Rich Kidd's City On My Back Mixtape Release Party

The Great Hall was packed with Toronto’s hip-hop elite last Thursday and the motive was clear – to celebrate the sixth installment of emcee/producer Rich Kidd’s We On Some Rich Kidd Shit series. Fans, artists and supporters most definitely were on some Rich Kidd shit.
Rich Kidd describes his mixtapes as his children and says that he has grown throughout the projects to be where he is today. “I’m ecstatic with what I have compiled and the artists that are on it. They are definitely some of my favourite artists to listen to today,” he says.
“It shows a lot of growth on my part with the production and the artists that I’m working with and how I can diversify from Van city to T.O., Montreal to the States, LA, Japan and the UK, so it feels good.”

The event, hosted by Sir Lancelot and Lowkey, featured DJs Wristpect, Nana, Mensa and Meka, who all took a turn to spin throughout the night. The inside of The Great Hall was almost as hot as the music itself, as the air conditioner broke down earlier in the day, but nothing stopped the crowd from celebrating. Giant freezies were provided to everyone who came out to cool off and enjoy the evening.
On top of celebrating the project, the list of performers was a menu of the hottest in Toronto hip-hop, with sets from JD Era, JellyTooFly, Adam Bomb, Tona, Maestro and Crooklin, who all had positive words for their friend and peer.
“I don’t think you can define Rich Kidd as an artist. He’s an all-around type of dude… I’m proud to say I got a beat from Rich,” JellyTooFly says, before jumping onstage to wow the crowd with a hype acapella verse.

Junia T, one half of the Smash Brovaz came out to bask in Rich Kidd’s success, calling him his younger brother. “He’s an extra-terrestrial; he’s not natural… He’s determined and he really believes in plan A. He made it all the way to Volume six,” Junia says.
Rich Kidd reached the stage to a loud applause and delivered a set with the stage presence that cannot be compared to any other artist out. He ended with an insanely hype performance of his single, “Syke”, which the audience moshed and danced to.

Toronto comedian, Big Norm, a close friend of Rich Kidd, who also came through to celebrate the milestone in his life, praises the artist for all he has accomplished. “As an emcee, there is nobody in the city better than him right now… As a producer, he is nonstop. He just keeps on going… This guy is a modern day Renaissance man,” he shares.
With the support of his peers and a growing fan base, it is safe to say that the young jack-of-all-trades most definitely has the city on his back.

DJ Wristpect on the Stylus Awards

Five-time Stylus DJ Award Winner DJ Wristpect is once again nominated at this year’s Stylus Awards, which will take place at the Danforth Music Hall next Monday night. The Toronto DJ spoke with Urbanology Magazine about the close-knit Canadian DJ community, the importance of the Stylus Awards and the art of DJing.
WHAT DO THE STYLUS AWARDS MEAN TO YOU? [It means] validation of DJ culture in the country and appreciation for the culture on a mass level and I think it’s really dope that it started and is still going on and has grown every year, because we all put a lot of time, effort and blood, sweat and tears into this music thing, so the fact that there is now a forum for that to be recognized, that’s the most important thing; it’s shining a light on DJ culture… It’s a really good way of knowing what this is all about. It’s really great to have everyone to get together. It’s really rare to get that many DJs from across the country together at one place at one time.
WHAT IS YOUR MOST MEMORABLE STYLUS MOMENT TO DATE? Apart from winning awards, which is great, I just like getting a chance to just hang out and kick it with all the other DJs from around the country, because when I go to someone else’s city, it’s usually in and out and you don’t really get a chance to hang out and relax and get to catch up with DJs in other cities that are your friends or your peers, so the fact that everyone is at the awards, you can just chill out with people. That’s always good, because apart from forming your relationships, you actually get to hang out as friends, which you don’t really get to do when you’re working.
WHAT DOES BEING A DJ MEAN TO YOU? Being a DJ in this day and age to me means, really being on top of, not only music, but culture and trends. You really have to be versatile as a DJ these days, just because technology has really changed things. It’s tough to be a “one-genre-specific” DJ. Obviously, there are a lot of DJs that focus on one genre and do really well at it, but I think overall, as a music lover and as a DJ, you just have to be really in-tune with what’s going on in different genres. You have to be really adaptable to different crowds and in travelling especially. The biggest records that work in Toronto, or in North America, will get no reaction in a place like Hong Kong or France, so you really have to be able to think on your toes and adapt to situations very quickly… It’s a balancing act. It’s changed a lot from 10 years ago. I think the entire platform has changed. A DJ today has to wear many hats. It’s a very multifaceted role. It’s much more than simply playing music. I don’t think a lot of people realize that… It’s a great opportunity that DJs have today in 2012, because the art form is more popular than ever, with that being said, the playing field is also as crowded as ever, so you really have to be on top of your game.
WHAT ARE YOU MOST LOOKING FORWARD TO AT THIS YEAR’S AWARDS? I keep saying this but really just getting to just hang out and shooting the shit with DJ friends from across the country that I don’t really get to, because when I’m in their town, or they’re in my city, it’s hard to make time to get together. People have been hitting me up from Vancouver and Newfoundland asking, “Hey, are you going to be in town?” It’s great that everyone is coming… The awards are always entertaining, Trixx is a great host.