ATSIC S04E18 - Early
I’ve gotta give a shoutout to the artists and labels who send me music early so I can share it with you before it hits the streaming platforms. This week, I've loaded up five exclusive tracks, four of which you won't find anywhere else (*yet). Here we go with the exclusives off the top:
Spitty & Katrina Anastasia - “Locked & Loaded” - hits streaming July 6. A homie heard me play this on the Making of ATSIC stream on Twitch and said “that’s the beat and flow I didn’t know I needed”. That about sums it up. High energy dance music, but with BARS. I’m here for it all summer. Not easy to make dance music that also keeps the heads happy.
B1 the Architect & Es - "Awaken" - arriving on streaming on July 9. This track showcases two Toronto lyricists elevating their craft over jazzy drums and keys. Their bars reflect on their journey, expressing gratitude for being alive and still creating today. I’m grateful to be here to hear it.
DJ Dice - "Ol Dirty" - my good friend DJ Dice sent me his entire album, mixed and mastered by the talented Deez Waxx. The album is packed with jams, and I decided to kick off the episode with this track, which features an ODB sample that counts as a Wu-Tang presence. With that, this episode boasts 100 percent Canadian content. Whether or not Dice releases the album on streaming platforms is still uncertain, but either way, I'm showcasing the turntable champ on #ATSIC. Dice also created the show's theme song. IFKYK.
Thug Shells - "Cloud Nine" - from her upcoming EP "Boom Bap & Chill," dropping on streaming platforms on July 14. Shells has been incredibly busy lately, juggling cypher nights across Alberta, popular freestyle streams on Twitch, and appearances at various festivals and cities throughout the continent. Yet, she managed to prepare a four-track EP that demonstrates her ability to pay homage to the boom bap roots of the culture while still delivering the rapid-fire witty cuteness her fans adore. She's leveling up lyrically on this new project.
Big Sproxx feat. Planet Asia & The Legend Adam Bomb - available exclusively on Big Sproxx's Bandcamp. This track serves up the hard-hitting boom bap we expect from Sproxx, with an abundance of quotables delivered by PA and Mr. Bomb. It's been a while since I've heard a verse from Adam Bomb that I haven't liked. The whole project is solid, featuring appearances from big names like Benny the Butcher (with a verse he seems to be selling off wholesale), Jadakiss, Joell Ortiz, and more.
These exclusives are a testament to the incredible talent out there, and I'm honored to be able to share them with you. Support these artists and keep an eye out for their upcoming releases. Stay tuned for more fire on #ATSIC tho.
The mix continues with a plethora of new releases. I must admit, I dropped the ball by not playing Lxvndr and Tachichi before their album dropped. My schedule was jam-packed last month, and I couldn’t keep up, if I'm being honest. Things sometimes get lost in the chaos. But fear not, they kick things off with two singles from their new album "Found Money". Both tracks are bops. "Neck Breaker Boogie" features a banging beat by DJ Moves, while the infectious "Clap Cuz Ya Cold" rides another club-flavored instrumental by Dirty Dan. It's refreshing to see producers getting credit on albums, especially when they're all names I recognize from the scene. These guys really flexed by bringing together such talented individuals on one project. You can support them by checking out the album on Hand Solo's Bandcamp.
Don't forget to mark your calendars for my conversation with Tachichi & Lxvndr on July 25 on Twitch. Make sure to hit the follow button and enable notifications so you don't miss out on this chat with the dynamic duo from Halifax.
"The Boogie" keeps the energy high, with Toronto's own Lex Leosis and Teon Gibbs delivering a G Funk-inspired West Coast-style dancefloor anthem. That infectious bassline still has me debating whether it's a George Clinton sample or not, but I’m not here to be sample police. Probably just reminiscent. Either way, it's dope.
Producer extraordinaire Navi the North, based in Toronto, blessed us with a few new tracks this month. I played a remix for "Cyaan Time" featuring Whitey Don, Chip Fu, Sizzla Kalongi & Joe Lickshot. The energy is off the charts, and the dancehall riddim keeps the vibes flowing smoothly. Navi doesn’t miss.
Maestro Fresh Wes is an undisputed legend on the Canadian scene, reigning victorious since the late 80s. His latest track, "Still Winning," showcases his enduring talent, with triumphant horns heralding his return to the mic. Here’s hoping that he continues to release music. The game needs its OGs to show how it's done, too many don’t even know what came before them.
Now, let's talk about "Anti-That." I have to admit, the title made me a bit nervous at first. I'm a big fan of Tone Chop's hard-hitting Hip Hop style over Frost Gamble's boom bap beats, so I was curious about what he was going to be "anti." However, rest assured, this track is not a launch pad to grifting the MAGA crowd. Tone solidifies his position as staunchly anti-whack, anti-trap, and anti-drill. No lies here when he asserts, "You can buy a ghostwriter, but you can't buy skill." Hell yes. This might just be my favorite track on the mix. It’s too bad some of these actors can’t even be bothered to buy a ghostwriter.
Shout out to Halifax producer ChanHays for his project with Boldy James, "Prisoner of Circumstance." I played the track "The Love We Gave," a plodding drumless masterpiece. Boldy James delivers with his crystal clear, no-nonsense delivery. I may have missed this project initially, but I'm definitely following ChanHays now. Special thanks to fellow East Coast producer DK for putting this one on my radar. In the "Making of ATSIC" video (posted below), we even watched the interview that the DMX clip, which kicks off this track, is taken from. Classics. Rest in peace, DMX.
Moving on, we have "Company II," another collaborative project from Lord Juco & Finn, featuring visual thematical continuity with another cover shot of Kathy Bates from "Misery." I played "Ceramic Plates," featuring Mooch and RIM, neither of whom I know anything about. This track drips with classic boom bap vibes, a blissful soul sample throughout, laid-back delivery, and pure, uncut lines. Juco calls out rappers who "talk about plays but still have yet to score."
Ev Thompson bridged the gap between Saskatoon and Mexico City, enlisting Speak for his new single, "Filters." Fed up with rappers catfishing the game, they call out the fakery. It's time to stop supporting the pretense and embrace reality rap. There are artists making it all across this country.
Edmonton had a strong presence once again on this mix. Shout out to Thug Shells and DJ Dice for the aforementioned exclusives. We also have a new dose of gospel-inspired positivity from JusJRDN with "Sending + Vibes" and another slow-rolling thumper, "When I Say So," from Juicy Blue, Matt Byrnell & Jake Robertz.
Now, I haven't played much bbno$, but I've definitely been witnessing his blow-up. I tend to stay away from music that has already achieved mainstream popularity. Guys who have been interviewed by Narduar are generally not in need of my promotional assistance, but "You Need Jesus" with Yung Gravy was just too much fun not to include on a mix like this. Baby Gravy is the name of the group, and it’s hilarious.
Finally, we return to our regularly scheduled underground Hip Hop with an artist who remains a bit of a mystery to me. I believe Spitty may have suggested that I check him out, or maybe I stumbled upon him after seeing him featured on a track with Spitty. Either way, I think the dude is from Brampton...probably? His social media presence is a bit elusive when it comes to pinpointing his actual whereabouts, and interestingly, most of his Spotify listeners seem to be in Brazil. So, maybe it was cap when I said this episode was 100 percent canadian. Regardless, borders aren’t real, it’s all the nation of Hip Hop.
If you enjoyed this write-up, you'll probably dig my ramblings over on Twitch. I hang out there quite often, especially on Tuesday afternoons when I dive into Making of ATSIC or Fly in Formation interviews with other artists. On other days, you might catch me gaming while I listen to new releases and curate picks for the show, or even writing and recording my own music. It's always a good time, so swing by sometime.
Thanks for tuning in. Spread the word to your friends—it makes a difference. Share a post or show some love by donating to the show via PayPal. And remember, support your favorite artists by actually purchasing their music. Streaming doesn't put much in their pockets. Treat their music like you would a street busker's performance. Making and sharing music online is today's version of busking.
Stay up.
