Why are you so angry?
For the last few months, my brother and Beats Bus Records co-founder, David a.k.a Dj Redlocz had been planning with the Hull International Carnival team to hold a carnival of celebration in Victoria square Hull. The Friday, before the event we were told to move it because of the far-right riots spreading across the country. Our celebration of unity and community was overturned by a hate parade by so-called patriotics on Saturday the 6th of August in Hull that ended in riots, fires and mindless violence.
To those rioters, I say: You are not welcome in our city and everyone who joined you from our city you are not welcome in Hull! Watching the violence, I hung my head in shame to be British, if that is what being British is. So many emotions of disgust, shame, anger, sadness and empathy for anyone who was caught in the midst of the most evil thing I have ever seen in my city with my own eyes.
Why are you so angry?
All my life I have loved learning about other cultures, my family tree and heritage is Scottish and Jewish and I love travelling the world and meeting new people. However, there are some aspects of harmful British culture that have never appealed to me: football hooliganism, drinking to excess, scrapping and then getting an Indian takeaway on the way home after name-calling foreigners in the local all white pub – never been my style. This is not all British culture has to offer but always seems to be the image I imagine! Instead, I would rather be a culture sponge for everything else it has to offer.
This is why I love Hull, all other cultures in our community shine rays of light and colour through food, art, music, dance and conversation combatting the darkness that is a minority.
Why are you so angry?
YOU DO NOT SPEAK FOR US! We have worked so hard at Beats Bus Records to promote love, peace and unity since 2017 when Hull was City Of Culture. We have promoted inclusivity, equity and safeguarded many young people through our free mentorship programme for 8-30 year olds where our community leaders and champions provide positive role models for the next generation whilst educating them on the values and history of hip-hop that was forged by the way TO STOP VIOLENCE! Then these rioters, in one day, tried to destroy all our hard work. Well, all they have done is made us more determined to help and support the next generation to never be brainwashed by clowns with large social media followings stirring up hate. We will teach the next generation to love thy neighbour; to help and support all cultures in our city and never to hate, only to love!
Why are you so angry?
I fell in love with Hip-Hop Culture when I was about nine years old. In my opinion, it is the greatest culture in the world, forged to save communities. Something made from nothing but love and respect and gave a voice to the voiceless – “the story of the streets”. The ‘one love’ mentality makes our culture open and 100% accessible for anyone in the world and because of our culture I have met the most amazing people, HUMANS from all over the world that I am so proud to call my brothers and sisters, every one of them with a growth mindset and an openness of love for other fellow humans.
That’s how it should be!!
I am going to sign off by saying please do not fall for the divide and conquer tactics of these ignorant vile white supremists or the powers that be that tell you you can’t be so they can!
Love, peace and happiness is the way forward and can outshine the darkness of the racist white minority wherever you are in the UK. Now is the time to stand in solidarity with each other, lock arms and say “STOP THE VIOLENCE AND HATE NOT IN OUR COUNTRY!!”
LOVE HULL
LOVE FREEDOM
LOVE MUSIC
HATE RACISM
Peace and love to all humans!
Redeye Feenix a.k.a Steve Arnott
Beats Bus Records
About the Author:
Steve Arnott AKA Redeye Feenix is founder of the Beats Bus in Hull. He is committed to building confidence and giving young people the space to be creative through music and art workshops.
Hull resident Steve was a struggling warehouse worker by day and hip-hop performer by night. After a chance encounter with award-winning documentary maker Sean McAllister, Steve was asked to get involved in a film Sean was making: A Northern Soul. Music is Steve’s passion, writing and performing alongside any job he’s had but he is even more passionate about young people and ensuring that they have the opportunities that he didn’t. He now runs the Hull Beats Bus, a social enterprise mobile recording studio committed to building confidence and giving young people the space to be creative through music and art workshops. They have created a studio for their core students to use to ensure consistency and continuous guidance that they provide for free in their own time. This work is community driven with the direct aim of contributing to positive change for a new generation.