Produced in conjunction with Art on My Mind 2020, a virtual, collective songwriting residency organized by AGYU, Hope You Relate is a song collaboratively written, performed, and recorded by five emerging hip hop and spoken word artists: Nasim Asgari, Zakisha Brown, Tracey Kayy, Terence Penny, and NamedTobias. Acclaimed hip hop producer Solitair produced the beat and mixed and mastered this socially conscious song.

Hope you Relate grew out of a collective meditation that interweaves personal and societal narratives of struggle, perseverance, and growth. The song charts the unique trajectories of each of the artists in their pursuit to overcome barriers, manifest their dreams, and fulfill their purpose. Advocating for social justice, the song condemns police brutality and anti-black violence, and calls for reparations for people of African descent. The work acknowledges the fundamental role artists can play in dedicating their practice to advancing struggles for freedom, justice, and truth.

Directed by Prince John Media, the music video was shot on August 31, 2020, at the Black Creek Community Farm and featured performances by all of the songwriters as well as cameo appearances by Solitair and Prince John. Shot against the backdrop of the farm’s orchard, sunflowers, and vegetable gardens, the music video clearly captures the close connections and mutual support that developed over the course of the program between all of the artists.

The video can also be viewed on youtube at https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7FjkFeDg5Ng and accessed through various streaming apps via https://agyu.fanlink.to/HopeYouRelate.

Hope You Relate was produced with the generous support of the Toronto Arts Council, the Toronto Arts Foundation, and the Black Creek Community Farm.