Droppin Knowledge

For most artists, the place to be is under the spotlight. It’s obvious in the way they come alive on stage. In a city with so much talent, but so few outlets for local artists to perform, a growing hip- hop league under the moniker of Droppin Knowledge is sticking artists under the spotlight where they belong.

Stepping inside restaurant/night club Rivoli, on a cold January Friday, a Toronto crowd ready to take in new talent was met with a chill night of live performances, heavy beats, stiff drinks, and good vibes as Tim “Fundament” Stuart hosted his monthly event, an intimate hip-hop showcase exposing many local artists and welcoming others to the city.

Stuart has organized the Droppin Knowledge showcases on the first Friday of the month for almost two years, and the events have grown significantly since the beginning. What started out as a showcase for local artists to introduce themselves, developed into a performance involving Toronto legends like Eternia, Notes to Self and Choclair. Recently, Droppin Knowledge has involved artists from across the border, such as Action Bronson, the Queen’s emcee. The events never lost their motive however, which is to bring exposure to artists and support them by giving them a platform to express their creativity.

“It makes a lot of sense for us to open up the Canadian market for artists that are about to pop and what I see Droppin Knowledge as right now is a platform for artists to get opened up to the Canadian market before they would necessarily have the chance to because I have built somewhat of a foundation and a following in Toronto,” says Stuart.

Toronto acts bizZarh, RayRay Malone and Jake Bluez hit the stage along with New York headliner Emilio Rojas, while DJ James Redi spun the new-school hip-hop ones and twos. Co-host Double X opened for the artists who all vastly varied in flow and style. The female duo bizZarh, which consists of Dollar Paris and Charlie Champ, captivated the audience with a unique niche of dub step, hip-hop and stimulating lyricism. Jake Bluez, who performed at the first Droppin Knowledge event, returned once again to hype up the audience with his energetic set. He also used the event to launch his latest mixtape, Word 4 Word.

Toronto rapper-producer RayRay Malone, who is no stranger to the Droppin Knowledge events, says that the series is paramount to the Toronto hip-hop scene, and for local artists trying to make it in such a difficult industry.

“It’s people looking for an outlet for good hip-hop; young artists on the come-up in the city,” says Malone. “This city is loaded with talent, but the exposure is not really there, the infrastructure of the Toronto hip-hop industry is not as strong as in other cities, and there is not as much money circulating in actuality between people in the industry. So it’s tough for people to get exposure without PR or promo. This Droppin Knowledge scene is a place for people to go to, see good hip-hop, appreciate the artists, follow them, and know about them. And it’s not just about the hip-hop; it’s just a great time.”

New York native, Rojas, headlined the event, charming the crowd with his fresh, dynamic performance. Hailing from Rochester, Rojas has been buzzing in the industry, dealing with hip-hop heavyweights, such as Rick Ross, Big K.R.I.T. and Wu-Tang Clan, yet he enjoyed performing at a venue with local Toronto artists.

“I like Toronto. There are a lot of talented cats out here,” says Rojas. “A lot of good producers and a lot of good artists, and people show each other love, it’s dope.”