Uyarakq & Peand-eL

With the album Kunngiitsuuffik (in English, “Republic”), the musician Uyarakq and rapper Peand-eL have pushed the boundaries of acceptability and what can be done in the world of music.

Electronica is very new in Greenland, and since 2010 musical pioneer Uyarakq has been very productive, releasing several singles and albums. Uyarakq produces simple electronica using nothing more than an old Nintendo Gameboy. He composes film scores as well as the more sophisticated electronica of the Dubstep genre.

In Kunngiitsuuffik Uyarakq and Peand-eL sample classic and pioneering pieces of music from great artists such as Ole Kristiansen and Sume, containing dissident texts and pushing the boundaries of the Greenlandic music scene.

Peand-eL, now regarded as one of Greenland’s “old” rappers, has released a trilogy of albums over the past decade. He explores new avenues in Kunngiitsuuffik by combining electronica with experimental hip hop. He also makes use of a new way of rapping called ‘realistic rap’, which creates an unfamiliar and different rhythm.

In Kunngiitsuuffik, Uyarakq and Peand-eL have combined two genres to create a fantastic album. This successful musical experiment thoughtfully ties two independent genres together and uses references from key moments in Greenland’s musical history.