I’ve had this song on my playlist for years now.  The track- Finish this album is taken off her ‘Speech therapy’ album( 2009). It won the British Mercury Prize award. She was 19  years old when she wrote this  & it shows the introspection of a person wiser than her years. The track comes across as a discourse on the reality of how so many people in the U.K. (and global)  still feel more divided  & increasingly feel alienated from our communities.

In Debelle’s case, she used poetry and writing to get her through her own homelessness experience.  Debelle is a rapper and musician  /homelessness social activist from South London.

Debelle started writing poetry when she was 9 years old. Her influences range from  Mary J. Blige, Micheal Jackson, TLC & reggae.

Her lyrics are raw, honest, self-reflective & engaging. She unfolds stunning vivid narrative in her delivery of the song.  When I hear her vocals I feel her passion & fire. Her vocals are the perfect uplifting antidote to the overwhelming reality of her world with her insight into Life, its battles & her ambitions.

Honesty is courage and since I got the heart of a lion then there’s no sense in lying

lyrics from ‘Finish this album’

This is a philosophy for the soul.

She’s been signed to independent British label Ninja tunes

Home to  brilliant British artists from

• Kate Tempest spoke word performer/poet/playwright  (Her play ‘wasted’ is worth a read)

• Sampa -the great poet/hip hop M.C.

• Bonobo

• Roots Manuva

I’m a massive fan of the Kitchen sink drama creativists of the musical world.

Write to recover, perform to recover, do whatever it takes to express yourself authentically.

Creativists 

creativist

Noun — (1) To be a creative activist. (2) To challenge conventionality using art and expressionism as your tools. (3) To creatively enact change.