Raiz
Ya!

Ya! Anyone familiar with Neapolitan will not struggle to understand the title of the third solo work by Raiz, released in 2011 by Universal. "Ya," as the artist himself states, is an abbreviation of the term "jamm" and can be considered "a dynamic and diplomatic exhortation at the same time", equivalent to the Italian "e dai", the English "come on", and the Arabic "yalla". Its meaning is evident: on one hand, it prompts change and positivity, and on the other, compromise, a concept dear to the Neapolitan singer, for whom "every controversy can only be resolved through dialogue and mutual understanding".

These characteristics are present in the album, which stands out for a clear departure from its predecessors W.O.P. and Uno. If Raiz's first two works were a bit in the balance between a somewhat sterile reproduction of the Almamegretta sound and some not particularly successful stylistic choices (the writing in Italian, quite unrefined in W.O.P.), Ya! decidedly corrects the course by entrusting the production part to Planet Funk. The result is an album that sounds fresh and immediate from the first listen and at the same time aims at that compromise we talked about earlier, attempting to successfully reconcile Mediterranean influences with electronic sounds. The inclination to dialogue also translates into a desire to travel and learn, which leads Raiz to engage with different linguistic realities, ranging from Neapolitan to English, and even Italian and Hebrew.

The tracks where this eclecticism is most visible mark the achievement of full artistic maturity: the single "Domani, Domani, Domani" is an invitation to seize the moment and become the architect of one's own destiny, because, as our artist reminds us: "'A vita è 'nu mumento/Ca tu te hai 'a sapé piglià/Pecché si passa/Nun 'o può cchiù acchiappà"; the title track evokes progressive house by Leftfield and suggests avoiding conflicts that only lead to pain and suffering ("Do you really want to live in sufferation anymore?/Do you really want to make war at each other anymore?"); "Yalda Sheli" expresses the torment of a soldier ready to head to the front and separate from his beloved, all accompanied by the excellent production of Planet Funk, capable of skillfully blending electronics and Arabic atmospheres. The album also benefits from the collaboration of the Bari-based Radicanto, who with their voices and ethnic sounds enrich some of the best tracks (the romantic "'A Rosa ('E Int'O Ciardino Mio)" and "Rinasco Più In Là", truly evocative). There is no shortage of more pop songs, such as the initial "Full Of Love", in which Raiz recounts how music helped him overcome a difficult time ("I keep on dancing to the beat/Of dreams I always will/They can save you when/ You feel so down and sick"). And the cover of "One Blood" by Junior Reid shines with a particular light, with its engaging drive and pulsating bass, a piece that emphasizes the "lesson" already expressed in "Figli Di Annibale": there is no white or black, because the same blood runs through our veins. The work concludes with "Nu Filo D'Erba E 'O Mare", a poem by Salvatore Palomba transformed into a magical spoken word, a trip-hop flavored track that teaches us to see the light in the dark and find the strength to start over.

Despite its short length (ten tracks for just over thirty-five minutes of music), "Ya!" remains the best solo work of Raiz, who manages to create a simple yet profound work capable of giving voice to a complex modernity, made of nomadism, encounters, conflicts, and migrations.

And it's no small feat.