I had so much fun at Ben Caesar’s Music Video Launch last Friday, which was held at Boaston Society in Long Street.
I had the best time EVER actually! Just hanging out with fellow creatives and window shopping at Boaston. Plus I got an exclusive preview of the video before it came out. <<insert hands up emoji here>>
If you haven’t heard of Ben Caesar, then you need to do yourself a favor and click on the video below!
I caught up with the Dominica island boy at his launch, not only to celebrate his success but to find out a little bit more about his new hit single Lean.
Q: Tell me about Lean. What inspired the song?
Lean is about..I mean if you look at the video it’s all local brands. We gathered all the people we thought were really stylish (within the city) in the video. Lean is really about the fact that you don’t need a lot of money to look stylish and I think people in South Africa, & in Africa in general, just prove that point. Like you don’t need a lot of money to look good or buy expensive brands! You can look amazing with your own style.
Q: When you were writing the lyrics to the track, did you have Boaston Society in mind?
I did actually because Boaston represents that. It’s the hub. It’s where a lot of local brands are, where a lot of young creatives are expressing themselves. A place where a lot of people can just come and connect . And that’s what Lean is about – people who are doing them! Lean is different to swag because swag is like you flamboyant; when you leaning you kinda leaning into your style, leaning into your SWAG.
Q: What was your writing process?
There was a point in the song that I wanted to make. Point A being that you don’t need a lot of money to have style and B. being that it’s not that hard. Some people are trying that hard. Like it’s not that hard. “We were never brought up being rich but we still show dem how to lean..”
Q: Describe your style.
I was born in the Caribbean. I’m an island boy but I have also spent a lot of time in London. When I was in my formative years I was in London. So I went from little island to big greedy city and I have spent a lot of time in the mother city as well. Despite all the travels to like the States, Europe, the Caribbean as well I am influenced by my travels and my experiences. And that’s the story I want to tell through my style. It’s a mixture.
Q: Do you dress for comfort or to be fashionable / to stand out in the midst of a crowd?
I don’t care for trends. In fact, I avoid trends. I’m not about that at all. My style has evolved over the years. I work with Merwe a lot. They designs most of my stuff. She knows my style. So I often go to her with ideas or she will have ideas and so I just wear her garments. Or most things I find in second hand shops; I just like things that no one else has.
photo cred: COCO
I’m elated and so proud of the homie!
The video is more of a visual representation of street-wear, swag and it doesn’t hurt that the beat is sick!
Guys I literally can’t stop listening to this track now!
Lean is flat-out a celebration of style, local brands and the SA street-wear culture which (for some weird reason) doesn’t seem to gain much recognition/appreciation.
What I love about Ben’s music is how it speaks on his life experiences. It’s feel good music which is a breathe of fresh air from all the booty obsessed hip hop music I’ve been listening to lately. It’s a new sound and I like it! He often raps about his views on society and what goes down in his surroundings, not forgetting how he seldom incorporates Creole into his lyrics. He did grown up in Roseau after all.
My favorite line in his new single is when he says, “I don’t care about a brand name/We could rock the same thing/ Wouldn’t be the same thing..” I just round about go into Nae Nae mode when that beat drops!
I can’t wait to hear more of his new music.
Press Play and Let me know what you think?!
You can also download the track here.
There’s an exciting local – streetwear culture growing in SA, we just added a beat to it. Oh and to ”Lean on them”, is to style on them without trying to.”
– Ben Caesar
The Grubby Eater 