The lovely Ms. geneva.b and myself are hosting a Single Release and Birthday Bash at Trane Studio this Thurs. Jan. 5th. If you are in Toronto don’t miss this night of music, friends, special guests and maybe even a few social media surprises.
To get a little taste of geneva.b check out the Behind the Scenes Video from the ‘Bus Fare’ Photoshoot.
Behind the Scenes of Photoshoot for Bus Fare from Geneva B on Vimeo.
Bus Fare is now available on iTunes.
I usually save this blog for topics on Digital and Social Media and how it relates to music, events, etc. And in a way I could analyze the release of ‘Watch the Throne’ for how it will effect the future of digital releases, which it will. This would have been the topic of conversation had the release date not been so (un)fortunate. (Okay player posted a stream of the album for those who haven’t heard it yet.)
The irony of releasing an album titled ‘Watch the Throne’ on the day the markets came tumbling down can not be lost on anyone. The album of course is well done and really an excellent piece of work. Personally, it is not as groundbreaking as I would have liked. Some of the reviews even pointed out that ‘Ye is much riskier on his solo albums then on this. Musically and thematically this stays in the safe zone.
The stripped down and raw emotion coming from Drake (and several other young artists) or the youthful energy and disregard for well-anything from Tyler is what will shape hip-hop over the next few years. Lil’ Wayne has done more to bring new artists into the game then Roc-nation ever will. And lets be really honest, Eminem is still the best rapper/storyteller out there.
So what will be memorable about this album? They say timing is everything and the release couldn’t be more so. The Chicago Herald review was fairly critical saying that such decadence was out of touch. That article says that other rappers also noticed, with Chuck D speaking out in ‘Notice This.’ With so many people out of work, I am tempted to say the same thing. Other reviews (from Time Magazine) dug a little deeper saying that this album is really “two men grappling with what it means to be successful and black in a nation that still thinks of them as second class.” (hmm try being a woman..oh but I regress..)
I spend a lot of my time out of America and this means I spend a lot of time explaining myself, my people, and my country to other people. It is the country of the cowboy, the self-made man, the American Dream. Jay-z is fully aware of this. He sees himself as a modern-day Gatsby. The embodiment of the man who has risen from nothing. From now on I will refer people to ‘Hov if they want to learn about Americans.
More then ‘Ye’s story it is telling the story ‘Hova continues to live. For whatever it is worth Kanye is too much of the artist/provocateur to ever really be the figure Jay compares himself, too. That real-life figure who had a Gatsby-sque rise out of the projects to become the King of New York. How riches have been earned and sooth the pain. But Jay did you read the end of Gatsby? When it all falls apart will anyone care? They are rioting in London, America is losing any sense of economic stability. There is no doubt we will ‘Watch the Throne.’ Yet, what we need is so much greater.
I had the pleasure of checking out The Black Keys concert last Thursday. As someone who has known The Black Keys since before they were The Black Keys, it is always amazing to see them fill an amphitheater.
The Black Keys at Molson Amphitheatre
The show was great, albeit a little shorter then I would have liked. I could have listened to every song twice. I love the minimal set-up they had at the beginning of the show. Just Dan and Pat rocking out. As the show went on they added more lights and a few more musicians. At the end a giant Black Keys sign lit up the stage.
The Black Keys at Molson Amphitheatre in Toronto, ON
The show even offered a chance for fans to win upgraded seats by texting a number before the show started. I would love to see more of this at all the shows I attend. Of course, I believe in any opportunity to engage your fans using technology and/or social media.
All in all it was a great night. And its really great to see fellow Akronites achieving such success.
This past week was the annual North by Northeast Music Festival in Toronto. Music showcases were held all over the city from the 13th until 19th. There was also a film festival and an interactive conference. This is Canada’s condensed version of the famous South by Southwest Music, Film and Interactive Festivals in Austin, TX.
The Pharcyde performing at North by Northeast, June 19th
On Sunday June 19th, the hip-hop group, The Pharcyde performed in Yonge-Dundas Sq. Other big performances on previous nights throughout the city were K.D. Lange and Devo. These headliners performed free shows that were open to the public. One of the great things about Toronto is all of the festivals. These festivals almost always include several public events.
NXNE is unique in that it combines Music, Interactive and Film in one week. Being a shorter festival then SXSW which lasts three weeks, allows attendees to experience all three at the same time.
The NXNE site had several interactive components from a Blackberry app to live blogging during the interactive conference. The twitter feed was also fairly informative and interesting. It would be nice to see interactivity brought into the actual performances or at the venues. The large screen in Dundas Sq. could have had a text-to-screen or twitter balloons projected between performances.
In addition, live streaming could be integrated more into the festivals events. Ustream and other services now have apps that allow streaming from iPhones. Adding video from pre-designated attendees to screens at the venues could add a playful user-generated feel. Other innovative additions to the festival could be introducing game mechanics or even simply including a Foursquare badge.
NXNE is great opportunity for music and interactivity to come together and create new experiences. It will be exciting to see how the festival grows and adapts in the coming years.
It has been a packed few weeks. A 1 love TO shuffle party, an opening for a show in the Contact Photography Festival, Hot Docs (where I saw Power of Love Film, Mama Africa, and Mighty Jerome), the private screening for Made in Canada, a chance to check out Rap City, and Bryan Espiritu‘s first solo art show “Because the Kids Don’t Play” and I’m sure there are a few things missing on this list.
Scratch from the legendary Roots Crew performs on Rap City.
On Friday night I looked around at 99 Sudbury, and saw a packed, young energetic crowd all in attendance to support Bryan Espiritu who himself just turned 30 and BTKDP. It’s a reoccurring theme in this city, young people of all backgrounds not only coming out in support of but participating in, contributing to, the culture of the city. Its what makes Toronto alive, it’s what makes the city as Black Thought said when he performed here in Sept. “so hip hop”.
Paintings from BTKDP by Bryan Espiritu, May 13th 2011,
People ask me why I came to Toronto and why I stay. I came because the Canadian Film Centre’s MediaLab gave me the opportunity. But it was a musician friend (way back in 2007) who first asked me “when was I coming to Toronto?”. My response was “Isn’t it cold there?” After a long series of fated events, I ended up driving across the border for what was supposed to be a few months. I choose Toronto over SF or staying in NYC because there was music here, there was art here, there was air here. The reason I stay here is because everywhere I look I see young people doing well.
Nowhere is perfect or free from problems that plague artistic communities (lack of funds, cliques, quality control, etc..) Yet, Twenty and thirty somethings in this city don’t spend their time fighting wars, or working mind-numbing jobs just to pay off massive student loan debt and have health insurance. These facts combined with a healthy dose of government funding for community organizations like The Remix Project create a vibrant music and art scene. A scene that has barely scratched the surface of it’s potential.
(Note to Canada’s now majority conservative government, recognize the value you have in this. Think carefully before you cut funding, raise tuition, or give to many tax breaks. I grew up in northeastern Ohio and have seen how tax breaks have destroyed another city on a lake. I lived in NYC and have seen how student loan debt de-moralizes talented creative would-be entrepreneurs.)
BTKDP shows the ability of young artists to bring 600 plus people from across the city, across ethnicities, in the name of art. Hip hop came out of the collision of cultures in the South Bronx. Yes, Toronto you are ‘so hip hop’, a new breed of hip hop that embraces inclusive diversity, that adds painting and photography to graffiti as the visual component, that expands musically to include house beats, reggae vibes,and more, that uses social media to spread the word, and that promotes the 1 love ethos. And to all the young creative persons in Toronto, don’t stop now you’re just getting started.
peace and love,
Friend, Follow, Find