor wenigen Monaten erreichte ihn die Facebook-Mail des Komponisten „Direction" aus Kalmar, Schweden. Darin schrieb er ihm „Find' ich toll, was du da machst ..."

Rise-Ascend heißt im bürgerlichen Leben Jamil Lawrence, ist verheiratet, zweifacher Vater und arbeitet in einer IT-Firma. Hip-Hop begleitet ihn seit seiner Highschool-Zeit. Direction heißt eigentlich Kristian Karlgren. Der 24-jährige Sohn eines freischaffenden Blues und Rocksaxophonisten wuchs als musikalisches Multitalent auf und ist als Fitnesstrainer in Spanien unterwegs.

Alles per E-Mail wegen der Zeitverschiebung

Außer ihrer Liebe zum Hip-Hop haben die beiden noch ein großes gemeinsames Thema. Beide praktizieren Falun Dafa, ein buddhistisches Qigong, das bekannt wurde unter dem Namen „Falun Gong" und seit 1999 von Chinas kommunistischem Regime als „Staatsfeind" verfolgt wird. Im internationalen friedlichen Protest gegen diese Verfolgungskampagne gab es viele Lieder. Die meisten Musiker, die Falun Gong praktizieren, bevorzugen jedoch sanfte und meditative oder eben chinesische Töne.




„Hurry Up, Tell The World!“ wurde am 14. September 2011 veröffentlicht. Das Album kann im Internet kostenlos angehört und heruntergeladen werden auf www.musictostopthepersecution.org.



Diese beiden Kreativen aber wollten etwas, das in dieser Form noch nicht da war: Hip-Hop machen, um über die Situation in China aufzuklären. Dabei klagen einige Lieder in bester Hip-Hop-Manier mit offensiven Texten die Verbrechen des Regimes gegen die friedlichen Praktizierenden an. In anderen Songs setzen sie die Botschaft „Wahrhaftigkeit, Barmherzigkeit und Nachsicht" auf ihre ganz persönliche Weise in Musik um. „Nachdem Direction mir etwas Soundmaterial zugeschickt hatte, wurde uns beiden schnell klar, dass wir zusammen ein sehr kraftvolles Album produzieren können. Eines, das Potenzial hat, richtig viele Menschen zu erreichen", sagt Rise-Ascend. Und das ist ihnen wichtig, schließlich kursieren weltweit noch immer Vorurteile und Unwissenheit gegenüber der Meditationspraxis, die durch die Propaganda der Kommunistischen Partei Chinas seit 1999 gesät wurden.

Vierzehn Songs in zwei Monaten

Ihre Seelenverwandtschaft und den daraus resultierenden künstlerischen Dialog fanden beide nicht einmal ungewöhnlich: „Direction schickte mir Musik und wir diskutierten darüber per Mail. Nach ein paar Tagen war schon ein Lied fertig. Ganz ehrlich, weil wir uns so einig waren, wo wir mit dem Endergebnis hinwollten, fühlte sich das während der ganzen Produktion des Albums absolut normal an", meint Rise-Ascend. Die 14 Songs von „Hurry Up, Tell The World!" entstanden in der Rekordzeit von kaum zwei Monaten.

„Ich schreibe Songs, weil ich damit Menschen - innerhalb von drei bis fünf Minuten - auf eine sehr tiefgehende Art und Weise berühren und bewegen kann", sagt der Rapper über seine eigene Intention. Und an seinem Produzenten lobt er: „Als Musiker hat Direction ein Gefühl für die verschiedensten Musikstile - auch wegen seines vielfältigen Hintergrundes. Es ist für einen Komponisten nicht so leicht, 14 Lieder zu schreiben, die sich alle unterschiedlich anhören ..." Doch die ständig wechselnden Instrumentierungen und Rhythmen, die Direction verwendete, machten es möglich und jedes Lied entwickelt seine eigene Atmosphäre.

100 Prozent authentisch

Dabei stellt er sich seine Lieder wie Filmszenen vor und komponiert dann die Musik zu seinen inneren Bildern, verrät der Komponist. Am Hip-Hop liebt er am meisten die ihm innewohnende Dramatik.

„Ich habe bei der Arbeit an diesem Album einfach versucht, 100 Prozent ich selbst zu sein. Und das Erstaunlichste war ja, dass Rise es auf Anhieb mochte. Unsere Zusammenarbeit war so fließend, dass kein Außenstehender hören kann, dass wir es über diese große räumliche Distanz gemacht haben."

„Rise ist einer, der im positiven Sinne sehr genau weiß, was er will. Und er ist ein begnadeter Texter." Für ihn sei es eine unglaubliche Erfahrung gewesen, zu hören, was der Rapper mit seinen Stücken angestellt habe und wie er Text und Musik zu einer Einheit verschmolzen habe, meint Direction: „Ich hatte seinen Gesang dazu nicht mal gehört, bis er das ganze Album fertig geschrieben hatte und er mir seine Version davon schickte."

Musik zum Download im Internet

Gemeinsam haben sie nun eine Non-Profit-Organisation als Plattform für ihre Musik gegründet, die „Music To Stop The Persecution" heißt (auf Deutsch: Musik für ein Ende der Verfolgung). Die Website www.hiphopdx.com, eines der größten Hip-Hop-Magazine im Internet, präsentierte „Hurry Up, Tell The World!" bereits eine Woche lang auf ihrer Titelseite. Nun wollen Rise-Ascend und Direction das Album bei über 300 Radiostationen und 200 Hip-Hop-Magazinen vorstellen. Das wird sie eine Weile beschäftigen. „Danach möchten wir noch mehr Musik machen und Kooperationen mit anderen Künstlern in Angriff nehmen", meint Direction. Und natürlich möchten sie sich endlich auch persönlich treffen.
- The Epoch Times Deutschland


"Artist Rise-Ascend Motivates the Masses Through Music"

Rise-Ascend is captivating audiences globally – from the States to Europe, Russia, Taiwan and South Africa. He uses his lyrical genius to proselytize to fans to embrace self-respect and “to stop the persecution” on his albums Divine Compositions and Hurry Up, Tell The World – his newest release. “We have received very encouraging feedback and support from people all over the world … it’s something that I cherish tremendously because it says to me that there is a universal aspect to our music that people of all backgrounds are relating to on some level,” shares Rise-Ascend, a Washington, D.C.-based attorney and the son of a journalist, who spoke with rolling out about why he is compelled to share his music and his passion with the world. –yvette caslin

Why communicate your message via music?
I think music is most powerful, moving and impactful on the listener when it comes from a place deep within the artist. When the artist is compelled to share their insights, experiences and convictions in a true and honest way, the music has the potential to resonate deeply with the listener — establishing a strong connection. When the artist’s insights are good, the music can inspire people in very positive ways. I truly hope that by sharing through my music, things that I have come to understand during the course of my life, the listeners will benefit in a positive way. The amazing thing about music is that it is an artistic form that very easily crosses cultural barriers. The beauty of the melody draws people in and impels them to listen to what you have to say. To be in a position where people are interested in listening to your music and hearing what you have to say is a blessing that comes with a significant responsibility. I definitely feel compelled to approach music and the listeners with great respect and humbly share good things through my music, so that when you finish listening to a Rise-Ascend song, hopefully, there is a positive and lasting impression on your heart and mind that makes you feel good and [makes you] want to do good.

What are your thoughts on the current state of hip-hop in the States?
I think that hip-hop music, like all things, is going through a cycle and there are … some good things and some bad things in hip-hop music. Lately, I’ve been trying to be a lot less judgmental and just focus more on how I can make a positive contribution to the music and to all those people out there that love hip-hop music. However, I will say that there seems to be a sense that the overall conditions in the world are making a broader lane for music that is less selfish than hip-hop music has been in recent years. I mean with all of the protests, economic turmoil and natural disasters, the general public — which of course includes the youth and all those who listen to hip-hop — seems to be gradually less concerned with the selfish inclinations that drive an artist to talk excessively about their money, cars and other material things. I think people are now naturally seeking a bit more substance.

Visit www.musictostopthepersecution.org to get the free download of our new album Hurry Up, Tell The World – produced by Direction
- Rolling Out Magazine


Discography

Change In The Wind (2013)

Behind The Wall EP (2012)

Hurry Up, Tell The World! (Full Album 2011)

Photos

Bio

Rise-Ascend (the Rapper) & Direction (the Producer) have earned the attention of notable hip-hop websites, blogs and prestigious media outlets in an extremely short period of time since the release of their first full album – “Hurry Up, Tell The World” in 2011. The hip-hop/pop duo sets themselves apart from the rest by balancing a remarkably positive approach to making bright and inspirational music while effectively addressing rather serious issues, such as human rights atrocities currently taking place in China.

Rise-Ascend, an American Rapper based in the Washington D.C. area, is a commercial transactions attorney when he is not hard at work writing and performing music or active in the community raising awareness about human rights violations in the world.

Direction, currently based in Sweden, is a versatile music producer that produces original music for an international radio program when he is not diligently crafting innovative sounds for the duo's latest projects.

Within the span of a year, Rise-Ascend & Direction have been featured on the prominent and extremely popular hip-hop website HiphopDX, they have had a song selected by Songshooters.com for an international feature, have received numerous favorable posts on various notable music blogs and have been featured in a special presentation produced by New York City-based international television program, NTD.

Rise-Ascend and Direction represent the future.

Please check out the international TV station's feature on us at: www.musictostopthepersecution.org

or

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RoojXuSO1Hs