Mayer Hawthorne
Posted by Karen | 16 Comments
I’ve been hearing a lot about artist Mayer Hawthorne. A few people have mentioned him to me and me likey, likey. I’ll be honest, when I first heard his music, I assumed I was listening to something from the Miles Davis, Isaac Hayes era. Who knew this kid (well actually he’s 29), lived in the suburbs of Michigan, and recorded several of current tracks a year ago. Hawthorne is making a buzz in the industry by making the old, new again.
He says he owe’s his retro-musical style to the likes of some of his favourite artist: Smokey Robinson and Barry White. Hawthorne’s retro-quirky, clean-cut image mixed with his subtly use of vulgarities on tracks like “Walk” will definately take a few fans by surprise. Who said a 70’s sound can’t be great with a swear word or two? Guess I’m not surprised…he respects and works with the likes of Snoop Dog on the “How Do You Do” album. Enough, said.
Mayer Hawthorne…is a new type of soul.
photo courtesy: mtv.com
Read MoreShi Wisdom featuring KJ Lovespeak
Posted by Karen | 22 Comments
I don’t know how I missed this email. Damn me! but I did. Never the less, good music is good music. One of our Toronto singers to watch out for, Shi Wisdom, recently released the video for “Lovespeak” featuring rapper KJ. I dubb this single, one of the hottest joints in Toronto for 2011.
The first single off of the Burd & Keyz produced album “Keyz of Life” compiled as a tribute album in memory of producer Anthony “Durty Keyz” James (one half of the Burd & Keyz duo). Keyz unexpectedly passed away on June 29th, 2010 from a rare disease. At only 23 years old the producer, piano player and artist, along with his partner Burd were both known across North America for their production skills. The untimely death of Keyz was a devasting blow to his friends and family.
Burd has gone on to promote the last productions from the duo with the tribute album. Burd will continue to go by the “Burd & Keyz” in tribute to his good friend.
No truer way to “speaklove”
Read MoreTalib Kweli & Mos Def in Toronto
Posted by Karen | Leave a Comment
It’s not very often, I miss such an event in the city. However I was there in spirit. Mos Def & Talib Kweli aka Black Star performed at the Koolhaus this past Saturday. I’m not going to indicate how extremely upset I was, that I wasn’t able to attend but shout out to blog contributor Kwame for the pics and making it. According to the city it was one of the best hip hop concerts, Toronto has seen in a while.Here’s what the national post said about the concert…
Def and Kweli walked out in their dapper vest and tie combos to relatively weak applause given their legendary status, but by the time the beat to Black Star highlight Definition dropped, the crowd was frantically jumping around, singing loudly to the chorus and throwing continuous props at the rappers, whose energy and silver-tongued vocal dexterity were oddly juxtaposed against a cheesy light-board background that featured the words Black Star rotating in a way reminiscent of Windows ’98 screen-savers. The duo, however, oozed more than enough cool to compensate: Mos Def paused confidently, mid-Definition, to take a long drink from his water bottle, and on RE:DEFinition, he coyly added the words “Watch the throne” to the song’s final lyrics, which assert that the duo are “ruling hip-hop.”
Pics…
Crowd Tweets…
RT @toronto_rt: RT @DelMiller – Mos Def & Talib Kwali holding it down in #Toronto
RT @Spexxx: Doooooooooooooope SHOW!!!! Mos Def & Talib Kweli are KILLING it right now!!!!
RT @The_Guvernment: This is fantabulous!!!! Talib Kweli & Mos Def absolutely destroying the place tonight. All the classics being dropped.
RT @thisisbeebs: AmaZing night!!!!#blackstar was dope…wicked @ianandreespinet
RT @UrGirlZoi: @ianandreespinet crazy night!!! Thank you! One of my greatest hip hop memories EVER was the show tonight. Amazing performances.
RT @thisisbeebs: Dopeness at it’s best..thank you @ianandreespinet @DJFASE @wristpect @TalibKweli @MosDefOfficial …Love love Love love…
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The Weeknd Florence & The Machine Shake It Out Remix
Posted by Karen | Leave a Comment
As I am still trying to get use to the many moods of The Weeknd, I came across this remix he did for Florence + The Machine’s new single “Shake it Out”. In all honestly, never really took the time to listen to Florence but I will say this IGlenn Lewis Good One
Posted by Karen | Leave a Comment
Finally a visual to this song! Glenn Lewis “Good One” is not only an amazing come back/hiatus r&b song but the Toronto nightlife visuals matches this song perfectly. Can’t wait to see him perform it. He worked with Andre Harris and Vidal Davis “Dre & Vidal“, the producers of his first album, “World Outside My Window” on “Good One”. Apparently “Good One” was not scheduled for release until January 2011, a music website leaked the song on December 14 leading Lewis to officially release the song the following week.
