Hanif is no stranger to the concept of gentrification. Hailing from NE Portland, Oregon – one of the nation’s most rapidly changing neighborhoods – he recently relocated to Harlem, New York, only to find the same thing occurring.
Well known for infusing social critiques in his raps, Hanif’s latest video single, from his forthcoming 12” Vinyls EP, aptly- titled “Gentrify”, takes a humorous approach to discussing the universal experience of living through urban renewal; The process of displacing minority populations at the whim of the social elite. No element of the process is given harbor as the unpredictable bearded rapper muses about hipsters, bike lanes, condominiums, and the futility of gang culture in a single verse, all whilst walking among the highly sought after brownstones of Harlem, surrounded by a cadre of hipster-types who just don’t seem to get it and awkwardly dance along.
Rumor has it Luck and 5th Sequence have a project coming. If this is any indication of things to come, I’m excited. Directed by Jae Change, the new video single is fresh, fun and thought provoking. There goes the neighborhood…
