From TRF:

Rich Kidd took the stage at Revival to perform some of his biggest joints from his We On Some Rich Kidd Shit Vol. 3, including “Soaring To Heaven”, “I Wish I Knew Natalie Portman”, “Riding Solo”, “Cash 4 Me” and many more, with the help of Saukrates, Tona, King Reign, JD Era, T. Ana Cole, Junia-T, the HGz, Steve Jlin and DJ Wrispect on the 1s and 2s. Rich brought a crazy amount of energy to the show and represented T.O. to the fullest!

Interview with Melanie Fiona by Lola Plaku (for HHC):

“I think I have to live through Lauryn Hill and live through Alicia and I have to go back and credit Sam Cooke and Bob Marley, and I had to live that to get here. I feel like more people are trying to get back to being music and if I can be a pioneer in that direction, I’m about it.” – Melanie Fiona

Toronto, ON – Boundaries have been broken in the recent years in Canadian music. It is about time that recording artists get recognized internationally for their efforts. It has been a slow process, but the musical gems are finally being discovered one by one, leading Canada into mass recognition.

One such gem is Melanie Fiona. She is an outstanding vocalist that has been singing and recording professionally for some time, but finally now, in 2009, she is getting the recognition she deserves. Her single “Give It To Me Right” made U.S. Billboard Hot R&B & Hip-Hop Songs and her album The Bridge, was released in Canada on June 30th (but still pending on a U.S. release), has received rave reviews.

Earlier in the year she toured with Kanye and now she is headlining her own shows not only here in North America, but all over Europe. An avid twitter user, she recently shared “JUST HAD THE GREATEST SHOW OF MY LIFE… sold out a 2,000 person Venue in Germany… and the show was televised LIVE…. ON CLOUD 9!!! [twitter.com/melaniefiona]

But before she was able to ride the mainstream waves, Melanie had created quite the resume for herself under the moniker Syren Hall. She performed throughout Canada and the US, sharing stages with artists such as Keyshia Cole, Robin Thicke, Lupe Fiasco, Buju Banton, Collie Buddz and more. In 2007, Melanie performed in Long Beach, California at the Ragga Muffins Bob Marley Festival. Her song “Somebody Come Get Me” also appeared on Reggae Gold 2008

Her stage presence is truly electrifying and it sets her apart from what most artists today have to offer live. “I think that aside from working hard on a good performance and sweating and just working hard, people want to experience an emotional rollercoaster and leave feeling an experience,” Melanie says.

HipHopCanada caught up with Melanie Fiona [AKA Syren] back in 2007 and Lola [iluvlola.net/HipHopCanada] was able to catch up with her again to discuss her career and new album The Bridge.

HHC/ILL: So The Bridge,  your first album . .
Melanie Fiona: The Bridge . . . yes.

HHC/ILL: Were you nervous before it came out [in Canada]?
Melanie Fiona: Yes and no.

HHC/ILL: Why no?
Melanie Fiona: No, because I feel so confident in the album and the music and I feel like people will really love it and I feel really good and strong about it. Nervous, yes, because it’s my first album. They don’t know me and they don’t know what I’m about and it’s always nervous trying to get the attention to people and wanting them to like you. But I feel like once they give it a chance they won’t be disappointed.

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Spotted this at Lola’s spot:

Mixtape includes brand-new material from: P. Reign, Drake, Richie Sosa, JD Era, Magnum 357, Reema Major, Famous, Belly, Mosaic Music and many more!!!

Download Here

Follow DJ Charlie Brown on Twitter and visit his MySpace

Seen on 2DB!

Two versions, Two different titles, Two different singers. One recorded with Omarion and titled “Girl You Know”, then after Omarion got the boot a newer version with Lloyd was done and retitled “Bedrock”.

Young Money feat. Lil Wayne, Gudda Gudda, Nicki Minaj, Drake, Tyga, Jae Millz & Omarion – Girl You Know

Young Money feat. Lil Wayne, Gudda Gudda, Nicki Minaj & Drake – Bedrock

1da getting some more well-deserved shine!

In this clip for Thisis50.com he states his opinion on the difference between a producer and a beatmaker, who he gives his beats too, his downfall experiences, his future & much more!

Seen on NR!

Previous: Boi-1da feature with XXL Magazine

I guess he liked Manifesto lol. Props to Tara via HHC!

“Theatre for people who hate theatre! — Secrets of a Black Boy speaks to a new generation – urban non-theatre goers. With a soundscape of music meets theatre, this hot new production is a concert, a party and a play all in one. Secrets of a Black Boy will have theatre newbie’s and theatre lovers cheering for more!

(more…)

Promise links up with Tek of Smif-N-Wessun to redo Buckshot, KRS-One and Mary J. Blige’s “The Way I Live”. Word was that Promise was signing to Duck Down (this was over a year ago). If I’m not mistaken he did get out of his previous contract which now has allowed him to move forward with that initiative. Hopefully this is a sign of things to come…

Tek & Promise – The Way I Live (G-Mix)

Seen on NR!

Previous: Tek (of Smif-N-Wesson) – Tick Tock (G-Mix) feat. Richie Sosa

Thisis50.com sits down with Toronto’s own Marco Polo & NY’s Torae. They describe their sound of music, they talk about their album “Double Barrel”, what they learned from being in the music industry & Much More!

Seen on NR!

From XXL Mag via HHC!

“Drake’s longtime engineer and producer Noah “40” Shebib has joined the famed Hip-Hop Since 1978 family.Known for producing the bulk of Drizzy’s critically-acclaimed So Far Gone mixtape, including the monster single “Successful,” XXLMag.com recently caught up with 40 to talk about his new management deal.

‘Working around Drake so much and with G and [Cor]Tez {Bryant] and everybody you know, [I] ended up becoming very close with them,’ 40 said. ‘Coming from Toronto and New York City where Hip Hop Since 1978 is based is like a second home to me. It was an easy fit.’

Headed by power duo G. Roberson and Kyambo “Hip-Hop” Joshua, HHS1978 is known for propelling the careers of some of today’s biggest artists. They were largely involved in the day-to-day operations of Roc-A-Fella Records since it’s inception and were largely responsible for getting Kanye West his deal. Along with Ye they also manage the high profile careers of Lil Wayne and Young Jeezy.”

Congratulations 40!