Surya Sen - Buccho Ni Ba (Grindin') (Official Video)
Photo Credit: Reuben-BL
North London’s multi-talented Surya Sen returned to the fray with a music video Bengali-infused club track “Buccho Ni Ba Bhai”, the first instalment from a three-part video series following the release of his debut mixtape “At What Cost”. The initial video sets the precedent for the three-part series, delving deeper into the concept behind Surya’s thirteen track compendium which is out now via SKINT.
“The song is an ode to my heritage as a proud British Bangladeshi second generation immigrant, the Bengali lyrics are an interpolation of a song by New York rapper Lal Miah. The verse rapped in english comments on the progress in Bangladeshi British rights and race relations, since the first wave of Bangladeshi immigrants landed in brick lane in the 60s… the song is my expression that the hostility faced and trauma felt was not in vain, but we continue to move forward. It is a celebration of how far we have come as a community but also highlighting the need to keep going and also relates back to the mixtape title 'At What Cost?'” - Surya Sen
“At What Cost” is essentially a sonic recreation of a night out in July 2021 with friends, featuring various storylines from Surya’s peers Bone Slim and Di-Vincent, it’s a post-lockdown jaunt through London containing Surya’s nuanced and personal statement of what it means to be Bengali in the capital.
The majority of the video takes place in Brick Lane, with Sen leading the way, effortlessly running through verses and repeating the earworm Bengali chorus line “buccho ni ba bhai”, which translates as “do you understand my brother?”.Mixtape featured artist and Surya’s own friend Bone Slim, plays a leading role during the track’s introduction, a sleazy New York yuppie securing property in Brick Lane, with intention to gentrify the area despite never having once been to London or holding any regard for the area’s current tenants. This video is the first piece of the puzzle as the story behind “At What Cost” begins to unfold across the three-part series.