It’s a T.dot Thing
[Album Stream] Preme – Light Of Day
How’d we miss that Toronto rapper, Preme (the artist fka P. Reign) just dropped a brand new album, Light Of Day a month ago??! Record features Offset of Migos, Ty Dolla $ign, Lil Wayne, DJ Khaled, Partynextdoor, YG (on a track produced by DJ Mustard) and Post Malone . Not only is it stacked, feature-wise but it’s pretty decent as well. Kind of crazy that this album is not getting more burn or are we just out of it and not feeling the buzz? Major miss on everyone’s part if I’m right though, sad…
[MP3] Louis The Child – Better Not feat. Wafia (Shaun Frank and KRANE Remixes)
Shout to Toronto’s Shaun Frank for being one of a raft of remixes Interscope Records just droppped on this single by Chicago DJ and production duo, Louis the Child.
[Album Stream] Tona – Black Mirror
T.dot underground hip-hop mainstay, Tona, also of Freedom Writers and Naturally Born Strangers fame just dropped his latest album, Black Mirror a couple days ago. He had this to say about it (sic):
“BLACK MIRROR” has been officially released. The album is a collaborative effort entirely produced by Electronic & Bass producer “MEMORECKS” who has produced for the likes of; Zeds Dead & Jenna Pemkowski. The title “BLACK MIRROR” has been based around showing a different part of ourselves. The part we often hide that makes us vulnerable. The Black when all the televisions, computers, and cellphones are turned off says Tona. The Album features; Toronto up and coming phenom songstress Savannah Ré, St. Lucia native, Kayo as well as a product of the United Kingdom producer/rapper Skripture. The overall project is what happens when you merge a Scarborough man with a abstract Akai-Pro scientist.
We will say this: he’s not off the mark with that description. He’s definitely not content to just rest on his spit bars, underground hip-hop laurels on this album. He explores a variety of sounds from an electro latin-afropop hybrid on single, “War Child”, baile funk on “Gold” and grime (something he also dabbled with on his last album, The Ivy League) on “Slide” to broken beat/deep house on “Tomorrowland” (a shameless play to get a booking on the festival, perhaps?), a nice homage to Weezy‘s “A Milli” on “Notice” and even emo-influenced vibes on “Wide Open.” Now that might sound crazy kitchen sink but, somehow, he makes it work. This totally sounds and feels like a cohesive body of work.
We’re of the opinion that Tona does not get his full due. Besides becoming more open to exploring new sounds and styles and not just playing it safe which each new project, he has a great voice, skills and legit songwriting chops. Will the people appreciate and embrace the creative growth though? Time will tell….
[Album Stream] Witch Prophet – The Golden Octave
Just out from Toronto’s Witch Prophet (also known to some around The 6ix as Ayo Leilani), this is a really good album. To our ears, it’s kind of like a mix of 90’s UK singer, Nicolette mixed with FKA Twigs with a little bit of Rosina of Toronto’s LAL too.