‘Crapaud Smoke Dey Pipe’ Becoming ‘Da Face’ of T&T Hip Hop

For 16 years, the rapper born David Hamilton has worked to carve out a space for T&T hip hop, not through borrowed accents or imported formulas, but with an identity rooted in the islands’ voice, slang, and sensibilities.With his new album project Crapaud Smoke Dey Pipe, he’s made history: the first non-compilation double album on the islands since Machel Montano’s 2012 Double M, and the only of its kind in local hip hop.

The two-sided release, billed as “Fire” and “Smoke”, pairs a barrage of unapologetic rap bangers on Side A with a more introspective, romantic and reflective Side B. Together, they form what Da Face calls a “final thesis” for the culture he’s been defending since his first mixtape.

“I wish this project to be the final thesis to remove any doubt that we have a secure place within hip hop using our natural expression, vibes and culture,” a passionate Da Face told the Kitcharee Wednesday. “You won’t hear any US accent or appropriation across my entire project. Even the beats contain influence from our local genres such as calypso, soca, rapso and even Trinibad.” Read More