“‘The Reverb’ exists to celebrate the ever-expanding sounds and artists that happen so consistently in Toronto’s unparalleled hip hop scene. As one of the best music cities on the planet (if not THE best), we will highlight all manner of awesome phenomena for the reading and listening pleasure of all hip hop heads, whether from the golden era or the cutting edge of the culture. Expect as much fresh and futuristic exclusive music and connoisseur insight as possible. Oh, and please remember: Mindbender loves you.”
Fashion is certainly one of the next nebulous elements of hip hop culture, and local fashion genius Patrick Walton has been making some absolutely amazing hip hop masterpieces for b-boys and b-girls to style upon the world with for quite some time. He also has taken that other element, street entrepreneurialism, to new realms and levels of awe, constantly selling out of his limited-edition masterpieces in short order. If you want to support the super dope steez of Pat, check out the next ultra-rare summer wear design at http://www.mymainmanpat.com.
Photo: My Main Man Pat Tees
But in the meantime, here’s five questions with My Main Man Pat, by Addi Stewart!
Who is a part of the team you work with, and how did you get started?
Truth be told, I wish I had more of a Steve Jobs-esque story to how I got the idea for My Main Man Pat, but it was pretty simple. I was reading an article in The Star on a great company out of Whitby called Shirtpunch and was inspired. I had always wanted to start a business of my own, loved their model, and decided to apply it to a 15 year passion for hip-hop music. Once I started seeing the incredible quality of graphic art that was being created around the globe based on a love for hip-hop music, I felt this was an opportunity that could not be ignored.
“‘The Reverb’ exists to celebrate the ever-expanding sounds and artists that happen so consistently in Toronto’s unparalleled hip hop scene. As one of the best music cities on the planet (if not THE best), we will highlight all manner of awesome phenomena for the reading and listening pleasure of all hip hop heads, whether from the golden era or the cutting edge of the culture. Expect as much fresh and futuristic exclusive music and connoisseur insight as possible. Oh, and please remember: Mindbender loves you.”
A new standard has been set. Rich Kidd is really in a zone of his own at this point in time, and seeing his confidence in accomplishing so much in such a short period of time should remain an inspiration to not only everyone in Canadian hip hop, but everyone in hip hop across the world.
Fresh off his trip to Amsterdam, Rich’s homecoming celebration jam was an absolute smash in every sense of the word. Having American/internet legends like Lowkey of YouHeardThatNew? and Meka of 2DopeBoyz as resident DJs proved that Toronto is the place to be when it comes to hearing that real fresh new rugged raw rap shit.
Photo: Rich Kidd – Photos by Joel Levy
And rugged rhymes were sprayed like a shotgun uzi into the electrified crowd at Wrongbar on Thursday night, without a doubt. Also, a veritable ‘who’s who’ in modern Toronto hip hop scene including local legends like Tona, Junia-T and Crook of the Smash Brovaz, Trixx, Chris GotRocks and the Big Ticket crew, pHoenix Pagliacci, Church Chizzle, Big Norm, ‘Click’ Cox, Theology 3, 4th Pyramid, Blake Carrington, Shawn Boothe, Lo, Gavin Sheppard, Addy Papa, Karla Moy and so many other important individuals were in the house to show love and support for Rich Kidd’s latest mixtape release, and it was a night that will be remembered by many for a long time.
“‘The Reverb’ exists to celebrate the ever-expanding sounds and artists that happen so consistently in Toronto’s unparalleled hip hop scene. As one of the best music cities on the planet (if not THE best), we will highlight all manner of awesome phenomena for the reading and listening pleasure of all hip hop heads, whether from the golden era or the cutting edge of the culture. Expect as much fresh and futuristic exclusive music and connoisseur insight as possible. Oh, and please remember: Mindbender loves you.”
Photo: Books, Bucks, Beats – Vol. 1
Out for over a year now, I truly believe “Books, Bucks and Beats Vol. 1″ should be at the top of everyone’s “Best Of” lists, straight up and down. Fifty-one fiery minutes of straight fucking hip hop freshness, nothing less. There are thirteen tracks for the lucky listener who chooses to absorb the essence of pHoenix Pagliacci, one of the most confident, clear and clever voices, whether female, male or other, that I have heard in ages.
“‘The Reverb’ exists to celebrate the ever-expanding sounds and artists that happen so consistently in Toronto’s unparalleled hip hop scene. As one of the best music cities on the planet (if not THE best), we will highlight all manner of awesome phenomena for the reading and listening pleasure of all hip hop heads, whether from the golden era or the cutting edge of the culture. Expect as much fresh and futuristic exclusive music and connoisseur insight as possible. Oh, and please remember: Mindbender loves you.”
They don’t make ‘em like Unknown Mizery anymore. The voice of the voiceless, the power in the powerless, the dreamer for the dreamless, he’s been that kind of MC since the early 90′s and rocking with DJ Serious. An unapologetic Toronto MC who doesn’t rhyme for the sake of riddlin’ or talking igorance, from the first verse of the opening track on the 10-song concept album ‘Busking in Bombay’, his passion for teaching the people and making music to save his own tortured sanity is all too evident.
Over well-sliced soul samples and moody, chunky percussion blasts by the Arkeologists, Mizery rides the beats with the confidence of a veteran revolutionary rapper that was born to move the crowd. Inspired by a Pandora’s Box of South Asian imagery, history and culture, he speaks on his travels to his motherland, amongst stories of survival and stress management while “busking in Bollywood/ building in Bombay/ blazing in Paradise/ bless us for this calm faith”. (One of the choruses and requests he humbly asks of his holy deities.)
“‘The Reverb’ exists to celebrate the ever-expanding sounds and artists that happen so consistently in Toronto’s unparalleled hip hop scene. As one of the best music cities on the planet (if not THE best), we will highlight all manner of awesome phenomena for the reading and listening pleasure of all hip hop heads, whether from the golden era or the cutting edge of the culture. Expect as much fresh and futuristic exclusive music and connoisseur insight as possible. Oh, and please remember: Mindbender loves you.”
Perfectly titled as Small Kingsize, this explosively cosy TorontoIsAwesome.Com-inspired gathering enjoyed its inaugural affair last Friday night in its well-chosen venue origin, The Central. The first of hopefully many more randy, happy, and dance-friendly jams for this monthly mash-up of affordable alcohol, a $5 cover, exciting and memorable photographs taken by Joel Levy, Bloor/Bathurst blokes and babes exactly as beautiful and brilliant as Toronto brings it, and most importantly: BEATS THAT BANG BRUTALLY.
Photo: Riggadale
DJ Riggadale was rinsing out all kinds of wall-slappers, big chunes, anthems, and mad remixes of reggae, rap, r&b, trap, rock and radio classics. Some filthy dubstep and jungle crept in to the speakers too, and dance floor was mobbed with fine young cannibals feasting on the delicious sounds Riggadale was cooking up. The icing on the entertainment cake was the celebration that this Small Kingsize event also gave love to, was the million views on YouTube that KO had achieved, and cheers abounded in the crowd through the night for the local legend. Packed near capacity, but never annoying or invasive, this night was an awesome way for a great Toronto party tradition to begin for 2013.
“‘The Reverb’ exists to celebrate the ever-expanding sounds and artists that happen so consistently in Toronto’s unparalleled hip hop scene. As one of the best music cities on the planet (if not THE best), we will highlight all manner of awesome phenomena for the reading and listening pleasure of all hip hop heads, whether from the golden era or the cutting edge of the culture. Expect as much fresh and futuristic exclusive music and connoisseur insight as possible. Oh, and please remember: Mindbender loves you.”
Toronto artist KO is celebrating the one millionth view of his music video for “Capable” and everyone is invited. The Central bar and music venue located on Markham Street in the Mirvish village will host the party Small Kingsize that will celebrate the artist’s achievement.
The music video on YouTube is set to hit a million views today and may have already been hit it by the time this post goes live. The song was added on September 6th, 2009. Here is the video if you have not checked it out.
Photo: My Main Man Pat Tees
