Episode 1 Recording #1: Interview with the Toronto Regent Park Rappers
In keeping up with our processes and journey to greatness, we, again have exciting news to share from this week from our experience of successfully recording our very first episode. While we were able to successfully record our first official episode this weekend, it was not as straight forward as we would have preferred it to be. But, notwithstanding, here is what we learned in doing so.
Scheduling! Scheduling! Scheduling!
One challenge we faced in preparing for our first episode was with booking the guests for the interview that were supposed to take place on the show. For the week, our theme was supposed to explore the Gangs, Violence and predominantly the Rap Culture in Regent Park, and in an attempt to make an episode that was effective and informative, we thought we would reach out to Regent Park rappers to be able to interview an insider with a more familiar perspective on the community. Let’s just say celebrities are indeed a huge deal. It is no debate that the Regent Park Rappers are pulling a credible weight by putting Regent Park on the map through their ability to create amazing music, but with their newly acclaimed fame, it has become difficult to keep up with the celebrity lifestyle of being unavailable. Our goal was to reach out to every Regent Park rapper we could find, via Instagram DMs, Facebook messenger, emails and including text messages, and out of 15 rappers, we got 2 replies. In the replies, the rappers politely stated that they were not going to be able to attend the interview as they were busy.
Improvise! Improvise! Improvise!
The show had to go on. As a testament to how we were able to cope well in such unexpected situations, we had to be spontaneous and creative in our approach towards the scheduled theme. Our team members, Marwa Hassan and Faduma Hagi are residents of Regent Park Toronto, so we interviewed them instead. To our surprise, they knew a whole lot about the rap culture in the community, and that was all we needed. Our weeks of research on the rap culture and gang violence in Regent Park in preparation for the show and interview sessions did not go in vain. All we had to do was stick to the script (we created intro and “outro” scripts to aid with the fluidity of the show as we were all new to this), ask the questions we prepared well in advance and lastly were natural and had fun.
…Connect with The On Air Police!!!
Finally, our Facebook, Instagram and Email accounts have been created, activated and are fully functioning. Listen to the podcasts on Facebook and Instagram where we will be going live, so join the conversation on all our social media platforms. We keep you updated on the journey to becoming great community ambassadors. All episodes are posted on Soundcloud and Facebook. #staytuned because next week, we will be journaling our experience with the Regent Park neighbourhood police, and you do not want to miss it.
In interviewing Faduma and Marwa, we learned that the Regent Park Rappers are indeed putting Regent Park on the map like the community’s favourite Lil Berete who is signed to New Generation record label. When asked if she felt like the community was safe, Faduma said that although the community’s biggest problem is gang violence, especially from gangs outside of Regent Park who come to terrorize the community, She felt safe in the community on a regular day. Ironically she also felt safe in the community because she is a female child. Women in the community are not suspected to be gang members and a lot of the crime in Regent Park is associated with men, especially male black rappers. In as much as the rappers write and rap about gangs, they do not necessarily commit gang crimes in the neighbourhood. The killings are of other gangs in other communities retaliating to the songs and diss records put out by Regent Park Rappers
One way in which Faduma and Marwa suggest that crime in Regent Park can be maintained and ultimately reduced is through a scheme that they call “Know Your Neighbours” As simple as it sounds, when you know your neighbours you will be able to identify them and protect them whenever there are shootings. Both Marwa and Faduma encourage the neighbourhood police to make an effort in making the residents feel comfortable around them. From as simple as wearing a smile on their face, to having a regular conversation to get to know the residents. They feel that the new Regent Park since the revitalization, took away the sense of community in the neighbourhood and there exists a sense of disconnect between the staff the police and the residents.
The On Air Police is comprised of Faduma Hagi, Anita Ifeadi, Marwa Hassan, and Katie Glancy.
Instagram: @onairpolice
Facebook: OAP UofDivas
Email: onairpolice@gmail.com
Phone: +1 437 217 7302