What if Griselda Records Expanded into Canada?

Back in September I posed a hypothetical question on Twitter, which stated, “If a Canadian branch of @GriseldaRecords was created, who would the 1st member be?”

Personally, I’ve been a fan of the Griselda movement since approx. 2017 and felt like throwing that question out there into the Twitterverse. Westside Gunn, Conway The Machine and Benny The Butcher are the three most prominent members of the Griselda collective, and they’ve taken the hip-hop industry by storm over the past few years, despite going against the grain with their rugged, golden-era, boom bap sound.

But what if my hypothetical scenario actually came to fruition and Griselda expanded north of the border and started signing hip-hop artists who meshed well with their sound/culture? It would be interesting to see who they would bring onboard.

Two artists who come to mind are Raz Fresco and Adam Bomb. Coincidentally, they’re both from the GTA (Greater Toronto Area) and both fit the Griselda mold sound wise.

Raz has proven that he can spit conscious rhymes while staying true to the streets. He’s the leader of the BKRSCLB collective and talks openly about his affiliation with the Five-Percent Nation, which is a movement that the Buffalo trio are heavily immersed in as well. Raz also has a spiritual awareness that surfaces in his bars. His blend of conscious, hood rap is on the same wavelength as Griselda, and he’s collaborated with Daringer, who is an in-house producer for the Buffalo clique. There’s no questioning his work ethic either, as he’s pumped out issues 1-7 of the Magneto Was Right series this year alone. These are reasons why I think he would meet the criteria to become a member of the Griselda fam.

As for Adam Bomb, he’s got that grimy, street style. He is a highly-respected lyricist in Canadian hip-hop circles, despite never blowing up on a national scale. Adam was one of the original members of the Empire crew, in addition to being a member of the Freedom Writers collective and Naturally Born Strangers throughout the years. In 2015, Naturally Born Strangers captured some hardware as they won the Juno Award for “Rap Recording of the Year.” They won the award for the project, The Legends League Presents: Naturally Born Strangers. Tona and Rich Kidd are the other members of the group. 

In terms of individual songs, “Carpe DM” is a recent example of his lyrical prowess. The track was featured on Rap Behind Bars Presented By Benny The Butcher, which was a mixtape hosted by Benny. Adam’s elite pen game and raw, authentic persona would vibe well with Griselda’s vision.

I’m sure there are other hip-hop artists from Canada who could potentially fit into the culture that Griselda has cultivated, but for me, Raz Fresco and Adam Bomb stand out above the rest.

ELMNT - Carpe DM feat. Adam Bomb [Audio]

Montreal, QC - We're currently at a stage where trap music is dominating the airwaves, which I'm not a fan of, aside from a handful of tracks. I'm more of a traditionalist when it comes to rap/hip-hop, which is why "Carpe DM" appealed to my musical taste buds when it dropped in June. Rapper/producer ELMNT brings the heat with some dope bars, as well as veteran Toronto emcee Adam Bomb who is considered by some people to be one of Canada's top lyricists. Not only did ELMNT rap on the song, but he also produced the beat. "Carpe DM" is featured on Benny The Butcher's mixtape, Rap Behind Bars Presented by Benny The Butcher. Make sure to check out the link below!

Inside the Mind of a Hip-Hop Guru Vol. 3 [Spotify Playlist]

DK - Reflections ft. Ghettosocks [Video Premiere]

Halifax, NS - Producer DK joined forces with fellow Halifax native emcee Ghettosocks for the single/video, "Reflections."

"For the concept of the track, I pitched him the beat and we were talking about how some people don't self-reflect and therefore create unintended consequences for themselves," says DK via email. "Ghettosocks definitely did his thing & incorporated my thoughts into his writing."

"As for the concept for the video, I have to give Ghettosocks credit, as in the first few lines of the track, he says "in the clouds" - and we built around the reflections concept by filming him rapping as if he was in the clouds," explains DK.

"Reflections" is part of an EP that the two of them are working on. The project doesn't have a title or release date yet but it features heavy hitters like Skyzoo, O.C. and the Artifacts.

"I'm also releasing a "producer EP" project on August 28th, called "Soul Expressions" featuring Ghettosocks, Aquakultre, Timbuktu, Cam James, Touch and Justo the MC to be available on all streaming platforms," says DK. "I have already released audio of the first single, "Coltranes of the Movement" exclusively on 7" with the bonus track "Reflections" (from the next project) featured on the B-side. It is available exclusively through our distributor, Black Buffalo Records (blackbuffalorecords.ca)."

Check out DK and Ghettosocks' "Reflections" above.

Having Success Despite Going Against the Grain

Me and Shad backstage after his show in Toronto in 2013

                                               
I have always had a great deal of respect for hip-hop artists who go against the grain as opposed to trend-hopping. Shad, k-os and Moka Only are three non-conformist, original thinkers who fall into this category. Interestingly enough, I have interacted with each of these dudes in some capacity. I met Shad backstage at a show in Toronto back in 2013, I interviewed k-os over the phone for a piece that I wrote for Noisey Canada in 2015 and I met Moka Only at a show in Guelph in 2016.

I'd like to focus on Shad to start things off. He has been a jack of all trades since he starting releasing music back in 2005. Not only can he rap, but he can sing and play the guitar. His latest album, A Short Story About a War, was released last year and was well-received on CBC and Spotify. He toured to promote the album too. Even though his music doesn't follow trends, it appeals to a broader audience, not just hip-hop fans, as he fuses many different genres together. Here is a list of his accomplishments: won the Juno Award for Rap Recording of the Year in 2011 for TSOL, former host of CBC Radio One's Q and former host of Hip-Hop Evolution, which was a Canadian music documentary series that profiled the history of hip-hop music in America. It won the 2016 Peabody Award and the 2017 International Emmy Award for Best Arts Programming. As you can tell from his various achievements and endeavours, Shad is a well-rounded individual who spreads positivity and makes conscious hip-hop.

                                                    Source: Wikipedia

Now let's switch things up and gravitate towards k-os. There are definite similarities between Shad and k-os, as they are both eclectic hip-hop artists who spit bars, sing and play guitar. Songwriting and producing are a couple other skills that he possesses. They have both collaborated with each other on tracks as well. k-os has been doing his thing since 1993 when he released the single "Musical Essence." During his career, two of his albums have gone platinum: Joyful Rebellion in 2004 and Atlantis: Hymns for Disco in 2006. Here's a tweet from k-os where he references the Atlantis album: 

In addition to hip-hop, he likes to throw other genres into the mix, including funk, rock and reggae. He is known for promoting positivity in his music. k-os has raked in a plethora of awards during his time in the industry, like when his single "Crabbuckit" won a MuchMusic Video Award for Best Pop Video and a Juno Award for Single of the Year in 2005. He has won many other awards in addition to those ones. Despite having multiple platinum albums and winning numerous awards, k-os has never been in it for the money and fame, instead, he's a practical-thinking artist who loves creating art.

                                         Source: Twitter

And last but not least, Moka Only. First off, I'd like to say that this dude has one of the biggest discographies I've ever seen in my life. According to his Wikipedia page, he's created more than 80 studio albums during his time in the music biz, including his first solo album, Upcoast Relix, in 1995. And consider this, that doesn't even include the EPs, collaborative work or Swollen Members' albums. Most casual fans of Canadian hip-hop are familiar with his name due to his past association with Swollen Members as opposed to his solo work. While Moka was part of Swollen Members, he won three Juno Awards and five MuchMusic Video Awards. I must confess, I haven't listened to a lot of his solo efforts, but the stuff I have listened to has very chilled out vibes, which I dig. I would definitely classify his brand of music as abstract hip-hop and he's known for integrating jazz into his tunes. Creating art that goes against the grain is one thing, but being able to live off it, like he does, is even more impressive. You also have to consider that only a small percentage of Canadian hip-hop artists are in a position where they can rely on their music earnings as a sole means of income. Respects to Shad, k-os and Moka Only for being successful despite taking the road less travelled!

Eh Vee - Clash of the Titans ft. Eternia & Adam Bomb (prod. by JSG) [Audio]

Guelph, ON - Eh Vee has joined forces with veteran emcees Eternia and Adam Bomb on "Clash of the Titans," which was produced by JSG. This track is a lyrical banger that will have you nodding your head from start to finish. The song will be featured on Eh Vee's upcoming EP, Clash of the Titans. Make sure to check out the link below!

Inside the Mind of a Hip-Hop Guru Vol. 2 [Spotify Playlist]

Inside the Mind of a Hip-Hop Guru Vol. 1 [Spotify Playlist]

Up Top HipHop Podcast - Episode 12 - HMC [Audio]

Guelph, ON - Eh Vee and JSG are the hosts of the Up Top HipHop Podcast Series and they released episode 12 a week ago. In this episode, they interviewed Daimon Miles and YS of the Hamilton, Ontario-based group known as HMC. They discussed topics such as musical influences, Drake's meteoric rise and production techniques. Check out the interview below!

10 Notable Hip-Hop Projects/Tracks of 2016

k-os - Views From The Stix

k-os was back at it again in 2016 with his mixtape titled Views From The Stix. As usual, he presented listeners with an eclectic array of songs. It features production from the likes of Kaytranada and Boi-1da and also includes guest artists, such as Saukrates, Kardinal Offishall, Choclair, Shad and the late King Reign.

A Tribe Called Quest - We Got it from Here... Thank You 4 Your Service

Legendary hip-hop group A Tribe Called Quest dropped their latest album, We Got it from Here... Thank You 4 Your Service, in November, which marked their first studio album release since 1998. This album has that classic Tribe sound with a bit of a new school vibe and features some big name rappers like Andre 3000, Kendrick Lamar and Kanye West, among others.

Apollo Brown & Skyzoo - The Easy Truth

Producer Apollo Brown and rapper Skyzoo are both highly skilled in their respective fields, and their

new collaborative album, The Easy Truth, is a perfect blend of soul-filled beats and multi-faceted lyricism. In my opinion, it's one of the best rap albums of the year! 

PRhyme ft. MF Doom & Phonte - Highs and Lows

Although this track was released near the end of 2015, I'm still including it in my 2016 list. "Highs and Lows" is from PRhyme's deluxe edition of their self-titled debut album. It features MF Doom and Phonte. PRhyme consists of Royce Da 5'9" and the one and only DJ Premier. The beat on this track is fire, and the lyricism is dope as well! MF Doom spits some funny punchlines, which is to be expected from the enigmatic emcee. 

ScHoolboy Q - Blank Face LP

Blank Face LP is a well-rounded album by Cali rapper ScHoolboy Q. It's gangsta rap with a modern twist. Q has cemented himself as one of the most popular rappers in the game. The LP is flooded with quality songs, but my personal favourites are "Groovy Tony" and "THat Part."
 

Classified - Noah's Arc 

On "Noah's Arc," Halifax rapper Classified raps about the current state of affairs in society, and how things are topsy turvy. The track is from the album, Greatful, and Saukrates provides the vocals.

Westside Gunn ft. Action Bronson - Dudley Boyz

Westside Gunn teamed up with Action Bronson on "Dudley Boyz," which is a reference to a former tag team duo in wrestling. Alchemist handled the production duties. The track is off Westside Gunn's debut studio album titled FLYGOD. 

Robbie G - Inner Outer Space

Inner Outer Space is the latest album from Guelph lyricist Robbie G. He is known for creating positive music, and this release is no different. There are many producers and artists who unleash their skills on this album, most notably, Swollen Members, who are legends in the Canadian rap scene. My favourite songs are "Fun House" and "Mind Made Up." 

Joey Bada$$ - Front & Center

Joey Bada$$ has accomplished a lot in his career thus far, despite only being 21 years old, and "Front & Center" is another banger to add to his portfolio. The beat was created using a sample from the Narcos theme song.
 

99 Wolves - Meat The Street V mix

Montreal producer duo 99 Wolves, which is comprised of ELMNT and Moses, released their premiere mix titled "Meat The Street V mix" in 2016. It's a varied electronic mix of many different tracks, including hip-hop. If this is any indication of what's to come from this duo in 2017, then music fans are in for a treat!

Robbie G ft Moka Only - Koolin' (prod. by Dave Alexander) [Video]

Guelph, ON - Robbie G is back at it again with his latest video, "Koolin'." It's the first single off his upcoming album and it features Moka Only, who has been in the rap game for a minute. It's a feel-good summertime track that was filmed in picturesque Kelowna, BC. The beat was created by Dave Alexander, and it has a West Coast G-funk vibe. The video footage was shot by Matt Bhird. You can check out the video above and get ready for more music from Robbie G! 

Eh Vee - Get Ya Bars Up Feat. Young Stitch, Sese & Words [Audio]

Guelph, ON - Guelph-based lyricist Eh Vee has carefully crafted another hard-hitting single titled "Get Ya Bars Up." The song is lyrically potent with a rugged beat and features some talented emcees such as Young Stitch, Sese and Words. Production duties were handled by JSG. Make sure to check out the link below to listen to the track!

Kirk Knight ft. Joey Bada$$ - 5 Minutes [Video]

Westside Gunn - Dudley Boyz ft. Action Bronson [Audio]

Eh Vee - Back To Basics Feat. Zaze & Young Stitch [Video]

Guelph, ON - The hip-hop scene in Guelph continues to blossom and Eh Vee is a major reason why. His latest single "Back To Basics" pays homage to classic hip-hop from the 90s. The track includes guest verses from Zaze (9-0 Nickel Entertainment) and Young Stitch (Sentral Soldiers Entertainment). It was produced by Young K, features cuts by DJ Docta (KOTD) and was mixed by JSG. The artwork was created by Steven K Original. The video was directed and shot on location at The Palace in Ajax, ON, and edited by Director Dread of 7 Pillar Productions. Check out the video above!

JR Fillion [Interview] / Northern Lights [Album]

London, ON - Up-and-coming rapper JR Fillion is trying to maneuver his way through the underground hip-hop maze in Canada. His new album, Northern Lights, will surely get the attention of hip-hop heads and blogs in the musical landscape of this country. I had the pleasure of interviewing him over the phone earlier today, where we discussed his musical influences, the new album and his career goals as an artist. Check out the link below to listen to the interview, and there is another link below where you can stream his new album!

Robbie G - Not Showing Off ft. Ava Silver (Prod. by Fresh Kils) [Video]

Guelph, ON - A few weeks ago, Guelph rapper Robbie G dropped the visuals for "Not Showing Off." It is the fourth video released off the Stay Grounded album, which dropped back in September. Check out the video above!

Rez Raida feat. Scott Ramirez - For Kush Sakes (Prod. By Ju$tUnlimited) [Video]

Shakes - Blame The Bacardi [Audio]

Brampton, ON - Last Friday night I was fortunate enough to witness a great show in Toronto. It was an R&B/hip-hop showcase, which was comprised of phenomenally talented female rappers and vocalists. One of the performers was Brampton rapper Shakes. One of the tracks that she performed was "Blame The Bacardi." This song is fire, it has substance and a catchy beat. Be on the lookout for more music from this talented lyricist. You can listen to "Blame The Bacardi" below.

Blu - Good to Be Home [Album]

Los Angeles, CA - Blu's latest masterpiece Good to Be Home is arguably his best album and it has the perfect balance of flawless wordplay and production. This Bombay-produced album is soul hip-hop at its finest. Bombay is a magician when it comes to chopping up soul samples, and he has proven that he can go toe-to-toe with any producer in the game. Blu's lyricism is on point as usual. He always keeps it real and spits the truth. If you're going for cruise this summer make sure you listen to "Summer Time," which is my personal favourite. Check out the link below to stream the album in its entirety.

http://www.okayplayer.com/news/blu-good-to-be-home-lp-stream.html