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Rascalz

RASCALZ

A photo of Canadian Rap Group - Rascalz featuring Red 1, Misfit and DJ Kemo. This group hails from Vancouver, British Columbia.

MISFIT

RED1

DJ KEMO

RASCALZ are a Canadian hip-hop group from Vancouver, British Columbia, who played a crucial role in the artistic and commercial development of Canadian hip hop. The group consists of emcees Red1 and Misfit, and record producer DJ Kemo.  Formed in 1991, the group released an independent album for Calabash Records in 1992. The album, Really Livin', was recorded under the name of Ragga Muffin Rascals, and a reworked major label recording was released the following year in 1993 by Sony Music Canada. Both versions of the album received Juno Award nominations for Best Rap Recording, the Calabash Records version at the Juno Awards of 1993 and the Sony version at the Juno Awards of 1995. The group moved to BMG Canada in 1997 to record Cash Crop.

JUNO AWARD PROTEST

Cash Crop was nominated for Best Rap Recording at the Juno Awards of 1998. Due to Canadian hip hop's limited commercial visibility in the era, however, the rap award had never been presented during the main Juno ceremony, instead being relegated to the untelevised technical awards ceremony during the previous evening. This fact had previously been criticized for creating a barrier to the commercial visibility of Canadian hip hop.

The band won the award, but alleged that racism was a factor in the award's disadvantageous scheduling, explicitly declined the award on that basis. The band had not yet arrived at the ceremony when the award was announced—when they did arrive, they were simply pulled aside and told that they had won the award.

In view of the lack of real inclusion of black music in this ceremony, this feels like a token gesture towards honoring the real impact of urban music in Canada. Urban music, reggae, R&B, and rap, that's all black music, and it's not represented [at the Junos]. We decided that until it is, we were going to take a stance.

Their move sparked considerable media debate about the state of Canadian hip hop. As a result of the controversy, the Juno Awards moved the rap category to the main ceremony the following year.
"Northern Touch"

Also in 1998, Rascalz wrote a special one-off single called "Northern Touch", which they recorded with guest rappers Checkmate, Kardinal Offishall, Thrust and Choclair. Although not on the original pressing of Cash Crop, the song was released as a single, and was quickly adopted as an anthem for Canadian hip hop's resilience and determination. The song broke the odds to become the first Canadian hip hop hit since 1991.

At the Juno Awards of 1999, the first time the rap award was presented during the televised ceremony, Rascalz won the award for "Northern Touch", and performed the song live at the ceremony in Hamilton. This represented the first time that a hip hop band had ever performed on the Juno Awards stage.

Later releases included :

Rascalz released Global Warning in 1999. The album contained the hit single "Priceless" (a collaboration with Esthero).

In 2001 the group performed in Charlottetown, PEI, with Kardinal Offishall, IRS and Jelleestone.

The hit song "Crazy World" (featuring Notch and Sazon Diamante) appeared on 2002's album Reloaded. They also recorded a song called "Top of the World" from the Global Warning album, and it featured K-os and Barrington Levy.

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* SOURCED FROM WIKIPEDIA



RASCALZ  -  DISCOGRAPHY

https://www.discogs.com/artist/100276-Rascalz


Really Livin' (1st Version) (1992), independent album recorded under the name of Ragga Muffin Rascals (Calabash Records)

Really Livin' (1993) (Calabash Records, national distribution via Epic/Sony Music Canada). Although released as the same title, the album completely differed from the independent release)

Cash Crop (1997) (ViK. Recordings/BMG Canada) Gold

Global Warning (1999) (ViK. Recordings/BMG Canada)

Reloaded (2002) (ViK. Recordings/BMG Canada)

Really Livin' (2019)


Beg For Nothing (2007) (Killawatt Records)

Red1 released a solo album, Beg For Nothing on March 6, 2007, through his own Killawatt Records.

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DJ KEMO  -  DISCOGRAPHY

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SPOTIFY -  DJKemo Mix Mastering Work

https://open.spotify.com/playlist/5gKYwfv8pfqRdksXG5nNhK?si=75vfi0Y3SmSaG4JnDdr0kA

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DJ Kemo | Discography | Discogs
 

https://www.discogs.com/artist/189649-Kemo?filter_anv=0&subtype=Production&type=Credits

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DJ KEMO  INTERVIEW :

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[05-06, 2:12 p.m.] Dj Kemo: so lets do a little interview on here... shoot any and all questions

 

 

[05-06, 2:14 p.m.] Direktor Awesome: Name of the podcast is Podjerky, my fav episodes are the health episode that I do with my wife, the comedy episode, we also did one about autism as we both work with special needs children

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[05-06, 2:17 p.m.] Direktor Awesome: Alright, I guess my first question is during the 90's I listened to all types of music but hip hop was my first love for music and the Rascalz were one of my faves. Did you find it more difficult being Canadian to get the distribution or notoriety at that time? Would it have been easier being in the American market at that time?

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[05-06, 2:22 p.m.] Dj Kemo: so ya I mean I’m not too aware of the struggles a new artist may have in these days and times but the biggest differences is we had a harder time accessing the tools to create the music itself. That was one of the biggest obstacles i think back then to actually create the content. now that’s the easiest part of the game. marketing it and promoting is the struggle now. to be able to rise above. so that being said, i truly feel today’s market is about quantity over quality, one has to constantly be creating and releasing content to be relevant in today’s market. i mean that was definitely true back then as well but i feel hip hop lovers valued good content as well

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[05-06, 2:24 p.m.] Direktor Awesome: Very true we all valued good content which I will say you guys had incredible content. Where did your influences from music come from?

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[05-06, 2:26 p.m.] Dj Kemo: both me and red1 came up off EPMD, Rakim, BDK, PE, BDP but very influenced off the new school after that like Leaders of the New, Pharcyde, Souls of Mis, Tribe, Alkaholiks, Beatnuts etc etc

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[05-06, 2:29 p.m.] Direktor Awesome: All groups I grew up listening to. Now you produce and DJ, what are your favorite tracks that you have worked on or had the most fun working on?

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[05-06, 2:33 p.m.] Dj Kemo: hmmm good question... i mean lately most people just record on their own time and place, so its a lot more impersonal sort of. (us producers, we been social distancing for many years... haha)

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[05-06, 2:34 p.m.] Dj Kemo: like Kardinal’s "dangerous"

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[05-06, 2:34 p.m.] Dj Kemo: i just sent him a beat and few months later he releases it. I wasn’t there when he recorded it and heard it a few days before he released it to the world

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[05-06, 2:35 p.m.] Dj Kemo: but all the Rascalz stuff was a great time creating. Me and Roger Swan put in so much hours making that shit right. (mixing stage)

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[05-06, 2:36 p.m.] Dj Kemo: recording w Beatnuts and KRS & Barrington levy were great memories

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[05-06, 2:36 p.m.] Direktor Awesome: Wow, that's crazy. How do you come up with your beats? Do you do it based on certain artists or do you create the beat and once it's done you figure out who it may suit the most?

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[05-06, 2:37 p.m.] Dj Kemo: here check this out. this is pretty much my entire discography (minus some Rascalz album cuts) https://open.spotify.com/user/imacmore/playlist/1iYVt6cSrlPyYhDx2iHNEZ?si=0B54kP-uTh6As2IL6dicAw

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[05-06, 2:37 p.m.] Dj Kemo: you will see my range is quite wide & eclectic

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[05-06, 2:38 p.m.] Direktor Awesome: Awesome definitely going to have a listen to those

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[05-06, 2:38 p.m.] Dj Kemo: i pretty much make beats randomly then pull them up or present them to artists when they  are looking for material

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[05-06, 2:38 p.m.] Dj Kemo: sometimes I make something specific but that's rare

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[05-06, 2:39 p.m.] Dj Kemo: back in the day it was ALL about sampling, finding some cool (unused) content and making it "hip hop"

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[05-06, 2:39 p.m.] Direktor Awesome: Do you guys all keep in contact with the other Canadian rappers past and present?
 

 

[05-06, 2:41 p.m.] Dj Kemo: Red1 is a people person. His contacts and socializing with past and present artists is strong. Me... mostly the old school guys yeah, we all still follow each other and have much love and respect for one another. I find most new rappers could give a shit about the Canadian pioneers

 

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[05-06, 2:41 p.m.] Dj Kemo: their hero's are lil wayne and gucci mane

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[05-06, 2:42 p.m.] Dj Kemo: so needless to say there would be no real relation to our influence or history

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[05-06, 2:42 p.m.] Direktor Awesome: Pioneers is putting it lightly, I mean Northern touch is such a huge song from back then and paved the way for a lot of hip hop in Canada

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[05-06, 2:43 p.m.] Dj Kemo: to be honest I’m soooooo fucking blown away hip hop is even a relevant genre 30 fucking years later.

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[05-06, 2:44 p.m.] Dj Kemo: like when i was young i noticed most genres had a 10-year life span, then it died and the new wave took over, i think hip hop didn’t change its name enough to separate the styles and sounds over the decades

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[05-06, 2:44 p.m.] Dj Kemo: not to mention it didn’t innovate much at all over those decades, the production became simpler and everyone just copies each other more so than ever

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[05-06, 2:45 p.m.] Direktor Awesome: I wouldn't be so blown away, hip hop is great music and very influential. I'm more partial to the hip hop back then compared to today's hip hop

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[05-06, 2:46 p.m.] Dj Kemo: and yeah we were lucky to have a Canadian major label sign us and put us into the Canadian "machine" industry. those labels had no faith in "black" music then and or now either (haha)

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[05-06, 2:47 p.m.] Dj Kemo: Canadian labels and radio obviously have and still are a little shy / scared to invest into urban / black music and culture.

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[05-06, 2:47 p.m.] Direktor Awesome: I've heard that from some other artists as well, why do you think that is? Did they not see the talent or the money it could bring in or was it a bit of racism there?

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[05-06, 2:48 p.m.] Dj Kemo: but i cant blame them too much, because its like Koreans investing in Hispanic folk music. Just not their lane

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[05-06, 2:50 p.m.] Dj Kemo: I truly feel it’s just something they are not familiar with and didn’t see a huge market for it, most radio stations don’t play urban, so why try and inject something that has no clear path or HWY system to travel within

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[05-06, 2:51 p.m.] Dj Kemo: it would have to be someone at those labels that just LOVES the culture and artform to really try and champion the music and artist they signed, nobody really had that love or authority to do that

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[05-06, 2:52 p.m.] Dj Kemo: but ya over the years they sell all the US rappers selling big numbers and I feel they or someone said lets give this a shot

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[05-06, 2:52 p.m.] Direktor Awesome: Saying that they weren't familiar with it is true. I went to high school with kwadjo from ghetto concept and still remember when we used to shop at HMV for stuff that you could never find the Canadian urban albums. I was lucky enough to find one copy of their single "certified" and I never saw a copy of it ever again

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[05-06, 2:52 p.m.] Dj Kemo: bare in mind Maestro was signed to a NYC label and i think it was Attic / Universal in Canada did distro and marketing here

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[05-06, 2:54 p.m.] Dj Kemo: yea I mean they were indy so they didn’t have great distribution and marketing, so all the other Canadian retail stores didn’t care for something they couldn’t really move, they needed kids in their own markets to beg for the shit , that’s the only way they would have gotten an indy artist from Toronto in their store

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[05-06, 2:55 p.m.] Dj Kemo: but yea , touring and travelling to these other provinces was key back then, nothing was digitally shared and easily accessible, that was a huge difference over now

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[05-06, 2:56 p.m.] Direktor Awesome: Yah I guess that's a distinct advantage today for artists

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[05-06, 2:57 p.m.] Dj Kemo: The difference is the market is incredibly over saturated now

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[05-06, 2:58 p.m.] Dj Kemo: Back then the hardest part was making a good record and getting it in stores. Once u did that you instantly made a mark. The hard part was earning the money to keep putting songs out

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[05-06, 2:59 p.m.] Dj Kemo: Rappers that made no money eventually stopped being / trying to be rappers

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[05-06, 2:59 p.m.] Direktor Awesome: And what was the main source of income to do that? Was it doing shows?

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[05-06, 3:05 p.m.] Dj Kemo: Well when we were independent, we had an amazing management team who was able to find us an investor

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[05-06, 3:05 p.m.] Dj Kemo: Then once we were signed, we had a recording budget to record and mix etc

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[05-06, 3:06 p.m.] Dj Kemo: We were able to go to some well known hip hop engineers in New York to mix and master our album

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[05-06, 3:07 p.m.] Dj Kemo: But yeah most rappers were paying out of pocket and if they weren’t doing shows or selling records then they ran out of money to reinvest into their career

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[05-06, 3:07 p.m.] Direktor Awesome: That's great that the management team was able to do that for you, must have made things easier for you guys

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[05-06, 3:08 p.m.] Dj Kemo: Yea man we were able to just focus on being creative

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[05-06, 3:08 p.m.] Dj Kemo: To this day, it’s hard being the artist and the manager and the art director and the director and the engineer

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[05-06, 3:09 p.m.] Dj Kemo: Most kids now a days HAVE to be that haha

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[05-06, 3:09 p.m.] Dj Kemo: But I do still notice the successful artists now a days have a big team behind them

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[05-06, 3:09 p.m.] Dj Kemo: Nobody can do it alone

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[05-06, 3:10 p.m.] Direktor Awesome: Are there any Canadian artists you would like to work with today?

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[05-06, 3:12 p.m.] Dj Kemo: Ya sure, Tory lanez would be one

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[05-06, 3:12 p.m.] Dj Kemo: Drake of course

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[05-06, 3:12 p.m.] Direktor Awesome: Has that opportunity ever been offered?

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[05-06, 3:13 p.m.] Dj Kemo: I can make beats in their lanes but it’s not my specialty you know. But I could make beats identical to what they’re doing

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[05-06, 3:13 p.m.] Dj Kemo: Nah it hasn’t

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[05-06, 3:14 p.m.] Dj Kemo: Its hard to keep “riding the wave” over the years

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[05-06, 3:14 p.m.] Dj Kemo: At some point one just has to let it go haha

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[05-06, 3:14 p.m.] Direktor Awesome: Hopefully that opportunity comes along for you at some point. Do the Rascalz as a group have any plans of coming out with any more music or is everyone just working on their own projects

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[05-06, 3:15 p.m.] Dj Kemo: Not so much no

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[05-06, 3:15 p.m.] Dj Kemo: I have some old joints I’m uploading to streaming services but nothing new new. I do have song w Smif n Wessun we never released. Re working the beat and waiting on a hook for it. Hopefully I’ll have it done soon

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[05-06, 3:20 p.m.] Direktor Awesome: I would love to hear those once they are done

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[05-06, 3:17 p.m.] Direktor Awesome: Well you have given me so much here and I appreciate it very much. I'll leave you with one more question as to not take up any more of your time. In your mind what was the biggest influence you guys made on the hip hop scene?

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[05-06, 3:20 p.m.] Dj Kemo: I’m always surprised when I find out certain songs in certain countries made a big impact ya know

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[05-06, 3:20 p.m.] Dj Kemo: Doing shows in South America revealed that some records got lots of love out there

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[05-06, 3:21 p.m.] Dj Kemo: Gunnfinga top of the world are very well known in Colombia for example

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[05-06, 3:21 p.m.] Dj Kemo: Warrior is well known in Chile

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[05-06, 3:22 p.m.] Dj Kemo: Dreaded fist as well reached most underground DJ’s in California for example

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[05-06, 3:22 p.m.] Direktor Awesome: How do you figure that happens? That certain songs make it to certain parts of the world and become popular

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[05-06, 3:22 p.m.] Direktor Awesome: Dreaded fist, one of my faves

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[05-06, 3:22 p.m.] Dj Kemo: No idea bro, distribution helps a whole lot

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[05-06, 3:23 p.m.] Dj Kemo: We had Fat Beats selling our records around 98-2002 times

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[05-06, 3:23 p.m.] Dj Kemo: They were a very well known record store / label in NYC

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[05-06, 3:24 p.m.] Direktor Awesome: Well I for one am glad that I got to grow up and listen to your music

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[05-06, 3:25 p.m.] Dj Kemo: But ya in Canada northern touch made a massive impact and especially to those kids who were into hip hop at the time

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[05-06, 3:26 p.m.] Dj Kemo: Also our social stance at the 97 junos left a nice little mark in the industry

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[05-06, 3:26 p.m.] Dj Kemo: It’s like our kapernick kneel haha

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[05-06, 3:27 p.m.] Dj Kemo: Had to let em know our culture / genre deserved way more respect. But 30 years later hip hop still isn’t Canada’s cup of tea

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[05-06, 3:28 p.m.] Dj Kemo: But they definitely can’t front on its influence.

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[05-06, 3:28 p.m.] Dj Kemo: And realistically no Canadian record label could have ever put drake in the position he is in now

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[05-06, 3:28 p.m.] Direktor Awesome: Well the music hadn't been represented at the juno before if I remember correctly

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[05-06, 3:28 p.m.] Dj Kemo: Maestro repped it before us for sure

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[05-06, 3:30 p.m.] Dj Kemo: I think dream warriors were on it too. Our beef was the lack of importance they had on the award. Giving it away within the first few minutes of the non-televised portion ????

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[05-06, 3:30 p.m.] Direktor Awesome: During the gala show

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[05-06, 3:31 p.m.] Dj Kemo: Like before the best children’s albums and before the best symphonic instrumental arrangement etc

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[05-06, 3:31 p.m.] Dj Kemo: It was a straight token award and they wanted it out the way before most people got to their seats

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[05-06, 3:32 p.m.] Direktor Awesome: Now taking your stance did you find it made a huge difference in the importance of the award

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[05-06, 3:32 p.m.] Dj Kemo: Meh

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[05-06, 3:32 p.m.] Dj Kemo: Little bit

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[05-06, 3:33 p.m.] Dj Kemo: They did let us perform northern touch the following year

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[05-06, 3:33 p.m.] Dj Kemo: That helped at the time

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[05-06, 3:33 p.m.] Direktor Awesome: I still remember that

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[05-06, 3:34 p.m.] Dj Kemo: I guess there was a few successful urban acts that were signed to a Canadian label after us

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[05-06, 3:34 p.m.] Dj Kemo: Kos

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[05-06, 3:34 p.m.] Dj Kemo: Jully black

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[05-06, 3:34 p.m.] Dj Kemo: Not many but a few

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[05-06, 3:36 p.m.] Dj Kemo: But to this day labels here still never made urban music a high priority

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[05-06, 3:36 p.m.] Direktor Awesome: No it doesn't seem that way.

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[05-06, 3:37 p.m.] Dj Kemo: again I think it comes down to, can you make a hockey player play basketball

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[05-06, 3:37 p.m.] Dj Kemo: can you make a beer brewer make roti

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[05-06, 3:38 p.m.] Dj Kemo: i think hip hop has to be accepted in the US market before Canadians care to hear it as well

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[05-06, 3:39 p.m.] Dj Kemo: every BIG BIG rap artist has always had a stamp of approval from the establish artist above him

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[05-06, 3:39 p.m.] Dj Kemo: drake = lil wayne

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[05-06, 3:39 p.m.] Direktor Awesome: Very true

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[05-06, 3:39 p.m.] Dj Kemo: bieber = usher

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[05-06, 3:39 p.m.] Dj Kemo: eminem = dre

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[05-06, 3:40 p.m.] Dj Kemo: 50 cent = Eminem

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[05-06, 3:40 p.m.] Dj Kemo: shit goes on and on

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[05-06, 3:40 p.m.] Dj Kemo: so its the same for a Canadian, they need that stamp from a bigger player to be respected

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[05-06, 3:40 p.m.] Dj Kemo: but ya drake now has the power to stamp a Canadian

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[05-06, 3:41 p.m.] Dj Kemo: don’t see him doing much, I guess his OVO label is that

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[05-06, 3:41 p.m.] Direktor Awesome: Ya it seems he does but I don't need drake to tell me something is good I can tell all on my own lol

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[05-06, 3:41 p.m.] Dj Kemo: dont follow much of the new rappers tbh

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[05-06, 3:42 p.m.] Direktor Awesome: Well I don't want to take up anymore of your time, I want to thank you again for taking the time to talk to me. Maybe one day once we have a bigger following, we can get you guys on the show and have a good chat about music

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[05-06, 3:44 p.m.] Dj Kemo: ya man no problem

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[05-06, 3:44 p.m.] Dj Kemo: was my pleasure

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[05-06, 3:44 p.m.] Direktor Awesome: Are you ok with us plugging your stuff on the show and the website?

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[05-06, 3:45 p.m.] Dj Kemo: yes please

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[05-06, 3:45 p.m.] Dj Kemo: that playlist and all my other ones are open to the public

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[05-06, 3:46 p.m.] Direktor Awesome: Awesome they will definitely be plugged, thank you so much again and hopefully we'll be able to connect soon

JEFF SMITH

JEFF SMITH
 

A seated photo of rocker musician Jeff Smith who is a Canadian-based singer-songwriter, performer, musician, and vocalist. His exceptional vocal range is described as husky and gritty that exudes passion.

A musician must make music, an artist must paint, a poet must write, if he is to be ultimately at peace with himself. What a man can be, he must be  -  Abraham Maslow

Jeff Smith is a Canadian-based singer-songwriter, performer, musician, and vocalist. His exceptional vocal range is described as husky and gritty that exudes passion.


As the eldest son of a family of nine children, music was a constant in the large household as a forum to which his family communicated and connected. At the age of thirteen, serious guitar-playing taught by his parents was instrumental in further developing Jeff’s passion and staunch commitment to the field. As a lead singer and front-man, Jeff collaborates using the experience and creativity he has developed with various bands since the age of fifteen. Most significant of these was, Fairchild Brothers, a Canadian-based Alternative Rock band which had its debut album “Dare to Believe” charted on MaxTrax Rock, Galaxie Rock, Top 40 (CHR), and Hot AC formats.


Since then, Jeff has been focussing on songwriting and in 2013, his original song, “I Have Your Touch” won 1st place on the “2013 Unsigned Only Global Songwriting Competition”.


Currently writing and recording songs for his new album, as well as pitching and producing original material for TV placements, Jeff continues to develop his repertoire as a professional songwriter and performer. As the upcoming release of his new album forges ahead, Jeff will be devoting time to setting up tour dates to perform his material live for audiences.

* SOURCED FROM  ARTIST

DONNY SMITH
 

A photo of musician Donny Smith at night sitting on the floor of a covered bridge. Donny Smith is a Toronto based songwriter, vocalist, and guitarist whose music is pushing the limits of the pop genre, combining edgy blues/funk riffs with bright, infectious melodies.

Donny Smith is a Toronto based songwriter, vocalist, and guitarist whose music is pushing the limits of the pop genre, combining edgy blues/funk riffs with bright, infectious melodies. Donny has been a long-time participant in the Canadian music scene and throughout his career has shared the stage with many noteworthy Canadian and international acts including Marianas Trench, Finger 11 and The Midway State.

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Born into a musical family with seven other siblings, half of which are currently pursuing their own musical careers, Donny knows the power music can have on one’s life. “Music is just a part of our family makeup, and it’s in our blood. Personally, for me, it shapes everything I do, and every path I take in life. I’m thankful for that and wouldn’t have it any other way.”

 

Though Donny has had a successful musical career as the lead guitarist for the band Fairchild, which was made up of him and three other siblings, Donny is now turning his creativity towards more personal modes of expression with his current project “Breaking Through” An EP which will be released in early fall of 2019 that combines his love of acoustic guitar riffs with his talent for melodic and captivating melody.  * SOURCED FROM  ARTIST

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CITY CIRCUITS
 

A black and white photo of Toronto band City Circuits performing on stage with dramatic lighting.

City Circuits  The tight & bright explosiveness of emotion, melody and sincerity you hear in the music of City Circuits echoes proud & loud from the unified core of the band and their shared vision of the music they make.  Bonded by brotherhood, the band is fueled by the talents & skills of David Smith (Vocals, Rhythm Guitar), Jonathan Smith (Drums, Vocals), Corey Biot (Lead Guitar) and Paul Rossi (Bass) quickly making a name for themselves in one of Canada’s most infamous music-scenes where they’re based in Toronto, ON.

 

With songs that genuinely reflect the passion, heart and determination in City Circuits – these guys pack authenticity into their sound in a way that resonates deep within us all.  You can hear the deep appreciation they have for the opportunity to play & make music together by the way they weave their melodies, music & words together in comforting, natural progressions that sound like they were always inside of them beforehand & just waiting to get out into the world.

 

Their time is NOW.  City Circuits has officially launched onstage and online and are making their presence known throughout the scene in Toronto and to the world awaiting via internet.  The four musicians are currently pouring every ounce of their time into making music that’s truly meant to last – and they’ve been taking every measure possible to stack their songs with relentlessly entertaining tones & textures in effort to do so.  The music of City Circuits makes a powerful & memorable impact…because it all comes from a place of genuine sincerity and true love of the craft – and the people are responding to their music…because it’s REAL.

 

Real as the moment they’re in…real as the dreams they share…real as the hard-work, effort and love they put into their songwriting.  City Circuits are looking to take their indie-rock/alternative sound to the next-level and lead the way to a style of music that really means something to people out there.  Appreciating every moment of the journey along the way – the best part of their entire experience is getting to share the music and excitement with each and every one of YOU out there.

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* SOURCED FROM  ARTIST

THRUST
Choclair

CHOCLAIR
 

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Choclair   is an international music icon who has set the benchmark for Canadian hip-hop, laying the foundation for artists such as Drake, Kardinal Offishall, Belly, Classified, K' naan and Saukrates. Starting at the age of 11, Kareem "Choclair" Blake followed in his older brother’s footstep, who at the time was the hottest rapper in the neighborhood. This was the bar for Choclair. His first release, Twenty-One Years, in December of 1995 was quickly embraced worldwide, establishing him as a standout rapper in the burgeoning Canadian hip-hop scene. Subsequently, five independently owned records from Choclair were featured around the globe on prestigious hip-hop compilations due to the success of Twenty-One Years. In June of 1998, after having released 11 records, Choclair went on to achieve a Gold Record with the Rascalz on Canada’s hip-hop anthem, Northern Touch, receiving 2 Juno awards and a Much Music Award. Choclair then decided to expand his team and join forces with Virgin Music. "The opportunity with Virgin Music was great". Together with Virgin Music, his first release Ice Cold went Gold in 35 days, reaching number one on the charts. With this Choclair became a star in the music industry, having audiences recite his lyrics from front to back.


Understanding the workings of the music industry enabled Choclair to collaborate with some of the world’s premier artists such as, Kurupt, Guru, Memphis Bleek, Rahzal, Mix Master Mike, Tha Liks, Ol’ Dirty Bastard, Xzibit, De La Soul, Dawn Robinson, Beenie Man and countless others. These collaborations garnered him further respect from the international hip-hop community, paving the way to even more Juno and Much Music Awards. In 2003 armed with his arsenal of awards, Gold Records, collaborations and new found knowledge of how the business works, Choclair left Virgin to restart his new independently owned Label Greenhouse Music.


Continuing his success, Choclair released the independent album Flagrant, garnering a Source Award nomination for best International Artist, and bringing home another Juno award. "This experience has been a great ride and now I am ready to take it for the whole world to see". Always actively involved in the Canadian music scene, Choclair was instrumental in helping launch the first hip-hop radio station in Winnipeg (Flava 107.9) with his company Melt In Ya Mouth Entertainment in 2004. Poised to release his fifth and most powerful album to date, C. Evolution aims to be the quintessential album in Choclair’s success filled career. Fueled by the hunger of Canada’s hottest up-and-coming production team PHS and keeping with the already established talents of Saukrates, Solitair and Kardinal Offishall. C. Evolution is already generating an enormous buzz, leaving countless fans in anticipation. With the lead off single Move Mountains, Choclair is looking to show the world his evolution as an artist, and prove that with perseverance they too can move mountains..

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* SOURCED FROM  WIKIPEDIA, DISCOGS  &  ARTIST BIO
 

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CANADIAN MUSIC - ROCK & RAP  -  PART 4   [ EP 21 ]

 

CHOCLAIR  PLAYLIST

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  1.  Move Mountains - End of the Road/Made (MOVE MOUNTAINS) - Single 2014


  2.  What It Takes - Ice Cold 1999


  3.  Let's Ride – Ice Cold 1999


  4.  Rubbin' - Ice Cold 1999


  5.  Flagrant - Ice Cold 1999


  6.  Skunk - Memoirs Of Blake Savage 2003


  7.  Hurt Everybody - Classified & Choclair - Single 2019

THRUST
 

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Thrust  Chris France (born July 8, 1976), better known by his stage name Thrust, is a Canadian rapper from Toronto, Ontario. He is most known for his appearance on the Rascalz' 1998 single "Northern Touch" which also features Kardinal Offishall, Choclair, and Checkmate. He was also featured on the pop band soul Decision's biggest hit "Faded".

 

An old-school rapper with a defiantly new-school outlook, the understated poet from Toronto's unfaltering commitment to the music has earned him the Grandfather of T-dot Hip Hop tag from some, astonishment at his perseverance from others and unqualified respect from all. Beginning from the cardboard up in 1982 as a break-dancer, Thrust's career has touched on virtually all sides of Hip Hop culture. A former co-host of CKLN's Saturday-afternoon Hip Hop crucible The Power Move, Thrust's microphone mastery moved through several different tag-team incarnations - from Thrust and Supreme to KGB to a Child's Garden of Grass - before the rapper eventually grabbed the mike and went solo.

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Thrust maybe best remembered for his verse on the Rascalz classic, DJ Kemo produced “Northern Touch“, featuring Canadian notables Choclair and Kardinal Offishall. But his legacy stretches much further than a dope 12” or a couple of popular music videos. Living in Toronto – Thrust’s home and arguably the center of mainstream “urban” culture in Canada – he gained much of his hip hop identity from the source – summers in New York City circa late ‘80s-early-‘90s. With the exception of some pioneers: Michie Mee, Maestro, Dream Warriors and a handful of others, few in Canada were making rap music or breaking into the U.S. market, getting radio play or making a living on it. In the days before broadband and before everybody and their best-friend’s homie rapped or made beats, hip hop in Canada only played on a few select radio stations across the country. This is the environment where Thrust came up in, which makes him a significant figure.

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* SOURCED FROM  WIKIPEDIA, DISCOGS  &  ARTIST BIO

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CANADIAN MUSIC - ROCK & RAP  -  PART 4   [ EP 21 ]

 

THRUST  PLAYLIST

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  1.  Do You Understand? (Remix) - Past, Present, Future 2019


  2.  Y'all Already Kno - The Original Six Album - 2019


  3.  So Amazing - Superrappin - The Album, Vol. 2 - 2001


  4.  This N That (feat. Choclair) - The Chosen Are Few 2002


  5.  Remember When Ft. 10 - The Chosen Are Few 2002


  6.  Emcee Pt. 2 - Past Present Future 2019


  7.  So Fresh (J Swing Version) - Past Present Future 2019


  8.  Show Stopper - Past Present Future 2019


  9.  Let's Go (Pro-Logic Basshead RMX) - Past Present Future 2019


  10.  Take Me Away Interlude - Past, Present, Future EP 96


  11.  Time And Time Again - Past, Present, Future 2019


  12.  Rage You Didn’t have to go - Past, Present, Future 2019


  13.  Rage REMIX - Past, Present, Future 2019

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  14.  Return  Promo   -    Play The Game To Win  EP  -   [  available  JULY 27th, 2020  on all platforms  ]

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  [  SKYLARKING SINGLE AVAILABLE NOW  ]   -  https://ogthrust.bandcamp.com/releases

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  *  3 Free listens with option to purchase  *

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SAUKRATES

SAUKRATES
 

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Saukrates   is a Canadian rapper, singer, and record producer. He is the founder of Capitol Hill Music, and lead singer of the hip-hop/R&B group Big Black Lincoln. He is also a member of Redman's Gilla House collective. arrived on the hip-hop scene of the early-Nineties, a post-Native Tongues rapper and producer who pioneered the Canadian hip-hop scene. He has been awarded multiple Juno nominations for Best Rap Recording and through his career has collaborated with the likes of Drake, Nelly Furtado, Nas, Common, Redman, and Xzibit to name a few.

A fixture in the top-tiers of the Canadian hip-hop scene, he is present as a rapper, singer or producer on almost every Canadian major label hip-hop release over the past 20 years. Providing the likes of K-os, Swollen Members, Jully Black, Rascalz, Kardinal Offishal, and Choclair with his unique style of production that has become synonymous with the Torontonian hip-hop sound.

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* SOURCED FROM  WIKIPEDIA, DISCOGS  &  ARTIST BIO

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CANADIAN MUSIC - ROCK & RAP  -  PART 4   [ EP 21 ]

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SAUKRATES  PLAYLIST

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  1.  Still Caught Up - Still Caught Up ‎(12") 1994


  2.  Hate Runs Deep - The Underground Tapes 1999


  3.  Father Time - The Underground Tapes 1999


  4.  Money or Love - The Underground Tapes 1999


  5.  The Professional - The Underground Tapes 1999


  6.  Comin' Up - Comin' Up / Somethin' 4 Da Streets  2003


  7.  Wednesday - Produced by Saukrates


  8.  Hope - Hope (12") 2005


  9.  Somethin' 4 Da Streets - Comin' Up / Somethin' 4 Da Streets 2003


  10.  Skillz Ta Thrill (ft. Lock Jaw) - Produced by Saukrates 1994


  11.  Still Caught Up (Instrumental) - Still Caught Up ‎(12") 1994

Adams

BRYAN ADAMS
 

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Bryan Adams   Bryan Guy Adams (born 5 November 1959) is a Canadian guitarist, singer, composer, record producer, photographer, philanthropist, and activist. He rose to fame in Canada and the United States with his 1983 album Cuts Like a Knife and turned into a global star with his 1984 album Reckless, which produced some of his best known songs, including "Run to You", "Summer of '69", and his first number one "Heaven". In 1991, he released the album Waking Up the Neighbours, which included the song "(Everything I Do) I Do It for You". The song became a worldwide hit and reached number 1 in many countries, including a record of 16 consecutive weeks in the United Kingdom. Adams also had the U.S. Billboard Hot 100 number-one hit singles "Please Forgive Me", "All for Love" and "Have You Ever Really Loved a Woman?".

For his contributions to music, Adams has garnered many awards and nominations, including 20 Juno Awards among 56 nominations and 15 Grammy Award nominations including a win for Best Song Written Specifically for a Motion Picture or Television in 1992. He has also won MTV VMA, MTV EMA (1994), ASCAP, American Music awards, three Ivor Novello Awards for song composition, and has been nominated five times for Golden Globe Awards and three times for Academy Awards for his songwriting for films. Adams was awarded the Order of Canada and the Order of British Columbia for contributions to popular music and philanthropic work via his own foundation, which helps improve education for people around the world. Adams was inducted into the Hollywood Walk of Fame in March 2011 and Canada's Walk of Fame, Canadian Broadcast Hall of Fame in 1998, and in April 2006 he was inducted into the Canadian Music Hall of Fame at Canada's Juno Awards. In 2008, Adams was ranked 38th on the list of all-time top artists in the Billboard Hot 100 50th Anniversary Charts. On 13 January 2010, he received the Allan Waters Humanitarian Award for his part in numerous charitable concerts and campaigns during his career, and on 1 May 2010 was given the Governor General's Performing Arts Award for his 30 years of contributions to the arts.

Adams released his Ultimate collection in 2017; it included two new songs, "Please Stay" and "Ultimate Love". He co-wrote his first Broadway musical Pretty Woman: The Musical in 2018. Adams released his 14th album, Shine a Light, on 1 March 2019.

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* SOURCED FROM  WIKIPEDIA

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CANADIAN MUSIC - ROCK & RAP  -  PART 5  

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BRYAN ADAMS  PLAYLIST

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  1.  Shine a light  -  Shine A Light  2019

Finger 11

FINGER 11
 

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Finger 11  Is a Canadian alternative rock band from Burlington, Ontario, formed in 1990. They have released seven studio albums (six as Finger Eleven and one as Rainbow Butt Monkeys), with their album The Greyest of Blue Skies bringing them into the mainstream. Their 2003 self-titled album achieved Gold status in the United States and Platinum in Canada, largely from the success of the single "One Thing", which marked the band's first placing on the US Hot 100 Chart at number 16. Their 2007 album, Them vs. You vs. Me launched the single "Paralyzer", which went on to top the Canadian Hot 100 and both US rock charts, as well as reaching No. 6 on the US Hot 100 and No. 12 on the Australian Singles Chart. They won the Juno Award for Rock Album of the Year in 2008.[5] The same album was later certified gold in the US and multi-platinum in Canada. They released their sixth studio album, Life Turns Electric, on October 5, 2010; it was nominated for a Juno Award for Best Rock Album of the Year. The first single off the album, "Living in a Dream", added elements of funk rock and dance rock, just like their hit song "Paralyzer". Five Crooked Lines, their 7th studio album, was released in 2015. Between 1995 and 2016, Finger Eleven was among the top 75 best-selling Canadian artists in Canada and among the top 25 best-selling Canadian bands in Canada.

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* SOURCED FROM  WIKIPEDIA

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CANADIAN MUSIC - ROCK & RAP  -  PART 5   [ coming soon ]

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FINGER 11  PLAYLIST

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  1.  Above - Tip 1997

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  2.  Awake and dreaming - Tip 1997

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  3.  First time - The greatest of blue skies 2000

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  4.  For the ocean - The greatest of blue skies 2000

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  5.  Good times - Finger eleven 2003

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  6.  Stay in shadow - Finger eleven 2003

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  7.  Paralyzer - Them vs you vs me 2007

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  8.  Falling on - Them vs you vs me 2007

FRANKIE ANO
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!!! INTERVIEW & MUSIC SHOWCASE - AVAILABLE NOW! !!!

 

 

 

 

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FRANKENSTEIN
 

Frankenstein ( aka Frankensteino aka Frankie Ano )  is the stage name of Frank Fallico, a Canadian rapper and record producer. He is most noted as a two-time Juno Award nominee for Rap Recording of the Year, receiving nods at the Juno Awards of 1998 for his single "The Rain Is Gone" and at the Juno Awards of 1999 for his album Frankenstein UV.

Forming his own independent Knowledge of Self label in the mid-1990s, he released a number of singles, including "Frankenstein's Pain", "What Does It All Mean" and "The Rain Is Gone", before releasing UV in 1997.

Fallico also produced material for other artists, including "Situation 9" on Choclair's album Ice Cold, "When I Rhyme" on Maestro Fresh Wes's album Ever Since, and a remix of Lord Tariq and Peter Gunz's "Deja Vu (Uptown Baby)". Under the stage name Frankie Ano, he also collaborated with Bahamadia on the song "Droppin' Gems" for the Drop the Beat television soundtrack.

With Day, Choclair's business partner in Knee Deep Entertainment, he was also co-host of an internet radio show devoted to Canadian hip hop.

Much of his recorded material was reissued by Ill Adrenaline Records in 2014 as the compilation album The Science of Sound.

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* SOURCED FROM  WIKIPEDIA

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​FRANKENSTEIN HIP HOP  -  Interview & Music Showcase   [ EP   26 ]

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FRANKENSTEIN  PLAYLIST

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  1.  All Hands

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  2.  Frankenstein’s Pain

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  3.  Strangers To The Eye

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  4.  Mostly The Voice (A tribute to Guru)

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  5.  The Projects (Remix)

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  6.  Droppin Gemz ft. Bahamadia

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  7.  Shut'em Down (Remix)

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  8.  Agony And Ecstasy

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  9.  Greed (A Hip Hop Story)

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  10.  So Fresh

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  11.  The Rain Is Gone

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  12.  The Pain 2 (Remix)

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  13.  Combine With Frankenstein ft. Grimace Love

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  14.  So I ft. Choclair

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  15.  Oxygen ft. Luminous

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  16.  Shut Em Down (Remix) - Original song by Pete Rock

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NAVI THE NORTH
 

NAVI

NAVI THE NORTH ( aka Ivan ) is a talented up and coming Hip Hop music producer from Toronto. NAVI’s musical roots & inspirations are tied to Toronto’s notorious HIP HOP culture of the late 90’s. His production style is boom bap heavy with an emphasis on hard-hitting percussion. Working with a combination of drum machines, hardware and software synthesizers, NAVI aka “The Beat Barbarian” fuses the analog and digital realms with sample infused melodic arrangements.

In late 2019 his debut instrumental album, “NAVI the NORTH presents: Barbaric Beats Volume One,” showcased his production style as well as emphasizing the nature of his versatility as a HIP HOP producer.

Following the instrumental album, NAVI produced a series of singles with select artists, spanning eras and rap styles. This project was a prequel to the Beat Barbarian Volume 1 collaboration album, featuring the singles as well as their instrumentals and acapellas for the masses to enjoy and remix.

In 2020, NAVI the North qualified in the Top 32 out of 5000 producers at Sound Supremacy’s World Beat Battle - an impressive accomplishment considering the talented pool of participants from all over the world. Toronto is known for having some of the best Music Producers in the world. The Toronto vibe, the Tdot scene and music culture, breeds champions!

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* SOURCED FROM  ARTIST'S WEBSITE

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NAVI THE NORTH  -  Interview & Music Showcase   [ EP   32 ]

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NAVI  PLAYLIST

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  1.  Entrance to Valhalla  -  Barbaric Beats: Volume One

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  2.  Hierarchy of Souls  -  Barbaric Beats: Volume One

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  3.  Elder's Prophecy  -  Barbaric Beats: Volume One

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  4.  Barbwire Crown  -  Barbaric Beats: Volume One

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  5.  Death Dealer  -  Barbaric Beats: Volume One

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  6.  Exiled  -  Barbaric Beats: Volume One

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  7.  The Northern Entrance  -  Barbaric Beats: Volume One

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  8.  Tribute to Sean the Barbarian  -  Barbaric Beats: Volume One

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  9.  Emeralds of Illusion  -  Barbaric Beats: Volume One

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  10.  Bloodlines  -  Barbaric Beats: Volume One

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  11.  Atonement  -  Barbaric Beats: Volume One

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  12.  Family Crest  -  Barbaric Beats: Volume One

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  13.  BAR-BARIC BEAT TWO  -  The Beat Barbarian Volume 1

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  14.  Chruss Ft Thrust  -  The Beat Barbarian Volume 1

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  15.  NORTH-CUT OUTRO [co produced] w/ K-Cut (of Main Source)  -  The Beat Barbarian Volume 1

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  16.  Build feat. Mathematik  - The Beat Barbarian Volume 1

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  17.  Soul of Casius feat A-F-R-O (All Flows Reach Out)  -  The Beat Barbarian Volume 1

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