Interview and performance by Toronto's own The 6th Letter at Wrongbar on Halloween 2011. Watch the video on youtube by visiting the link above. Interview, footage and editing done by yours truly.
Monday, November 14, 2011
The 6th Letter live at Wrongbar
Interview and performance by Toronto's own The 6th Letter at Wrongbar on Halloween 2011. Watch the video on youtube by visiting the link above. Interview, footage and editing done by yours truly.
G 98.7 FM launch
Today marks the official launch of Toronto’s new urban radio station, G98.7 FM.
After a 10-year journey to secure a broadcast license for G98.7 FM, president and station manager Fitzroy Gordon’s dreams came true last Monday, as he invited media and guests to the station for an unveiling of the studios and offices.
During a ribbon-cutting ceremony, press conference and tour of G98.7 FM, Gordon took the opportunity to thank the staff who helped him reach this milestone, and the community for its patience after applying for a license on three separate occasions. The station was packed from wall to wall with supporters, enthusiastic about the launch.
The station targets a core 25 to 54 year old demographic, plays R&B, soul, hip-hop, reggae, soca, gospel and smooth jazz, which is groundbreaking for Canadian radio, as well as the Black and Caribbean communities.
For the last few weeks, G98.7 FM has been experimenting on-air by playing continuous music to receive feedback from listeners. Aisha Wickham Thomas, the station’s director of communications shared that the whole team is pleasantly surprised at the response they are already receiving from the community, even before any shows and talk programming have been launched.
“The response in our first several weeks of just pure music testing has been overwhelming. People are loving what we are offering, both the new school and the old school, and not only that, but the news and talk programming is going to give a voice to the Black and Caribbean community to talk about issues of importance,” she says.
Program Director Wayne Williams announced the on-air team, stating that the crew was created to make the competition nervous. The line-up consists of many renowned Toronto DJs and radio personalities such as Jester, Dr. Jay, DJ Riyad, Mark Strong, Jemeni and Spex. “We have a very good team. When we started to think about putting a team together, we wanted to get an experienced team, a team that could hit the ground running,” Gordon says.
The announcement that Mark Strong and Jemeni are reuniting to host the morning show created much excitement. The duo, whose previous show left airwaves in 2006, is enthusiastic about returning to the booth, and the impact G98.7 FM will have on Toronto. “We’re happy to be part of a movement that has been a buzz for a long time and has been a need in the community, and we’re happy to be a part of this journey and build it from the ground up,” says Strong. Immediately following the announcement, Twitter was blowing up, as fans of the pair welcomed them back to the airwaves.
Spex, the Riddim Track master, is also joining the G98.7 FM team and returning to his Sunday night slot on the airwaves after his exit from FLOW 93.5 in February. “To actually be on a radio station that caters to the music that I want to hear and the music that I want to play, 24 hours a day, is actually a dream come true. So I’m more than excited. I’m very blessed.”
Gordon, along with his G98.7 FM team, asks the community to be patient, as this is only the beginning, but ensures that there are only great things to come for the radio station.
Visit www.urbanologymag.com for more
After a 10-year journey to secure a broadcast license for G98.7 FM, president and station manager Fitzroy Gordon’s dreams came true last Monday, as he invited media and guests to the station for an unveiling of the studios and offices.
During a ribbon-cutting ceremony, press conference and tour of G98.7 FM, Gordon took the opportunity to thank the staff who helped him reach this milestone, and the community for its patience after applying for a license on three separate occasions. The station was packed from wall to wall with supporters, enthusiastic about the launch.
The station targets a core 25 to 54 year old demographic, plays R&B, soul, hip-hop, reggae, soca, gospel and smooth jazz, which is groundbreaking for Canadian radio, as well as the Black and Caribbean communities.
For the last few weeks, G98.7 FM has been experimenting on-air by playing continuous music to receive feedback from listeners. Aisha Wickham Thomas, the station’s director of communications shared that the whole team is pleasantly surprised at the response they are already receiving from the community, even before any shows and talk programming have been launched.
“The response in our first several weeks of just pure music testing has been overwhelming. People are loving what we are offering, both the new school and the old school, and not only that, but the news and talk programming is going to give a voice to the Black and Caribbean community to talk about issues of importance,” she says.
Program Director Wayne Williams announced the on-air team, stating that the crew was created to make the competition nervous. The line-up consists of many renowned Toronto DJs and radio personalities such as Jester, Dr. Jay, DJ Riyad, Mark Strong, Jemeni and Spex. “We have a very good team. When we started to think about putting a team together, we wanted to get an experienced team, a team that could hit the ground running,” Gordon says.
The announcement that Mark Strong and Jemeni are reuniting to host the morning show created much excitement. The duo, whose previous show left airwaves in 2006, is enthusiastic about returning to the booth, and the impact G98.7 FM will have on Toronto. “We’re happy to be part of a movement that has been a buzz for a long time and has been a need in the community, and we’re happy to be a part of this journey and build it from the ground up,” says Strong. Immediately following the announcement, Twitter was blowing up, as fans of the pair welcomed them back to the airwaves.
Spex, the Riddim Track master, is also joining the G98.7 FM team and returning to his Sunday night slot on the airwaves after his exit from FLOW 93.5 in February. “To actually be on a radio station that caters to the music that I want to hear and the music that I want to play, 24 hours a day, is actually a dream come true. So I’m more than excited. I’m very blessed.”
Gordon, along with his G98.7 FM team, asks the community to be patient, as this is only the beginning, but ensures that there are only great things to come for the radio station.
Visit www.urbanologymag.com for more
Sunday, November 13, 2011
Thursday, October 20, 2011
ManifesTO Festival 2011
Toronto's hip hop community is alive! It has a soul and a voice of its own. For the last five years, the ManifesTO festival has been a representation of this growing culture.
This year, the 11 day festival was the biggest yet. On Sunday, September 25th, Dundas Square was packed with hiphop heads vibing to the music of Toronto's finest artists such as Andreena Mill, JD Era, Freedom Writers, and Beatbox Canada. Hiphop legends such as Michie Mee, Phonte, 9th Wonder, Kid Capri, and Rakim graced the stage to perform their classic tracks as the crowd felt and responded to their intensity. JD Era, who was recently signed to Raekwon's record label, surprised everyone when he invited the Wutang legend on stage to perform a verse. The crowd was in shock; their energy electric.
The entire day was filled with great music and positive vibes. Hip hop heads of every age, sex, race and background united for their love of great music. It felt as though the city was one being. It was a great day in Toronto hip hop.
This year, the 11 day festival was the biggest yet. On Sunday, September 25th, Dundas Square was packed with hiphop heads vibing to the music of Toronto's finest artists such as Andreena Mill, JD Era, Freedom Writers, and Beatbox Canada. Hiphop legends such as Michie Mee, Phonte, 9th Wonder, Kid Capri, and Rakim graced the stage to perform their classic tracks as the crowd felt and responded to their intensity. JD Era, who was recently signed to Raekwon's record label, surprised everyone when he invited the Wutang legend on stage to perform a verse. The crowd was in shock; their energy electric.
The entire day was filled with great music and positive vibes. Hip hop heads of every age, sex, race and background united for their love of great music. It felt as though the city was one being. It was a great day in Toronto hip hop.
Monday, July 25, 2011
The Original "Artistpreneur"
Dennis Lewis, otherwise known as Glaze, is a 24-year-old triple threat from Rexdale, Ontario. He is a rapper, clothing line designer and businessman. He coined the term “artistpreneur” to define himself, and what he does.
An artistpreneur, he says, is an individual who makes money through his art; a combination of artist, and entrepreneur. Glaze says he was born an artist, and his intention is to carve a new path in the arts community with his music and clothing line.
“The artist was always in me. I never decided to be an artist. Everything I do, I do it in an artistic way. There’s an art to living, “ He said. “But I want to turn it into more than just a hobby. Sometimes, something that you love could be a labour of love as well.”
He is friendly and approachable, yet business oriented attitude makes him easy to get along with, and his dream for hip hop makes him an asset to the arts community.
Glaze has not had the easiest life. When he was young, his mother was forced to move him and his family into a motel, where they lives for a year. When she noticed that he was falling victim to the dangers of street life, she moved them to Malton.
With this change in environment, he began to excel in school, particularly in the areas of math and creative writing. He found an interest in poetry, and started writing raps, and began free styling. At the age of eight, he wrote his first song, and entered the studio for the first time
“[Music] is something that I love, and I know how it impacts people. When it’s impulsive, that’s where the real art comes from, because it’s something that’s automatic.” He said.
In his early teens Glaze was already performing at events throughout Toronto, and formed the music group, “Da VIP'z” with friend and artist K-9. When a business deal went wrong in 2002, Glaze was forced to stay silent due to a three year recording contract which prohibited him from releasing any new material. Now, he is determined more than ever to share both his negative and positive experiences with the world in an attempt to save others from the same hardships.
Glaze is still an unsigned artist, yet he has worked with hip hop artists all over Toronto such as Casper Tha Deadly Ghost, Black Sage, History in the Making, FTF, and LaLa. His first single, U Don’t Want None, which was produced by Nuklear, was released on the Street Sweepers Canadian Invasion: Vol 1 mixtape in 2008. The next year, Glaze joined the Remix Project, a service for youth who are interested in entering the arts industry, and has been in the studio working on his tracks ever since.
He is set to release his debut album Access Granted, and his single, Dolla and a Dream, featuring another Toronto MC, JR Exell in April. “Working with Glaze is an honour. He’s been a great friend of mine since childhood and he’s always been a very talented person. He’s the best MC in the dot [Toronto] from my point of view. 16 for 16 he has the most content and depth. He’s an all around great talent.” Said JR Exell, another Toronto MC.
Glaze’s musical style is laidback, but his lyrics are complex, spitting about topics he’s experienced, that are relevant to his fans. “His flow is versatile. It’s a smooth flow like water. It’s on point. I will compare him to a young Jay Z of Toronto,” Exell said.
In February 2009, Glaze founded his clothing line EFFETTO with his business partner JD Keyz, a classically trained pianist, from Toronto. It is a brand representing all musicians of every genre, artists, producers, dancers, sound engineers and music enthusiasts everywhere.
EFFETTO stands for “the effect that music has on the audience,” and positively affecting musicians is exactly their aim. Glaze’s vision with EFFETTO is to create a greater awareness of musical culture, and bring people together through their love of music. Everyone has some sort of attachment to music of some kind, which makes the brand universal. “Everything is inspired by the music, including the EFFETTO movement. I want to put the spotlight back on the artists and inspire more people to be artists.” He said.
In the past few years, EFFETTO has sponsored and been featuring in local events such as Toronto’s Poetic Fashion, Manifesto Festival, Ryerson’s Urban Hip Hop Union Showcase, and Humber College’s Fashion Show for Haiti. They have also been promoted in publications such as Freedom Time, and Urbanology magazine.
EFFETTO merchandise includes t-shirts, sweaters, hats and jackets, and is quickly expanding. Glaze is always working on new designs either by himself, or with the help of local youth talent. EFFETTO gear can be viewed and purchased on their newly launched website www.effettowear.com, or by contacting Glaze on the EFFETTO Facebook fan page.
Toronto photographer and music enthusiast, Samantha Kidd believes that big things are to come for Glaze and his clothing line. “The whole idea of EFFETTO is genius. It had a chance to be huge. The way NIKE brands sports, EFFETTO is trying to brand music. It could really take off! ”
But the intention for Glaze’s art and business is not just to make money; it is his community that motivates him. “It is the purpose before the profit, the message before the money. It’s for the people, and the focus is on the art. It’s about giving back.” He said. His goal is to motivate artists, and inspire the youth in his community to pursue their dreams.
Glaze intends to keep focused, and continue pushing his clothing line, and evolving as an artist, and make the difference he feels he was born to make in the arts community.
An artistpreneur, he says, is an individual who makes money through his art; a combination of artist, and entrepreneur. Glaze says he was born an artist, and his intention is to carve a new path in the arts community with his music and clothing line.
“The artist was always in me. I never decided to be an artist. Everything I do, I do it in an artistic way. There’s an art to living, “ He said. “But I want to turn it into more than just a hobby. Sometimes, something that you love could be a labour of love as well.”
He is friendly and approachable, yet business oriented attitude makes him easy to get along with, and his dream for hip hop makes him an asset to the arts community.
Glaze has not had the easiest life. When he was young, his mother was forced to move him and his family into a motel, where they lives for a year. When she noticed that he was falling victim to the dangers of street life, she moved them to Malton.
With this change in environment, he began to excel in school, particularly in the areas of math and creative writing. He found an interest in poetry, and started writing raps, and began free styling. At the age of eight, he wrote his first song, and entered the studio for the first time
“[Music] is something that I love, and I know how it impacts people. When it’s impulsive, that’s where the real art comes from, because it’s something that’s automatic.” He said.
In his early teens Glaze was already performing at events throughout Toronto, and formed the music group, “Da VIP'z” with friend and artist K-9. When a business deal went wrong in 2002, Glaze was forced to stay silent due to a three year recording contract which prohibited him from releasing any new material. Now, he is determined more than ever to share both his negative and positive experiences with the world in an attempt to save others from the same hardships.
Glaze is still an unsigned artist, yet he has worked with hip hop artists all over Toronto such as Casper Tha Deadly Ghost, Black Sage, History in the Making, FTF, and LaLa. His first single, U Don’t Want None, which was produced by Nuklear, was released on the Street Sweepers Canadian Invasion: Vol 1 mixtape in 2008. The next year, Glaze joined the Remix Project, a service for youth who are interested in entering the arts industry, and has been in the studio working on his tracks ever since.
He is set to release his debut album Access Granted, and his single, Dolla and a Dream, featuring another Toronto MC, JR Exell in April. “Working with Glaze is an honour. He’s been a great friend of mine since childhood and he’s always been a very talented person. He’s the best MC in the dot [Toronto] from my point of view. 16 for 16 he has the most content and depth. He’s an all around great talent.” Said JR Exell, another Toronto MC.
Glaze’s musical style is laidback, but his lyrics are complex, spitting about topics he’s experienced, that are relevant to his fans. “His flow is versatile. It’s a smooth flow like water. It’s on point. I will compare him to a young Jay Z of Toronto,” Exell said.
In February 2009, Glaze founded his clothing line EFFETTO with his business partner JD Keyz, a classically trained pianist, from Toronto. It is a brand representing all musicians of every genre, artists, producers, dancers, sound engineers and music enthusiasts everywhere.
EFFETTO stands for “the effect that music has on the audience,” and positively affecting musicians is exactly their aim. Glaze’s vision with EFFETTO is to create a greater awareness of musical culture, and bring people together through their love of music. Everyone has some sort of attachment to music of some kind, which makes the brand universal. “Everything is inspired by the music, including the EFFETTO movement. I want to put the spotlight back on the artists and inspire more people to be artists.” He said.
In the past few years, EFFETTO has sponsored and been featuring in local events such as Toronto’s Poetic Fashion, Manifesto Festival, Ryerson’s Urban Hip Hop Union Showcase, and Humber College’s Fashion Show for Haiti. They have also been promoted in publications such as Freedom Time, and Urbanology magazine.
EFFETTO merchandise includes t-shirts, sweaters, hats and jackets, and is quickly expanding. Glaze is always working on new designs either by himself, or with the help of local youth talent. EFFETTO gear can be viewed and purchased on their newly launched website www.effettowear.com, or by contacting Glaze on the EFFETTO Facebook fan page.
Toronto photographer and music enthusiast, Samantha Kidd believes that big things are to come for Glaze and his clothing line. “The whole idea of EFFETTO is genius. It had a chance to be huge. The way NIKE brands sports, EFFETTO is trying to brand music. It could really take off! ”
But the intention for Glaze’s art and business is not just to make money; it is his community that motivates him. “It is the purpose before the profit, the message before the money. It’s for the people, and the focus is on the art. It’s about giving back.” He said. His goal is to motivate artists, and inspire the youth in his community to pursue their dreams.
Glaze intends to keep focused, and continue pushing his clothing line, and evolving as an artist, and make the difference he feels he was born to make in the arts community.
Saturday, July 9, 2011
Fourth Newscast - February 11
I was sick, and messed up at the beginning of this one. Don't judge :P
