Page 93 - ICE Today May - June 2020

scene of Bangladesh was helped me to pay my bills. I
heavily influenced by the feel really blessed because
Gansta rap. The funny thing now, thanks to music, I am
is, the real gangsters of leading the life I craved for.
Bangladesh didn't have time NEVER FORGET YOUR Music has taken me to great
to rap about their endeavours, ROOTS. YOU CAN places.
unlike The Notorious B.I.G or ONLY GROW STRONG
Fifty Cent from the States. IF YOU FULLY What is the current Rap
The people who started EMBRACE YOUR scene in Dhaka?
rapping back then didn't have It is crazy right now. The rap
that “Gansta” life. ROOTS. LEARNING scene is blowing up thanks the
We were the small cog of the MUSIC IS AN youth-centric Dhaka. We have
machine, which decided to ONGOING PROCESS. tv and radio shows that focus
represent the idea, that stories ALWAYS AIM HIGHER on rappers all over the
of the people from the middle AND NEVER GIVE UP. country. We are doing
A our first album, Uptown ALIVE AND TOOK ME What advice did you
collaborations, tours and
class or streets can be shared
AND FOR MY FANS;
as rap so that the people can
much more. We have come a
YOU GUYS KEPT ME
long way in the last decade.
find it relatable. We dropped
Lokolz: Kahani Scene Paat in
TO THE PLACE I AM
follow through over the
2009 and received rave
STANDING ON
years as a rapper?
reviews especially the hit
TODAY. I LOVE YOU!
single Ai Mama Ai. From that
Never forget your roots. You
can only grow strong if you
point on the rest was history.
fully embrace your roots.
You started as a young
Learning music is an ongoing
rapper in 2009, and now
you are a seasoned
and never give up. And for my
Wardrobe: Splash
musician. What changes
fans; you guys kept me alive
Hair and makeup: AURA Beauty
have you seen in yourself? Model: Black Zang process. Always aim higher
and took me to the place I am
Lounge
little more over a decade ago, I believe that the environment Photograph: Eivan Sardar standing on today. I love you!
the Hip hop scene in that you are in matters a lot.
Bangladesh had its unique You can either let the
infancy thanks to the popular environment mould you or
American music tv channels; you can use it for you. When I
the cable had to offer in the started in the underground
early 2000s. Even though the scene, I was a very egoistic
entire genre doesn't go hand person. I wouldn't talk to
in hand with the social norms people if they didn't approach
Bangladesh represented back me just because we dropped
in the day, Hip hop crews like an album. But now, I find the
Stoic Bliss, Deshi MCs and whole idea very stupid. That
Uptown Lokolz emerged on attitude only restricts you to
national platforms and made grow as a person and as a
the rap scene what it is today musician. You should make as
in Dhaka. Asiful Islam Sohan, many friends as you can and
aka Black Zang, one the get their perspective on life.
member of the renowned Hip This will help you to innovate
hop crew, Uptown Lokolz, in your craft.
shares his story with ICE
Today. What is your pursuit of
happiness?
How did Asiful Islam Music. I live in it and at the
Sohan become the Black end of the day, music is what
Zang? drives me to do better.
I like to believe that my Despite not having privileges
creative side dominates my when I grew up, it never
persona. I do graffiti, I write, stopped me from being
and travel. Music has always attracted to that Good Life.
been my passion and before I Before pursuing music as my
realised, music became my career, I worked in production
career. houses, radio station and call
When I joined my crew, centres. That led me to amass
Uptown Lokolz, the Hip hop a lot of experience and also
86 ICE TODAY MAY-JUNE 2020