Not only has the history of Quebec rap never been explored in this way on such a large scale, but the Musée de la Civilization is also taking the opportunity to showcase a major technological advance in terms of the sound experience.
Webster, historian and pillar of rap in our province since the 1990s, had difficulty containing his emotions during the opening of the exhibition “Sur Paroles”. The sound of Rap Queb. at the Museum of Civilization, Thursday.
“There is a hip-hop course in the USA, but it has never existed here before,” says the 44-year-old happily. “We have managed to bring this culture to the general public while respecting those who built it and including those who already have the basics to further develop their knowledge. »
The visual experience of the exhibition ranges from relics such as the first recorders of the group Muzion, to the plaques that Loud won with his album A Record Year, to the advertising posters of the Limoilou Starz collective, of which Webster was a member.
Alexander Caputo
Improved sound experience
The Musée de la Civilization has teamed up with three Quebec companies to provide a visually and acoustically stimulating experience to this exhibition, divided into seven thematic areas. As soon as they enter, Queb rap fans and the curious receive headphones that provide explanations and music on the various topics covered without having to press anything. This is a technology developed specifically for this presentation, intended to highlight this style of music that has evolved greatly over the years.
“Here we have an innovative and daring exhibition,” says Stéphan La Roche, general director of the museum, after a short rap that made the press gallery laugh. “If someone had told me at the beginning of my career that I would organize an event like this, I wouldn’t have believed it,” he says frankly, admitting that he is more worried about the knowledge he acquired from this project The rap world.
Indigenous rap represented
“Indigenous communities have been and continue to be marginalized,” notes Webster. “Rap is a style that this type of community identifies with, it is imbued with a message and denounces social problems. »
About song lyrics. Although Le Son du Rap Queb logically focuses on the African-American and African-Canadian origins of rap’s humble beginnings, it makes room for indigenous artists like Samian and Q-052 from communities in Abitibi and Gaspésie.
The faces of the two MCs are, among other things, part of the fresco that honors the architects of the rise of rap in Quebec; We can also admire a teweikan, a traditional indigenous drum that Samian often uses during performances, as well as excerpts from Q-052’s emotional music videos.