Hip Hop/Rap

20 MP3 Songs
HIP HOP/RAP: Hip Hop, HIP HOP/RAP: Rap



Details:
The Rascalzâs Red1, Fit, and DJ Kemo have been the stuff of legend since their 1993 debut Really Livin. Over the past thirteen years and five albums, the critically acclaimed Van City crew has helped pioneer Canadian hip-hop. In the process, they have garnered numerous MuchMusic Video Awards, Urban Music Awards, certified Gold records, No. 1 singles on MuchMusic, and Juno Awards (they famously declined a Juno in 1998 to protest the showâs policy, which excluded urban music from the televised broadcast). With their âNorthern Touchâ anthem, the group united the countryâs top talentâincluding Kardinal, Choclair, Thrust, and Checkmateâ propelling hip-hop to the forefront of mainstream culture.

The Rascalzâs community building initiatives are not just limited to music. In 2000, the group became involved with War Child (http://www.warchild.ca/)âa non-profit organization that assists children affected by warâand traveled to Sierra Leone to bear witness to the conditions there.

Known for innovative beats (courtesy of resident producer DJ Kemo), fresh styles, varied subject matter, and a strong presence in Canadian hip-hop, The Rascalzâs name has become synonymous with ground-breaking music.

And now Rascalz member Red 1 is breaking some ground of his own. The Van City MC is poised to drop his much-anticipated solo debut on his own recently founded Killawatt Records, to be distributed by Sony/BMG. He hopes that his Vancouver-based label will expose emerging talent of all genres, from across the country and abroad.

âThis project is giving me a new hunger,â the rapper explains.
âItâs a new focus, and a new vision.â

Killawattâs premier release is Red1âs solo debut, titled Beg For Nothing. The disc gets its name from the emcee-turned-CEOâs motto for dealing with the Canadian music industry.

âThe hip-hop community in Canada has always had to beg,â he points out. âWeâve had to fight to get on, to get record deals, to get radio play. I donât think we are really taken seriously. But we have been putting in work and making songs as good any artist. We tour around the world, and we represent hard for Canada. Weâre not begging for anything, we are out here grinding and working our asses off.â

This sense of determination infuses the entire project, burning the tracks with intensity. And while Beg For Nothing channels Redâs rebellious drive, it also highlights his many other sides. At turns playful, serene, and melancholic, the albumâs emotional depth is striking.

Stylistically, Red1âs smooth flow is at its best, riding the beats with ease. The soundscapesâcrafted by Red himself, along with DJ Kemoâare rich and dynamic, drawing on a wide-range of influences, including rock, funk, reggae, and R&B. Balancing scorching club tracks, car bangers, and soulful crib tunes, Beg For Nothing serves up something for everyone.

âNo Fuss, No Fight,â featuring dancehall legend Barrington Levy, is an upbeat club anthem that urges peace. âNo one goes to a party looking for war,â Red1 explains. âChill with the violence, letâs get on with the good vibes.â

âA Moment in Timeâ is a stirring Red1-produced joint that sees the rapper pause for contemplation. âItâs a song where you just stop for a moment and reflect on whatâs going on in your life and in the world,â he says.

No hip-hop album would be complete without a flirty shout-out to the ladies, and âMiss Rudeyâ is that track. âI like a sassy girl,â Red1 admits, with a laugh. âThis song is dedicated to all the girls with the screw-face who act extra prissy. Itâs annoying, but itâs sexy.â

Changing gears yet again, âShantyâ is born of Redâs extensive travels. âIâve been a lot of places in the world where thereâs destruction and conflict,â he explains. âThe one thing Iâve noticed is that the children are always the ones who suffer most. Things like that really hit me in the heart. You go to places like Africa and you see kids running around and they could be your little cousins.â

âIâm a man who feels things a lotâthe suffering, the injustice of the world,â Red1 adds. âIâm here to speak the truth. You can tell when something is coming from the heart and thatâs what I strive to achieve.â


Tags: hip hop/rap: rap