Radio Papesse

Justin Randolph Thompson is an internationally exhibited new media artist born in Peekskill, NY. Thompson has lived for the past seven years in Florence, Italy. His work draws connections between historic Italian references and references from African-American history and contemporary culture. His piece Show your teeth is the winner of tha call for soundworks Revolutionary Sound.

Show Your Teeth is a sound piece that passes from the implied violence of a grinding hip-hop beat to the chant of a work song. The work song uses translated lyrics from the traditional Sicilian song Mala Razza which presents a call from god to the oppressed to arm themselves and show their teeth. This mixture of references connects the underlying violence often present in hip-hop with a prison work song indicating the common destination for African-American males who find themselves carrying out the violent acts glorified in many hip-hop songs. Gil Scott-Herron stated that the revolution is in your mind and this sound work intends to invite reflection upon violent acts of revolt which undermine the internal change necessary for revolution.

Malarazza

Ti lamenti…ma che ti lamenti?
Pigghia lu bastoni e tira fori li denti
Nu servu tempu fa rientra na piazza
Prigavu a Cristu ‘n cruci e ci ricia:
Cristu lu mi padroni mi strapazza
Mi tratta comu un cani pi la via
Si pigghia tuttu cu la sua manazza
Mancu la vita mia rice ch’è mia
Distruggila Gesù sta malarazza
Distruggila Gesù fallu pi mmia
fallu pi mia…!
Ti lamenti…ma che ti lamenti?
Pigghia lu bastoni e tira fori li denti
Ti lamenti…ma che ti lamenti?
Pigghia lu bastoni e tira fori li denti
E Cristu m’arrispunni dalla cruci
Forsi si so spizzati li to vrazza?
Cu voli la giustizia si la fazza
Nisciuni ormai chiù la farà pi ttia
Si tu si n’omo e nun si testa pazza
Ascolta beni sta sintenzia mia
Ca iu ‘nchiodatu n cruci nun saria
S’avissi fattu ciò ca ricu a ttia
Ca io ‘inchiadatu in cruci nun saria
Ti lamenti…ma che ti lamenti?
Pigghia lu bastoni e tira fori li denti
Ti lamenti…ma che ti lamenti?
Pigghia lu bastoni e tira fori li denti

(D.Modugno - rielaborazione di un lamento popolare siciliano scritto da Lionardo Vigo, 1857)