Opportunity with Testament

This week we’re talking to “jack of all trades, master of ceremonies” Testament: hip-hop MC, writer, theatre-maker and world-record-breaking human beatboxer. Listen in as Testament discusses his cultural upbringing, including his love of De La Soul as well as the Pet Shop Boys, along with his theory why Glee is not only prophetic, but “the real hip-hop”. Testament gets real with Paul and Katherine about his own faith, feminism and social justice work. Including his attempts as a rebellious teenager to ‘out-Christian’ his parents, and his acceptance nowadays of his own vulnerability and ‘brokenness’ as a way to help others reflect on their own lives. He also belatedly apologises for accidentally stabbing his older brother in his hand with a compass when they were growing up, but that’s another story…Meanwhile, Katherine and Paul get excited about Dolly Parton’s covid vaccine and have a go at guessing what’s inside Dominic Cummings’ cardboard box.Links, resources and episode timestamps (for all you skippers out there) below.____ABOUT TESTAMENTTestament is a Hip-Hop MC, writer, theatre maker and world record breaking human beatboxer. Born in North London and growing up in Manchester, moving on to study in West Yorkshire where he currently resides. As a lyricist his critically acclaimed work combines strands of rap, song and spoken word. Testament’s work includes the celebrated Hip-Hop album Homecut: No Freedom Without Sacrifice, as well as several spoken word performances for BBC TV and  BBC Radio (1xtra, Radio 4 and 6Music). More recently, 2019 he was Channel 4 Writer in Residence at Royal Exchange Theatre Manchester.WebsiteInstagramTwitterFacebook____LINKS AND RESOURCESTestament’s websiteDominic Cummings and his cardboard boxDolly Parton Vaccine Orpheus in the Record ShopPeace JamThe Romantics and Us with Simon SchamaTestament And William BlakeWokeTestament’s interview with Leroy LoganLeroy Logan and Testament in conversation - Podcast____00:00 - Welcome to Somewhere To Believe In00:20 - Katherine and Paul catch up08:39 - Introducing Testament and his work09:22 - Testament joins the conversation09:50 - Testament on lockdown11:34 - Testament on Orpheus in the record shop14:55 - Testament on creativity23:28 - Testament on Peace Jam27:45 - Testament on Desmond Tutu 28:50 - Testament on faith, dogma and trying ‘out-Christian’ everyone32:16 - Testament on Greenbelt Festival34:10 - Testament on ego and social justice37:06 - Testament on classic and contemporary art40:33 - Testament on ‘Woke’ and feminism 47:42 - Testament on racial justice52:10 - Katherine and Paul reflect on the conversation with Testament01:06:00 - Coming up next week 01:07:54 - How to get in touch with us01:08:08 - Thank you’s01:08:36 - Hidden track____A huge thanks to the Greenbelt Volunteer Talks Team for all their hard work on editing this episode. Our podcast music is ‘I Can Change’ by Lee Bains III & The Glory Fires.____https://www.greenbelt.org.uk/#SomewhereToBelieveIn Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.