Hip-Hop
[MP3] Sonic Asaad – Soulfood (Freestyle)
Kid out of Trenton, NY with ridiculous spit game. Hip-hop like your dad used to talk about.
[News] ‘Northern Touch’ at 20: An Oral History presented by CBC q
It’s been 20 years since the 1998 release of the seminal Canadian hip-hop posse cut, “Northern Touch” by Vancouver’s Rascalz, Kardinal Offishall, Choclair, Thrust and Checkmate. Salute to the homie, Ty Harper for doing this retrospective oral history to celebrate the anniversary:
“2018 marks the 20th anniversary of `Northern Touch’.
2018 also marks the 20th anniversary of The Rascalz’s protest of The Juno Awards in Vancouver.
Two important moments in Canadian hip-hop history for a ton of reasons, but I think it’s important to hear why and how they happened from the mans whose blood, sweat, tears and sacrifices, made it so.
Respect to The Rascalz, Red1, Misfit, Kemo Matico, Sol Guy, Kardinal Offishall, Checkmate The Rapper, Thrust and Craig Mannix.
These are the stories that truly matter to me.”
CLICK HERE for the original CBC q article with additional supporting videos.
My add-on note: I’ma keep it 100, this might be considered heresy for many heads but I always rated this record’s use of “Everything Good to You (Ain’t Always Good for You)” by B.T. Express a little more than the more widely known use in “Get At Me Dog” by DMX! (Shout to EPMD, “Get the Bozack” too!)
[MP3] NAV – Wanted You Feat. Lil Uzi Vert
New Nav x Uzi!
GRAMMY Award-nominated platinum-certified Toronto rapper and producer NAV releases his new single ‘Wanted You’ featuring Lil Uzi Vert, produced by Nav himself, DJ Khaled, Ben Billions and Cash of XO. Further production credits from Nav includes Drake’s 2016 Grammy nominated smash ‘Back To Back’. ‘Wanted You’ sees Nav and Uzi Vert rap about romance regrets and a relationship gone bad. The track unites NAV and Lil Uzi Vert for the second time in 2017, following up the hit ‘A$AP Ferg’ taken from Nav and Metro Boomin’s collaborative project ‘Perfect Timing’ released earlier this year.
[Album Stream + Music Video] Grand Analog – Survival (EP)
We brought you the first single, “Mutations” featuring Posdnuos of the legendary De La Soul a few weeks back. Now comes the full EP, Survival from Toronto’s Grand Analog which just dropped last with tracks featuring Shad and Clairmont the Second. Peep the PR science:
Toronto-based self-professed beat junkies Grand Analog release their new EP Survival via Grand Analog Music. The group set themselves apart by offering an eclectic approach to hip-hop with a focus on live musical instruments. Their sound: a beautiful mess of rap ‘n’ roll, dub ‘n’ soul. Each personality in this collective brings something unique to the table. Odario and DJ Ofield blame their father, a reggae DJ from the 80s, for cursing them with the love of music, bass and trouble. Warren Bray is the secret sauce on bass, while TJ Garcia trips the light fantastic behind his drum kit and Aubrey McGhee is the sonic adventurer on saxophone.
With beats that are soaked in J Dilla influences and plenty of head-nodding funk, Grand Analog’s forthcoming EP Survival features an impressive list of guest artists including Posdnuos of De La Soul, Shad, A Tribe Called Red producer 2oolman, Clairmont The Second, Mad Professor (Massive Attack/Grace Jones) and Canadian alt-pop songstress, Adaline.
“There are quite a few reasons we titled this EP Survival,” says Odario. “One being surviving the fear in taking a chance on something new in life. Another reason is the fact that classic sounds in music production always stand the test of time. In other words, there are certain sounds that survive the quickly changing trends in music. Collectively, we listen to a lot of vintage sounds for inspiration, and wanted our music to reflect the classics. This collection is an ode to “Golden Era 90s Hip-Hop”, back when the culture passionately meant something to people.”
The band’s profile and fan base has grown steadily. Boasting a discography of critically acclaimed albums including Modern Thunder, Metropolis Is Burning, and Calligraffiti, and featuring an infectious array of soundscapes, the collective has over 60 syncs in film, television and commercials; notably two tracks in the 2016 feature film Lowriders starring award-winning actor Eva Longoria.
Grand Analog is Canada’s number one live hip-hop band, constantly being compared to the likes of The Roots, Mos Def and Roots Manuva. The band’s live show adds soul to the bloodline with frequent stage jams and off the wall spontaneity. Grand Analog have left their mark on prestigious showcases and festivals such as the Great Escape Festival, SXSW, the Reeperbahn Festival, CMJ, Pop Montreal, the Halifax Pop Explosion and CMW plus shared stages with The Roots, Little Dragon, Future, X-Ambassadors, Grieves, Remi, The Herbaliser, Shad, Big Boi and K-OS.
Follow Grand Analog online: Facebook | Twitter | Instagram | Website
#DK11: The album, This One Goes To Eleven… OUT NOW
