The Tribune

By ALESHA CADET

Tribune Features Reporter

acadet@tribunemedia.net

BAHAMIAN rapper Travis Bowe’s music video for “Oh Lord” has become an Internet sensation over the past weeks, making it as far as to be featured on the international urban entertainment website WorldStarHipHop (WSHH).

Travis told In Ya Ear he is hoping this opens doors for many other Bahamian artists to get the same response and support. WSHH is considered the #1 urban outlet website responsible for breaking the latest premiere music videos and exclusive artist content. Created in 2005, the site averages 1.1 million unique visitors a day.

Growing up in a home where the music of the likes of Michael Jackson, Whitney Houston and The Temptations was constantly played, Travis said he learned to love the old school records from his mother.

“It’s weird, because rap was never really played in my house at all and a vivid memory of my mother liking ‘Ms Jackson’ by Outkast is the only rap that I remember my mom appreciating. So no, my musical background isn’t filled with Tupac or Biggie, but my older sister introduced me to Wu-Tang, Nas and Bahamian rapper D-bo in my early teenage years,” said Travis.

He said his love for rap music started when he became a die-hard Jay Z and Kanye West fan.

Travis said he started rapping at age of 13 only because he came across an album by D-bo. He figured if a fellow Bahamian can follow his rap dreams, so can he.

“I got involved with music in high school, doing it with a group of friends as a hobby, just making music for the people in our grade to listen to, but as time moved on I found myself more intrigued at the thought of being a successful artist. I’m 24 now and I’ve finally decided to step out as an artist after some minor setbacks and the desire to obtain a (college) degree first as a foundation to fall back on,” said Travis.

He said the inspiration for “Oh Lord” came from sitting down every day realising his talent and knowing that he can be much more.

“ ‘Oh Lord’ is me giving you everything that Travis feels, wants, knows and needs, but at the same time being an artist that is taking control of his own success. If you are not going to give me a shot I will take it anyway. The message that I try to show is that everybody goes through struggles and wants the same things for themselves or their family, but you have to take control and go get it. Do I want to rap or do I want to be a great rapper? Am I satisfied with local feedback or do I want to win or be nominated for a global award? Yes, I’ve lost my grandmother, but I know she would be happy to see me live out my dreams. I couldn’t go on another day if I were to lose my mother. The song is all me just being honest with myself, the fans and the people in my life,” said Travis.

He said the music video portrays honesty, as he is not trying to sell viewers something he is not. Travis said he is a big fan of rap videos from the 90s where the music videos portrayed exactly what the song was about.

“I do have my actual mother and my niece as well as my friends throughout the entire video. It’s not a gimmick; I want to show you that these people are truly what I care about. To me it reaches the audience in a way where it’s more of a genuine message than anything else. Music is supposed to affect emotion, and to capture that feeling in my video was priceless,” said Travis.

From the moment the song was uploaded on to the Internet, Travis said Bahamians have showed support. He said it was well received and shared everywhere.

“Even when I go out and people see me, they aren’t afraid to walk up to me and say that they like my song and I really enjoy that. I always want people to feel like they can do that because I want them to know I’m not different from them. I grew up here just like you, ate salty, climb tree for mango and caught the bus home from school. I plan on taking my music wherever it allows me to. Whatever possibilities are awarded to me, I will definitely take advantage of them. Gradually I will become a full-time artist, but that also depends how good things become for me and my team,” he said.

Travis said it is unfortunate that the Bahamas does not place rap music on the same level as it does other genres of music.
“Rap in Bahamian society has a negative aura for some strange reason and I do feel that it only takes one single rapper from the Bahamas to change that. I think that Bahamians are so unique and I find it difficult to understand how the government cannot see music as beneficial to the economy. Invest in Bahamian artists and you will see a major turn-around,” he said.

Going forward, Travis said he just recently dropped a mix-tape entitled “Chemistry” with his fellow BASS member, Skully (Jared Albury). At the end of the year, Travis plans to complete and release his solo mix-tape entitled “TRAV”.