Wednesday, December 28, 2011
Monday, December 19, 2011
The Definition of Music
Toronto’s Lambadina Resto Lounge was the home of real R&B on Saturday night as The Definition of Music, a live showcase featuring local artists, celebrated its one-year anniversary. Serious soul, passion and energy took over the intimate candlelit lounge, as some of Toronto’s finest rising R&B artists — Tamara Madison, Grier Munro, Joel Anderson, Jnine, Linda Luztono, Mark McKay and Cuban — graced the stage to perform covers, as well as their own original work, and were accompanied by The New Era Band.
Founded by Jay Jones, Omar Neita and Mark McKay of marketing, promoting and music production company HB Productions, The Definition of Music’s purpose is to showcase Toronto talent and support local artists who are looking for an outlet. The three pay for the events out of their own pockets, because they believe in the power of music, and receive their profit from the feedback they receive.
“It’s the love of just hearing raw talent, hearing the vocals, hearing the singers that we have here and since it’s not such a big stage, they are more comfortable doing it and really showing what they got,” says Neita. “We have all different types of singers. Everyone holds their own in their own bracket, so we’re blending that to make one big show. Love is here, it’s the one-year anniversary, so we’re here to party as well.”
DJ Keo spun R&B tracks as the crowd mingled and networked before the show began. Troy Patterson, who plays keyboard and guitar for The New Era Band, says that The Definition of Music event series is an opportunity to open doors, gain exposure and network with other artists. “[The Definition of Music] is an opportunity for us to showcase what we can do and the talents that we have to a larger audience. It gives us the opportunity to fully express the talents that we’ve been given,” says Patterson. “We’ve met a lot of great artists that we never would have met otherwise. A lot of people are participating in the show that are so talented and now we have the opportunity to work with them.”
Gemini Award-winning actor Gary “Papa Grand” James and co-host Nicole G introduced the artists and gave away prizes to the audience. “The networking that takes place is amazing and it ends up being productive for everyone who comes — to watch, or be a part of it,” says Papa Grand.
HB Productions’ founder McKay kicked off the show with a powerful performance, singing a freestyle verse to his co-partners, with his original song “History”. The powerhouse vocalist Tamara Madison began her set with a cover of Jazmine Sullivan’s “Love You Long Time”, and blew the audience away with her original track, “Point of View”. Linda Luztono, who performed and won the Wild Out Wednesday competition on BET’s “106 & Park” this summer, returned to The Definition of Music for the second time, stealing the show with her dynamic performance.
All of the artists belted their tunes with energy and stage presence, proving that they each have star potential and that Toronto has serious R&B talent.
Photos by: Nicolas Denny
Founded by Jay Jones, Omar Neita and Mark McKay of marketing, promoting and music production company HB Productions, The Definition of Music’s purpose is to showcase Toronto talent and support local artists who are looking for an outlet. The three pay for the events out of their own pockets, because they believe in the power of music, and receive their profit from the feedback they receive.
“It’s the love of just hearing raw talent, hearing the vocals, hearing the singers that we have here and since it’s not such a big stage, they are more comfortable doing it and really showing what they got,” says Neita. “We have all different types of singers. Everyone holds their own in their own bracket, so we’re blending that to make one big show. Love is here, it’s the one-year anniversary, so we’re here to party as well.”
DJ Keo spun R&B tracks as the crowd mingled and networked before the show began. Troy Patterson, who plays keyboard and guitar for The New Era Band, says that The Definition of Music event series is an opportunity to open doors, gain exposure and network with other artists. “[The Definition of Music] is an opportunity for us to showcase what we can do and the talents that we have to a larger audience. It gives us the opportunity to fully express the talents that we’ve been given,” says Patterson. “We’ve met a lot of great artists that we never would have met otherwise. A lot of people are participating in the show that are so talented and now we have the opportunity to work with them.”
Gemini Award-winning actor Gary “Papa Grand” James and co-host Nicole G introduced the artists and gave away prizes to the audience. “The networking that takes place is amazing and it ends up being productive for everyone who comes — to watch, or be a part of it,” says Papa Grand.
HB Productions’ founder McKay kicked off the show with a powerful performance, singing a freestyle verse to his co-partners, with his original song “History”. The powerhouse vocalist Tamara Madison began her set with a cover of Jazmine Sullivan’s “Love You Long Time”, and blew the audience away with her original track, “Point of View”. Linda Luztono, who performed and won the Wild Out Wednesday competition on BET’s “106 & Park” this summer, returned to The Definition of Music for the second time, stealing the show with her dynamic performance.
All of the artists belted their tunes with energy and stage presence, proving that they each have star potential and that Toronto has serious R&B talent.
Photos by: Nicolas Denny
Tuesday, December 13, 2011
D'bi Young's Tour Kickoff and Album Release
It was an inspiring and emotional night last Monday at Lula Lounge, as the Jamaican-Canadian poet, d’bi. celebrated the release of her new album 333 and launched her global tour with a high-energy performance. Not only is d’bi. a dub poet, but she is also an author, and a theatre practitioner, Dora Award-winning playwright and actor. She actualizes her poetry and brings it to life through the use of dance and theatre.
Even with seven albums, d’bi. has just been experimenting with sound, but now says that she has created art that expresses who she is, on her new 16-track album.
“333 I feel is the boldest work I’ve done so far. It’s unapologetically everything. It’s unapologetically dancehall, unapologetically womanist and unapologetically political. It’s a love-letter to all the dancehall queens, all the queers who refuse the norm in any way and to all the questioners of the status quo,” she says.
The album is produced by Jakofire, Mandiemafu and Baski Njovu, who add worldly sounds to the mix. The combination of dancehall, hip-hop, rock and dubstep make her music completely unique. Later this year d’bi. will travel to South Africa, the Caribbean, Australia and Europe to share her original niche and her message of love, life and change.
d’bi. focused on her two young sons, Moon and Phoenix, before her performance, who embodied the same energy as their mother and stood at the front of the stage, watching her perform. d’bi. is a second generation dub poet, as her mother, Anita Stewart, was also a dub poet and raised her in a community environment. d’bi. does the same with her boys and brings them on tour and to events with her, because they keep her grounded and vulnerable, she says.
Charlie Bobus, the Jamaican dub poet who opened the show, sending out positive vibes while performing tracks on his album, Creative Expression, explains that d’bi.’s work is important and gives inspiration to dub poets like him. “It’s a phenomenal experience [working with d’bi.], because she has a vibe and energy and she’s so real and she captures the whole energy of dub poetry with her presence.”
Performing barefoot and in a tight black ensemble, d’bi. entered the stage and performed an emotional and powerful a cappella piece with intense energy and passion. She tackled extremely serious topics throughout the show on issues related to race, rape, gender issues, motherhood and HIV. Through her vocals, music, facial expression and body movement, her performance was larger than life. She spoke, sang, screamed and laughed, captivating audience members, who rose to their feet in a standing ovation when d’bi. bowed at the end of the show.
Nico Contreras, who lives in Montreal, was visiting Toronto and when he heard that d’bi. would be performing, he made sure to attend the event. “I really admire d’bi.’s ability to draw upon her roots, her understanding of the world, understanding of herself, of humanity, beauty and truth, and to share that in a way that is completely unique and at the same time touches upon elements that are universal to all of us.”
Even with seven albums, d’bi. has just been experimenting with sound, but now says that she has created art that expresses who she is, on her new 16-track album.
“333 I feel is the boldest work I’ve done so far. It’s unapologetically everything. It’s unapologetically dancehall, unapologetically womanist and unapologetically political. It’s a love-letter to all the dancehall queens, all the queers who refuse the norm in any way and to all the questioners of the status quo,” she says.
The album is produced by Jakofire, Mandiemafu and Baski Njovu, who add worldly sounds to the mix. The combination of dancehall, hip-hop, rock and dubstep make her music completely unique. Later this year d’bi. will travel to South Africa, the Caribbean, Australia and Europe to share her original niche and her message of love, life and change.
d’bi. focused on her two young sons, Moon and Phoenix, before her performance, who embodied the same energy as their mother and stood at the front of the stage, watching her perform. d’bi. is a second generation dub poet, as her mother, Anita Stewart, was also a dub poet and raised her in a community environment. d’bi. does the same with her boys and brings them on tour and to events with her, because they keep her grounded and vulnerable, she says.
Charlie Bobus, the Jamaican dub poet who opened the show, sending out positive vibes while performing tracks on his album, Creative Expression, explains that d’bi.’s work is important and gives inspiration to dub poets like him. “It’s a phenomenal experience [working with d’bi.], because she has a vibe and energy and she’s so real and she captures the whole energy of dub poetry with her presence.”
Performing barefoot and in a tight black ensemble, d’bi. entered the stage and performed an emotional and powerful a cappella piece with intense energy and passion. She tackled extremely serious topics throughout the show on issues related to race, rape, gender issues, motherhood and HIV. Through her vocals, music, facial expression and body movement, her performance was larger than life. She spoke, sang, screamed and laughed, captivating audience members, who rose to their feet in a standing ovation when d’bi. bowed at the end of the show.
Nico Contreras, who lives in Montreal, was visiting Toronto and when he heard that d’bi. would be performing, he made sure to attend the event. “I really admire d’bi.’s ability to draw upon her roots, her understanding of the world, understanding of herself, of humanity, beauty and truth, and to share that in a way that is completely unique and at the same time touches upon elements that are universal to all of us.”
Sunday, December 4, 2011
Get Well Soon
Artist: Inner City Grooves | Mixtape: Get Well Soon
On Repeat: Rolling Stones, After Hours, Rockwell
Toronto’s own hip-hop trio, Inner City Grooves, has released its official mixtape Get Well Soon, and it’s definitely one you’ll wanna check out. The group, consisting of Hector, Dannystarr Beats and Yobikenobi, has dropped 21 feel-good tracks, bringing an old-school funk back to hip-hop with their unique sound. All three members produced beats for the tape as Hector spits over them with a casual sophistication. Dannystarr adds extra vocals on tracks “Where You Are” and “Parle”. The mixtape is packed with featured Toronto artists such as J-Maroon, T.City, Staxx Young and Junia-T. The wavy track “High Beams” featuring T.City and Staxx Young is produced by Hector, and samples Drake’s “Over”, while the “Hypnotize”-inspired “Cleavage” featuring MK will have listeners bobbing their heads. Overall, Get Well Soon is a great freshman mixtape for Inner City Grooves, showing the group’s variety and unique sound.
On Repeat: Rolling Stones, After Hours, Rockwell
Toronto’s own hip-hop trio, Inner City Grooves, has released its official mixtape Get Well Soon, and it’s definitely one you’ll wanna check out. The group, consisting of Hector, Dannystarr Beats and Yobikenobi, has dropped 21 feel-good tracks, bringing an old-school funk back to hip-hop with their unique sound. All three members produced beats for the tape as Hector spits over them with a casual sophistication. Dannystarr adds extra vocals on tracks “Where You Are” and “Parle”. The mixtape is packed with featured Toronto artists such as J-Maroon, T.City, Staxx Young and Junia-T. The wavy track “High Beams” featuring T.City and Staxx Young is produced by Hector, and samples Drake’s “Over”, while the “Hypnotize”-inspired “Cleavage” featuring MK will have listeners bobbing their heads. Overall, Get Well Soon is a great freshman mixtape for Inner City Grooves, showing the group’s variety and unique sound.
Friday, December 2, 2011
Watch The Throne
Toronto went H.A.M. on Wednesday night as hip-hop royalty Jay-Z and Kanye West rolled into the city on their Watch the Throne tour. The sold out Air Canada Centre went absolutely crazy as the “H.A.M.” beat boomed throughout the stadium. The lights rose, as the two legends stood on opposite stages in the middle of the ACC. As they began to spit, their stages began to rise into towers creating unbelievable visuals. Their giant platforms turned into holographic images of a Doberman about to attack, and sharks swimming below them, making their stage look like a giant shark tank. Their next track was “Otis”, and the two joined together on the main stage, with a giant American flag as their backdrop and an extreme amount of fire. That’s exactly what their performance was; straight fire.
Not only did the two perform Watch the Throne tracks, but they played many of their individual discography. Jay-Z had the crowd spitting along to every word of his classics: “Public Service Announcement”, “Big Pimpin”’, “Hard Knock Life (Ghetto Anthem)” and “99 Problems”. Kanye had every person there on their feet as he proved himself to be one of the best performers in the music industry, performing “All of the Lights”, “Gold Digger”, “Runaway” and “All Falls Down”. The two joined together to perform “Diamonds From Sierra Leone (Remix)”, getting everyone inside the ACC to throw their diamonds up.
When the “Niggas in Paris” beat started, the concertgoers lost their minds. The audience’s screams were so loud that, the beat restarted and they performed the track again. The song ended, and the stadium went dark. People got up thinking the show was over, but out of nowhere, Jay’s voice came over the speakers. “Where y’all think you’re going? We ain’t done.” And the “Niggas in Paris” beat started one more time.
After three doses of the high-energy track, Hova and Yeezy closed off the show with “Encore”, as Kanye put a Toronto Blue Jays fitted on his head. There is only one way to sum up the Watch the Throne concert: that ’ish CRAY
