Toronto, ON – When Saidah Baba Talibah struts onstage, the room – any room – suddenly turns silent and then, almost instantaneously, bursts into applause. Applause that is intermingled with anticipation and perhaps, a bit of relief….one glance at the self-assured singer and the audience knows that she is going to deliver the goods.

On October 20^th the Toronto born singer delivers with The Phone Demos – an innovative 4 song EP of recordings where she used her cell phone to record the songs.  A project that has raised enough buzz with Nokia that they have given the artist phones to help with the promotion of the release.

The Phone Demos started after Saidah used her cell phone to record a song she and her guitarist were working on.   After sharing the recordings, the singer noticed that people not only loved the music but the grainy texture of the sound which reminded them of early vinyl recordings.  Bolstered by reaction, Saidah decided to share these songs for fans so they could follow her current journey of recording her debut, (S)Cream.  “The Phone Demos are a way for me to share the raw beginnings, the vulnerabilities, the flaws in the sound and, simply, the rough sketches of these songs.  I think it’s a cool way to build relationships with people who are getting to know me, the artist, by being invited into getting to know me in all stages of creation.”

Saidah Baba Talibah, a recent headliner at this year’s Manifesto festival, is known for her innovative ideas when it comes to sharing her music and hands-on approach to selling her albums.  Make Me Wanna (S)Cream, is a loyalty program that she created for her fans and supporters to participate in the production of her debut (S)Cream and upcoming projects.  The program consists of nine packages ranging from $15 – $3,000.  Based on the level of contribution, participants can choose from a collection of gifts and opportunities from dinners to private acoustic performances in the privacy of their own home.  “I am elated to have finally reached the place where I can, not only, share my music…, but invite you to be an integral ingredient on this journey to realizing this long time dream.”  Go to www.MakeMeWannaScream.com for more info!

Check out Saidah’s powerful and energetic performance at Honey Jam 2009 http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NtYsxJSfjYw

Here what people are saying: http://vimeo.com/6993952

Websites:

www.sbtmusic.com
www.MakeMeWannaScream.com

The station has a hip-hop show and seems to actually care about music as opposed to the “music” channels currently on TV. Check out the station’s website here. Official Press Release:

AUX television is rocking straight out of the gate. The newly launched channel reached 285,000 viewers in Canada from October 1st to 7th during its debut broadcast week on Rogers Cable, according to preliminary data from BBM Canada. AUX music television is now available on Rogers Cable channel 107.

AUX (www.aux.tv) is the face of thriving music culture. It’s an interactive, multi-platform channel dedicated to musical groundbreakers in Canada and from around the world. Launched online in November 2008, it features a mix of music content including videos, live performances, artist interviews, in-depth profiles, behind-the-scenes docs, news, and insider reports on top industry events.  AUX plans to be available anywhere its core audience of 18-49s wants it, with a strong focus on reaching 18-34 year olds.

From FarBeyond Entertainment’s Footnotes blog!

Part II of Chris Shaban’s editorial piece “In Defense Of Drake”:

You’ll read this if you’re a real hip-hop fan.

Part II

Thanks for coming back here to read Part II at Cityonmyback.com. To be totally honest, I wasn’t expecting so many rap peeps to get at me, especially with cool sites like this one picking it up, so I have tried to make this edition a little more Hip-Hop than Part I (Which after reading it online sounded more like a biography on a person (me) that you’ve never heard of and probably don’t care about.)  I got enough ‘Shabby, what the bloodclotare you talking about?’ to last me a lifetime. Because each site is different, I have worked with Ty to post it here in a unique way.  To make it easier to read on this site, the FootNotes will actually appear right after the sentence in parenthesis and blue text.  It makes its seem really LONG that way, but it’s super easy to read.  If you want to view it in actual ‘FootNotes’, where you can roll over the word with your mouse and the blurb pops up in a neat little box, click the link above that says ‘FootNotes blog!’ right under the Drizzy studio picture.

As I previously mentioned, the idea for this article was originally two fold. First was to help the my company’s current and potential corporate partners understand a little bit about the benefits of investing advertising dollars in Canadian Hip-Hop (I guess it’s a little disappointing that we have much less issue acquiring support and booking shows for other genres, but still struggle with Rap. Now, of course, the blame isn’t 100% on the shoulders of the companies and schools for that. It is VERY fair to say that the quality of music and level of execution by many folks (but not all, mind you) who consider themselves to represent Hip-Hop on a boardroom level here in Canada just hasn’t been getting the job done. And that’s not really an opinion, right? Like Maestro Fresh Wes was more than 20 years ago, and we still really don’t have too much to show as far as financial or mainstream success goes in Canadian Rap music. However, within that fact, the companies and schools aren’t totally off the hook on the matter as there is still something to be said for being ‘ahead of the curve’. We still have a long way to go but I hope even this little blog and any other positive efforts for the cause will keep the forward momentum going.) The second being the need to relate to College & University Event Programmers in an effort to see an increase in the Urban shows at campuses across the country. That is why the original blog is still housed at blog.farbeyond.ca. But, hey, this bad boy can also be taken as strictly entertainment, and I’m ultra cool with that too…

(more…)

Drake – Fear
OTA Vintage: Nate Dogg – Never Leave Me Alone feat. Snoop Dogg
Rich Kidd – Ridin’ Solo feat. Jlin
UBX: Warren G – Regulate feat. Nate Dogg
UBX: 213 – Loneyl Girl
UBX: Warren G – This DJ

THE BURN
Omarion – Electric
Lloyd – I’m Wit It
Janet Jackson – Rock With You
Brandy – Drum Life
Nelly Furtado feat. Timbaland – Promiscuous
Keri Hilson – Control Me
Beyonce – Beautiful Nightmare
Melanie Durrant – Where I’m Going
Kanye West feat. Mr. Hudson – Paranoid
Missy Elliott – Lickshots
Casely – Drunk Dial
Kim Davis – Valentine 4 Life
Solange – Sand Castle
JS – Ice Cream
Beady Belle – Moderation

OTA Vintage: Rage – Afro Puffs
King Reign – Somebody Lied

Download!

Omarion – Electric
Lloyd – I’m Wit It
Janet Jackson – Rock With You
Brandy – Drum Life
Nelly Furtado feat. Timbaland – Promiscuous
Keri Hilson – Control Me
Beyonce – Beautiful Nightmare
Melanie Durrant – Where I’m Going
Kanye West feat. Mr. Hudson – Paranoid
Missy Elliott – Lickshots
Casely – Drunk Dial
Kim Davis – Valentine 4 Life
Solange – Sand Castle
JS – Ice Cream
Beady Belle – Moderation

Previously: The Boogeyman (TBM) – The Burn (October 13th 2009)

From Ron D’s Youtube Channel!

Daniel Daley doing what he’s supposed to do: make girls scream “I Love You Daniel!” (lol!)

Part 1 of Melanie Fiona’s “Street Performance Series” promoting the US release of The Bridge (in Yankee stores November 10th).

Very Nice!

Previously: Video: Melanie Fiona Talks About New Album @ Heineken Redstar Soul

Seen at TRF!

Toronto’s own Tona collaborates w/ Mike Schiptz aka Love Jones on this remix of his joint “Sucka MC’S” along with Adullessence, which I caught over at WYDU.

Mike Schpitz aka LoveJones f/ Tona & Adullessence – Sucka MCs (Remix)

“With the video for Sucka MCs just two weeks away, The League of Ordinary Gentlemen join me on the remix of Sucka MCs. The first verse is from Toronto, Canada’s own, Tona. He came fresh off his album, Direct Deposit with Lyve to drop bless the remix and represent the Toronto. Adullessence from Topeka, Kansas by way of NY joins me for a second time and blesses the third verse. For those unfamiliar with The League of Ordinary Gentlemen, it is comprised of myself, Mike Schpitz aka LoveJones, Adullessence from Kansas, Dre Day from Texas, Tona from Toronto and Add-2 from Chicago. Both the Sucka MCs Remix and The Get Up Remix will be featured on the Itunes version of my debut album, the video for Sucka MCs is directed by Tori Boyd and will be release October 13th.” – Mike Schiptz

From Manifesto’s Vimeo Channel via HHC!

Colin Munroe, K’naan are featured in these two segments from this year’s Manifesto Festival!

Peep Kweli/Hi-tek & much more footage HERE!

From Bishop’s Youtube Channel:

““From Cards, Dice to Life.. These are The Gambling Stories.” Bishop Brigante talks with “The Teacher” Legendary KRS ONE and get his highs and lows in the gambling world! Watch and find out what KRS’s worst gamble was! No shots fired.”

Previously: Video: Bishop Brigante – The Gambling Stories Ep. 8