J Dilla - Dillatroit [Album]

Detroit, MI - Earlier this month Yancey Media Group released the digital version of J Dilla's album Dillatroit. Another Detroit music legend was involved with the project, house producer Moodymann. Make sure you check out the link below to stream and purchase the album.
http://www.djbooth.net/index/albums/review/j-dilla-dillatroit

The 6th Letter - Chain Smokin [Video]

Toronto, ON - The 6th Letter is a rising star in the Toronto hip-hop scene and judging by his latest video for the track "Chain Smokin", he is ready to take his game to a whole new level. Fellow Bakers Club member Raz Fresco produced the phenomenal beat, which is reminiscent of old school, West Coast hip-hop. NorthernPlayalisticGetHighMuzik is scheduled to drop in the near future, so be on the lookout for that album. You can peep the visuals for "Chain Smokin" above.

ELMNT [Interview]

Toronto, ON - Last night I had the pleasure of interviewing up-and-coming Toronto rapper, ELMNT, who is poised to make power moves in 2014. One thing is for sure, he is going to take the Canadian hip-hop industry by storm when he releases his upcoming album Stara-Nova. Check out the link below to listen to the interview.

A$AP Mob – Trillmatic (ft. A$AP Nast & Method Man) [Video]

Harlem, NY - The first time I watched this video I thought I had traveled back in time. It is very reminiscent of classic, old school hip-hop, which really got me hooked because I'm a die hard fan of golden era hip-hop. A$AP Mob delivers the visuals for "Trillmatic," a grimey, hood track featuring A$AP Nast and Method Man. Check out the video above.

TheLegendsLeague presents: Naturally Born Strangers [Mixtape]

Toronto, ON - Sensational hip-hop trio known as Naturally Born Strangers (Rich Kidd, Tona and Adam Bomb) released their debut mixtape titled TheLegendsLeague presents: Naturally Born Strangers on Nov. 30. The beats on the mixtape are next level, which is no surprise considering it's produced entirely by Rich Kidd. This is one of those releases where you won't skip over any tracks due to its lyrical content and superb production. Check out the mixtape below.

JD Era & Friends [Event]

Waterloo, ON - Ice H20 signee, JD Era, will be blessing Waterloo with his lyrical talents when he performs at Starlight (47 King St. N) on Friday, December 6th. The show is part of JD Era's Do You Know Mary? Tour. Other artists performing include rapper/producer extraordinaire Rich Kidd, Bubs & Che from The Highest Class, as well as other performers. It's an all ages event, the cover is $10 and there will be free giveaways all night. Just a reminder that this is an early show, doors open at 7pm and the show starts at 8pm. Click the link below for full event details.

https://www.facebook.com/events/471271502998510/

Melanie Durrant - Gone [Video]

Toronto, ON - Singer-songwriter extraordinaire Melanie Durrant continues to make power moves with a new video for her recently released single "Gone."  Durrant also directed the video alongside Slakah The Beatchild, who is fairly well known in Canadian hip-hop circles.  Zac Facts contributed with the video editing.  Pay close attention to Melanie Durrant because she is a rising star in the Canadian music industry.  Check out the video above.

Marco Polo - G.U.R.U. ft. Talib Kweli, DJ Premier

Ghettosocks - For You Pretty Things [Album]

Halifax, NS - Nerdcore rapper, Ghettosocks, has proven once again why he's one of the most clever emcees in Canada.  In my opinion, For You Pretty Things is his best work yet.  The vast majority of the tracks on the album are playful and lighthearted, but some are more serious, introspective selections such as "Understanding."  His latest release features some of Canada's finest rappers/producers such as Muneshine, Moka Only, WOLVES, Timbuktu, Fresh Kils, The Extremities and many more.  It also features an array of international legends including The Herbaliser, Sadat X and El Da Sensei.  If you enjoyed Ghettosocks' previous albums you will definitely appreciate For You Pretty Things.  Click the link below to download and stream the album.

ELMNT - Tesla's Son [Audio]

Toronto, ON - The lyrical abilities of ELMNT never cease to amaze me.  On his latest track "Tesla's Son" the trend of elite lyricism continues.  The dope production was provided by Cam, which is no surprise because ELMNT has a knack for working with top-tier beat makers.  "Tesla's Son" will be featured on his upcoming album Stara-Nova.  Check out the link below to stream "Tesla's Son."
https://soundcloud.com/elmntmusic/teslas-son-prod-cam

Tri-Cities Producer Showcase Beat Battle Edition Vol. 7 [Event]

Waterloo, ON - Prepare to have your mind blown by dope hip-hop when The Get By performs in their hometown for the first time in 2 years.  The 7th edition of the Tri-Cities Producer Showcase Beat Battle is going down on Saturday, November 9th at Maxwell's Music House (220 King St. N.).  The producers who are competing in the beat battle include Calis, Simple Craft, DJ Speed, Know-It, The Cassette Era, Mista Mayotte, Superville and Allen Eddie Bastien.  There will also be live performances by Sharky and Exponent 3.  Music will be provided by DJ Carmelo & DJ Reddroc.  Cover is $10 and it's a 19+ event, so bring your ID.  Check out the link below for all the details.
https://www.facebook.com/events/279762505482064/

Jeo Jetson - Trial & Error [Mixtape]

Springfield, MA - Recently Springfield, Massachusetts rhymesayer Jeo Jetson released his latest mixtape titled Trial & Error.  Check out the link below to stream/download the mixtape.
http://www.datpiff.com/Jeo-Jetson-Trial-Error-mixtape.540262.html

Shad - Flying Colours [Album]

Vancouver, BC - Earlier this week on October 15, Canadian rap phenom Shad unleashed his latest album Flying Colours.  In my opinion, this release is his best work yet.  My favourite track on the album is "He Say She Say."  Guest appearances include Lisa Lobsinger, Ian Kamau, k-os, Ebrahim, Saukrates, Lights and Eternia.  I had the privilege of attending Shad's first show of his tour last night at The Opera House in Toronto.  The concert was on some next level shit, definitely one of the best hip-hop shows I've ever been to!  I had the opportunity to go backstage after the show and meet him in person.  It was such an honour to meet one of the biggest Canadian rappers in the game today!  What made it even more special was the fact that he was roommates with my sister in Waterloo, Ontario about 10 years ago.  Any hip-hop heads/music lovers who haven't copped his album yet, I suggest you go and buy it ASAP!  Check the link below to buy the album on iTunes.
http://smarturl.it/SHADflyingcolours

Charron - B.E.T. Cypher Verse 2013

ELMNT - Ri$k$ (Dir. BLKNXPRSS)

Shua James Presents: "The Return of Nigsy Brown" Album Release Party

Attention hip-hop heads who live in Waterloo Region and Southern Ontario!  This Saturday, October 5th, Shua James is having an album release party for "The Return of Nigsy Brown."  The release party is going down at Maxwell's Music House in Waterloo.  The show will be hosted by Casper and music will be provided by the very talented DJ Carmelo.  There will be live performances by Fraction, Shark MC, Black Diamond, G Man and other artists as well.  Cover is $15 or $10 + 1 can of food to donate to the Waterloo Food Bank.  You will also receive a copy of Shua James' album.  Check out the link below to get all the details!
https://www.facebook.com/events/227877170698841/?ref_dashboard_filter=upcoming

Junia-T - You & I (feat. Slakah The Beatchild)

Hope Wright – Rough Sex ft. Kay Cola & Skyzoo (Prod. Junia-T) (Freestyle) [Audio]

Toronto, ON – Toronto’s very own, Junia-T, laid down a nice jazz inspired beat for the freestyle titled “Rough Sex.”  Junia-T has been steadily climbing the ranks in the Toronto hip-hop scene, over the past several years.  Whether he is producing or rapping, Junia-T always comes correct.  Compton artist Hope Wright, singer Kay Cola and Brooklyn emcee Skyzoo are the artists featured on this laid-back freestyle.  Listen to “Rough Sex” below.

https://soundcloud.com/kaycola/hope-wright-x-kay-cola-x

My First Post on HipHopCanada.com!

Yesterday was a very momentous occasion for me, due to the fact that my first piece of writing was posted on http://www.hiphopcanada.com!  Writing is something that I'm very passionate about, as well as hip-hop.  I realize that I'm only scratching the surface, in terms of my writing potential, and I have much bigger plans in the journalism industry.  Check out the link below to read my first post!
http://www.hiphopcanada.com/2013/09/elmnt-hello-jesus-america-prod-elmnt-audio/

Mas G - The Underground! (Audio)

Up-and-coming British hip-hop producer, Mas G, recently dropped an instrumental album titled "The Underground!"  His music is very eclectic, it incorporates elements of Flying Lotus and J Dilla's production styles.  Check out the link below to listen to "The Underground!"
http://masg.bandcamp.com/album/the-underground

Jaelle - Moves You Make ft. PG and Phax (Audio)

Female emcee Jaelle, who hails from Toronto, has blessed us with her uptempo track "Moves You Make."  The track was produced by Jazzfeezy, and it's from Jaelle's album "Story To Tell," which dropped back in January. Check out "Moves You Make" below.
https://soundcloud.com/iamjaelle/moves-you-make-ft-pg-and-phax

Tri-Cities Producer Showcase Beat Battle

Tonight (August 31) the latest edition of the Tri-Cities Producer Showcase Beat Battle is taking place at Maxwell's Music House in Waterloo, Ontario.  Producer Simple Craft will be defending his title against seven other competitors.  There will be music provided by DJ Carmelo and DJ Reddroc.  Marmel Ent., Black Diamond and Divo will be performing as well.  Cover is $10 and doors open at 9pm.  Any hip-hop heads who live in the Tri-Cities and surrounding areas should check out this event, you will definitely get your money's worth!  Check out the flyer above for details.

Yancey Boys, Common and Dezi Paige - Quicksand (Prod. J Dilla)

Shad - Fam Jam (Fe Sum Immigrins)

Street Hop Radio Show 100.3 CKMS FM

DJ Carmelo, who hails from Kitchener-Waterloo, has a radio show called Street Hop.  The radio show is based in Waterloo, Ontario, Canada.  It airs every Thursday night at 10pm on 100.3 CKMS FM.  It is also available on channel 946 on Rogers Digital Cable.  DJ Carmelo plays local hip-hop from Waterloo Region, as well as hip-hop from all over Canada and the US.  In my opinion, it's one of the best hip-hop radio shows I've ever heard!  I highly recommend this radio show for all the hip-hop heads out there.  Check out the link below to listen to the radio station.
http://soundfm.ca/listen

Personal Video Footage from Pete Rock & CL Smooth Concert in Toronto (August 2012)

Back in August 2012, I had the privilege of witnessing the legendary hip-hop duo of Pete Rock & CL Smooth.  I must admit that this was the 2nd best concert I've ever been to!  It exceeded my expectations by leaps and bounds.  These dudes put on a phenomenal performance, showing amazing stage presence.  Great hip-hop artists don't always have stage presence, but Pete Rock & CL Smooth definitely do!  Check out the link below to watch my personal video footage from the concert.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Wp0db_EkIeY

Rich Kidd - We On Some Rich Kidd Shit Vol. 7: The People's Champ (Mixtape Stream/Download)

Recently Canadian hip-hop phenom Rich Kidd released the latest edition of his mixtape series, "We On Some Rich Kidd Shit Vol. 7: The People's Champ".  Rich Kidd is a producer/rapper, who hails from Toronto, and has steadily climbed the ladder in the Canadian hip-hop industry over the past several years.  The 19-track mixtape features many different artists such as Casey Veggies, K-Os, Saigon, Adam Bomb, Tona, SonReal and more.  Check out the link below to stream/download the mixtape.

http://indy.livemixtapes.com/mixtapes/23431/rich-kidd-we-on-some-rich-kids-sht.html

The Beach Boys vs. J Dilla - Pet Sounds: The Key of Dee (Album Stream)

On Monday night I was checking out music on YouTube, and I happened to stumble upon an absolute gem.  I discovered a remix album called "The Beach Boys vs. J Dilla - Pet Sounds: The Key of Dee".  The album was created by Bullion, who is a British producer.  I was hooked almost immediately, within a few seconds of listening to it, I proceeded to listen to it all the way through.  In my opinion, this is one of the greatest remix albums of all-time!  Check out the link below to stream the album.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zo0ur0U-TUM

J Shiltz - Still Standing (Album Stream/Download)

There have been many talented rappers from the GTA (Greater Toronto Area) throughout the years who have made a significant contribution to Canadian hip-hop.  J Shiltz has already made an impact, especially with his latest release "Still Standing".  The album dropped in May, and it features some well known underground rappers, such as A.G. (of D.I.T.C.), Rapper Big Pooh and Rich Kidd, among others.  A plethora of producers were involved with the album, which has an old school vibe.  I highly recommend the track "From The Soul", it reminds me of Pete Rock's production style.  It features Junia-T, and it's produced by Relic.  Check out "Still Standing" below.

http://jshiltz.bandcamp.com/

Shad - Stylin (featuring Saukrates)

#FACTSONLY Interview with JAY Z Part 2 - The Truth With Elliott Wilson

#FACTSONLY Interview with JAY Z - The Truth With Elliott Wilson

P-Money - The Professional ft. Roc Marciano (Video)

All you hip-hop heads out there need to check out lyrical mastermind Roc Marciano's new music video for the track, "The Professional".  The track is off P-Money's latest album, "Gratitude".  P-Money produced the entire album.  Marciano goes hard on this track, proving why he is one of the best underground lyricists in the rap game.  Check out the official music video for "The Professional" below.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1-qzUqLNTEE&feature=youtu.be

ANTHM - The Fire Next Time (Album Stream/Download)

New York has produced many talented rap stars over the years, and right now they have one who is ready to emerge and rise to the top, his name is ANTHM.  Earlier this month he dropped his second album this year, "The Fire Next Time".  This dude can flat out spit rhymes, and has way more lyrical ability than most of the emcees in the rap game.  It is obvious that he put a lot of time and energy into this album, considering the high quality of each track.  You can tell that he is very passionate when he raps, and openly refers to personal experiences.  If you're a fan of underground hip-hop, you should definitely check out this album.  Check out "The Fire Next Time" below.
http://callmeanthm.bandcamp.com/album/the-fire-next-time

Joey Bada$$ - Summer Knights (Mixtape Review & Lyrics)

Young rap prodigy Joey Bada$$ recently dropped his newest mixtape "Summer Knights" on July 1.  I must admit that this mixtape did not meet my lofty expectations, but I still consider it to be a good mixtape.  My expectations were high because of his 2012 mixtape "1999", which included several bangers.  I regarded that as a primo quality mixtape.

"Summer Knights" begins with two decent tracks, the intro "Alowha", and "Hilary $wank".  In the intro Bada$$ mentions the "allahs, gods and judahs", which refers to his religious beliefs.  He is very candid about his beliefs.  During the second track "Hilary $wank", it seems like Joey is trying to create a trend with the word "swank" as opposed to "swag".  The following track "My Youth", has a catchy, fast-paced reggae beat, which was produced by fellow Pro Era member Chuck Strangers.  It also features reggae star Collie Buddz.  I think that it added more variety to the mixtape, considering Joey has never rapped over a reggae beat (at least on the tracks that I've heard).

The first track that really caught my ear was "Right On Time", due to the beautiful vocals of singer T'nah Apex.  T'nah's vocals and Joey's rapping mesh well together.  The lyrics in this track paint a picture, and it focuses on the idea of love and relationships.  As the mixtape moves along, we find "47 Goons", which is reminiscent of early 90's Wu-Tang.  The track features Pro Era members Dirty Sanchez and Nyck Caution, who drop complex verses along with Joey.  The Lee Bannon- produced beat is grimey and rugged, with an old school, boom bap sound.

In my opinion, there is no debate on which track reigns supreme, and that is "95 Til Infinity".  The first time I heard this track my mind was blown.  It's no surprise that Lee Bannon created the beat, considering his beats are always top notch.  The beat is very rugged and raw.  During the track, Joey explains the trials and tribulations of his life, and his ascension from the ghetto to his music career.  Another solid track near the end of the mixtape is "Sorry Bonita".  The Oddisee-produced track has a funky, fast-paced beat.  Several Pro Era members are featured on the track, and they spit rhymes about the ladies.  "Summer Knights" concludes with "Unorthodox", which was produced by hip-hop legend DJ Premier.  You can tell that it's a Premo beat within the first few seconds of hearing the track.  Bada$$ goes hard on this track, showing off his immense lyrical ability.

Overall, I think that it's a good mixtape, but not as good as "1999" was.  "95 Til Infinity" is definitely my favourite track on "Summer Knights."  In some ways this mixtape was a step backward for Joey Bada$$.  My rating for "Summer Knights" is 3 out of 5.  I still believe that Joey is one of the most talented rising stars in the rap game.  I have high expectations for his upcoming debut album.

<a href="http://rapgenius.com/Joey-bada-alowha-lyrics">1. Joey BADA$$ – Alowha Lyrics</a> <a href="http://rapgenius.com/Joey-bada-hilary-swank-lyrics">2. Joey BADA$$ – Hilary $wank Lyrics</a> <a href="http://rapgenius.com/Joey-bada-my-yout-lyrics">3. Joey BADA$$ – My Yout Lyrics</a> <a href="http://rapgenius.com/Joey-bada-death-of-yolo-lyrics">4. Joey BADA$$ – Death of YOLO Lyrics</a> <a href="http://rapgenius.com/Joey-bada-right-on-time-lyrics">5. Joey BADA$$ – Right on Time Lyrics</a> <a href="http://rapgenius.com/Joey-bada-sweet-dreams-lyrics">6. Joey BADA$$ – Sweet Dreams Lyrics</a> <a href="http://rapgenius.com/Joey-bada-47-goonz-lyrics">7. Joey BADA$$ – 47 Goonz Lyrics</a> <a href="http://rapgenius.com/Joey-bada-word-is-bond-lyrics">8. Joey BADA$$ – Word Is Bond Lyrics</a> <a href="http://rapgenius.com/Joey-bada-sit-n-prey-lyrics">9. Joey BADA$$ – Sit N' Prey Lyrics</a> <a href="http://rapgenius.com/Joey-bada-trap-door-lyrics">10. Joey BADA$$ – Trap Door Lyrics</a> <a href="http://rapgenius.com/Joey-bada-satellite-lyrics">11. Joey BADA$$ – Satellite Lyrics</a> <a href="http://rapgenius.com/Joey-bada-95-til-infinity-lyrics">12. Joey BADA$$ – 95 Til Infinity Lyrics</a> <a href="http://rapgenius.com/Joey-bada-amethyst-rockstar-lyrics">13. Joey BADA$$ – Amethyst Rockstar Lyrics</a> <a href="http://rapgenius.com/Joey-bada-reign-lyrics">14. Joey BADA$$ – Reign Lyrics</a> <a href="http://rapgenius.com/Joey-bada-sorry-bonita-lyrics">15. Joey BADA$$ – Sorry Bonita Lyrics</a> <a href="http://rapgenius.com/Joey-bada-longlivesteelo-lyrics">16. Joey BADA$$ – #LongLiveSteelo Lyrics</a> <a href="http://rapgenius.com/Joey-bada-unorthodox-lyrics">17. Joey BADA$$ – Unorthodox Lyrics</a>

ELMNT - Body Movin (Video)

The very talented Toronto emcee ELMNT just dropped the video for "Body Movin."  He goes hard on this track, spitting verse after verse of lyrical fire.  I'd say that J Dilla would be proud that such a talented lyricist was rapping over one of his beats.  Check the SoTeeOh directed music video below.
http://vimeo.com/elmntmusic/bodymovin

Jay-Z - Magna Carta... Holy Grail (Lyrics)

1. Jay-Z – Holy Grail Lyrics 2. Jay-Z – Picasso Baby Lyrics 3. Jay-Z – Tom Ford Lyrics 4. Jay-Z – FuckWithMeYouKnowIGotIt Lyrics 5. Jay-Z – Oceans Lyrics 6. Jay-Z – F.U.T.W Lyrics 7. Jay-Z – Somewhereinamerica Lyrics 8. Jay-Z – Crown Lyrics 9. Jay-Z – Heaven Lyrics 10. Jay-Z – Versus (Interlude) Lyrics 11. Jay-Z – Part II (On The Run) Lyrics 12. Jay-Z – Beach Is Better (Interlude) Lyrics 13. Jay-Z – BBC Lyrics 14. Jay-Z – Jay Z Blue Lyrics 15. Jay-Z – La Familia Lyrics 16. Jay-Z – Nickels and Dimes Lyrics 17. Jay-Z – Open Letter Lyrics

Review of Joey Bada$$ at NXNE

Last Sunday, June 16, I had the privilege of witnessing hip-hop prodigy Joey Bada$$ perform at Dundas Square in Toronto.  To say he exceeded my expectations would be an understatement, his performance was mind-blowing.  DJ/producer extraordinaire Statik Selektah held it down on the turntables during Joey's set, and never skipped a beat.  Bada$$ started things off with classic tracks "Summer Knights" and "Waves", from his mixtape "1999."  Both tracks are personal favourites of mine, and they had the crowd buzzing with excitement.  Another banger (at least in my opinion) that he performed was "Pennyroyal", which was produced by the enigmatic rapper/producer MF DOOM.  Bada$$ effortlessly dropped verse after verse of complex rhymes, proving that he is one of the elite, up-and-coming lyricists in the game.  It's hard to believe that this dude is only 18 years old.

Other notable tracks that he performed include: "95 Til Infinity", "School High", "Unorthodox" and "Word Is Bond".  "Unorthodox" was produced by legendary DJ/producer DJ Premier.  "Word Is Bond" will be featured on his upcoming mixtape "Summer Knights", which is scheduled to drop on July 1.  Fellow Pro Era member Kirk Knight showed a strong stage presence, as he performed alongside Joey Bada$$ during some of the songs.  I particularly enjoyed when Bada$$ paid tribute to former Pro Era member and close friend Capital STEEZ, who tragically passed away back in December.  The tribute elevated his performance even more.

In my opinion, the sky is the limit for this lyrical genius, who hails from Brooklyn.  He just needs to continue gaining notoriety and exposure.  If he stays focused and keeps his eye on the prize, he will become one of the heavyweights in the rap game, sooner than later.

Mainstream Hip-Hop vs. Underground Hip-Hop

I recently read a tweet that really resonated with me.  The tweet questioned why 2 Chainz was famous and Blu wasn't.  The person tweeted this after watching the rappers perform at Hot 97 Summer Jam, an annual hip-hop concert in the US.  2 Chainz is a mainstream rapper from Georgia.  He has very limited lyrical ability, repetitive lyrics often referring to women, money, cars and drinking, and typical cookie-cutter club beats. Blu, on the other hand, is an underground rapper from California.  He is a great lyricist, and delivers conscious yet raw lyrics.  His music has a lot of substance, and definitely expands your mind.  Exile has produced the majority of Blu’s tracks during his career, and he always lays down upper echelon beats.  In my opinion, 2 Chainz is famous because his music is catchy and repetitive, which appeals to a large audience.  Fame and talent don’t always go hand in hand though.  I believe that Blu is much more talented, and is a better lyricist than 2 Chainz.  If you listened to the lyrics of each rapper, you would probably agree with me.

As you may have noticed, I'm biased towards underground hip-hop.  That wasn't my motivation for writing this post though.  I wanted to compare mainstream hip-hop vs. underground hip-hop. Mainstream hip-hop is much more lucrative, has a higher volume of record sales and receives more radio and TV play.  It also has catchy beats, cheesy lyrics with little to no substance, flashy music videos with high budgets, and appeals to the masses.  Underground hip-hop is less profitable, has a lower volume of record sales and receives less radio and TV play.  It also has a greater variety of beats with more sampling, thought-provoking lyrics with substance, lower budget music videos and appeals to a smaller portion of the population.

I don't completely ignore mainstream hip-hop though.  Occasionally there are mainstream tracks that I enjoy, but I despise the vast majority of it.  Sometimes there are tracks that incorporate elements of both mainstream and underground.  There are also underground rappers who made it big and hit the mainstream, but they maintained their musical integrity.  Two rappers who straddle both realms, are Common and Nas.  Common is a conscious rapper, who has been in the rap game since the early 90's.  Nas is a conscious/gangsta rapper, who has been rapping since the early 90's.  He is widely regarded as one of the greatest rappers of all time, which I definitely agree with.  I highly recommend his latest album "Life Is Good."

To sum up, I think there will always be comparisons made between mainstream and underground hip-hop.  There will always be debates over which stream of hip-hop is superior.  In my opinion, underground hip-hop is better than mainstream hip-hop, as I mentioned and explained throughout my blog post.  I have always enjoyed listening to music that has substance, insightful lyrics and high quality beats.  Both streams of hip-hop have positives and negatives, but I believe that underground hip-hop will always reign supreme.