Calgary Herald

HIP-HOP ARTIST AND PAINTER FINDING WAYS TO BUILD HIS OWN COMMUNITY

- mibell@postmedia.com Twitter.com/mrbell_23 MIKE BELL

If you can’t find a community, you create one.

It’s what Louis Cza did when he moved to Calgary five years ago from his native Nigeria.

The hip-hop performer and painter arrived in the city unaware that there was much of an urban life and community, and proceeded to surround himself with a like-minded group of musicians, producers, poets and other artists.

Together, the loose-knit group of eight or so make up the selfdubbed Roman66.

“We’re the same tribe, I feel. We’re just really chill and relaxed people, really analytical, and I feel like we’re just not greasy, I guess,” Cza says of the collective.

“We’re the same type of artists, but really different at the same time.”

It was among the group that Cza says he began to fully understand his potential as an artist. Always writing songs in his head back in his homeland, it was in this city and with the encouragem­ent of those he was comfortabl­e with that he realized he could make those thoughts and that music on a more tangible level.

“When I came here, I was like, ‘I can do music, I can make art, I’m free,’ ” the 22-year-old says.

“And now I’m a little more mature and I feel like I got a bit enlightene­d, and really connected with myself and my soul, and that really helped to point me in the direction I’m headed in right now.”

Where that is can be heard on his new album Filthy R.I.C.H. (Retirement in Cars and Houses), which he’ll release Saturday with a show at Lexington Ave Culture Spot (102-617 11th Ave S.W.).

The album is a heady, spacey trip that showcases Cza’s tight but laid-back attack and rhymes that the artist says come from a very real place.

“I really put myself into my work,” says the rapper, who’s also glossed as “the Black Greek God.”

That said, it also features some assists by fellow Roman66 members such as producers DT$P, DOSR1 and Trenchcoat Gordy, along with an album cover designed by Sara Cho.

The latter is somewhat interestin­g considerin­g Cza’s own artistic pursuits also stretch into the visual realm, with his abstract paintings mirroring the urban feel of his music.

It’s understand­able, actually, considerin­g how closely the musical and visual arts actually work in concert for Cza, due to him having the rare neurologic­al condition synesthesi­a. “Basically, I see colour in my head when I hear a sound,” he says.

“I can’t help myself but just put it down, use painting as an outlet to discover myself …”

He continues. “I do view myself as an artist, whether it’s sound art or painting, I don’t limit myself to doing only one thing.

“I think we live in a world and the day when one can do many things and is meant to do many things to grow as a person and a soul. “It’s what I believe in.” Not surprising­ly, his show on Saturday will also be an exhibition of paintings he created for each of the songs on Filthy R.I.C.H. — Cza says he listened to each of the 17 tracks for a while and then “let the brush do the talking.”

The evening will also feature him performing a few of the tracks off the album, as well as performanc­es by some of his fellow Roman66 tribe members and a DJ set by CJSW spinner JustJamal.

And while his artwork will be for sale, admission for the entire event will be by donation, Cza explaining a philosophy that seems to run counter to the title of his debut but one that speaks to the importance he places on community.

“It’s not even about the money, it’s about people coming together to appreciate art because I really want to help build the art scene in Calgary,” he says, noting that he sees it as something of a counter to the cowboy culture that he thinks is still prevalent in the city.

“I really want to bring out the people who are inspired by art and by creation and doing something new, doing something different.”

 ??  ?? Calgary hip-hop artist and painter Louis Cza is a member of the local art collective Roman66.
Calgary hip-hop artist and painter Louis Cza is a member of the local art collective Roman66.
 ??  ?? Calgary hip-hop artist and painter Louis Cza at work on one of his creations.
Calgary hip-hop artist and painter Louis Cza at work on one of his creations.
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