“True Islanders”, the Sardinian crew’s new rap track

Artificial intelligence, whilst not entirely dismissed, is not used here. Better still is the rock – that of the monumental sea stack overlooking the sea at Pan di Zucchero – as depicted by Zisto, an illustrator from Cagliari. The rap from the Sardinian crew Sa Razza is celebrating its 30th anniversary with a double vinyl release featuring 19 tracks, now available for pre-order. Because *“Islanders veri”* comes thirty years on from the monumental *“Wessisla”*, “a milestone for G-funk and the West Coast in Italia”.

A monumental double-vinyl album, preceded by a series of singles and accompanying videos in the run-up to its final release. It is certainly no coincidence that on 7 August, on an island battered by heatwaves, the release of the signature single QR CODE took place, ‘which is also a wave, but one of vibrations’. The beat was produced by Isma Killah, the chorus was handled by Sardinian artist Natty Sam, and finally, DJ Wall Dot’s scratching rounds off the track.

It is the song’s street video, filmed in Iglesias at Gym No. 2, that reveals Quilo and Ruid’s code, Q R (Alessandro Sanna and Fabio Leoni respectively), which turns up the volume and shines the spotlight on “Islanders veri”. “Yes, because,” Quilo emphasises, “Sa Razza have always been the islanders who stood their ground and never abandoned their homeland, and they’ve always been recognised by the whole scene.” Their debut in the early 90s, “strictly in Sardinian”, isn’t that long ago. “We were the first group to rap in Sardinian,” adds Quilo, “and to record the first Sardinian rap vinyl.” The music is characterised by social commentary and protest, a desire for independence and a touch of irony, since “all these aspects can go hand in hand”.

Along the way, there have also been other initiatives and experiments. “The return of Quilo and Ruido, the true Sardinian OGs born amidst the mines of Iglesias and the groove of the Sulcis,” Quilo emphasises once again, “is not just a record release but a project that has taken over a year of work, passion and dedication that will culminate on 23 October, the official release date of the album, which will be celebrated with a series of related events.” Collaborating with the two artists are Guè, Neffa, Jake La Furia, Tormento, Vacca and Sud Sound System, alongside Doll Kill, Lil Pin and Joe Perrino. The next single is due out on 4 September. “This is an important project that traces our entire musical journey,” concludes Quilo, “and it’s full of influences and new directions. And challenges.”