Reading Time: 5 minutesOttawa’s annual CityFolk festival came to a satisfying close, as the crowd’s spirits were lifted, ready to tackle the work week ahead of them.
hip-hop
Reading Time: 2 minutesToronto rapper Haviah Mighty took home the 2019 Polaris Prize on Monday for her album 13th Floor, released in May. On her album, Mighty encapsulates themes of love and relationships, while threading in details of American slavery.
Reading Time: 2 minutesAs a result of fusing African house and rap coupled with Lamar’s distinctive hip hop style, this album is able to connect to an international fan base by shining light upon international artists.
Reading Time: 2 minutesAt the end of the day, for someone who defined so much of what it means to be a pop/hip-hop superstar, I think it’s fair to expect more.
Reading Time: 2 minutesKeys collectively combines her classical piano style with soul, R&B, and hip-hop rhythms to create a masterpiece of eclectic and diverse tracks.
Reading Time: 2 minutesUltimately, Drogas Light is a mixed bag with more highlights than failures, remaining a worthwhile standalone listen for Fiasco’s veteran fans and newcomers alike.
Reading Time: 3 minutesAlthough the “official” physical release is just getting underway, Run the Jewels 3 is the perfect bookend to one of the worst years ever.
Reading Time: 2 minutesHere unravels Keys’ personal, truthful side, where she expresses her values of love, family, and her hopes for the world around her.
Reading Time: 2 minutesIt’s an artist’s job to guide the voice of the people—something Common has always done in his career. With Black America Again, he strikes the right cord at the perfect time, and the result is one of the best albums of the year.
Reading Time: 2 minutesWith Gambino almost exclusively producing the entire record, there are tracks that hit every note that you want to hit in a hip hop album—corny, sad, excited, and even political.
Reading Time: 2 minutesThe annual festival, which returns to Lansdowne Park this month from Sept. 15 to 18, boasts a line-up ranging from folk to rock to hip-hop, with everything in between.
Reading Time: 3 minutesIn many ways, she chronicles her maturation process knowing that life can end at any minute. This is represented by the skull in the cover art—death is always hanging just over her head.
Reading Time: 2 minutesThe competitive U of O dance club celebrated their 25th anniversary at their annual showcase, held at the Ottawa Little Theatre on March 13. The theme of this year’s showcase was “retrospect”, reflecting upon the team’s evolution over the past 24 years.
Reading Time: 2 minutesThe compilation album’s eight tracks are equally as jazz- and funk-laden as his previous project. From a subject matter standpoint, the Compton native takes a chance to comment on the Black experience in America, the evils surrounding his hometown, and grappling with rising success.
Reading Time: 3 minutesIn reality, it’s equal parts of each as he crafts his manifesto of his relation to the three Pablos. The brash power of Escobar along with his view of himself as a sullen and misunderstood artist much like Picasso. Finally, he relates to Paul the Apostle being a man amidst constant controversy but whose contributions have been so valuable to the music industry.
Reading Time: 2 minutesUsing social media for promotion is commonplace in today’s world. Using a disagreement with another artist for self promotion can be a significant tool—but it can also be double-edged sword depending on the outcome.
Reading Time: 2 minutesIn many ways, the album is a genuine smile and a rolling tear. Malibu sounds so comfortable and familiar, but also strikingly fresh and new.
Reading Time: 2 minutesEach song on the album has it’s own distinct sound, which showcases Ty Dolla $ign’s range and creativity as an artist. Whether the music is acoustic or produced by DJ Mustard, Ty Dolla $ign delivers on every song.
Reading Time: 2 minutesThe album is a joy to listen to, as the production varies in style but also remains true to the core theme of the album. The content of the record is where it’s worth truly lies. It’s comparable to a reformation of the J.D. Salinger novel The Catcher in the Rye, focusing on the alienation and the painful phoniness of the adult world. It is an exploration of those raised in the Ronald Reagan Era, tackling their skewed identity and fragmented moral compass.
Reading Time: 2 minutesTime freezes in the music world whenever there is a clash of titans. In the hierarchy of today’s biggest hip-hop superstars, Drake and Future are monoliths. Two of a genre’s biggest artists coming together to release a collaborative project is not something you see every day. What a Time to Be Alive is a mixtape …
Reading Time: 2 minutesStarting out as a small get-together with a piece of cardboard to breakdance on, it has grown exponentially over the years into a festival spanning over five days, and including a huge variety of events, with an attendance of almost 10,000 people.
Reading Time: 2 minutesHow Drake’s new mixtape represents a shifting trend in the corporate side of the music industry and an effort to raise record sales.
Reading Time: 2 minutesHow one Toronto artist combines hip hop and history to spread the message of black history.
Reading Time: 2 minutesThe Roots …And Then You Shoot Your Cousin | Def Jam There is still something to be said about consistency in music. Steadily producing quality art for more than 20 consecutive years is a feat that not many can achieve. The Roots are undoubtedly one of hip-hop’s most legendary bands and have been one of …
Reading Time: 3 minutesA conversation with Public Enemy rapper Photo courtesy of JasonAlanLayne(CC) No one has ever been able to bridge the gap between politics and peace in hip hop the way Public Enemy has. This comes in part from the genius of lead rapper Chuck D, an artist who creates music that delivers political and social messages. The group …
