Es - Feud for Thought

I somehow just found out about Mississauga emcee Es, even though he's been doing the damn thang since 1991! Met him at the Big Mic TO show this past Tuseday, unfortunately missed his set, but he hailed me up on FB and sent me the link for his most recent album, Feud for Thought. Intelligent lyricism? Check. Complex flows? Check. Originality. Yup. Es is an all around dope hip hop emcee, and this album is sick.



“Feud For Thought” is a collection of my thoughts which illustrate my views on what is hurting this culture, music and community that I love. This beautiful forum of expression is being exploited for capital gain at the expense of the impressionable minds of the youth. Hip hop is much more than the one dimensional imagery depicted in various mainstream media. The entire story isn't being told. The industry powers- that-be would rather force-feed the masses watered-down, dumbed-down rubbish than evoke thought, knowledge of self, introspection, messages of love, peace and respect. They will have you believe that hip hop is supposed to look and sound a certain way. A bunch of cookie-cutter mass produced cloning has negatively impacted the creative element of the music. My war is with the media brainwashing. My feud isn't necessarily with the clones themselves. My feud is with the “puppet masters” controlling minds and insulting the intelligence of the masses. The dumber they make us, the more money we put into their pockets. Let's fight for mental freedom. Let's fight for creativity and originality. Let's “Feud For Thought”. 

Peace. 
~Es~

Album: Blackboltt - "Leader of the Opposition"

ALBUM LINK http://store.my1812.com/album/leader-of-the-opposition

Came across a very high quality recent Canadian hip hop release: "Leader of the Oppostition" by Blackboltt. The whole album sounds very polished and professional (in large part due to mixing by Fresh Kils and Muneshine and mastering by Atomix Studios). Production throughout is very boombastic, in your face type of music (courtesy of Rich Kidd and Muneshine), which matches Blackboltt's overall sound and delivery. There are some great features on the album (Relic, Rich Kidd, and pHoenix Pagliacci, just to name a few). Blackboltt himself sounds very hungry and determined on this project. It'd be nice to hear him play around with his flows a bit more, and some of the hooks may be a bit obnoxious to the sensibilities of some listeners' ears. Regardless, this project is proper and definitely worth listening to and supporting.

How many thinkers are we here? How many leaders? How many creators? How many innovators?

In an era where imitation breeds success by way of commercialization - how many Canadian artists choose to go against the grain and deliver a powerful message about self-discovery (“Start With Why”), self-reliance (“Grind Over Matter”), but most prominently, self-actualization (“We Don’t Serve Saints”).

Blackboltt is a Calgary-born, Toronto-raised MC committed to creating a sound that’s not only uniquely, but proudly Canadian. Head-nodding basslines, catchy melodies, signature delivery, and conscious messages marinate on the the album which is also the soundtrack for the film of the same name from 1812 Entertainment’s Film Division.

Leader of the Opposition (LOTO) is the genesis of Blackboltt’s message of unity, solidarity and commitment to the hip-hop culture that has inspired many artists before him. In an industry which has spit out more Canadian talent than its digested, Blackboltt’s debut encourages listeners to answer their own questions about conformity, morality, aspirations, subjective reality, and the laws of attraction. Produced by two of Canada’s biggest hip-hop heavyweights: Muneshine and Rich Kidd; and engineered by studio legend Fresh Kils.

LOTO captures the sound of a generation unafraid to ask questions like why am I here? What is my purpose? And most importantly, where is my vote?

credits

released 18 June 2012
Mixed by Fresh Kils
Co-Mixed by Muneshine
Recorded at Rumenal Records
Mastered at Atomix Studios
Artwork by Erica “EGR” Balon
Photography by Alex Schuldt
Graphic Design by Dany Gehshan
Management by 1812 Entertainment
Marketing by Chicken Creative

Muneshine - Back To The Future (feat. ELMNT & Kydd)

Freshhhhhh new song from the Muneshine featuring ELMNT and Kydd off his new album, There is Only Today. Track produced by Muneshine. Chiggidy check it:


Muneshine's 3rd solo studio album, There Is Only Today (Droppin Science Productions)
Executively produced by Muneshine
All songs recorded by Timbuktu @ FUN (Toronto, Canada) 
All songs written, arranged & mixed by Muneshine @ The Bakkery (Toronto, Canada) 
All songs mastered by Nick Rawson (Toronto, Canada)
Album photography by Aaron Bird 
Design & Layout by Ghettosocks
http://www.twitter.com/muneshine | http://www.facebook.com/muneshine
Released by: Droppin Science Productions 
Release/catalogue number: DSP 012 
Release date: May 28, 2012 

MC FÜBB - Fluff (prod. by MMAC)

H3 founder MC FÜBB dropping his first single off of his upcoming EP, the poet. Production by MMAC. Burning the fluff rappers!

Wordburglar - Rhyme O'Clock feat. More or Les

Another funny Canadian hip hop music video, courtesy of Wordburglar feat. More or Les. Fresh Kils on production, Uncle Fester on the cuts. Who says hip hop can't be FUN?

Ghettosocks - Invincible (feat. El Da Sensei)

Peep the jokes new video from Ghettosocks featuring El Da Sensei. Transformer fans will love this one. Dope production from the homie Fresh Kils.

Kardinal Offishall - "Kill Shot" (prod. by Nottz)

Mr. Kardinal dropping some knowledge on the hot-headed gun-carriers of Toronto:

New Album: Mike Briz and Eastgate - "X​-​Samples Of Life"

Some of you may remember a video we recently posted from this rap duo ("Calm Down"). Well, the Canadian rap duo has dropped a great new album entitled X-Samples of Life. The production throughout the entire album Pirate X (7Seas Studios) is banging, and the two emcees go in hard with intense flows and witty lyricism on every track. Listen and download the album for free! Support the art by spreading the word.

FREE ALBUM! The Antiheroes - This is freeDUMB

The Antiheroes have done the unthinkable, the unfathomable, the absolutely insane! - OK, I might be getting a bit overly worked up about it. Sha and Flex have re-released their debut album, This is freeDUMB, for free! Given this fact, this album is a MUST HAVE. It's a certifiably dope album, read a review of it here: http://mcfubb.blogspot.com/2011/10/album-review-antiheroes-this-is.html

Free download HERE: http://theantiheroes.bandcamp.com/album/this-is-freedumb

Read more about the release here:

We understand that times are changing. In order to succeed in any market these days, you must adapt. I guess you can say your first project is looked at as a resume of sorts, which is why we have decided to give you our debut LP for free. In a time where music is disposable, we wanted to produce something memorable. Something with staying power. We definitely feel that we achieved that goal.

We faced many ups and downs while recording this project, including talks of hanging it up and passively letting music fall into the monotonous hole that seems to grow bigger every day. Most of these talks stemmed from us being so passionate about what we put into this record. We knew the chance of it being slept on and looked over among all the top 40, bubblegum music that dominates this industry was high. It is a justified fear, but not one that we felt should stop the process. You know what they say: how can you win if you never try? We pushed. We felt it needed to be heard. There is so much to be said about this album and I hope each of you walks away with something that you relate to. Because at the end of the day, it’s all about connecting. I’m not sure at what point up-and-coming artists felt it was ok to put themselves on a pedestal and not be relatable. We are all in this together ─ either chasing dreams, working thankless jobs, or just trying to find a purpose and truly live for something. We want to thank all of you who purchased the physical album or picked it up on itunes or other digital outlets. We appreciate the love. There is no greater feeling than looking out at a show and seeing people who truly believe in what you are doing. We can only hope you understand how much we bleed for this music; and if you don’t, we hope this will help you see.

#thisisfreeDUMB

-The Antiheroes.

Music Video: Notes to Self - All of the Above [BBRC]

More quality product from Notes to Self with this new video for "All of the Above." Excellent production (as per usual) from Book and Bronze, dope verses all around - all around great hip hop track and tribute to rap music. The video is...well, it kind of makes you not want to fuck with these guys. Seriously, not sure what the message here is, but here's one interpretation: dope, raw, rugged rap group surviving in the cold, harsh wasteland that is the Music Industry + Hip Hop Scene in general. New NTS project, Used to be Dark (Recoil) coming at the end of the month!



Feeling like Frontiersman, we grew our beards and arrived in Mactier at 7:30pm. Cold as f*ck. 4 hour drive North. Pitch black outside. Cabin smelled like pine and rosé. Dropped our bags, chose our beds, Bronze took the air mattress. Half hour till the NBA Dunk-Off. Donk was geeked. Flat screen, satellite, middle-of-nowhere. Heats on. Lee is lit. Drunk off Timbits. Blake Griffin jumps over a car. Here to shoot a music video.

Eric suggested we charge the equipment. Didn't knock on wood. Inexcusable in a cabin. Power went out. Cold as f*ck. Pitch black inside. Cabin smelled like weed and sulfur. Dropped our plans, went to bed, Bronze froze on the air mattress. 5 hours till daylight. Rosh is lit. Left-over Timbits for breakfast. Last night Blake Griffin jumped over a car. Here to shoot a music video, with Ben to direct. A take on raps pioneers, we planned to wear fur.

The events that followed were captured on camera; 'All of the Above' took place. This is a true story. *No animals were harmed in the making of this video.

- Notes to Self

Artist: Notes to Self
Song: All of the Above [BBRC]
Produced by Bronze One (of Notes to Self) for Course of Study & Book (of Beatface) for Jigsaaw
*AKA BOOK & BRONZE for Heart on Sleeve
Raps by Roshin, Swamp Donkey & Bronze One (all of NTS)
Cuts by DJ Dopey (of NTS)

Directed & Edited by Benjamin Young Hart for greenwoodyard.com
Concept by Benjamin & Matthew 
Cinematography shot by Eric Boucher
Assistant to the Director: Lee Gaul
Online by JR for Motioneer.ca

Drawing by Adrian Forrow (adrianforrow.com)
Graphics & Treatment by Course of Study Creative & Peekay Art Dept.

From the forthcoming Notes to Self project "Used to be Dark [RECOIL]"

twitter.com/NNNNNotestoSelf
www.notestoself.net

Music Video: Notes to Self (NTS) - "Throw Your (Hands Up)"

If you haven't seen this video/heard this song from Notes to Self yet, kindly remove your head from under that rock and show some love to one of the illest hip hop groups out of Canada right now (that means "like" the video, comment on it, and spread it like rumours). Cool vid concept, dope production, and some ridiculous double time flows courtesy of Ragin Roshin: