Mission Statement

"H3 stands for the manifestation of hip hop in all of its various forms. Practically, H3 will throw events, support individual artists, endorse causes, and participate in any medium that propagates hip hop as a culture and art-form. H3 is the physical instantiation of hip hop and lives through the creative efforts of its individual members working together towards common goals. H3 creates hip hop – we live hip hop – we are hip hop."

Thursday, December 22, 2011

Music Video: Promise - Against All Odds

If you haven't heard of Promise yet, here's a nice introduction for ya'll. Spiritually oriented Toronto MC working with Duck Down Music. This song is one of the dopest on his new album, Awakening. You can also check a review for Awakening HERE.

Peep the vid:


Promise, from Toronto, Canada, is a new artist working with Duck Down Music. Promise's sound has a true inspirational message. On his latest album, 'Awakening,' Promise blends conceptual songwriting and potent lyrical content with a focus on life, love & the consciousness of mankind.
"Against The Odds" is produced by RealBlazeMusic. 
Written by Promise (@ipromisemusic) / Jhené Aiko (@jheneaiko). 
Directed by Andre Rehal. 
'Awakening' is available now at iTunes: http://bit.ly/ieFZKV.

Monday, December 19, 2011

Music Video + Single: Crossword - Quality Control feat. L the 12th Letter & MC FÜBB


Remember when hip hop music was about high quality raps, creative beats, original lyrics? Remember when being respected as a rapper required some real TALENT and SKILL? Remember when hip hop was FUN?!? Each of the Toronto emcees in this video, Crossword, L the 12th Letter, and MC FÜBB brings their own unique style and flavour to this track, over a sweet beat provided by CJ Beatz (NYC). The video is entertaining and down-right hilarious at times, with great direction by Jason Matos. Warning to all half-assed rappers - you might just get the "WACK" stamp:

 

DOWNLOAD: http://hulkshare.com/vk67avadufi4

@CrosswordMC - @Lthe12thLetter - @MCFUBB
Director: Jason Matos - @jasonmatos
Video Op: Luc Capasso - @CapassoLuc
Producer: CJ Beatz NYC - @CJBeatzNYC
Recorded, mixed & mastered by DJ Mercilless

Quality Control is in full effect

Wack emcees watch out - Crossword, L the 12th Letter and MC FÜBB are on patrol

TORONTO - In a world full of fakers and wannabes, wack rappers run amok. Luckily, Toronto emcees Crossword, L the 12th Letter and MC FÜBB are on the case, applying Quality Control to offenders of the culture and perpetrators of wackness. In the video for "Quality Control," directed by Jason Matos, the trio roam the T-dot streets in search of the real. They encounter a number of spitters that simply don't make the cut, and combat them with insightful lyrics, provocative flows and passionate deliveries. Wack emcees will be graded, written up, stamped down and aired out, not to mention have their girls taken from them. The moral of the story? Don't be a lame. Crossword, L the 12th Letter and MC FÜBB will call you out on it all day.

Wack Stamp not included.

DOWNLOAD: http://hulkshare.com/vk67avadufi4

Thursday, December 15, 2011

Notes to Self - All of the Above [BBRC]

Notes to Self coming through with another banger...if the forthcoming Used to be Dark [Recoil] album keeps the bar as high as the tracks they've been putting out lately, then there is definitely ample reason to get hyped about the project. Take in the hip-hoppery:

All of the Above [BBRC] by NotestoSelf

Artist: Notes to Self 
Song: All of the Above [BBRC] 
Produced by Bronze One (of Notes to Self) & Book (of Beatface) 
AKA BOOK & BRONZE for Heart on Sleeve 
From the forthcoming Notes to Self project "Used to be Dark [RECOIL]" 
Illustration by Elicser (elicser.com) 
Design by COS & PK 
twitter.com/notestoself 
@NNNNNotestoSelf

Tuesday, December 13, 2011

Friday, December 9, 2011

Music Video: Koncept - "Aspirations" feat. Soul Khan (prod by J57)

Good song, and even better video! +10k points for the use of the happy, hip old man!



If you like this, Pre-order debut album, Koncept "awaken" here:
http://itunes.apple.com/us/preorder/awaken/id478118822

More info under the vid on Youtube.

Wednesday, December 7, 2011

New Slick Rick!!! "Need Some Bad" (prod. by DJ Premier)

The master of storytelling, Rick the Ruler (aka Slick Rick) just dropped this gem on the world, produced by the legendary DJ Premier. Hmmm...those drums sound quite familiar.


New Video: TRE & Micky RedEyez - On Fire

On point flows a raw flavour from H Block representative's TRE and Micky RedEyez on this track + vid "On Fire" from TRE's upcoming album, "First of a Living Breed."
Directed by Duxx for Concrete Film.
Featuring vocals from Mike Devine and Jessica Sheppard.
Produced by MMac.
Mixed and Mastered by DJ Phame One.
track is off TRE's up coming album " First Of A Living Breed"

J Shiltz - What I Stand For

Take in J Shiltz's new album, What I Stand For. A solid project from start to finish with incredible production and a slew of dope featured artists. J Shiltz is definitely letting people know he's a force to be reckoned with on this one. Oh yeah...and he put the album out for FREE!


J Shiltz is a Sauga City/Toronto MC who for years has been perfecting his craft on the underground circuit. A long time in the making, his first solo offering is sure to be worth the wait. The album boasts production from Kev Brown, Rich Kidd, Lancecape, Smash Brovaz, and Philly's own Twizzmatic and includes collaborations with Illa J, Frank Nitt, Monolith, SonReal, and more. What I Stand For is a manifestation and testament to the past, present, and future of Canadian hip-hop.

Monday, December 5, 2011

THE CYPHER - Holiday Edition




This month is the HOLIDAY EDITION of THE CYPHER! We're featuring the live production + emceeing duo of Juno Nominated producer Fresh Kils and veteran MC Relic, as well as Scarborough-native freestyle master Sy Fi.

In the spirit of giving, we're also supporting the Daily Bread Food Bank, so please bring a canned/non-perishable food donation to help some hungry people in our city (and get reduced cover on door!). 


From behind the boards to the stage, there’s not a spot of ground Fresh Kils’ prolific career hasn’t touched. And not just hip hop. It’s true, you’ll see Saigon, Fabolous and Ali Shaheed (ATCQ) grace his resume, but you’ll also find the likes of Ron Sexsmith & The Buena Vista Social Club. His prowess on the MPC has seen him share the stage with many of hip hop’s legends (Nas, De La Soul) as well as the best of the underground, winning over fans with his signature showmanship. With momentum & accolades growing each year, Fresh Kils’ is poised for a sound system takeover unlike any we’ve seen in a long time. You’ve been warned…

+


RELIC aka REL McCoy - Emcee, Producer, D.J., Singer/songwriter, Engineer... Lover of all that is Hip Hop..
" Fighting with the shadows been a hassle for me letting my past go / I ain't looking back to the sad road / I'm burning my hands on the rope, holding my future with a lasso / plus, it's been a struggle trying to kick this tobacco " - REL

and

Sy-Fi

S, For Science. Y, try to challenge this. F, for futuristic. I, for intelligence.

Sy-fi, born as a Toronto native, started rapping when he was 12. Grew up listening to hip-hop in its golden age era to groups like Wu-Tang and The Roots, Mobb Deep, Slum Village De La Soul and emcees like Redman, Busta Rhymes, and Nas and more. Sy grew up more as a freestyle emcee that just rapped everywhere, anywhere he went.

Sy moved to Boston at the age of 18 and met Session a emcee producer of Acuta Records. Sy and Session rolled together for a few years but remained solo artists, performing at open mics around the city. Sy joined Acuta and performed with them on a couple shows but never
signed to the label and moved back to Toronto.

After moving back to Toronto he met 2 other solo artists Eso Teriq and Symmetry and formed a group "The Scientists." They put together a few songs and performed at few open mics and shows but couldn't manage to stay together due to life differences. Not much of a song writer, for Sy was an emcee that rhymes more "in the moment" if a Cypher was around you sure likely would find Sy in it. Sy-fi's style is like super hero, comic book, emcee or as De La Soul put it "supa emcee" andtries to be as creatively different as possible.

You're now intuned, into the Sy-fi channel. The mic is the 9 and the rhyme is the ammo. Step up to get blown like candles, strap up get ready to blaze like saddles.

You can look forward to Sy-fi solo career starting to move ahead and hopefully ready to drop an EP sometime in 2012 "Science Park"
__________________________________________________________

THE CYPHER LYRICIST COMPETITION:

MCs spit their best 16's, competing to win cash.
Details:
-$10 entry fee for each competitor (winner takes all)
-Each artist performs their best verses over random instrumentals
-Whichever MC's verse is judged to be the best will win!
-Competitors who want to participate must sign up at the event no later than 11pm.
- Winner also gets to defend their title (no entry fee) at the next cypher!

Hosted by: 

Featured DJ:
(Toronto' craziest beatboxing DJ)

Resident Photographer:

Cover: 
$10 ALL NIGHT - $5 with canned food donation
Pay $20 and get a Cypher T-shirt with admission!

19+

Any artist that shows up will get mic time - GUARANTEED!
______________________________________________________________

THE CYPHER

OFFICIAL PROMO VIDEO:

OFFICIAL WEBSITE:

Hip Hop culture manifests through the creative self-expression of individuals who embody its spirit in their respective art forms. This power of spontaneous creativity, the unification of a community for the great purpose that is Hip Hop, happens at The Cypher.

Artists sign up to take part in group performances called cyphers, in which each performer takes a few minutes on the mic and then passes it on to the next performer. All performances occur over music supplied by a live DJ, beat boxer, or producer. There are also a few spots at The Cypher reserved for featured artists to perform their own sets.

The Cypher is a grassroots hip hop event started by MC FÜBB and the Hip Hop Headz (H3) community in downtown Toronto in the summer of 2009. The Cypher is an event where hip hop MCs, DJs, producers, and other artists from around the world come to meet and showcase their talents and skills, and gives them an opportunity to network and create business opportunities. The Cypher is an event designed to keep alive the spirit of spontaneous creativity and showmanship that can occur only in hip hop. The Cypher is an opportunity for various members of the hip hop community to perform, network, build community and have fun. 

For all inquiries, please contact: info@thecypher.ca

Brought to you by:
Hip Hop Headz - http://www.theh3.com/
The Cypher App (Swipelab) http://www.thecypherapp.com/
The Bigger Than Hip Hop Show (BTHH) - http://bthhradio.blogspot.com/