"Keep it real!" is the number one rule in hip hop scene. Nothing wrong in that — but somehow in the way it got sadly misunderstood, and now we've got our hands full of musical paper tigers, whose sole raison d'être seems to be trying to assure everyone that they are authentic, original and must be taken very seriously. Whatever happened to the old wisdom that if you're genuinely wise, talented or tough, there's no need to extensively blow your own horn?...
Ruudolf a.k.a. Rudi, the little monkey from Eastern Helsinki, has not let his young age to keep him from making a lasting impact on Finnish hip hop scene. His first widely-distributed album Doupeimmat Jumala seivaa is a textbook example of real authenticity. The music steals unashamedly from West Coast ass-shaking rhythms, and though the lyrics are straight from Ruudolf's own life, they are far from dull.
Seasoned with self-irony and downright fart humour, Ruudolf's lyrics deal with the Americanization of Finnish culture, the decline of Christian faith, the army, the conscientious objection, and the young man's longing for love. All this goes through a filter of uniquely personal style but without unnecessary ironical detachment from the subject matter. This means: Ruudolf is authentic. His flow is impeccable, and American loan words fit nicely in his Finnish rhymes. What's more, Ruudolf's live act is like one great party with false beards, wigs, silly costumes... First and foremost, it's about having good time together.
