Sick Beat

The world has gone coronavirus crazy and the always-ahead-of-the-trends out rapper Xcellence! is first at bat with “Wu Flu Pandemic,” his explosive new hip hop single that he hopes will raise awareness about coronavirus. “Someone needs to get the word out on coronavirus in a way that youth will digest it because the news is all doom and gloom and frankly, most kids don’t pay attention to it,” he says.

The song is a lighthearted, fun and danceable track with great word play that pays homage to Wu-Tang Clan, one of Xcellence!’s favorite acts. “I hope to encourage people to practice good hygiene and to pay attention to symptoms to protect the populace.”

“I have been watching the coronavirus spread since January,” Xcellence! explains from his Los Angeles home. “It caused me to abruptly stop air travel. I even missed the Washington DC funeral of Michael “Snowy” Snowden, one of my dearest friends.”

He has also canceled a birthday celebration trip to Australia and one to Brazil, just as that country was confirming its first case of coronavirus.

“My friends and family thought I was crazy in January but now they see that everything I’ve been warning about has come to pass.”

Xcellence! felt the need to make the song two weeks ago, when he saw the masses of people at Brazil Carnival, Venice Carnival, Milan fashion week and Australia Gay Mardi Gras ignoring the health risks of large gatherings. “I see my friends out there on social media just blissfully unaware of what’s going on in the world,” he says.

He also argues that the CDC and World Health Organization are downplaying the outbreak and refusing to call it a pandemic in fear of scaring the population and further hurting the economy. “This ignorance is bliss mentality has led to people not giving coronavirus the serious attention it warrants,” he continues. “We are not defined by tragedy but how we respond to it.”

His message in “Wu Flu Pandemic” isn’t one of fear, but to simply be more careful, use better hygiene, wash hands, stay home if possible, and be aware that coronavirus is not an Asian, European or Middle eastern problem. It is a humanities problem.

It took Xcellence! less than a week to write and record the single. “I’m a very prolific writer, especially if I feel something in my soul. These words practically wrote themselves. Sometimes I swear they were heaven sent.”

Xcellence! introduced himself to hip hop five years ago with music that artfully blends urban beats and progressive house. His name, given to him by his fraternity brothers, is a nod at his desire to strive for perfection. He heads the independent label, Xcellent Music.

Follow him on Facebook and Instagram.