If Unu Tink Da Lai: Belizean Rapper Kenny Morgan Launches First Book

Today, The Imagination Factri unveiled the first published work by Belizean rapper and poet Kenny Morgan, a founding member of the Belize City rap trio Fresh Breeze Crew. In his book “If unu tink da lai,” Morgan combines his passion for lyricism and Belizean culture through nineteen captivating poems. News Five’s Britney Gordon was at the Bliss Center for Performing Arts for the launch.

 

Britney Gordon, Reporting

In 1988, Belize welcomed the Fresh Breeze Crew, a rap group founded by friends Kenny Morgan, Leroy Young, and Trevor Morgan. Inspired by the New York rap scene, they fused the genre with Belizean sounds, allowing Kenny Morgan’s lyrical talent to shine. He continued to nurture this passion in his solo music career. Now, Morgan is sharing his love for writing with the release of his first poetry book, “If unu tink da lie.”

 

Kenny Morgan, Author

“Most of my inspiration comes from situations that I observe in everyday life, persons that I interact with. And mostly I try to pick on themes that I believe will echo with the larger population. I strongly believe that utilizing the art form should always be with a view to creating positive change or motivating someone to want to do something about something. So if one line from one of the poems can reach out and accomplish that, I feel justified.”

 

Morgan’s work is inspired by his own life experiences and the social challenges he sees around him. Several poems include themes of feminism and poverty.

 

Kenny Morgan

“I believe they were important. They are important now and will continue to be important until we as a people, as a society start to address some of the changes that we see creating the situations that we are living in, that affects the way our young people approach life in general. I think it’s important for us to try to instill in them something that will have them want to rise up, to move up to greater heights and a better way of living, not just socially economically, but the interaction with the people around you and the way that you share information and knowledge.”

Yasser Musa of the Imagination Factri published the book. Musa shared that he and Morgan have admired each other’s work for years and are thrilled to collaborate on this exciting project.

 

Yasser Musa, Publisher

“Kenny Morgan earlier talked about how his mother raised him with a strict diet of reading. I think that says a lot about how parenting can infuse in a person, in a human being. That love and that imaginary power that you can use throughout your life. Kenny Morgan is in my mind, an enigmatic artist. He’s a artist that has a spectrum. One of the presenters, Gina Scott, called him a multi-man. And I think that is a very powerful phrased term for him because not only is he an incredible poet, but he’s also an amazing lyricist, a musician. A person who speaks not just for his generation, but for the current generation.”

 

Morgan was visibly moved during his speech, admitting he was blown away by the huge crowd. He expressed heartfelt thanks to everyone for backing his projects over the years.

 

Kenny Morgan

“I think what I feel most gratified about is the fact that the people of Belize over the years have always given me a certain amount of respect and appreciation and they give credibility to the things that I say I do. I think this is because they have been observing me for quite a while. They know what I stand for. They know the things that I say come from my heart. I mean them when I speak them. So I think what I’m most proud of is the appreciation and the reception that I get from the Belizean populates.”

Musa urges everyone to dive into the book, promising it’s packed with witty insights that he’s sure will resonate with just about anyone.

 

Yasser Musa

“Reading is an explosive form of self-determination. It allows you to become yourself and becoming yourself is not a, at this moment or at that moment. It is a constant journey. And I think Kenny Morgan’s own journey, we can look at even from his words, but from his lyrics, but from his life.”

 

Britney Gordon for News Five.