Archive for April, 2008
Posted on April 27, 2008 by Lola
So I’m on MSN talking to my boy Jermaine about getting something to eat, and one thing led to another, and we found ourselves talking about music. Of course the conversation got in deep because he’s a big fan of more “conscious” hip-hop where rappers are more honest in their music and in the lifestyle they live, rather than the gangsta rap where artists embody an image that can sell, but doesn’t necessarily apply to their day-to-day lifestyle. ahhhh well..I can get pretty vocal about things, so I went off on a few different directions. I posted something like this with my boy Marlon before, peep this!!
These friggin dummies went on strike again. says:oh ok. so when im in the hood. . .I’ll scream ur name to come outside.
- L o l a – www.iLUVLOLA.BLOGSPOT.COM says:lol…holla…I AM the hood…lol
These friggin dummies went on strike again. says:soemthing like that.These friggin dummies went on strike again. says:ssauga a hood.These friggin dummies went on strike again. says:geeez
- L o l a – www.iLUVLOLA.BLOGSPOT.COM says:lol…whatever
These friggin dummies went on strike again. says:lol
- L o l a – www.iLUVLOLA.BLOGSPOT.COM says:I don’t beleive in hoods here period. i beleive in impoverished neighborhoods- L o l a – www.iLUVLOLA.BLOGSPOT.COM says:i beleive in poor living and poor people- L o l a – www.iLUVLOLA.BLOGSPOT.COM says:when was the first crack epidemic that swept up Canada?or the canadian HOODS?- L o l a – www.iLUVLOLA.BLOGSPOT.COM says:i think people make hoods as dangerous as they want to be
These friggin dummies went on strike again. says:Yeap..lets blame BET dammit
- L o l a – www.iLUVLOLA.BLOGSPOT.COM says:i would blame people, not BET. for not being more educated or for not seeking a better learning system for themselves- L o l a – www.iLUVLOLA.BLOGSPOT.COM says:like BET there’s MTV, VH1; they are entertainment channels. not education channels- L o l a – www.iLUVLOLA.BLOGSPOT.COM says:it’s on the parents responsibility to educate their child- L o l a – www.iLUVLOLA.BLOGSPOT.COM says:so if you see rappers coming out saying FUCK THE POLICE or the HOOD stand up…you educate your child to UNDERSTAND the culture…to appreciate it, to accept it, and to respect it, not to emulate it
These friggin dummies went on strike again. says:its all bullshit to me.
- L o l a – www.iLUVLOLA.BLOGSPOT.COM says:honestly, anything in life can be what you want it to be
These friggin dummies went on strike again. says:cause at the same time these programs still need to take some sort of accountabilty too.
- L o l a – www.iLUVLOLA.BLOGSPOT.COM says:for?
These friggin dummies went on strike again. says:parents can be to blame too.- L o l a – www.iLUVLOLA.BLOGSPOT.COM says:what do they need to take the blame for? for showing videos of rappers slapping stripper’s asses?ain’t nobody put a gun to the female’s head. they WANTED to do it
These friggin dummies went on strike again. says:but its the programming like b.e.t to not program that stuff either.
- L o l a – www.iLUVLOLA.BLOGSPOT.COM says:why not? they’re trying to make money. This is capitalism- L o l a – www.iLUVLOLA.BLOGSPOT.COM says:profit profit profit- L o l a – www.iLUVLOLA.BLOGSPOT.COM says:you can’t allow your life to depend on the judgement of others and on other people’s choices
These friggin dummies went on strike again. says:still should be socially aware of what ur doing, the same reason why everyone wanting to be like The Game.
- L o l a – www.iLUVLOLA.BLOGSPOT.COM says:do you know how much horror is depicted in porn sites? From women being tied up, to having foreign object inserted in them for pleasure and all this other nasty shit. ain’t no one stopping that shit. So then what do we do? Do we keep pointing the finger at the media? At the rappers…for puting out what they FEEL is the right to express themselves
These friggin dummies went on strike again. says:they express that shit cause they know it will sell
- L o l a – www.iLUVLOLA.BLOGSPOT.COM says:you think the GAME was the first to say shoot shoot bang bang kill kill?
These friggin dummies went on strike again. says:50cent aint banging no more, he aint shooting up nobodyThese friggin dummies went on strike again. says:he aint in the hoodThese friggin dummies went on strike again. says:why is he on his 4th album and talking what he’s gonna do to some1
- L o l a – www.iLUVLOLA.BLOGSPOT.COM says:that’s a right HE holds. You can’t censor his voice. He can speak the truth or he can talk shit. That’s for YOU to understand and decipher
These friggin dummies went on strike again. says:music is about evolving, and when u keep on talking the same shit, it becomes mundane and no1 wants to hear that shit no more
- L o l a – www.iLUVLOLA.BLOGSPOT.COM says:how do you know what music is all about?? who are you to say music is this and music is that?
These friggin dummies went on strike again. says:cause u aint doint that no more.- L o l a – www.iLUVLOLA.BLOGSPOT.COM says:did you MAKE music? did you START music? can you really DEFINE music?- L o l a – www.iLUVLOLA.BLOGSPOT.COM says:so Marilyn Manson should be hung about what HE preaches?- L o l a – www.iLUVLOLA.BLOGSPOT.COM says:i understand what you’re saying about rappers taking responsibility in what they do and staying true to the art, rather than to their financials because people look up to them as role models and emulate what they see on TV and what not
These friggin dummies went on strike again. says:im not jus saying rappers but im speaking artist in generalThese friggin dummies went on strike again. says:cause yes, that is what music is about
- L o l a – www.iLUVLOLA.BLOGSPOT.COM says:but you have to understand that for every rapper or artist there is 1100000 other things that can fuck up a teenagers attitude towards society…Like the millions of porn sites that show men tying up women, torturing them, poking at them, peeing on them
These friggin dummies went on strike again. says:yea no doubt.
- L o l a – www.iLUVLOLA.BLOGSPOT.COM says:like the videogames that show people kill people, like the movies, like EVERYTHING that isout there today
These friggin dummies went on strike again. says:war is a big one too.
- L o l a – www.iLUVLOLA.BLOGSPOT.COM says:war is a concept. No one really KNOWS war until they lived through it. Until war is in YOUR home, it’s just something that happens “over there” something we don’t see over here. something we’re not willing to accept- L o l a – www.iLUVLOLA.BLOGSPOT.COM says:they sit here and talk about rappers saying this, and not being socially responsible when america has tropps killing all kinds of people all over the world for what? for money, for natural resources, so that the americans and their alleys can live a better, healthier life
These friggin dummies went on strike again. says:they say that because rappers are the voice right now
- L o l a – www.iLUVLOLA.BLOGSPOT.COM says:i think it’s not fair, that people put all these expectations on rappers or musicians period- L o l a – www.iLUVLOLA.BLOGSPOT.COM says:music is understood differently by different people- L o l a – www.iLUVLOLA.BLOGSPOT.COM says:a song about suicide is not going to affect you, the same way that it affected someone who’s already tried to commit it, or someone who’s had a family member pass away because of it.- L o l a – www.iLUVLOLA.BLOGSPOT.COM says:just like images of the hood won’t cause the same type of effect in MY memory and evoke the same emotion as they would in someone who grew up in the hood.- L o l a – www.iLUVLOLA.BLOGSPOT.COM says:music is understood by each person the way we want it to and the way we allow it to- L o l a – www.iLUVLOLA.BLOGSPOT.COM says:i think PEOPLE should take more responsibility for their actions. This society is based and built on the freedom of speech and if we want to be able to maintain that freedom, we ALL have to make an effort to respect others, in whatever area of life they live in. If you were to censor the words bitch, hoe, slut, from music lyrics because they misrepresent females and are disrespectful towards females then the government should censor ALL the porn sites that show any sort of violence inflicted upon females, children, or adults because that can also be a very influential source
These friggin dummies went on strike again. says:it is..
- L o l a – www.iLUVLOLA.BLOGSPOT.COM says:and then they should start cesonring all the movies that show women getting called sluts or whores and all the videogames that show violence against women and all the TV shows- L o l a – www.iLUVLOLA.BLOGSPOT.COM says:..it’s just a cycle. i just dont think you can point the finger at ONE thing because it’s convenient to do so
These friggin dummies went on strike again. says:cause no1 wants to speak on it.
- L o l a – www.iLUVLOLA.BLOGSPOT.COM says:well it’s not fair that rappers are the only ones getting the heat for it cuz they got some records that say shoot shoot bang bang
These friggin dummies went on strike again. says:women have been put in that sorta situation for the longest time. but the steps women have taken have been big but not big enoughThese friggin dummies went on strike again. says:still lots of changes to make.
- L o l a – www.iLUVLOLA.BLOGSPOT.COM says:i LOVE the bang bang, shoot shoot, kill kill lyrics. Do u see me going up to kill anyone? Do you see me wilding out? do you see me trynna be 50 cent? i have never even gotten in a fight…why? because i educate myself..from what’s right or wrong, from when to take something for what it is, and for when to incorporate it in my lifestyle- L o l a – www.iLUVLOLA.BLOGSPOT.COM says:my friends listen to that kind of music…are they kilers? no they most certainly aren’t
These friggin dummies went on strike again. says:u ever wonder why jay may have change they way he raps???These friggin dummies went on strike again. says:and what he talks about ??
- L o l a – www.iLUVLOLA.BLOGSPOT.COM says:because he doesn’t liive that lifestyle anymore and that’s GOOD FOR HIM. he’s an honest guy. let me go shake his hand. Not every rapper is honest. this is a BUSINESS, people are trying to make money off of this so they can take their ENTIRE family living in the hood and get it off– L o l a – www.iLUVLOLA.BLOGSPOT.COM says:how they gonna do that? by making music that sells, making music for the consumer- L o l a – www.iLUVLOLA.BLOGSPOT.COM says:jay already DONE put out 12 albums. He’s DONE talking about his killing days. he’s almost 40 now. his audience doesn’t beleive him anymore if he was to say i shoot or i kill- L o l a – www.iLUVLOLA.BLOGSPOT.COM says:50 has only put 3 albums out and is one of the richest rappers i know. The man is a BUSINESS before he’s a rapper and i appreciate THAT for what it isThese friggin dummies went on strike again. says:in this time of music..These friggin dummies went on strike again. says:i think consumer are finally seeing through the bullshit.These friggin dummies went on strike again. says:thats why sales have been affected in such a way. the market is over saturated of the same thing. Its boring and its not new or differentThese friggin dummies went on strike again. says:evolve is all im saying if ur trying to be in this businessThese friggin dummies went on strike again. says:and this is also why canadian artist will never blow here, cause we’re too busy watching what our folks south of us are doing instead of doing something different invovated.These friggin dummies went on strike again. says:no1 wants to admit but k-os is like one of our biggest acts currently…These friggin dummies went on strike again. says:and no1 wants to give him the credit…These friggin dummies went on strike again. says:i couldnt care less about k-os but i like that he trying something differentThese friggin dummies went on strike again. says:im not even a big fan of lil wayne but he’s trying something different.These friggin dummies went on strike again. says:u can look at it like business or getting ur fam out the hood…but theres a thin line between that and selling ur soul for it..
- L o l a – www.iLUVLOLA.BLOGSPOT.COM says:yeah, i totally agree with what you’re saying but i think your point is driven from a FAN’s perspective. As a fan i understand where your concern comes in…10000%- L o l a – www.iLUVLOLA.BLOGSPOT.COM says:im just saying, selling your soul is still a right you hold for your music, your voice, your opinons, and your thoughts . You don’t have to buy that music. you dont have to spend your money on it..you may have your opinions on it but it’s not fair for you to censor it because you disagree with their moral values and ethics- L o l a – www.iLUVLOLA.BLOGSPOT.COM says:if you think rappers are selling out, that sucks…is it polluting the entire industry?…maybe? But to say that they should be censored because they are vying the minds of the youthlistening to the music is taking it to the extreme because that youth is brought in this world by a mother and a father…and if they cannot take enough responsibility to educate that child- L o l a – www.iLUVLOLA.BLOGSPOT.COM says:and if the government is not instilling proper values, and ethics and teaching them the right from wrong, why should an artist THAT WANTS to sell out be held responsible for a child that his immediate environment has ALREADY FAILED?- L o l a – www.iLUVLOLA.BLOGSPOT.COM says:so point the finger at the government, at the schools, for not doing a good enough job in educating our children on racism, genocide, drugs,…for not being honest…for not opening their eyes…for not taking the time to be thorough…for trying to shove history, and geology, and mathematics down a child’s throat for 8 years, and then launching them in the real world with no social skills and no real social comprehension of the world around them
These friggin dummies went on strike again. says:yes, my opinions are based from a fans perspective first…These friggin dummies went on strike again. says:2nd its from some1 who has been in it as well.These friggin dummies went on strike again. says:im just saying that like my boy he’s been trying to blow for a while now.These friggin dummies went on strike again. says:he got a buzz for awhileThese friggin dummies went on strike again. says:then folks were saying he’s on the whole eminem shit.These friggin dummies went on strike again. says:and now he’s has his ep about to come in may all done and i think its his best work yetThese friggin dummies went on strike again. says:i think he’s nice as an writer but what he was writing about then…i thought it was shit.These friggin dummies went on strike again. says:now he’s actually being honest with his work and not going for the formula that he thinks might work…
- L o l a – www.iLUVLOLA.BLOGSPOT.COM says:i know what u’re saying, trust me. i really do. I think being honest is the best way you can be, as an artist, as a person, as an entertainer. I think honesty feeds you no bullshit
These friggin dummies went on strike again. says:cause thats just what the music is based on…
- L o l a – www.iLUVLOLA.BLOGSPOT.COM says:sure- L o l a – www.iLUVLOLA.BLOGSPOT.COM says:for some is bullshit, for some it’s reality
These friggin dummies went on strike again. says:so when the shit is fake i think folks can see through it.
- L o l a – www.iLUVLOLA.BLOGSPOT.COM says:i don’t think so, or ELSE people wouldn’t be trying to censor hiphop if people could see right through it. they’d let people talk shit
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Posted on April 24, 2008 by Lola
Love in this club Pt.2 – Usher ft. Beyonce & Lil Wayne
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Posted on April 23, 2008 by Lola
So not too long ago Danny Fernandes (Sean Desmand’s younger brother) Signed with Capital Prophet Records (Belly, Massari) and has most recently released the video to his first single Curiuos ft. Juelz Santana.Danny has been dancing since he was 6 years old, and has performed for a ton of artists as a dancer. He started his recording career a few years ago, and most recently he just got back from a small tour in Europe.Check out the video and tell me whatcha think!!
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Posted on April 23, 2008 by Lola
Not too long ago I posted a video of an artist from Toronto by the name of Famous called 4th Biggest City. Well prior to the 4rth Biggest City video, he dropped a 15 Minutes of Fame Mixtape featuring DJ Whoo Kid and he has recently released the part 2 of it featuring DJ Drama.Click HERE to download.
You can catch Famous every Tuesday and Thursday night on OTA LIVE (Flow 93.5FM)You can also check him out onwww.thekidfamous.comwww.4thbiggestcity.comwww.myspace.com/thekidfamous
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Posted on April 22, 2008 by Lola
The party was bananas!!!Shit was so crazy. It was a sold out event. There were about 1200 -1300 people in there all looking very fly and sexy!! Thank you Toronto, Ottawa, Kitchener, Guelph and all surrounding areas that came out and supported the event. Thank you to the people who drove for 6 hours just to come to the party. THAT’S WHAT I’M TALKIN’ BOUT!!Anyways, here’s me! I had a blast! Wooohooo!! I will be posting a lot more pictures when they’re ready to be posted, for now, enjoy this lil preview
Yours Truly
Me and Sarah
Deadly Trio: Taj, Me, Lil’ X – It’s a tradition now!
Had to put this one: X and I dancing the night away…lol
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Posted on April 22, 2008 by Lola
//2 Pistols f. T-Pain – She Got It\\Wiz Khalifa – Say Yeah//JD Era – That Purple\\Janelle Monae – Violet Stars Happy Hunting//Muffy – Sweet\\ K-OS – Sunday Morning// Lauryn Hill – Lose Myself\\Chop Shop Cartel – Go Hard// Chris Brown – Gone Get It\\JC f. Gorilla Zoe – Nobody Gotta Know// Plies f. Ne-Yo – Bus It Baby [rmx]
download dj_lissamonet – label whore mixtape HEREFor more info or Lissa visit http://thatgirliscrazee.blogspot.com/
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Posted on April 22, 2008 by Lola
ROSS told me to do my homework, so I did. Check these lyrics from Birdman and Rick Ross on the “Speedin’ Remix”
(Birdman]G4 straight from the N.O.We get money, stay fly till the next showWe got money, stay fly till we get mo’We got bitches, high rollin’ with this cash flowPut the H in the hoodPut a one on the goodPut a slab on the woodShit, me and Ross doin’ goodOne hundred million dollars nigga, hangin’ in the hood
(Rick Ross]What they need just to give a nigga lifeGive him twenty years just to feed a nigga ricePut me in a hole just to let me see the lightCuz some niggaz out here free ain’t even livin’ rightFive star G’s, my car leaseIf we gotta eat puttin’ H on the streetsHeroin haven, heroin gravenYou would think I was a heroin babyIt’s a new year, new year, new money, moneyNew Louie shoes and they cost a few hundredLeft the tip case still bought them new Tommy’sGot mo’ scrilla for niggaz with new drama, Boss
Could Birdman and Ross be referring to “H” as heroin? oR Maybe I’m reading it wrong??
Here’s the video also
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Posted on April 22, 2008 by Lola
http://www.hiphopcanada.com/
Interview with Rick RossBy: Lola PlakuDate: April 1st 2008http://www.myspace.com/rickross
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Miami, FL – On March 11th 2008, Miami’s self-proclaimed “BOSS” Rick Ross, released his second effort Trilla under Def Jam/Slip-n-Slide records. The album sold 198,000 copies in its first week of sales, 11,000 higher than his certified gold debut album Port Of Miami. The first single off the album was “Speedin” featuring R. Kelly and his current single is “The Boss” featuring T-Pain. There was also a street single “Street Money” featuring Flo Rida released along with a video. “Maybach Music” featuring Jay-Z is said to be his third single.
Ross got his moniker after Cocaine Kingpin “Freeway” Ricky Ross, who was one of the major crack distributors during 1980’s. His operation is alleged to have purchased in excess of 400 kilos of cocaine a week selling as much as $3 million of crack every day.
Growing up in Carol City, Florida, nothing like the South Beach we see on TV everyday, Ross reflects his harsh lifestyle in his music. He wants to draw the public’s attention to the other side of the bridge, where people can really see what goes on in the streets. Grinding and making music for the past 12 years, Ross is now in a position to make a difference for himself and his city. He started Rick Ross Charities as a mechanism to strengthen the lives of today’s youth by creating a solid foundation through educational, social and mentoring programs to ensure a promising future (http://www.rickrosscharitiesin.org). After the release of Trilla, Ross plans to release M.I. YAYO: a documentary looking at Miami’s top 10 biggest street hustlers. He is also in the studio working with his group Carol City Cartel (AKA Triple C’s) on their album Black Flag, as well as preparing to release a film as a joint effort with Birdman titled H, which he wouldn’t shed any light on as of yet.
HipHopCanada talked to Rick Ross in 2006 prior to the release of Port of Miami and also had a chance to catch up with him in New York at the Def Jam offices prior to the release of Tilla. Pressed for time, we got in as much conversation and questions as we could, before the Boss had to head over to MTV for some more press and appearances.
HipHopCanada.com: Your second album Trilla is coming out on March 11th. What kind of response are you expecting from the fans?You know the anticipation is big, and I know I put together a well polished classic. I picked up with where I left off with Port Of Miami so I expect it to be huge.
HipHopCanada: How long did you work on the album and why the name Trilla?Trilla is just a term we’ve been using down south and I put my own spin on it and kind of drew from Michael Jackson’s Thriller and just called it Trilla.
HipHopCanada: Had you been working on it since ’06?No, maybe like 5-6 months.
HipHopCanada: What separates you from other artists in the game right now?I’m the biggest.
HipHopCanada: Biggest artist…What do you think 2008 is going to bring for you with this album? A different kind of success or more so just a follow up?Most definitely a different level of success. I believe in making albums that are real solid in the streets and in the clubs where it counts the most at.
HipHopCanada: Were there any disadvantages or difficulties you had to deal with when recording the album?None. Everything went smoothly.
HipHopCanada: Were there any artists that didn’t make the cut and why?Not really… there were no artists that didn’t make the cut. A lot of songs I might have saved to use for different projects. I’m happy with all the records I recorded and the only problem I really had with the recording process was a few sample clearance issues and that’s why the date got changed too.
HipHopCanada: That’s usually the reason for a lot of delays…Yeah, it don’t be because you don’t have music and all that…
HipHopCanada: It’s because the records take forever to clear. What was your best collaboration? I read in another interview that this album was more about working with the producers and the other artists you had on there…Yeah, yeah, yeah… it was more about me collaborating more with the producers rather then just getting a beat CD and picking the beat. I actually told them my ideas and the vibe I wanted and that’s what I think made this album more soulful and more polished. When you hear the record I did with Jay-Z, you hear the ladies giggling in the beginning and the opera sounding [singing] “Maybach music”… you know it’s not regular. So that’s the difference in the album.
HipHopCanada: Dope. Being that physical sales have decreased how will this album be promoted to increase excitement among the buyers?Oh, you already know, by being a boss and having big records. I’m always in the streets, always in the club, always promoting so they know I’m coming and it’s a big day in the game.
HipHopCanada: How do you pick your beats when you chose the ones for the album?Yeah, yeah, yeah…I’m fortunate enough to have relationships with producers where I can call them up and tell them my direction and what I need in terms of speed and tempo. Usually they’ll make two or three beats just off of what I tell them and once I hear them and say I like one of the three, we can really take that and make it personal.
HipHopCanada: Of course… I read in other articles that you have been doing this for 10-12 years and your career has been more low key than mainstream. Since 2006, to have all that success with Port of Miami how did your life change? For the past two years how has your life been different or how do you see things differently?I see things in a different light because it’s a different reality. I’m dealing with different things now and I’m taking advantage of all the opportunities. I planned, plotted and strategized for 12 years and there is nothing that can catch me off guard. I anticipate everything at the same time so no matter which door I walk through, I know what’s cracking.
HipHopCanada: Was it exciting at first to kind of go somewhere and be swamped by fans. How did you embrace that?I love that, and it’s not because of my ego, but it’s just my reward for all that time and all them hours I stayed up, all the nights I sacrificed everything else and just to see it pay off, that’s the best.
HipHopCanada: What kept pushing you to do it for all those years without being able to get the recognition you wanted?Honestly, [it was] not being able to do anything else. Anything else I’m going to fail at because I don’t love it. If I don’t love something, I can’t do it.
HipHopCanada: Best thing about being Rick Ross?You know, being a boss…
HipHopCanada: [Laughing] Okay, so tell me about Carol City Cartel. What are you guys working on?That’s the first project to look for from my label Maybach Music Group. I look at that [CCC] like that’s the super group coming from the South. We’re most definitely going to bring back that NWA era, that Marley Mal, Big Daddy Kane; just that real music that you can absorb.
HipHopCanada: Are you actually working on a project right now?Yeah, we’re in the studio now.
HipHopCanada: I heard you’re executive producing the album? Do you have a name for it?Black Flag.
HipHopCanada: Why the title?That’s just the nickname of my homebody who really motivated me to do music. He’s serving 3 life sentences right now. His nickname is Black Boy so we’re still waving that flag on his behalf.
HipHopCanada: Any projects you’re dropping besides the album?Yeah, most definitely March 25th, M.I. YAYO.
HipHopCanada: Is that the DVD you’re working on?It’s a Top 10 countdown of the biggest street dudes.
HipHopCanada: From Miami or just the streets period?Yeah, from Miami.
HipHopCanada: And that leads to my next question, what is the advantage of being from Miami rather than cities like Atlanta or New York?We get to jump in the pool on Christmas…
HipHopCanada: [Laughing] Musically though. I think there are a lot of artists from Miami but you’re probably one of the few ones that have been able to make it international (Trina, Trick Daddy) and go platinum. Musically, is it because there aren’t so many artists that make things easier… or harder?That’s a good question…I really don’t know. It’s one of them funny things and I’m so careful with how I absorb titles that people give you. Miami…we’re making great music right now. We’re also keeping it real with each other and supporting each other and embracing each other; from DJ Khaled to Triple C’s, to Flo Rida, to Brisco, Trick Daddy, even Plies and T-Pain. We were cold for so long that once we get the opportunity we don’t fuck it up. That’s the mentality.
HipHopCanada: And I think that’s what made the South blow up and get to where it is because once some people got that shine, everyone just stuck together and made it a huge movement.Believe that.
HipHopCanada: What do you think gives artists longevity in the game?Hit records.
HipHopCanada: What do you pay more attention to: performing or studio?I believe they go hand-in-hand. When you hear a hit record and you go to a show, you pay your money to see a hot performance to go with the hit record. I think over time I’ve gotten so comfortable on stage that with the reaction and love I get, I give a lot out. I think more importantly though, the focus is the actual record.
HipHopCanada: When you make an album, do you want the songs to make sense together or every song being a hit on its own.Making sense together. I like some shit that isn’t a hit record. I like records that may be totally off and are more personal. When I used to listen to Outkast, they had an R&B song come out of nowhere or a booty club song like you’re in a strip club or some shit. That’s what made SouthernplayalisticCadillacmuzc a classic. Because it went from talking about real shit and then it went into other vibes. That’s what life is like. When you get up in the morning, you may be driving fast but when you’re leaving or heading home you’re cruising. You can’t have one whole album of “Everyday I’m Hustling.”
HipHopCanada: Right, that’d be too many platinum singles.It’s a lot but the overall sound… you have to give them that 360 degrees.
HipHopCanada: If you could have anybody else’s position right now, who would it be… if you would even want to be somebody else?There are a lot of big boys in the game. I’m gonna keep it real. I’ll stay in my shoes even though I admire a lot of people in this business that are bigger and wealthier than me, and some smaller and less wealthy than me. That doesn’t have anything to do with me admiring them or being a fan of theirs. That’s me being Trilla.
HipHopCanada: When you first started doing music how did you see your career taking shape? Did you think it was going to take off in a year or two or it was going to take 12 years…I thought it was going to be like next year. When I first started writing and I put out my first mixtape I was like, “Okay…”
HipHopCanada: Who were you working with back then?Just little producers, little dudes who sold their beats for $200.
HipHopCanada: Is there anybody in the game that has grown with you throughout that whole time?Yup, Yup. Cool & Dre. Shout-out to Cool & Dre.
HipHopCanada: What other projects are you working on that you want to mention?Trilla in stores March 11th; be a part of history, cop that. March 25th, the documentary M.I. YAYO is in stores, cop that. This summer look for Black Flag from Tipple C’s on my label Maybach Music Group: cop that. Me and Birdman are working on a film called H. I’ll make you do your street homework and find out what H means.
HipHopCanada: Alright, I might have to call up Birdman myself for this one. [Laughing][Laughing] We also did a project together too that we’re going to release so I’m just staying busy and doing what I do.
HipHopCanada: Can you tell me more about the foundation you have, Rick Ross Charities?That’s something that I don’t really talk about a lot, but I just want to give back. It’s not about me being a good guy because I’m a class A fuck up, but it’s about me understanding where I come from and me coming up, not having anything. Me coming up eating mayonnaise sandwiches; me coming up eating tomato sandwiches; me coming up without a father figure; me coming up with a mom working three jobs. We lived in motels. When I was in the streets hustling, I didn’t have a charity. But when you’re in the streets and you’re doing wrong, you want people to see you doing good too. I know my neighbors knew I was selling drugs but my neighbors also saw me pay for them old people who couldn’t pay for their grass to get cut, I paid for it. When their cars broke down, I paid for it. They saw the good and the bad and they let me live.
HipHopCanada: Any last words…Trilla in stores, go cop it. I’m thanking you in advance. M.I. YAYO. Much love to you baby for being a fly super cool motherfucker.
Editor’s note: For more information on Rick Ross and Trilla visit http://www.rickrosstrilla.com/ or check out Rick Ross on Myspace at http://www.myspace.com/rickross .
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Posted on April 22, 2008 by Lola
http://www.hiphopcanada.com/
Featured Artist: Alias DonmillionBy: Lola PlakuDate: April 1st 2008http://www.myspace.com/aliasdonmillionhttp://www.donmillion.com/
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Toronto, ON – In this world there are people who crumble at the first sign of hardships, and those who prevail from any situation thrown at them, remaining focused, strong and determined. Music and real life are so tightly intertwined that often those in either sphere face similar struggles. Hip-hop, as a genre of music, has often been seen as a reflection of real life events and personal tales of experiences. Hip-hop has often also had to carry the blame on real life experiences and has been accused of influencing real life events, being the cause of malign, misbehavior and ruthless endangerment of people’s lives. The media has often criticized hop-hop artists and their lyrics for violent outbursts in the communities blaming the music for blurring the line between entertainment and reality.
In Toronto, hip-hop artists receive the same embrace from the media. Judging by the lack of outlets, promotional campaigns and artist exposure, one can assume that in this city, hip-hop and lifestyle don’t go hand-in-hand with one another. They couldn’t be more wrong.
Toronto has seen over a decade of growing talent in hip-hop and other genres alike. With the likes of Kardinall Ofishall and The Black Jays, July Black, Choclair, Maestro, Michie Mee and many others paving the path in the late 90’s into the new millennium, in today’s industry the number of artists with a voice has multiplied tremendously. While Toronto may not be viewed as the [or one of the] fiercest cities in North America, its residents face hardships similar to other cities in North America. The artists stemming from the GTA are at freedom to speak on those hardships and see music as an opportunity to do so.
Since 1994, Toronto native Alias Donmillion has been a part of the growing Canadian music industry. Raised in Toronto’s Allenbury housing complex, Alias broke into the rap game by taking part in local talent shows and recording any chance he got. In 1998, Alias established Donmillion Entertainment, currently home to himself as an artist as well as duo 20 B-LO. In 1999, Alias released his first [self-produced] single “Long Time” and in 2000 he followed up with his full length release Know The Names. Throughout his music career Alias has shot and released 6 music videos, 4 of which have been funded entirely independently through Donmillion Entertainment, making him one of the only artists to do so in his genre. In 2006, his video “Dirty Dot” was nominated for Best Rap Video at the Much Music Video Awards. Also in 2006, Alias released his album Music Money which hosts his latest video release “Industry” and features artists JR Writer, Posta Boy and Royce Da 5’9”.
Donmillion’s music can be classified as street rap, with references to struggles in the hood, self-empowerment and, of course, overcoming obstacles. His music couldn’t be more intertwined with his lifestyle. Currently incarcerated in Kingston, Ontario for a crime committed in the summer of 2006, Alias re-evaluates his priorities in music and in life.
The crime, confessed as “a stupid mistake” by Alias, has put a brief pause in his music and caused some set backs in his career. “If I wasn’t inside right now, I’d be out there recording, doing collabos, doing shows and putting out videos,” says Donmillion, who still makes his career a priority. Determined to push forward, he continues to make and promote his music in and out of jail. Most recently, Alias was awarded a day pass to leave the penitentiary’s premises to shoot his latest video “Industry.” Talk about being able to prevail without crumbling… For exclusive footage of Alias Donmillion on his day pass [click here]
After much re-scheduling, HipHopCanada was finally able to get him on the phone for an exclusive look at his current condition. Alias was very down to earth which made it easy for me to be very straightforward with my questions. Taking over 2 interview sessions we kicked back as Alias spoke on his incarceration, his views on hip-hop and his future projects.
HipHopCanada: Thanks for taking the time to make this happen. First things first; you’re currently incarcerated in Kingston, Ontario. How long is the sentence and how much longer do you have?It was a 3 year sentence and I will be getting out in around June-July of this year. I’ve got about 3-4 months left.
HipHopCanada: Are you excited?I’m very excited because I want to get out there and continue where I left off. I have some unfinished business to take care of. I’ve got some new material that I’ve been working on since I’ve been here.
HipHopCanada: Is that writing? You’ve been writing?Yeah, I’m making songs.
HipHopCanada: Do you think it was fair in the sense that, did you think you’d be looking at a lot more time, or less? If so what was the main thing that helped you get a reduce/increased sentence?Honestly, I thought I was going to be looking at a lot more time because I did something stupid. They had a strong case against me and I was looking at a lot more time. I had a good lawyer and he was able to make things happen. I got a decent sentence.
HipHopCanada: What do you miss the most about the world outside?Just the simple freedoms of life. The choice of food you want to eat. Being with your family, just enjoying life. Just the basics, nothing special.
HipHopCanada: I know you were previously convicted for assault in 2002, but is this your first time in jail?I’ve had little run-ins with the law back in the day but this is my first real jail sentence.
HipHopCanada: Are there people who recognize you there from what you do musically?Oh yeah. I get it all the time. For the whole time I’ve been here, in all the different facilities I’ve been at. I get it all the time.
HipHopCanada: How does that feel?It’s good to know that are actually people out there who are getting the music and seeing it, and who know what I’m doing. Sometimes you put in the work and when you’re independent you don’t see your work getting too far. Being here it allows me see how far it’s really gone and it motivates me to say more things when I get out because I know it’s going to reach more people and places.
HipHopCanada: Being that you’ve talked to different people and seen a different side to life since you’ve been in there, do you think it will change the type of lyrics and issues you address in your lyrics?i think it will change the content of my lyrics SOMEWHAT. To be honest with you, what it’s really going to do is eliminate some of my commercial songs. I’ve made commercial songs to please the radio and the TV stations and such, but it didn’t do what I thought it would do. Seeing that the songs I did that people in the street could relate to were more successful then the songs that I did to please the industry, so being in here now, I’m just going to make the songs that I stand behind to the fullest and I feel deeply about.
HipHopCanada: Before I go any further and ask more questions let me get these few things straight. I’ve only seen what jails look like on TV shows/movies. What are you guys actually allowed in there?You’ve got a TV in your room. Earlier I was watching BET and keeping up on what’s going on.
HipHopCanada: You’re kidding! I had no idea…Yup. I’ve got a TV, I’ve got a stereo, CD’s, and a production keyboard that I can make beats with. I use that to do rough copies of songs that I’m working on.
HipHopCanada: That’s dope!You’re allowed to have musical instruments right; like if you play the guitar you can have your guitar with you or something along those lines. The federal system is a little better than the provincial. That’s the reason why I chose to plea and take the deal that I got because I didn’t want to sit in the provincial jail for 2 – 2 ½ years and have nothing.
HipHopCanada: How are they different?Well up here you have your own room, and I wear my own clothes; no orange jumpsuits all day. Here they allow visits from 9 am to 3 pm. You can get trailer visits, overnight visits for 3 days up here. They have work releases because if they see that you have a job and things that can really benefit you and your life, they allow you to do it. If you were in the middle of university when you went in and you have been keeping up and you have an exam, they allow you to go write it. They let you go to things like family court, or just in general things that will benefit your life.
HipHopCanada: What kind of artists are inmates there familiar with or listening to prior to getting in?There’s certain particular artists that they like…
HipHopCanada: Like…Well I don’t want to say me because I don’t want to sound like I’m boasting, but it’s the honest truth. Before I even came here they were playing my music.
HipHopCanada: What about international artists; who’s big in there?Anybody who’s spitting hard: Styles P, some 50, Mobb Deep stuff; just hard stuff.
HipHopCanada: What is the first thing you want to do as soon as you get out?Go home and spend time with my kids and eat some good food.
HipHopCanada: I know this may be an off question and you may not even be able to answer it, but from what you hear on the inside, do you believe in hip-hop police? Generally police officers looking out for artists incriminating themselves?I don’t think there’s hip-hop police in Canada, but I think the police is starting to take more interest in the artists. They don’t really respect it or understand it so they don’t know what we’re trying to do. When I got arrested, a couple of detectives went to MuchMusic and asked questions about me, to my record label and asked questions about me, to my distributor and stuff like that. I guess they wanted to see if I was really an artist and not just a front. I honestly believe that if I wasn’t doing music I would have been out of here a long time ago. But they’ve decided to give me more punishment because I’m a rapper. I have seen people come and go here with similar situations to mine and I’m still here. This is my first offence too… I was supposed to be out last June and I was denied.
HipHopCanada: There was an article published last January in the Toronto Star with the headline “Rapper pays the price” by Betsy Powell.” The article makes its opening statement by saying: “Toronto rapper Alias Donmillion’s success, the “lawless” nature of the hip-hop culture and “extreme regionalization” of city neighborhoods left him with no choice but to carry a gun and as a result he’s now paying the consequences, his lawyer says.” And closes by saying: “His lawyer, John Struthers, told court last month his client was carrying the gun because he believed it was the only way he could protect himself in the “degenerating and deteriorating” culture he lives in.” Is that something you really believe in? I mean, there has been so much talk about people and the general media pointing the finger at hip-hop and holding it responsible for all the violence happening today in the streets. A lot of artists defend their music by saying that music doesn’t make people kill people, and it doesn’t put the gun in their hands. Your defense was to say that “well hip-hop put the gun in my hand” So I just want to know where you really stand with that statement. I honestly don’t believe that hip-hop causes violence at all. Hip-hop is just a music that came from the ghetto and the ghetto tends to be a violent place. My lawyer’s statement that hip-hop caused me to carry a gun, I’ll be honest with you, I never had any type of discussion like that with him. I was not aware of him making those comments, but I can see where he was coming from. He was just trying to help my situation. I’m not mad at him because when I got arrested at first it was all about a careless man running around with a gun and his comments turned it into a societal issue, that society is responsible for these guys running around with guns and doing what not and put in these predicaments. All my lawyer really does is murder cases so he has his own perspective of things and he expressed that when he had a chance to make those comments.
HipHopCanada: But that’s not the way you feel though, about the comments… or is it?[Thinking]
HipHopCanada: Do you feel like the “degenerating culture you live in and lawless nature of hip-hop” left you with no choice but to carry a gun?I wouldn’t say it left me with no choice because I had the choice not to, but when you do the music and you’re putting yourself on TV, making yourself more vulnerable, you have show dates and people know where you’re going to be at, somebody out there who wants to harm you can find you and harm you. When I first started doing music I knew that if I got to a certain level, I would put my life on the line. I come from a big family of ten, so at that point I was willing to do that to be able to feed my kids. Now my life is still on the line because of my music, but my music is not bringing me enough to feed my kids and get me out of the neighborhood and the places where I was, so now it’s difficult. I can’t say rap music made me carry a gun, because who’s to say, I could be doing that long before rap music.
HipHopCanada: Totally… I was just confused because when I read that I was thinking: “here’s an artist that promotes the culture, lives the culture, breathes the culture, and he’s pointing the finger at the culture…” but I totally understand your answer and that’s cool. Do you feel that if you weren’t making music or being a hip-hop artist you wouldn’t be in the situation you are today?If I wasn’t making music I would have been in this situation a long time ago. The music actually helped me keep my act together. I came into this as a grown man because I had kids when I started doing this. I still am the person I was before I started doing this so I can’t say the music molded me. The music is a reflection of who I already am.
HipHopCanada: Tell me about the video shoot for “Industry.” There has been a lot of discussion about how you were able to shoot the video since you are locked up. There is speculation from people saying that you shot the footage before you went in and you’re just releasing it now. But we’re here to squash the rumors. You were able to get a day pass… how did that happen?I applied for the video last year around April-May because initially we wanted it to be shot in July of ‘07 since I thought I was going to be released in the beginning of June. June came and I didn’t get released, but the video still came through. I had nothing to lose so I filled up the paper asking for a work release [from jail] explaining why I needed to leave and the work release grant is usually for 72 hours because once you’ve done 1/6th of your federal sentence you are eligible for that release. But me and my parole officer weren’t really getting along and bumping heads a lot, so when we did get on a good note, she showed me that if I got my stuff right, then she would help me get the work release. She came back to me and said “I didn’t get you the three days, but I got you 14 hours with an escort. The guards will take you down there.” The drive alone was 6 hours so that left me with only 8 hours to work the video. At that point I took whatever I could get. I went through; I did my part and then had to leave.
HipHopCanada: Are you happy with how the video turned out?Um, no. I was restricted to one spot when I was doing the video, and I didn’t like that because I like to move around. I didn’t like the fact that me and my manager never had enough creative input like in past videos with things like editing, and what we wanted added. In the final stage, they kind of just finished up the video and called us up and said it was ready.
HipHopCanada: Couldn’t you make any more changes after that?Nope. They just gave us the final version and said it would have cost more money to re-do it and what not. I’m still happy the video is out there and is keeping my name buzzing until I get out, so I can’t really complain.
HipHopCanada: Are you going to shoot a video when you come out?Hopefully within the first two weeks that I’m out, yeah.
HipHopCanada: In the song you say “but why do dumb work for some jerk when i can run turf and count money till my thumbs hurt.” For some that just means that you’d rather stay in the hood and “run turf” rather than get out of it. Some may interpret it as it being the mentality that keeps you locked up. Kids that read it may look at it like, “Oh this guy is in jail and yet he still wants to stay in the hood. I guess jail is not that bad…” Can you comment on that?I’m just putting that out for the real money makers, people who are living the lifestyle that their finances are up and can actually count money until their thumb physically hurts (refer to Music Money CD insert). And, I also wanted to tell people that you can work for yourself and not for someone else; whether you’re a trade worker or a mechanic. You can be independent and get your business going and work for yourself.
HipHopCanada: I totally understand that. It was the phrase “run turf” that brought it back to the hood…Turf can be your hood and your block, but it could also be a section or area that you run and control. There are people out there that have independent hustles that say… go door to door selling cookies. That’s their area or their spot, so that’s their turf.
HipHopCanada: I also want to use that quote to compare it to something similar. A lot of artists from Toronto make music to express themselves, their stories, their lives, their situations. However, a lot of them fail to look at the consumer. In this day and age, music is made for the consumer and their preferences. A lot of artists make music that only relate to particular surroundings, hoods, or local areas… “their turfs”, which is where they find the most support. Do you feel that making music for local supporters keeps artists from becoming more national or even global?I think for sure you limit yourself when you do that from the start of your career to the end. You have to expand your listeners and your fan base. But I do feel that when you’re starting out and you’re fresh in the game it’s important to do songs for your hood.
HipHopCanada: Okay, so let’s get into your music. In 1994, you started breaking into the rap game by taking part into local talent shows and doing performances and recordings. In 1998, you established Donmillion Entertainment and in 2001 you released the video for “Try That” (which by the way I’m a fan of). Fast forward to 2006 and you’re nominated for Best Rap Video at the MuchMusic video awards. Can you explain your growth as an artist from the beginning at those talent shows, until now? What aspect of you as an artist has seen more growth?Lyrically, I was at a good stage in the beginning but I think I learned a lot about the game and the industry. I’ve learned that you have to get yourself to a certain level. I have definitely grown in the business aspect to the point where I can now run my own label and find other hot artists and put them on. As an artist, I’ve grown to step outside the box and do more radio friendly songs. In the beginning, when I was making songs, I was focusing more on the hood… not just my hood, but the hood in general. Getting more recognition got me into broadening my horizons and appealing to more people.
HipHopCanada: Who was hot back when you first started?Maestro was doing his thing. I was a kid and I wasn’t into rapping as much as I was into dancing but it was about this guy being from Toronto and having such a big thing going. It made us believe that we could make a name for ourselves. A lot of these guys inspired me. Even if I wasn’t a fan of some of them musically, I was always a fan of their work ethics and what they put in. I always watched that and respected that in a lot of people.
HipHopCanada: When you first started recording how did you see yourself taking shape? Can you sort of rewind and go back to the studio times and what was going through your mind then? What kept pushing you?A big turning point was when Snow started doing his thing because he grew up in the same neighborhood. To see him get such a shine, and be on TV and City Hall and stuff like that was a big wake up call to a lot of people in our hood to say we can do something with our life and have something going on. At the time, me and my friend started doing our little thing as a group. Back in those times I thought I would have been further than I am now to be honest; I thought it would have happened much faster than this. Experiencing what it takes from the independent side and hustle; it takes a long time and it’s not as fast as you think. When you’re independent you’re not working with a budget and you have to rely on word of mouth, which is effective but it takes time. You can’t rush word of mouth. It just takes time to get around. I learned that on the indie side when your funds are low, and you’re relying on things like word of mouth, it takes time.
HipHopCanada: What do you see as the biggest obstacle in the Canadian entertainment/urban scene that stops artists from selling records?I don’t think we have the support here. Support from the radio and TV stations. We don’t have the support from the labels to put their faith in any Toronto artists and fund them and do what they need to do to get on. None of these labels in Toronto will do that for any artists. You have to put yourself on in Toronto, and when you do put yourself on and you get your songs ready; the radio station does not promote you the way they should. When we got that urban station in Toronto all the artists were going wild thinking that it was the ticket that was going to get us our shine, and then they got that, and look where it’s now. That urban station is not even supporting any local artists. We have no outlets.
HipHopCanada: What do you think it was about you as an artist or the video “Dirty Dot” that got you the nomination at the MMVA’s?I think it was the song. The song got a lot of support from the people. It was a song that people wanted to hear and I guess the video was also appealing because it was showing what it takes to get yourself on the independent grind and industry. I guess it just had a different twist to it that a lot of people hadn’t seen. For people who had my mixtape before; it made sense to them and everything fit together.
HipHopCanada: Being a Canadian artist, do you still feel that hip-hop music is something you can make a life out of – not a living, but a life – feed your family and be able to live well? If so, what is it that gives you that feeling?I think right now Canada is starving for that representative. Canada is starving for that person. They want someone really bad to be able to say “that’s our dude” and they have a lot of trouble finding that person. For example, with an artist like Belly; the streets can’t relate to him because they look at him like someone who’s already rich and already has finances and who bought his way into the game and paid for a bunch of big features and is trying to buy himself that spot. Then you have artists like Kardi who people see just as an artist, not as a person. When he performs, they don’t see who he is. I think with me, people see me as a person when I do my music. They see me out there and they can relate to me. They see me in 4-5 Caribana’s in a row being out there and giving mixtapes for free. A lot of people in Toronto are watching me grow; they didn’t just see me on TV as an artist. A lot of them can connect with me because a lot of them are artists as well and we’ve done the same venues back in the day. They’ve seen my mixtapes so they’re feeling it because they’re seeing the growth and the process.
HipHopCanada: But do you feel like all that is going to make you a life in all this? Do you think you can live comfortably?Yeah; hip-hop in Canada can help you eat. You can live comfortably because if you’re independent you only have to sell so many records. You don’t have to sell a million. You can sell 20 000…
HipHopCanada: It’s just always surprising to me that artists, who like you said in the beginning, have a family to feed, still hold on to the music dream.I look at it like this, If I did this music thing as a job and I went in the streets and worked from 9-5 selling CD’s and sold 10 CD’s in one day it would make me $100.00 a day. Most people who work 9-5 jobs don’t make that much money.
HipHopCanada: But then does that $100 – $200 a day pay for your recording costs, engineering, mastering, graphic design, and all the other work that goes into making an album? Does it pay for all the promotion you have to put into it? The independent videos you may have to shoot if Factor doesn’t get with the program? How much of that is left over to take care of family?You can make enough to cover for all that. Even when my album came out, I was selling CD’s out of my car. It was out in stores and I was still selling it out of my car. I still sell them every chance I get for sure. They do move; you just have to be out there and dedicate your time to that. It may not be a superstar lifestyle, but you can eat.
HipHopCanada: So it’s a living, not necessarily a life.A living…
HipHopCanada: Right, because my question was about making a life, not a living.Well, I mean everybody has different expectations of what their life has to be. There are a lot of people that are content with less…
HipHopCanada: I agree. Let’s talk a little about the album you released in 2006, Music Money. You have Posta Boy, JR Writer, and Royce Da 5’9” featured on it. What did you want to achieve with this album and how was it received overall?I wanted recognition and the respect to say that I can put together an album on my own, and make it on my own without the support of a label. I just wanted to show that you don’t have to be signed to a label to release one, and that you can be creative and pick your own release dates. You don’t have to press 100,000 copies. You can press 100 to start off, and you can keep going as you sell more.
HipHopCanada: How was the response?It was great, maybe even better than I had expected.
HipHopCanada: How many units have you sold so far?We’re touching the 8,000 mark. It’s not great or major but we’re doing it independently at $7.00 a pop.
HipHopCanada: Are you going to drop anymore singles from this album or you’re going to wait until you get out and get to the studio to put something fresh together?I’m still going to promote the album for the sake of the sales, but I have new material that I’m going to release. Everything we’re going to be releasing is going to be brand new, never heard.
HipHopCanada: Considering the internet is taking over and more and more labels are putting their focus on their online promotions, what type of approach do you want to take with your music? Will you still be dropping mixtapes, physical albums? Digital downloads?I’m gonna be big on the computer this time around. Last time we didn’t focus on the internet a lot, but this time will be different. Right now we’ve got a free mixtape for download on one of our websites.
HipHopCanada: Tell me about 20 B-Lo and Donmillion Entertainment. What are they working on?20 B-Lo has a project coming out really soon. It got a bit delayed but they’ll definitely be coming out. They have a song featuring Snow and a video which should be coming out very soon. It’s the same camp, same family so check out for that. As far as Donmillion Entertainment goes, that’s the project that we’re working on as well as mine and we’re also thinking of putting these two kids on; they can rap, sing and dance and they’re very talented kids. We’re seeing how good they perform right now and then we’re going to take it from there.
HipHopCanada: Okay Alias, this is about all I had to ask. Thanks for the interview, and we look out to see you out performing and doing your thing in the near future. Any people or shout-out’s you’d like to mention?Yeah, I’d like to thank the Father first and foremost, all the fans of my music, the people who went to HMV and copped the album, and all the people that ordered the album from them when it was sold out. My manager, Mr. Knia, for all his hard work, Fonz from Dramatic Tracks for producing the majority of the Music Money album. 20 B-LO, JB, Snow, and Da Millz crew for coming down to the video shoot. My family and friends for all the support and holding me down while I’m in here, the radio and club DJ’s that play my music, everyone at MuchMusic, and of course you and HipHopCanada for doing this interview.
Editor’s note: For more information Alias Donmillion check out http://www.myspace.com/aliasdonmillion and http://www.donmillion.com/
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Posted on April 22, 2008 by Lola
WWW.HIPHOPCANADA.COM
Scratch Korner: DJ KemoBy: Lola PlakuDate: April 1st 2008http://www.myspace.com/djkemo——————————————————————————–
Vancouver, B.C. – It’s been well over a decade since artists like the Rascalz, Kardinal Offishall, Michie Mee, and Saukrates, amongst various others, created a niche for hip-hop in the industry and made the big dogs begin to take notice. Fast-forward to present day and it’s no secret that we’re still working at it; the industry is still in development. With one urban station, coated with pop flavoring and one music video special interest station (read: it must be ordered) as the only mainstream outlets for our artists, their chances of achieving national success at the desired magnitude is rare. Try imagining international success.
Yet these artists mentioned above were able to brand themselves throughout the country and in some cases internationally without any major radio push (Flow wasn’t granted a license until 2000) and with very few media outlets (HipHopCanada wasn’t launched until 2000 either). Canada, in general, is a multicultural country and it seems especially hard for artists to come up under one identity. Often our hip-hop artists compare themselves to their counterparts to the south and emulate the concepts they see working States-side; from the music to the elements of the game that go hand in hand with it, Canadian fans often complain about a lack of unique identity deriving from Canadian hip-hop. Artists like The Rascalz created and mastered their own sound bringing mainstream attention to the genre, to the melting pot of talent emerging on Canada’s West coast.
They first broke ground in 1993 with the re-release of their debut album Really Living under Sony Music (initially released independently) and won Best Rap Video at the ‘94 MuchMusic Video Awards. The group’s notoriety rose in 1997 when they went over to BMG to release Cash Crop followed by Global Warning in 1999 and then Reloaded in 2002. Throughout their run the Rascalz were responsible for singles like “Priceless,” “Crazy World,” “Movie Star,” and most notably, the Canadian classic “Northern Touch” in which they unified Canadian hip-hop and brought together some of the country’s most promising talents including Kardinal, Thrust, Checkmate, and Choclair. The Rascalz made history when they refused their Juno Award for Cash Crop, since the Rap category was not being presented during the televised ceremony and therefore created a barrier to the commercial visibility of Canadian hip-hop.
Since 2002, the group has not collectively released any material and fans can only see its members following a solo path. DJ Kemo, 1/3rd of The Rascalz, continues to stay in Vancouver and focus on building a solid structure and surrounding himself with newer producers. Founding the Vanguards (a production team headed by Kemo himself) has given him the ability to carry on with his work while finding new inspirations. Kemo came to Toronto and HipHopCanda was lucky enough to interrupt his busy schedule for the sake of a quick interview. We had a chance to sit back and kick in to some good conversation as history unfolded…
HipHopCanada: I don’t think the group was ever dismembered publicly. Where are things at with you guys?You’ll get a different story from me and you’ll get a different story from Red. If you ask me if the Rascalz are done, I’ll say, “Yeah”. Why? Because Misfit doesn’t rap anymore. If you ask Red, he’s still trying to put together a Rascalz album, but we can’t even find the guy. You know how with every rap group, ever rapper goes on to make their own albums eventually? That’s kind of what was going on at the time. Two years ago now, Misfit told Red1, “I’m hanging up my rap gloves.” We had shows lined up and he didn’t want to do them. I guess ’04 was one of the last times I convinced him to do a show in Chile’ and I had to convince him to go.
HipHopCanada: Can you say that there’s nothing coming out in the near future from the Rascalz?I don’t see it… no time soon.
HipHopCanada: What about without Misfit, would you and Red 1 put an album together?Well Red released his own album.
HipHopCanada: Right, but that released as a solo project. Can you see anything coming from the two of you?His next project is a Killawatt record which will feature a lot of my stuff but also stuff from his artists like Heatwave and Juice [Vancouver].
HipHopCanada: You haven’t released anything with The Rascalz since 2002 with “Reloaded”. Did you see it being over then?From when we did the Global Warning record there was already like 1 or 2 songs that Misfit didn’t want to get on so I guess it started from there. When Reloaded came around, he didn’t want to get on half the tracks. He was just on a different vibe and as far as me and Red were concerned, we stuck true to the vibe Rascalz were on. He thought “Movie Star” was absolutely garbage…
HipHopCanada: So I guess in 2002, you knew the end was near…I guess I never put that much thought into it, but if I was to look back on it, I’d say so.
HipHopCanada: Did you enjoy making records and performing as part of a group, or do you enjoy being solo and working with a variety of other artists instead?Working with Rascalz there was never really much pressure. I like the group part because the touring and experiences we had were great…
HipHopCanada: Have you had a chance to tour with other artists? I know you worked a lot with Swollen Members on their “Black Magic” album. You produced like 3-4 records on there.Yeah I did. I don’t really go on tour though because I’d be DJ’ing and they already have their own DJ.
HipHopCanada: For many artists and fans The Rascalz created the sound and unity that hip-hop in Canada really needed and still does need. A lot of artists now are struggling to create that same feeling and that same excitement in their peers and their fans. How do you think the Rascalz were able to create what they did?I think we were just kind of lucky with what was going on at the time and the music in Canada. Canada’s music industry was ready to embrace and help promote urban sound and now it’s a different ball game. Plus, we had Sol Guy from BMG who was managing us at the time and who had good connections to Toronto at the time.
HipHopCanada: Did you guys have a big marketing plan or anything?I never got involved in that side of things. I just wanted to make the music and whatever got sold got sold.
HipHopCanada: Do you feel a lot more artists now are putting more effort into their business, trying to be business men at the same time? Maybe losing their creativity a bit…Yeah, yeah… maybe. I guess what’s out there is what people are trying to measure up to and what’s out there [The States] is wack. What’s the top selling hip-hop? It’s crap. There is no originality or thought and the guys making the top dollar are not very creative or lyrical.
HipHopCanada: To this day, artists like Kardinal, Michie Mee, Choclair, Maestro, Rascalz, Saukrates and many others are the most notable names in Canadian hip-hop even though they are mostly recognized for stuff they have done in the past. Why do you think these artists still take precedence in the Canadian public and a lot of the new artists don’t?That goes back to the industry embracing it. When Maestro came out they were like, “wow, this is brand new.” In the US, hip-hop music is their music, for the people that are promoting it and supporting it. Out here, it’s not their music. Out here their music is rock & roll, or whatever. And I’m talking about the people that “run” the music industry; the people that run MuchMusic, MTV, the radio station. Hip-hop was just a fun time for them. Somewhere between Maestro and 2000, is how long it lasted for. After that they were like, “Okay this was fun now let’s go back to the stuff that’s more us.” In the States it is their life; it’s what they live, whereas here it’s a genre; it’s a sell and they’re done trying to sell it. New artists now have a much harder time getting their music played. Maybe there’s just not that one artist that people can embrace and identify with. K-os is one artist that the public can embrace and identify with because he’s not trying to be gangster because the majority of people are not buying the gangster shit [buying as in believing in it]. They’re not going to buy that someone coming from Canada is gangster…
HipHopCanada: Right… when singles like “Crazy World” and “Movie Star” came out, they had a tremendous response. Did you at any point think about your future and think about what would come next?Not really… I just kind of took it day by day.
HipHopCanada: Okay but did you ever think of working with bigger artists, signing endorsement deals, moving to the US at any point?I’ve always wanted to try to break into the US market, and so far it hasn’t happened. I need to move down there. That’s the next step because trying to place beats on records is the hardest thing to do. Not a lot of dudes can do it. How many Canadians have done it beside people like, Midi Mafia? That’s one of the things I did think about.
HipHopCanada: You still think about it?Yeah I do. I think my options right now are to go to LA. I got a homie right now that works at Power 106 and he’s been looking out for me.
HipHopCanada: Do you think the music you make relates more so to the West Coast of the US rather than the South or East?Yeah, definitely. I don’t really focus on making dirty south crunk beats. I work with a group of guys [which we’ll get more into later] and even though our sound is all over, it relates more to the West Coast. I came up off East Coast hip-hop. I was never big on West Coast artists like Tupac or when Death Row came out and the sound they brought. I was more into stuff like A Tribe Called Quest. The sound that they [West Coast] had was ahead of their time. Nobody is playing Tribe at the club right now, but they’re still playing Snoop Dogg and Ice Cube and Dr. Dre.
HipHopCanada: What do you see as a major difference right now from when you first started?The internet now is a huge world of difference, but you have fewer labels now. There is less support from labels. All the money that they might have invested before, they’re not willing to invest anymore. All the labels have conglomerated, they have fired all kinds of people, there is no more divisions, no street teams; all that support is done. Now it’s all about the internet.
HipHopCanada: Since working on Black Magic with Swollen Members, what else have you been working on?There is a crew of producers that I am working with called the Vanguards. There are about 6 of us: me, Don Cristo, Vago, hAZEL, Big Syphe, Fac Jacson. I was working a lot with them because I was getting a lot of work from different angles and they also help me in terms of inspiration.
HipHopCanada: How did you guys get together? Well, I knew Vago from before. He used to rap then. When he started getting into production he was sending me his stuff and it was pretty good. 3 years after I was getting him some work. Some of the other guys were just homies that got into it. One of the guys is from Oklahoma and moved to Vancouver.
HipHopCanada: It wasn’t always called Vanguards though…No, the group was called Lab Rats… changed the name because I found too many other groups with the same name online on places like MySpace.
HipHopCanada: Yeah that happens a lot. So what are you and Vanguards getting into this year?I’ve been working a lot on Sol Guy’s TV show; 4Real TV. It recently broadcasted over the Christmas break. It’s going to start up again now through MTV, National Geographic, CTV. I’m doing the soundscape of the show. I’m doing some projects for EA Sports also and I’m waiting for Kardi to release his single for his new record [Dangerous featuring Akon].
HipHopCanada: Are you touring right now?I DJ with Flipout and JaySwing who hold down the BEAT 94.5 in Vancouver and collectively we’re Those MF’s. JaySwing is trying to lock down some touring in Asia and hopefully Europe.
HipHopCanada: That’s good. Is this something stable for you at this point?Yeah, it’s definitely stable. It pays my bills and makes me money. I think the next step for me to elevate what I’m doing in terms of music production would be to move to LA.
HipHopCanada: Anybody that you’re listening to right now in terms of Canadian hip-hop?I haven’t really been up on a lot of this shit. I’m waiting for Kardi’s record.
HipHopCanada: What do you listen to?Because I have to DJ at the clubs, I have to be up on what’s new…
HipHopCanada: What do you play at the club?Anything from reggaeton, dancehall, hip-hop…
HipHopCanada: But you play American more so than Canadian hip-hop?Yeah, because it comes down to the media part. If they don’t have a video out or have a song on radio then it’s hard to play that record.
HipHopCanada: Do you believe in DJ’s breaking records?Yeah, but it’s harder to break a record in the club than on radio. If I played radio I would totally take records and do that. It needs a team effort. The artist needs you to put it on HipHopCanada, me to play it in the club, and the DJ to play it on the radio.
HipHopCanada: I agree. Anything else you’d like to say?Not really, just trying to push Vanguards more than anything.
HipHopCanada: Cool. Thank you.Thank you.
Editor’s note: For more information on DJ Kemo visit http://www.myspace.com/djkemo and for information on the Vanguards visit http://www.myspace.com/vanguardsmusic .
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Posted on April 21, 2008 by Lola
I've been meaning to meet up with Niki, my old roomate from uni and one of my best friends, since I've been back and didn't have a chance to until tonight. We have this spot called Jam (I blogged about it before) on Lakeshore in Mississauga that we always go to, so we went there for a few hours just to catch up and talk… Okay fine, and drink lol. The bartender there is this swwwweeetheart that is just so super adorable. So he made me a very nice drink which I still don't know what it is and gave me some extra lovin too oowwwieee. Lol I'm joking. Anyways halfway through our stay these older ladies came in and sat right beside us and were sooooo unbelievably loud. They were well in their 40's and couldn't control themselves. It was annoying. Just as we wanted to go, the bartender made us some more drinks and we stayed for another round and thankfully the loud milfs left!!! Ahhhh it was so peaceful after that. Anyways, if u want a quiet, private, cool spot in Sauga u haveee to hit up Jam. It seats about 35 ppl altogether so its verrryyy small. But it's real nice though. Anyways, that's my spot! Holla
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Posted on April 20, 2008 by Lola
Mavado ft. Jay Z – On the rock (never stop me)This record is SO hot…I had it on my computer for a while now, and I didn’t hear it until today when I was listening to my Mavado tunes. FYAAAAH!–Oh and by the way Mavado will be in concert in Toronto at the KooHaus (Guvernment) on May 16th. Mavado & BlingDawg with Trinity Chris and Blessed as opening acts.U’ll def. see me there if i’m in town!!
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Posted on April 20, 2008 by Lola
After a super great party last night, I had to do something today, so I took my brother to playdium down the street for some laps at the go-carts. Fun times love the simple things.
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Posted on April 17, 2008 by Lola
The Toyota Yaris 2008 Stylus DJ AwardsLimited tickets are available now atwww.StylusGroup.ca
Monday June 2nd, 2008Capitol Event Theatre2492 Yonge St. TorontoRed Carpet – 6:30pm
Show Begins – 8:00pm
TICKETS: $25
Ticket includes free admission to the Official Stylus DJ Awards After Party presented by Pioneer @ 6 Degrees – 2335 Yonge St.
Charted buses and limousines will be available for transportation from both venues
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Posted on April 17, 2008 by Lola
Busta Rhymes – Don’t Touch meCan’t say I LOVE the record. Of course Busta’s fire with the spittin’ but it doesn’t strike me as anything OUTSTANDING. I think in the record he’s trying to combine a “Big Bang” Busta with an old school Busta, which is cool. That beat is boring though. The delivery is the only thing that gets me bumpin my head, but if that beat was right..i’d be wiling out of my chair.
And since we’re on the Busta topic…check out this video of him in England. It’s entertaining to say the least… (thanks Spinz for the link
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