[MP3 + Music Video] Big Kish – The Last Word

Following the excellent shot-on-iPhone music video, “Mantra” I posted back in March, the homie, Big Kish has dropped another music video for the track, “The Last Word.” This one is a mediation on his, at times, estranged relationship with his dad which he released, appropriately enough, right around Father Day. It’s an emotionally heavy record but not done in a heavy-handed way and further proof that hip-hop can handle mature, adult topics and doesn’t always have to dwell on the superficial. Nice one, Kish!

[MP3] R.I.P. Kunle Thomas aka King Reign: 1975-2016

The news that Kunle Thomas better known to the world as King Reign, Toronto rapper and former member of celebrated underground T.dot rap group, Brassmunk is no longer with us just rips me apart.

I am humbled that I got to know him a little since my return to Toronto in ’09 and honored that he thought enough of this blog to share a track featuring Saukrates, “The Books” for the compilation project I did for it two years ago. His song, “Guilty Party” also featuring Bigg Soxx still remains one of my favorite hip-hop songs of all time, true story.

And even after all these years, his career was still evolving and growing: just this week he had a featured role performing on the new Jason Priestly Global TV show, Private Eyes. It’s never good when anyone passes, especially so young, but this… this is a rough one. Prayers out to his entire family and friends. 2016 absolutely just f-cking sucks!

Related reading:

– Official announcement of Reign’s passing on FB

– Throwback to Different Kitchen‘s interview with King Reign for the #DK11 comp project

– Del Cowie on Why King Reign mattered to Canadian hip-hop (CBC Music)

– When My Eyes Closed: King Reign – 1975 to 2016 a previously unpublished Q&A with Reign conduced by Luke Fox (Exclaim!)

And please support the GoFundMe to help cover Reign’s funeral expenses if you can by going HERE.

Finally, a few musical reminders of why the T.dot hip-hop community’s heart is so heavy from this loss:

King Reign – Fades Away (feat. Saukrates & Drake) (Prod. Saukrates)


King Reign – Soaring To Heaven (feat. Saukrates, Tona, & Rich Kidd) (Prod. Rich Kidd)


King Reign – Money ft Saukrates & Kardinal Offishall (Prod. Boi1da)

“If I die now would anybody know my name?” – King Reign

Yes they would, Reign. Yes they would….

[MP3] Listen to Two Tracks by Drake/OVO’s New Act DVSN: One in a Million (Remix) / Let’s Get It On

First is a remix/mash-up of Aaliyah‘s “One In A Million” interpolating Prince‘s “Purple Rain” and the second a very radically remade ‘tribute’ to the late, legendary soul singer, Marvin Gaye‘s late night, baby-making classic, “Let’s Get It On.”

So, are we sold on these latest proteges of Drake? I’m not saying they’re bad at all but I feel like I heard this sound done better by Maxwell 20 years ago. Just sayin’! Their album is out though so I need to dive into it a little deeper and see if my thinking on them evolves based on that. More to come….

[MP3] Listen to Two Leaked Tracks from Drake – Controlla Feat. Popcaan / These Days w/ Babeo Baggins

First, “Controlla” featuring buzz dancehall MC (technically DJ in reggae parlance, still??), Popcaan which sounds like a sequel or an outtake of sorts of Drizzy‘s work with Rihanna on “Work.” The origins of the second track is a tad murkier but the apparent story, as best as I’ve figured it out, is that the track, which was originally identified as “These Days”, is actually a duet with Babeo Baggins of the group, Barf Troop (yeah, I’d never heard of ’em either!) on a cover of the Nico (of Velvet Underground) song by that name but now titled, “Things I Forgot To Do” for a cover song project called, Love Songs For Tough Guys which you can hear in full (it’s only 3 tracks) HERE. Confused yet??

Whether either of these songs, “Summer Sixteen” or “Hotline Bling” will make the supposedly imminently arriving and beyond hotly anticipated new Drake album, Views From the 6 remains the subject of endless and fruitless speculation. (note: apparently another track entitled, “Faithful” made with vocals from the late, great UGK co-member, Pimp C also leaked on April 1 but not sure if that’s legit or an April Fool’s gag. Have at it though and let me know what you find out….)

[MP3] Vic Mensa – 16 Shots

Rapper, Vic Mensa debuted this track, “16 Shots”, a tribute to Laquan McDonald, when he performed it at the ‪#‎JusticeforFlint‬ benefit concert where it promptly cracked my skull open when I watched it live on Oscar night. This is, I believe, the actual audio from that performance which surfaced on Soundcloud a a few days ago. And they say hip-hop is nothing but turn-up music nowadays and the kids don’t care about being socially conscious…