Don't call it a return, because Sa Razza never left. Pioneers of Italian hip hop and the first to bring the Sardinian language to rap, for over thirty years Fabio Leoni, aka Ruido, and Alessandro Sanna, aka Quilo, have been describing a land without stereotypes, intertwining street culture and activism. With their new single "4 Life," a collaboration with Cagliari-born rapper Vacca, they return after a long time to the streets of Sulcis where it all began, with that G-Funk sound that has never stopped resonating. "4 Life" is a tribute to the island, as the first verse states: "Deep roots, as if it were granite, my land resists, the wind blows endlessly."
An identity manifesto: what is the Sardinia you want to bring to light?
Quilo: "In a mix of languages, we celebrate our connection to our neighborhoods with irony, sarcasm, and even social commitment. Our vision is that of a sunny island with its own strong identity, but we don't exploit it to make an exotic product. We recount life, its joys and sorrows, without ever feeling sorry for ourselves."
Musically, you chose a return to West Coast atmospheres: a tribute to the group's history?
Ruido: "Sa Razza is known outside Sardinia mainly thanks to its first album, 1996's "Wessisla," which embraced influences from the West Coast, from Los Angeles to Compton. We started from there."
How did the collaboration with Vacca come about?
Ruido: "We've known each other for a long time and we respect each other. He's always considered Sa Razza an artistic inspiration. A while ago, he dedicated a song to us, "Sangre De La Isla," on his penultimate album, "Barroso."
Let's go back to the beginning of Sa Razza, how did it all begin?
Quilo: "In hip hop's year zero, as we call it, the focus was primarily on making music. Iglesias, our town, was in full swing following the closure of the mines and was heading toward an uncertain future. Rap helped us express ourselves, vent our passions in a healthy way, denounce problems, and, why not, find spaces to have fun. Words, graffiti, and music were our school. In a bunker with Rais (Massimiliano Deidda) and Ruido, then DJ Noize, rap in the Sardinian language was recorded on a cassette for the first time."
What was the biggest challenge of those years?
Ruido: "I'd say the biggest challenge was crossing the sea and landing on a peninsula we didn't know. Perhaps with a little more luck, we would have been even higher up."
How has young people's relationship with language and their roots changed?
Quilo: "It's one of the sore points of history. Limba has never been a limitation; on the contrary, it should be considered an immense asset. Many are bringing it back into fashion, but sometimes it's seen as something provincial. Nothing could be more wrong. We don't have a radical vision; there's plenty of scope for playing with bilingualism and slang. But 'imperai su sardu po fai su rap d'onia tanti chi no est bregungia'."
You've lived through every phase of Italian hip-hop. What have you gained and what have you lost along the way?
Ruido: "We've gained a lot of background, but we've lost the message. Sometimes we fall into banality and don't realize the power of words. In the hands of teenagers, idols can become weapons."
How much has the concept of “street credibility” changed?
Quilo: "Street credibility isn't a thousand-euro necklace. In the 1990s, we had little, and it was natural to seek out opportunities, travel, and learn. Today, we're hyperconnected, an advantage for everyone, but which is actually producing a standardization across all sectors."
“4 Life” looks to its roots but also to the future: next chapter?
Quilo: «It's the "stargate," a door we've opened to a new album, over a year of work with a fantastic team that we'll showcase with a series of upcoming singles.»
Any previews?
Quilo: "Mark this date, June 26th. Just follow our social media profiles to support us. Once again, we're putting ourselves out there, and we won't give up an inch."