Baring your soul on song isn’t always easy, especially in the contemporary hip-hop arena where image and materialism are king.
So it makes Tac’s latest single ‘The Mirror Theory’ even more impressive.
The 23-year-old UAE-raised rapper uses his heartache and recent break-up as inspiration for the track. The emotion is then ramped up with the stylish black-and-white video that highlights the lyrics and hard-hitting emotional content.
The simple but highly effective track makes the most of Tac’s heartfelt delivery and singing. And with echoed vocals, string swooshes and ultra-clean production, it sounds truly international.
‘I wrote this song following a bad break-up, that left me feeling confused about why and how things ended,’ says Tac.
‘After a little bit of reflection and looking back at specific situations, I found that my ex had a lot of unresolved issues that prevented her from being able to provide me with the love I need. Which was already a difficult thing to admit as a man; We need love, and we need affection.’
The video was shot by life-long friends and crack creative outfit HyperJump Productions. Deciding to ditch the typical hip hop locations, they used an empty Dubai pool for the location.
And by using black and white footage, the stylish video hones in on the emotional content of the song, using clever lighting and quick edits to create a stunning video.
‘The end product was incredible,’ says Tac. ‘I felt a lot of emotional release seeing my record paired with this video. It helped me have confidence in the closure.’
With events opening up across the UAE and across the region, expect Tac to be bringing his soulful hip hop sound to a club near you soon.
‘I definitely plan on performing this record in the coming months, I miss being on stage, and I miss singing and rapping from the heart.”
About Tac
The qualified sound engineer has been making music since 12/12/12. A prolific producer and rapper with over 20 releases, Tac has played a big role in the UAE’s hip hop scene.
He’s played the SoleDXB mainstage as a headline artist and opened for Kano in Dubai. He’s also played OnDXB and was part of the legendary The Recipe 10 Year Anniversary show on The Queen Elizabeth II Ship in 2019. And he’s guested on Charlie Sloth’s iconic ‘Fire In The Booth’ show.
A rapper who’s increasingly comfortable with his own singing voice, Tac is quickly evolving into one of the Middle East’s true hip hop stars.
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