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Music Driven by Life Experiences – Di Higrade’s Unique Style and Vibe

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Parents, a word synonymous to protectors and guardians, are people who go to the greatest extent to provide their children with a stable ad beautiful life. Imagining a life without the guidance of parents seems impossible. However, not everyone is as lucky and are deprived of this form of love and compassion. 

Parents serve as the light during the dark days and guide their children towards the right direction in life. They teach their little ones the ways of differentiating between things that are good for them and things that might lead them to destruction. Di Higrade was one of those kids who had to spend a life without having someone to guide him. When it was time to make big life decisions, he had to take the risk and decide for himself. 

Adding to his problems was the pressure of the society, to work and establish a stable future. Being surrounded by all these problems forced him to search for an escape, which he did. He found his comfort and his escape in the form of music.

GETTING PAST A TOUGH CHILDHOOD

Roger Akutcha, better known as Di Higrade, was born on August 26, 1989, in Tema, Ghana. His childhood wasn’t like what one usually dreams of, and life was hard on him from the start. The child lost his parents at a very young age and had to look after himself from the very beginning. Growing up alone in a developing country was not easy on the boy. Di Higrade had to face every single problem, from health to shelter, all on his own, as he had no one to offer him a helping hand. Before the child could even dream about good days,  he found himself crushed under the brutal burdens presented by his life.

FINDING COMFORT IN MUSIC

Even when life was harsh and all Di Higrade could see was darkness, the ray of hope for the boy was music. Clinging on to his silver lining, Di Higrade lost all his worries and troubles whenever he stepped into his music world. He spent elaborate hours all by himself just listening to music, singing along, and humming to the beautiful tunes. His fondest memories include listening to Bob Marley, Vybz Kartel, Movado, Shaggy, Sean Paul, and many others. Di Higrade was more than often alone in times of need, and he found that it was only music that helped him move forward.

Soon, he turned to writing and composing his own music. After dedicating a great deal of time coming up with something extraordinary, Di Higrade finally created a masterpiece. At the time, he was just ten years old! The boy performed his song for his friends, who helped him realize that music to him was much more than just comfort; it was his passion. Di Higrade came back home, feeling victorious and accomplished for then he knew music was a part of him and he wanted to keep that piece alive by sharing it with the rest of the world. 

STEPPING IN THE MUSIC INDUSTRY

Now that he had a clear vision as to what he wanted to do, the rest just flowed. Di Higrade decided to craft music pieces by fusing the Afrobeat and Dancehall genre. Drawing inspiration from the artists he listened to and his life experiences, the artist began working on his craft. The artist believes that music might be something personal, but it is also something that the whole world can relate to, which is why he uses his tunes and lyrics to bring his experiences and emotion under music in a big way. His songs are like a tribute to his life but are something everyone can relate to.

His singles gained immense recognition throughout the world and were loved and admired by thousands that helped him earning significant traction. 2015, gave the world Di Higrade’s first single, Hello To My Lover, that was acronym HTML. The song is a narration of emotion and heartache, for everyone who years of seeing their lover. 

The Christmas of 2016 brought two party rocker singles, named, ‘Obsession,’ and ‘Party Time.’ Three other tracks, 90’s, Prove Dem Wrong, and Enemies, were released the same year. His unique voice and the moving music helped him earn a stream of admirers.

A TECH JUNKIE

Apart from being so exceptionally well at creating music, Di Higrade realized that he needed a second option as well. From the age of 17, Di Higrade had been repairing computers at a shop. He instantly decided not to let the skill go to waste and instead use it for the better.

Soon after he had released his first single, Di Higrade joined the Business Information Technology Undergraduate Program at NCC Education UK. Upon finishing the program, he got admitted to acquiring top IT Certifications three years later, in 2018. Di Higrade finished several IT Certifications, which included; Cisco Certified Network Associate Routing and Switching (CCNA), Microsoft Certified Solutions Associate (MCSA), CompTIA A+, and CompTIA security+. He worked hard in polishing his skills and soon earned a reputable name in the IT sector.

AN ARTIST, HUMANITARIAN, AND AN INSPIRATION

Having to face the cruelties of life made Di Higrade a humble human. Knowing the difficulties a person has to face in poverty, his heart grieves for the poor. He says, ‘Can you imagine what it’s like not to have enough food to eat and go to bed hungry at night? Poverty is not a joke.’

After spending so much time in shaping himself, today, Di Higrade is a fitness model, musical artist, a technician and, serving the US Military. But most of all, he is an inspiration for all those who need a little push and courage to move forward with their lives and take their passions to greater heights!

 

The idea of Bigtime Daily landed this engineer cum journalist from a multi-national company to the digital avenue. Matthew brought life to this idea and rendered all that was necessary to create an interactive and attractive platform for the readers. Apart from managing the platform, he also contributes his expertise in business niche.

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Entertainment

Discovering The Influence of Jazz and Soul in Hip-Hop Sampling

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Hip-hop music has taken over the world since its ascension from the streets of the Bronx in New York City. Characterized by its unique blend of poetry, rhythm, and beats, hip-hop has produced some of the world’s most iconic musicians and songs. One of the hallmarks of hip-hop music is its creative sampling techniques, which involves using snippets of music from old records to recreate new sounds. But where do these samples come from? And what has been the major influence behind hip-hop sampling?

The answer is jazz and soul music. In this blog post, we’ll put jazz and soul music under the microscope as expert Benjy Grinberg explores how these genres have influenced hip-hop sampling.

Jazz Music Influence On Hip-Hop Sampling

Jazz music was a major inspiration behind the early days of hip-hop music. Jazz music was all about improvisation and freestyling, which is very much in the DNA of hip-hop. In the early days of hip-hop, DJs often looped beats from jazz records to create breakbeats, which became the building blocks of early hip-hop music. One of the most sampled jazz artists in hip-hop is none other than the legendary saxophonist John Coltrane. Coltrane’s music has been sampled in countless hip-hop songs, and his influence can be felt in the music of many hip-hop icons, including Wu-Tang Clan, Nas, and Kendrick Lamar.

Soul Music Influence On Hip-Hop Sampling

Soul music, on the other hand, was all about emotion and expression. The raw, unfiltered passion of soul music was aptly captured in the sampling techniques of early hip-hop producers. One of the most sampled soul artists in hip-hop is James Brown. Brown’s unique blend of funk, soul, rhythm, and blues has been sampled in countless hip-hop tracks. Brown’s “Funky Drummer” has become one of the most iconic samples in hip-hop and has been used by everyone from Public Enemy and Run-DMC to Dr. Dre and Kanye West.

Jazz And Soul Music As A Source Of Inspiration For Hip-Hop Sampling

As hip-hop music evolved, so did its sampling techniques. Producers and artists began to look beyond just using samples to create beats but also as a source of inspiration for their lyrics and melodies. Jazz and soul music became fertile ground for this kind of experimentation. Artists like A Tribe Called Quest, De La Soul, and The Roots infused jazz and soul samples into their music, not just for the danceable beats but also to add depth and richness to their lyrics and melodies.

Other Examples Of Jazz And Soul Sampling

Hip-hop’s rich history is peppered with countless examples of jazz and soul samples. Some of the most iconic tracks in the genre owe their existence to these tried-and-true sources. One example of hip-hop greatly influenced by these genres is “N.Y. State of Mind” by Nas. The track samples Joe Chambers’ “Mind Rain,” featuring a haunting and soulful beat with Nas’s gritty and introspective lyrics. Another iconic track that has sampled jazz is “Electric Relaxation” by A Tribe Called Quest. The track heavily samples Ronnie Foster’s “Mystic Brew,” creating a hypnotic and smooth rhythm that complements Q-Tip and Phife Dawg’s playful yet insightful lyrics. These songs and many more showcase the versatility and creative genius of hip-hop producers who have skillfully incorporated jazz and soul samples to create a new wave of music.

Final Thoughts

In conclusion, jazz and soul music have significantly influenced hip-hop music. Jazz represents the improvisational spirit and freestyling DNA that runs through hip-hop music, while soul represents the raw, unfiltered emotions that hip-hop music embodies. Jazz and soul music have been sampled and used as inspiration by countless hip-hop producers and artists, and their influence can be felt in the music of some of hip-hop’s most iconic names, from Wu-Tang Clan, Nas, and Kendrick Lamar to Public Enemy, Run-DMC, Dr. Dre, and Kanye West. According to Benjy Grinberg, without jazz and soul music, hip-hop music would not be what it is today – a global phenomenon that has influenced not just music but also fashion, art, and culture.

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