No “in arte” or “aka” this time. Davide Di Salvia, “known as Gotik”, will be on the list. Because the old school rapper from Bari, also a store manager and father of two children, is running for the city council with the 5 Star Movement. “I am one of the pioneers of rap in Bari, one of the first to enter the mainstream and to do concerts outside, also representing the city at a national level, between 2009 and 2010”.
A ‘bar’ to submit your application?
“No, I haven’t prepared it yet – he laughs – I should study it because it has to have an impact”.
Does he come from the street, as they say in the jargon?
“Yes, I grew up on the streets, I know what it means. Before there were no means to make music, we gathered for example at Stories of the Old South or on the basketball court in Parco 2 Giugno: we stood in a circle and did freestyle”.
When is this?
“Between 2007 and 2008, because then the following year we started a serious group and I had the exploit with U Baar nest”.
With Max The Dwarf. With which there was then a diss track.
“That is part of the rap game, but it was a page in the history of this genre in Bari. Now we are on excellent terms, we had a reunion and launched “U Baar nest 2” with the footballer Marco Bosisio who has a passion for rap ”.
Where did you grow up?
“I was born and raised in Loseto and then I moved to Carrassi”.
In his lyrics he often talks about the realities of working-class neighborhoods.
“In my lyrics there is a social denunciation, in addition to musicality. An artist transforms into words what he experiences and sees in everyday life, sending a message in his own way. And this changes from person to person.”
And she?
“In Barisienne, which is a very strong piece of mine, for example I stay within the limits, I don’t show”.
What?
“Now twenty-year-old kids show guns, drugs: it’s not in my canons. This way we cross the limit, we end up in the vulgar and the ridiculous. They dare a little too much to hype, in my opinion they do it to fill the gaps they have on a musical level.”
In ‘Sim u megghje paise’ he writes: “P load u cont in bang co u loader, e po u wagnon ven accis inzim alla wagnedd, eu frat ve g rann co u firr nguedd”. ‘To load the bank account with the magazine, and then the boy gets killed with the girl and the brother goes around with the gun on him.’ A very current topic: a young man was knocked down on Friday at the San Paolo for failing to give way.
“Even in rap, an older person must set an example for the younger ones: I talk about these things but I don’t show them. In the video clip I show the Cathedral, San Nicola, the Chiringuito, the beautiful things of the city, because in this song I say that despite everything, despite the bad things and certain episodes that happen, despite these realities, the social difficulties, we people from Bari remain always the best. ‘Nu sim baris, jind o cor, jind o sang sim u megghj pais pur senza trris ma co u sorris’, that is, ‘We are from Bari, in our hearts and in our blood, we are the best country even without money but with a smile’”.
Has anyone bothered you about the lyrics?
“They told me that even a candidate from the M5S itself said that my texts are vulgar. First of all, when an artist is at the microphone or in the studio he has to interpret a song, feel it in all his emotions, like an actor recites a script on stage in that moment. Exact same thing, even when I shoot videos. Then you have to separate person and character. And I also tell the truth, what I see and then report in the texts. Maybe I’ll go to emphasize, to put my own spin on it, but always within limits. I have never fallen into the vulgar. This seems like an out of line statement to me. Anyone who has known me for a long time knows what kind of person I am.”
Is there anything you wouldn’t have written in hindsight?
“I wouldn’t have dissed, even if it gave me visibility. But no, I wouldn’t do it again.”
There he used homophobic epithets such as “rich ****”.
“In dissing it works that he makes a song and I have to respond by turning it against him. There we were young, filled with anger, there was a lot of hype and we had success all at once. We weren’t able to handle it.”
Many rappers insert political topics into their lyrics but few ultimately run for office.
“Because they are often afraid of exposing themselves, of losing followers or listeners. I don’t have this fear: in this journey I am trying to enhance, give space and protect local artists as I have been doing for some time. Now I have been given the opportunity to realize this commitment of mine. In Michele Laforgia’s program there is the valorization of art in all its nuances”.
How did the application come about? Who was looking for whom?
“The idea of doing something different to the usual posts, videos, live broadcasts on social media had been in my mind for some time. And several parties approached me, especially those on the right.”
Which, let’s face it, doesn’t have a great relationship with the rap world.
“And instead… right now they’re holding on to anything. Then I still represent a large portion of the electorate, I am an artist who brings other artists, and then in turn they bring friends, relatives. And then I have a very specific identity.”
How did the other rappers from Bari take it?
“Many took it very well. Good all because when you expose yourself you can always be annoying, but I’m relatively interested. There are colleagues who would like to do something more to support me, but I don’t want to expose them because they risk losing listeners. Several have commented on my announcement, such as Miss Fritty, I thank them but in any case I don’t want them to take sides too much, for their own good”.
Why the 5 Star Movement?
“My father is a historic activist of the movement, I looked in, we had several meetings and I saw the Laforgia program. And knowing him also on a personal level I can say that he can do good for Bari and make an additional contribution for the artists, something that was completely absent previously.”
What other issues would you bring to the city council?
“I talk about what belongs to me, music. My idea is that when the Municipality gives sponsorship for an event, it must understand who is behind it, transparent tenders must be promoted and space must be given to those who do something concrete for Bari. I have contested the Bari May Day several times, in which the artists are recruited by a Milanese agency”.
And beyond the promotion of local artists?
“I was a goalkeeper coach and before that a footballer, so I would like to contribute to the organization of sporting events, perhaps combining them with music”.
If Laforgia was a rapper who would he be?
“Jake La Furia, because he is the one who knows the most and is the strongest Italian rapper ever”.
