FAFI AKA 3 Percent
Very few college professors have the urge to listen to rap music, let alone be rappers. Yet Metropolitan State College of Denver affiliate Assistant Professor Dr. Farai W.G. Bere, known in music circles as Fafi A.K.A. 3Percent has released a world rap CD titled Groove Or Die. Fafi is a Zimbabwean born culture conscious rap artist based in Denver, Colorado. He blends traditional African rhythms with hip-hop, dancehall and reggaeton beats to give a thumping and hard hitting sound that cannot be pigeon-holed but is identifiable within the hip hop groove. With an alias 3Percent (short for 3 percent free, 97 percent enslaved), Fafi escaped the political turmoil in his country and came to the U.S. in 2001 to pursue a doctorate degree at New York University. He graduated in 2008 with a Ph.D. in Performance Studies, specializing in African and Afro-Diasporic music and orature, areas which cemented his passion for what he calls “the sound of the everyday struggles of people in the ghettos and townships.” Groove Or Die is Fafi’s sophomore CD. It was recorded in the U.S. and Zimbabwe and produced by New York based world music producer Lou Gimenez, Denver based Thai Stick Rock Sounds, and Zimbabwe based Bizzy Dee. Thai Stick Rock Sound’s duo of Tommy Thai and Ruppert Rock feature on the CD. Two tracks from the CD, “Chenzira” and “Wantchito” were released as singles in 2007. “Chenzira” debuted on number 9 on the CMJ New World Top 10, the only self released work then on the chart. It reached number 1 on internet based Sarfm Radio’s Top 20. Sarfm chose Fafi the African artist of the month of June, 2007. Fafi recently performed in Denver at the Juneteenth Festival and the Black Arts Festival and in Boulder at the Zimbabwe Music Festival (Zimfest). In 2005 he performed at the world music Grassroots Festival in Trumansburg, New York. In 2007 he performed at the Palm Beach Reggae Club in Dallas, Texas, the Zimbabwe Business Expo (Zimexpo) in Los Angeles, California, and the Zimfest in Olympia, Washington. Alternating between the classroom and the stage, the chalk and the mic, Fafi is a skilled rapper who brings rich, powerful and exploding narratives into music. His music is going to excite many world and urban music enthusiasts.
Photo: Will provide photo if needed
