RAPSO

Rapso is a style of poetry, blended with calypso that expresses the experiences of everyday people. The late Lancelot Layne is one of the persons credited with the creation of this genre. His songs Blow Away and Get off the Radio are among the first examples of recorded rapso music.

In the 1980s Brother Resistance (also known as Lutalo Makossa Masimba) together with his group the Network Riddum Band further developed this form of musical poetry. Some of his best known songs include: Tonight is De Night, Ring De Bell, Mother Earth, and Handclapping Song. In recent years other artistes such as 3 Canal, Kindred and Black Lyrics have adopted this musical form.

Below is an excerpt from the book Rapso Explosion written by Brother Resistance which describes the origins of rapso.

A NEW POETIC VIBRATION FROM TRINIDAD AND TOBAGO

RAPSO can be defined as a new progression of poetry created to relate to the everyday experience of the people (everyday people/street people/working people).

RAPSO is a network of rhythms (riddum) where the rhythms of the voice blend with African drums (first manmade instrument on earth) and the rhythms of the steel drum/pan (last natural instrument created on earth by man). This is foundation RAPSO. Eventually a musical form evolved from this rhythmic foundation and stringed instruments were blended.

RAPSO is the power of the word/the rhythm of the word, the truth and the light, and therefore pure RAPSO is the living experience of the voice. It is the vocal manifestation of the hopes and fears, visions and aspirations of a people struggling for true liberation.

RAPSO is a unique style of street poetry from Trinidad and Tobago which draws on the musical experience of the Shango/the Kaiso (Calypso) and robber-talk (a Carnival Theatre) / The Steelband. Some have described it as Soka-Poetry or Poetry-in-Soka, but the Rapso Poet has resisted all such labels. "Rapso" is a term originally coined by Network Riddum Band of East Dry River, Trinidad.

RAPSO has its historical roots in the ancient African traditions of the GIROT. Therefore the practitioner of Rapso is considered as the vessel of speech, the storehouse of knowledge and history, the teacher and communicator for this new generation. The rapso poet—man, woman, person—is one who lives and practices the art of RAPSO. RAPSO is living street theatre.

Source: Brother Resistance. Rapso Explosion. London: Karia Press, 1986.

OTHER RESOURCES:

Trinbago Unified Calypsonians' Organisation (TUCO)

https://www.nalis.gov.tt/Resources/Subject-Guide