Trkaj: 'Just Patting on the Back and Praising Isn't Good'

Slovenia's vibrant hip-hop scene is set to take center stage at the upcoming Festival 202, a two-day event at Kino Šiška that promises to showcase the nation's most influential artists. The festival lineup includes established names such as Recycleman (formerly Ali En), Klemen Klemen, Trkaj, Zlatko, Matter, Žena, and Leopold I., among others, highlighting the genre's enduring presence and evolution.

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The first thing is that Festival 202 will be truly larger than Hiphop reunion, it will last two days, and besides MCs and rappers, there will be dance workshops and graffiti. More elements of hip-hop culture will be connected, besides the basic four: rapping, DJing, grafitting and breakdancing, plus beatboxing, street fashion, street slang, street knowledge and street entrepreneurship.

Beyond a mere showcase of musical talent, Festival 202 aims to be a comprehensive celebration of hip-hop culture. It will integrate elements beyond the traditional four pillars of rapping, DJing, graffiti, and breakdancing. Attendees can expect dance workshops, beatboxing, discussions on street fashion, slang, knowledge, and even entrepreneurship, reflecting the multifaceted nature of hip-hop's influence on society.

Rapper Trkaj, a featured artist and interviewee, shared his perspective on the genre's journey in Slovenia. He recalled hip-hop's marginal beginnings, a time when pursuing it felt like a risky endeavor with uncertain prospects. Trkaj noted the cyclical nature of trends, observing how elements of hip-hop have evolved into subgenres like trap, which operate under different principles. He expressed pride in the genre's longevity, noting its 32-year presence in Slovenia since the release of 'Leva scena' in 1994.

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Rap as music has persisted for 32 years, since Leva scena was released in 1994. Trends are cyclical, and you too have been around long enough to see some repeat themselves. Does this also apply to hip-hop or not?

Trkaj also highlighted the growing recognition of hip-hop as a significant subculture, evidenced by its inclusion on national radio programming. He expressed enthusiasm for the younger generation of artists emerging, with around ten rappers under 18 already showing interest in collaboration. This influx of new talent suggests a dynamic future for Slovenian hip-hop, building upon its rich history while exploring new sonic territories.

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When I started, nobody except me and close friends believed that anything would come of it. Rap was a marginal thing, and I often found myself at a crossroads, asking myself if what I was doing even had meaning, or if it was better to find a 'real, true' job.