ATSIC S04E35 - The Journey
Venturing into another week's journey, we traverse the future with DJ Dice delivering another mesmerizing mix, digging back into our boom bap bag with a selection of fresh releases spanning the nation. Our pursuit is to create a legend for people who pay attention. More new music in more new ears. If you find joy in the mixes, spread the word – the growth of the show relies on it. I believe the six rap enthusiasts in Lethbridge catching it on the FM dial are already tuned in, but let's keep expanding.
This week kicks off with a Wu-Tang feature, Method Man gracing a track from Team Demo & Wais P. Wais P seems to have emerged from hiatus, also featuring on DK’s “Atlantic Rap Vol 1” dropping tomorrow, Friday, Nov 17. Mef's excellence on features remains unwavering, and this collaboration adds to that legacy. As for Team Demo, who knows, but they put this one together so props to them. “Snatch a rappers heart and feed the hungry.”
The heart of the mix shifts to Canadian content, curated by me, mixed by Dice. Double filtration in full effect.
Freelance Flint takes the spotlight with “Congrats.” Flint consistently delivers raw truths that approach typical gangster rap from a perspective that feels more authentic. Keeping the bad with the good is a necessary mix, unless you're selecting new Hip Hop for a weekly show. Stay tuned for the full Jan/Feb 2024 Fly in Formation schedule – I've got it, and Freelance Flint is booked. Interviews resume Jan 2 after a December hiatus; apologies for the low volume mention on the mix.
Moving on to “Stone Cold” from Sayzee’s YFRWN 9 project, released on Halloween. Wrestling promos continue to offer some of the best intro/outro samples, and this collaboration with RUNXGUN is no exception. Both members of RUNXGUN are set for Fly in Formation on Nov 28, concluding 2023’s Season 2.
After that it’s “Heart”, a rumbling motivational track about keeping it pushing. Swivel’s been dropping solo work more consistently than I’ve noticed from the Vancouver based artist before. First heard him on a track with Switch, I think. Pretty sure he does his own production as well. That’s more and more common these days.
Thoma$ is another in the line of guys with government names you can guess based from their rap name. That’s another trend I’ve observed while watching the scene as closely as I do. Guys named Steve McConnel will definetely go with $ Mac and be the 5th artist on Spotify with the same name. Funk Lo is always dope. I don’t imagine his name is really Funk Laurenovich either.
Back to Berta for Edmonton artist High Def’s new single “Different Breed.” Too many people in positions like mine only play people they have met and shook hands with, or guys they grew up with, or currently work with. I’m not for that mentality. It’s natural that we clique up, that’s just human nature, but I believe we need to consciously push beyond that and really embrace talent regardless of our personal connections to the art. There’s a world full of people looking for good music who think it’s a drought, there’s enough listeners to go around. It’s in that spirit that I check for guys like High Def. “Different Breed” isn’t anything too far from the beaten path, but the guy’s obviously got some talent and I’ll keep an eye open for what’s next. I’m not out here looking for the next big hit that’ll revolutionize the sound of the genre, I just want an hour of solid bars each week from a variety of artists across the country, and this easily counts in that category.
“TDSB” brings social commentary from Jon Kabongo and Tona, addressing problematic and racist policies of the Toronto District School Board. The track calls for increased funding for schools, shedding light on the struggles of inner city schools. This conversation needs more attention, and Hip Hop has the power to make it palatable. Important stuff in a world where the conservatives are actively pushing to take over school boards, which will certainly have no benefits to anyone who isn’t already rich.
The consistency of Tone Chop and Frost Gamble is remarkable. “Run your mouth’s all you gonna do. Til your luck runs out and I’m the one that you run into” – a perfect finishing bar showcasing Tone Chop's lyrical genius. Even if the classic era boom bap formula isn’t your thing, there's much to learn from the work ethic displayed by Frost and Chop. “Take Notes” is the second of 2 tracks from this duo on tonight’s mix.
KAiRO & Hoopaloop are Winnipeg based artists I just tapped in with, and “Vibe Along” was from earlier in 2023, a March release. The message here is solidarity and community. The world needs more of that. KAiRO’s bio says his name stands for Knowledge Attained in Righteous Cyphers and mentions that KRS-One is a big influence. I can tell, this is edutainment. Mixing music like this in with everything else is important when we’re trying to bring substance back to the mainstream in any meaningful way. It can all play together back to back seamlessly. Because it’s all Hip Hop.
Nicholas Craven and Dark Lo impart street knowledge on “Rent Due.” The track introduced me to Ronald Harvey from Philly's Black Mafia, thanks to the cover art and my reading comment sections on IG. Whether a full album is coming or not, free Dark Lo. Nicholas Craven’s production work for various Americans is continuing to be an example of what to do to succeed as a Canadian producer.
“#Shockwave” has another US/Canada cross over with emcee Pee.Tzu, a Detroit based artist, rapping on a beat by Toronto mainstay producer Know-It. They put out an entire album called “The Appreciation Transplant”. Hope Know-It has been doing well, I know he’s been battling Kidney disease and has now had 2 unsuccessful kidney transplants that his body rejected. Still knocking out solid Hip Hop though.
“The Champs Are Here” is a canuck posse cut with Le Zeppo, Detales, Gideon knight, 9th Uno, and E.Smitty. It’s from a 2022 drop that I slept on, “Shy the BeatYoda Presents: The Rebel Embassy”. Looks like The Rebel Embassy is a group of all these guys, because most of the album is combinations of 4 or 5 emcees from the GTA. I haven’t actually listened to the entire thing, but I don’t doubt it’s all dope, Shy makes good shit.
Re-Diculous introduces floating flute samples under bars from Torontonians HWY 308, Wizdome Bunitall & Slang Hugh, with a Tony Sopranno appearance.
Then it’s onto a cypher on a Classified beat put together by Mlny, who’s constantly working with other canadians. It was dope to see him recruit from across the country to get Kryple, Prada West, Spesh K, and Lotus James to rhyme with him between cuts from DJ Slam. Everyone brought their A game on “The Re-Count.”
ThisIsHipHopp is another Canadian beat smith who recruited vocal talent from our southern neighbour for “Do you Know.” VpLivin bars up and brings gritty energy all the way from… somewhere in America? The guy has absolutely no online presence, 4 monthly Spotify listeners, and only appears when searched because ThisIsHIpHopp puts in the leg work to get posts about their song on various blogs and such. That’s how I got it, so shouts to him for sending it over to ATSIC. Submissions can go to doobyis@gmail.com. I gather that producers think working with Americans might help push them to a wider audience. It probably does sometimes, but if the artist rapping is completely unknown to the internet, I might suggest tapping in to an ATSIC mix to locate some emcees who you can pay in Canadian dollars. There are a lot who are actually out here pushing music in a realistic and accessible way.
Things almost lined up by accident again, with Dice choosing both of the as yet unplayed singles from DK’s upcoming “Atlantic Rap Vol 1” (Nov 17) back to back near the end of the mix. “Circa 91” and “Gold Tooth” very nearly lead right into my interview with DK from a couple weeks ago after the music, but there’s one other track between them. Oh well. We talked about how he landed some of the features, the recording process, the unending nature of the creative cycle of a rap producer, the Halifax scene, and some other stuff in our second FiF meeting. Very chill discussion.
The episode concludes with The Gumshoe Strut, another Winnipeg representative, on “Speakin’ My Mind” from his “Extra! Extra!” drop last month. Shouts to Saskatoon Folk Rap.
Fly in Formation interviews continue for another 2 weeks until the end of November. Come by Twitch, hit follow, and catch the next one live on a Tuesday. Donny Sage & Alchemy the Linguist will share insights about the local scene in Lethbridge on Nov 21, and RUNXGUN will wrap up the season on Nov 28. I’ll be taking December off and returning stronger in early January 2024 with a full card of artists for weekly Tuesday slots throughout the first months of the year.
Thanks for checking. If you’re still reading, you're a champion of Canadian Hip Hop, and I respect your dedication. To support the show, spread the word, hit like and share on posts, and back the music you enjoy – streaming isn't enough; you need to invest in what you want to see in the world.
If you wish to donate to keep After the Smoke is Clear and Fly in Formation independent, you can do so securely through Paypal. I buy everything I play, so any amount helps me buy more songs and keep this thing moving.
Playlist below. Making of ATSIC stream from Twitch below, and it featured DJ Dice on a call with me. Social media links below too. Come through, say hi, and let me know what you think of the show.
Stay Up.
