Johannesburg-based rapper and producer Sam Turpin has finally released the music video to “Alexandrie” the standout song from his four-track debut EP, Eternal Sentiment. The video, shot by photographer/videographer Austin Malema is an abstract storytelling of his life and career as a musician set against the quiet serenity of the Emmarentia Botanical gardens, which fits perfectly with his flow and rhyme scheme.
The very experimental tone beat, complemented by subdued female vocals, delivers a very melancholic ambiance. The lyrics talk about the dark days he’s experienced as an artist and a young white South African and how in the end he found hope and stuck to it. He then seamlessly transitions to commenting on race relations in the country and typifies this with the line “No discrimination that is what we preach/but you can still read them signs only whites on the beach.”
The bulk of the video places him riding along the Emmarentia dam on his bike and periodically stopping to take a moment to view the beautiful scenery and do some much needed self-introspection. All of this is enveloped by the green and leafier side of town, which makes a lot of colours pop in the background, giving it a laid back vibe.
It’s a song that carries a lot of personal significance for Sam. Much like the video, the song has some reflective moments. The video is casual and reflects a rapper who’s exploring his surroundings, as his whole perspectives and views change, while he rides along on the path. It’s as though he is going through life on his bike, trying to keep a balance between the two lives.
Based on Austin Malema’s previous work, you can tell at first glance that the shots were selected adequately from a photographer’s point of view. Overall the video is worth the watch and you can check out the video below.
Follow him Twitter: @Sam_Turpin and check out his catalogue on http://samturpin.bandcamp.com also check out Austin Malema on instagram @aust_malema
Follow me on @BizArmy
