Frankie Payne "Clarity" Release Party

There was a moment of clarity for Toronto hip-hop supporters recently at Wrongbar. Hip-hop heads came through to celebrate the releases of two Freedom Writers and Toronto hip-hop heavyweights, Clarity, the new solo album from Frankie Payne, and Airplane Over One Way Streets, Theology3’s first full-length album. It was a night filled with live performances and good vibes.

The city’s older heads such as Maestro Fresh Wes and the remaining members of the Freedom Writers, Adam Bomb, Progress and Tona, came through to support their peers. DJ NaNa welcomed and hyped fans with his comical and entertaining version of the host role, screaming and rapping along with each track the DJ spun before the show got underway.

Theo3, who performed tracks such as “Snakes” and “Time”, as well as joints off his Airplane Over One Way Streets album, treated the crowd to his trademarked off the top freestyling skill before passing the mic off to his Freedom Writers brother Frankie Payne whom he had nothing but positive words to speak of.

“He is definitely, to me, a street general in Toronto, who is bringing back storytelling and has a very epic album so I wanted people to get the full scope of both of our projects at one time,” Theo says. “… He’s a certified dude so it’s good to have someone that’s actually talking the real and someone who is expanding and progressing. He wants people to learn from his shit and grow.”

Frankie proved his capabilities as a veteran in the Toronto hip-hop scene with his immense stage presence that poured energy into the crowd as he introduced fans and supporters to his new work. Rocking a “Free People Association” hat and T, he spit tracks such as “Foolish Pride”, “Follow Your Heart” and “Clarity” for his fans that evidently hold the emcee in great respect.

“I just wanted people to understand that I have been through a lot,” Payne says about his new project. “I’ve experienced a lot and I have a story to tell. I feel like that was what I was able to do with this album. I was able to tell my story and reflect my perspective on things because really, the album is like a collective of stories that describe things that were revealed to me in a moment of clarity.”

And for those at Wrongbar, they were able to experience his story firsthand.

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.