Finally here, emcee/producer Royce Birth, known for his producing for acts such as; Via Linez (Hello), T-West (T-Dot State of Mind), Angerville (Broken Drums, The Knock), releases his solo debut, “theREBIRTH” (AVAILABLE NOW via iTunes).  This album documents the journey of a young person who wants to do better in life, and takes the beginning steps of doing so.  Very rich in soulful sounds, the albums’ intention, is to inspire the listener, as a soundtrack to life from start to finish.

If you would like to hear selections that best represent the sound on “theREBIRTH”:

brandNEW

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WHX5Gg8u6SU

helloWORLD (ft. Octavio Santos)

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=

One of the truest b-boy’s in this city’s hip-hop movement - Mindbender Supreme – drops his latest full length project “Jupiter”.

23 tracks produced entirely by Rich Kidd with co-production from the man himself.

Get the full tracklist, preview and digital download HERE!

Download HERE!

Aion Clarke hits us with “The Leaks” - 11 joints (including the Megacity Countdown topping “Do You Right”) with production from Grammy-Award winning producer Bryan Michael-Cox, Noah ‘40′ Shebib, Dru Castro, SOE and Wyldcard.

Consider this catch up time for those that haven’t had an opportunity to fully appreciate this kid’s talent.

On first listen “I’m Coming”, “No Guarantees” & “You Chose Me” are already personal standouts on a rock solid lineup.

Honestly this isn’t a mixtape – it’s an album that would have been worth purchasing; which makes it a gift.

Full tracklist after the jump!

*rez edit: Yo Aion, howcome “When I Get Home” isn’t on this???” Send that!!!

Previously: VIDEO: Aion Clarke – Redemption Song + What’s Going On (LIVE)

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Download HERE!

Montreal’s C4 goes above the cliche’ drop a project hosted by a personality whose name is jacked from a famous icon, to dropping an album hosted by a real life movie legend.

The first full release by Montreal raised producer and songwriter C4 meshes a variety of musical styles into what can only be described as a deliberate assault of the conventional mixtape. Narrated by the Academy Award winning actor, the one and only Christopher Walken, from classic movies such as King Of New York, The Deer Hunter and Pulp Fiction. The C4 Experiment includes 20 tracks featuring over 30 urban artists ranging from Canadian hip hop pioneers such as Choclair, Moka Only and the Black Jays’ Solitair, to up and coming talent like JD Era and Rich Kidd.

The C4 Experiment comes equipped with an interactive website where users are able to browse through Christopher’s fantasy salon and interact with the scenery to play the songs. As you enter the boudoir, you’re encouraged to click on books, cameras, paintings, even empty bottles of Jack Danniels as well as other interesting items that have been left behind.

By logging onto http://www.imyourproducer.com, users are able to access the interactive environment as well as browse the screening room to view C4’s portfolio made up of digital short films, commercials, beat battle performances as well as a comic book inspired two-song music video co-directed and produced by C4 and Ajani Photography.

The 60-minute project also includes appearances by the legendary Montreal DJ A -Trak , Gangstarr ally Bless, Obscure Disorder’s Troy Dunnit, Bad News Brown and Magnum 357 as well as Ontario’s very own King Reign, Mayhem Morearty, Theology 3,Empire Crew and D-Sisive and more.

The C4 Experiment, hosted by Christopher Walken, is brought to you courtesy of imyourproducer.com, EscapeMTL.ca, The Real Frequency, HipHopCanada.com and is currently available for free download!

What a sick line up..

Full tracklist after the jump!

Previously: NEW MUSIC: Troy Dunnit & Solitair “Bring It To You” (Prod. C4)

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What can we say about this day that we haven’t either already said on OTA Live or in the commentary we drop on this blog? It doesn’t get any more local-history-in-the-moment than this.

Today, one of our own dropped an album that covers all bases in terms of giving us practical reasons to go pick it up: It’s dope; he’s a sick artist; he’s born, raised and (last I checked) still living in Toronto; his album is the most anticipated hip-hop release so far this year; AND, it has the potential to be the first album from a local hip-hop artist to go American-standard Platinum.

If none of that resonates with you as a hip-hop fan, born and raised in this city, or as someone claiming Toronto as your home, then it is what it is; you can’t fake those types of feelings. But it does beg the question: Are you really still a fan if you’ve lost the inclination to savor these rare homegrown moments?

Shouts to Drake for accomplishing something no one even fathomed was possible 2 years ago.

Shouts to 40, Boi-1da, Tone Mason & D-10 for being the musical back bone of that accomplishment and this moment.

And shouts to every new generation hip-hop kid in this city that lined up outside HMV 333 (some as early as Monday) to get their copy of TML.

You represent the heart this city needed two generations ago.

TML is in stores now.

Download HERE!

Holee! Long time coming but here it is!

JD Era “TH1rt3eN” – clean, radio version with no tags for the mix show deejays and discerning listeners.

Full tracklist after the jump!

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Shad’s TSOL album is officially out!

This is his third full-length release (an amazing feate in these times) and maaan it is pretty sick!

Beginning to end – great songs with well-executed concepts, commentary and story lines over a perfect production sound scape from Rich Kidd, Ric Notes, Classified, Relic, TLO and Kondrat & La Manga; along with solid features from Ian Kamau, Justin Nozuka and Broken Social Scene’s Brendan Canning & Lisa Lobsinger (what a lineup!).

For any emcee looking for that ground-zero Canadian hip-hop market model that balances commercial viability with true b-boy artistry – this guy is your inspiration (shouts to G and the entire team!).

Bottom line: If you’ve been a fan from the very beginning (When This Is Over); got into him on the second album (The Old Prince); or’ve never (ever) taken in a Shad K album (or seen him live) – this is that moment where it simply won’t be possible to plead honest ignorance while keeping your credibility as a contemporary hip-hop fan intact.

London Stand Up!

Get TSOL HERE!

His full Canadian tour schedule’s available after the jump!

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From ATF!

Final tracklist & production credits for TML which hits June 15th.

1. Fireworks (Feat. Alicia Keys) (Produced by Noah “40″ Shebib)
2. Karaoke (Produced by Francis & The Lights)
3. The Resistance (Produced by Noah “40″ Shebib)
4. Over (Produced by Boi-1da)
5. Show Me A Good Time (Produced by Kanye West)
6. Up All Night (Feat. Nicki Minaj) (Produced by Boi-1da)
7. Fancy (Feat. TI and Swizz Beatz) (Produced by Swizz Beatz)
8. Shut It Down (Feat. The Dream) (Produced by Noah “40″ Shebib and Omen)
9. Unforgettable (Feat. Young Jeezy) (Produced by Noah “40″ Shebib and Boi-1da)
10. Light Up (Feat. Jay-Z) (Produced by Noah “40″ Shebib and Tone Mason)
11. Miss Me (Feat. Lil Wayne) (Produced by Boi-1da and Noah “40″ Shebib)
12. Cece’s Interlude (Produced by Noah “40″ Shebib)
13. Find Your Love (Produced by Kanye West)
14. Thank Me Now (Produced by Timbaland)

Hopefully anyone that was griping about the lack of homegrown assists on the album notices that more than half of TML is produced by 40, Boi-1da and Tone Mason.

Seen on HHC!

Nice lineup of new, remixed and under-the-radar joints from some of Canada’s on-the-come-up talent.

Full tracklist after the jump!

Previously: MIXTAPE: T.O. vs. MTL

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From Urbnet Records:

Only an artist as adventurous and prolific as D-Sisive could create an album as exciting as Vaudeville. And only an album like Vaudeville could attract an internationally celebrated troubadour like Ron Sexsmith to make his first appearance on a hip-hop album.

Step right up ladies and gentlemen… and welcome to the crazy world of D-Sisive’s Vaudeville.

D-Sisive is a one man music machine cruising to the hum of his own engine. After last year’s triumphant return to the hip-hop limelight with both his Polaris Prize nominated gem Let The Children Die, and his second classic full length of 2009, the acclaimed Jonestown, one would think the accomplished Toronto MC would be content to rest on his ever-expanding laurels. Not D-Sisive. The enigmatic one is back – and this time taking things to an entirely new level with the epic Vaudeville.

Produced in tandem with Andrew ‘Fresh Kils’ Kilgour and featuring a surprise cameo from legendary Canadian songsmith, Ron Sexsmith, Vaudeville is filled with incredible hip hop tracks, and slight of hand tricks. Smoke and mirror gags mixed with punch lines, and intense stories. An album that showcases the wide variety of influences and themes which only an enigmatic master of ceremonies (or possibly snake oil salesman?) like D-Sisive could pull off.

“Vaudeville is definitely new territory for me,” D-Sisive says. “It was extremely challenging. The last thing I wanted to create was a replica of my previous releases. My mind doesn’t operate the same anymore. I’m happier, older and have tapped into my inner love for the music of Michael Buble. You can’t listen to ‘Haven’t Met You Yet’ then write songs for the end credits of Celebrity Rehab.”

A happy D-Sisive? Well, as happy as song titles like “Percocet” “The Night My Baby Died” and “The Riot Song” allow him to be. It’s no secret that D-Sisve has long looked outside of the confines of traditional hip-hop to find inspiration and this go-round is no different. But D-Sisive and Ron Sexsmith? Together on the same track? No one saw that coming. “Working with Ron Sexsmith was incredible,” D-Sisive explains. “Very surreal. I’ve been harassing him for years to get on a song with me. Thank god restraining orders expire.”

And despite his prolific nature, it seems unlikely we’ll ever know everything that motivates D-Sisive. Still through all the smoke and mirrors, the tricks and the treats, it’s a love of rocking the microphone unlike few others today that sustains D-Sisive’s enduring appeal.

Vaudeville. The name itself conjures up images of past glories, shiny suits and fast talk, half-remembered from days long gone by. Sometimes it seems hip hop may go the way of Vaudeville, a fallen empire rendered irrelevant by the cruelties of time. MC D-Sisive however, b-boy to the bone, refuses to go down without a fight. Streets, backstage, city parks, it doesn’t matter…

http://www.urbnet.com/artist-dsisive.asp

Read on after the jump!

Previously: NEW MUSIC: D-Sisive – Every Rose Has Its Thorn

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