Gasy Gangsta

February 11, 2007 8:42 PM

Malagasy Gangsta
posted by pwedza (15 comments total)

My senior year of highschool I did sound at a show where two malagasy students (sophomores, just arrived in the states) tag teamed. They were amazing... the language is well suited for it.
posted by phrontist at 8:50 PM on February 11, 2007

Oh, and the candle guy is awesome.
posted by phrontist at 8:52 PM on February 11, 2007

Yeah, that candle image really sticks out. So simple, but very memorable.
posted by Kraftmatic Adjustable Cheese at 8:56 PM on February 11, 2007

Even more Gangsta (grown up & NSFW)
posted by pwedza at 9:03 PM on February 11, 2007

This is awesome. I swear I knew someone who worked on Malagasy in a fieldwork situation, but now I can't remember who it was and it's driving me crazy! I want to pass this on!
posted by taursir at 9:05 PM on February 11, 2007

Cool taursir.

It is an Austronesian language, which is interesting because the island is next to the African continent and Austronesian languages are spoken as far away as Hawaii.

Its all about currents. Austronesians moved around a good bit.

And Mada is the world's only Afro-Asian country.
posted by pwedza at 9:15 PM on February 11, 2007

And for Name Six one last time.
posted by pwedza at 9:17 PM on February 11, 2007

I agree, the language is well suited for rap/hip-hop stylings, much more so than, say, French, or Japanese. And the kid has a groove, for sure: he's very solid. Can't help, though, but be a little saddened somehow at the ever-increasing homogenization of global music styles. I mean, Madagascar has this amazing musical culture and heritage, but apart from the fact that he's rapping in Malagasy, this track could've come from anywhere. It's totally generic. And of course all the straight-outta-MTV hip hop moves, gestures, scowls, and of course the clothes... So much of what's coming out of the African pop music scene looks and sounds indistinguishable from American hip hop. And I say this as someone who really likes hip hop, always have, since I first heard Run-DMC back around '83 or so. But African artists who don't go any further with it other than trying to look like they're from Compton... it's co-opted, it's grafted on, and ultimately it's, well, for me anyway, rather boring. That's global media culture for you, though. I suppose it's inevitable.

*goes to CD shelf to select "The Music of Madagascar"*
posted by flapjax at midnite at 9:25 PM on February 11, 2007 [1 favorite]

Ditto's flapjax's comment 100%.
posted by lalochezia at 9:35 PM on February 11, 2007

I agree flapjax, but...

this stuff ain't going anywhere...

AND THIS IS DEFINATELY NEVER GOING OUT of STYLE
[NSFTWHP .... 'Those With Heart Problems']

(This is Malagasy Salegy previously posted here by yours truly -- hey, what can I say? I have a thing for Madagascar...)
posted by pwedza at 9:56 PM on February 11, 2007

Salegy
posted by pwedza at 9:58 PM on February 11, 2007

On the NSFTWHP, go about 35% in.
posted by pwedza at 10:00 PM on February 11, 2007

Yep, I hear you, pwedza, and I remember it was you who posted the Salegy stuff a while back. (I was your first commenter on that thread!)

BTW, if I may ask, have you been to Madagascar? Must be a fascinating place: such a curious blend of cultures/traditions...
posted by flapjax at midnite at 11:31 PM on February 11, 2007

Is it just me, or did the stuff pwedza linked to sound a lot like the music in that scene in Time Bandits where the kid is at the banquet for Agamemnon (Sean Connery)? It's probably just me.

Cool stuff.
posted by Civil_Disobedient at 12:57 AM on February 12, 2007

Yeah, flapjax.

I used to live in the Comoros which is right next door.

I had the chance to go to "La Grand Ile" / Madagascar several times.

It is really amazing. You can cross the country in a bush taxi for about 5 bucks and the people are really nice. There are 18 different ethnic groups but they all speak Malagasy and most speak French.

What I miss most about that area of the world is the sky and the people. The sky is so beautiful and at night -- you can see so many stars that it is amazing. The day it is a rich blue with huge tropical clouds.

The island itself has quite a few different types of landscape. Towards the center of the island, you would think that you were in Indonesia instead off the coast of Africa. The Merina people live in the highlands and they have very strong asian features. People with more african features tend to live along the coast.

In the southwest live the Vezo people. They completely live from the sea. They fish

Cool site here.

Also, the girls of the island are extremely beautiful. But watch out!! They can be dangerous!! [There is a lot of sexual tourism type stuff going on. As of yet, AIDS hasn't hit too hard, but it risks...]


Here is the best site for preparing a visit.
posted by pwedza at 10:09 AM on February 12, 2007