Not much is needed to be said here as all the official reports are popping up all over the web. Really sad news. Guru R.I.P.

Seen on HHC!

Congratulations to  K’naan (Artist Of The Year AND Songwriter Of The Year); Drake (New Artist Of The Year; Rap Recording Of The Year – “So Far Gone”); Jacksoul (R&B Recording Of The Year – “Lonesome Highway”, RIP Haydain Neale); & Dubmatix (Reggae Recording Of The Year).

It’s pretty safe to say this years Juno Awards was a pretty big deal for urban music on so many levels.

Enjoy some of the highlights (more after the jump!).

Hope everyone flying from St. John’s (and anywhere in the world for that matter) gets to where they need to be safely!

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Subject: T-Dot Pioneers Closing Party this Saturday!!

“Long before iPods and MP3s, hip hop made its debut on community radio.  T-dot legends filled the airways of York U, U of T and all other college radio that believed in Toronto boom bap. This Saturday, recognize what college radio has done for hip hop culture and industry in Canada.  Celebrate 21 years of the Masterplan Radio show at Toronto Free Gallery, 1277 Bloor Street West Saturday April 17th.  Doors open at 8pm.  This party closes the T-Dot Pioneers Exhibit and will be a night matched only by our opening party March 4th.  Exclusive performances by Tara Chase, Citizen Cane, Theo 3, Dan-e-o and more!  Check the event page: http://www.facebook.com/event.php?eid=112016632161482&ref=ts and see you there!!”

It gets no more Toronto hip-hop than what’s about to go down tonight at this event.

Shouts to the Masterplan Radio Show (DTS, Motion, Johnbronski, Power, Soulcontrollers, Tara, Yo Evstar) for cultivating Toronto’s hip-hop identity 21 years strong!

Don’t have a 1 Love T.O. shirt yet? Smh. Drop by Brimz tomorrow on Queen Street to get hooked up for the summer. All the info is below!

The 1 LOVE T.O. team is pleased to announce because of your support our shirts have been involved in almost every major festival around the world. From “Palancing” in Trinidad’s Carnival, the 2010 Winter Olympics, to the peak of Mount Kilamanjaro, and BET’s 106 & Park. To date we have sponsored a co-ed basketball team, co-ed dodgeball team, indoor soccer team and dance company.

Whether you want a shirt to wear over your bathing suit on vacation, give to a visitor as a keep sake, or to wear in the city…

You are invited to join us for part 2 of our “POP UP SHOP” series. Saturday April 17th @ Brimz (321 Queen St. W.) 1-5pm. T-Shirt Options: White/Black shirts with: Red, Blue, Purple or Black hearts available in both Mens/Women’s (s – xl). To pre-order email trexxx@1loveto.com (all pre-orders will be picked up on Apr.17th between 1-5p)

We hope that you’ll join us then!

Previous: NEWS: 1 Love T.O. Pop-Up Shop Wednesday December 16th (One Day Only!)

CKLN NEEDS YOUR HELP AT ITS CRTC HEARING

EMAIL US AT: cklnhearing@gmail.com with your support

The CRTC is holding a public hearing into CKLN on May 12, 2010. This is a “show cause” hearing to determine if CKLN should keep its licence. The CRTC’s Notice can be found at http://www.crtc.gc.ca/ENG/archive/2010/2010-146.htm#1

Most of the CRTC’s concerns arise from the events at CKLN in 2008 and 2009 when many programmers were forced out of the station and then when the station was locked down entirely in early 2009 for a period of several months.

File your submission no later than April 12, 2010. CKLN is able to file supportive submissions on your behalf. Please include your full name and address and send it to us at cklnhearing@gmail.com (please send it to us as soon as possible and no later than noon on Monday April 12 to ensure we have time to include your submission)

Your name will be posted on the Commission’s website as part of the public record of this proceeding and that all information provided by this person becomes part of a publicly accessible file, including personal information such as full name, e‑mail address, postal/street address, telephone and facsimile number(s) and any other personal information provided.

We do need people to make oral submission to the CRTC as well. In order to do that you must submit your submission directly to the CRTC and indicate that you wish to also appear in person and give reasons why. Instructions for submitting to the CRTC appear below.
Submissions longer than five pages should include a summary.

A pretty important and CRUCIAL moment for one of the most important community radio outlets in this city. Bottom line is there’d be no hip-hop or urban movement as we know it without CKLN. Definitely not something to take for granted.

More info after the jump!

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Nominees are out!!! Congrats to everyone nominated. Toronto’s finest will convene May 31st for what has become the biggest event of the year. For the full nominee list (and details on the weekend’s activities) check out www.stylusgroup.ca and check the nominees link at the bottom right of the homepage. Here are the nominees for Hip-Hop Single of the Year, R&B Single of the Year and Producer of the Year.

Hip-Hop Single of the Year
A-Game – Go Head Shawty
Belly – Hot Girl
Drake – Best I Ever Had
Famous – I Wanna Know Your Name feat. Oh! (Supervice Remix)
JD Era – You Know This
Kardinal Offishall – Clear
k-os – I Wish I Knew Natalie Portman feat. Saukrates & Nelly Furtado
Mayhem Morearty – Main Squeeze
P. Reign – Money In My Pocket
Shaun Boothe – Poor Boy

R&B Single of the Year
Addictiv – Tonite
Aion Clarke – Do You Right
Andreena Mill – Picture Perfect
Danny Fernandez – Addicted
Jully Black – Runnin’
Karl Wolf – Yalla Habibi
Kim Davis – Show Me The Way
Melanie Fiona – It Kills Me
Ray Robinson – Just 4 Tha Nite
Trish – Bump

Producer of the Year
Boi-1da (Drake – Best I Ever Had)
Da Heala (Belly – Hot Girl)
T-Minus (Ludacris – How Low)
Rich Kidd (k-os – I Wish I Knew Natalie Portman feat. Saukrates & Nelly Furtado)
Bassline (P. Reign – Money In My Pocket)
Noah “40” Shebib (Drake – Successful feat. Trey Songz)

UPDATE: Full press release under the hood.

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One of our best exports in recent years (he’s from London, Ontario but we unabashedly claim him as a Torontonian), Shad returns with his 3rd album TSOL. Shouts to Shad for not telling anyone what “TSOL” actually stands for (not even his management or designer lol). Apparently it stands for a lot of different things so I’m sure we’ll figure it out as the album starts revealing itself musically/visually. If you’ve been sleeping on Shad thus far (smh) now’s a great time to get caught up with everything. www.shadk.com is a good place to start and peep the links below as well. Full tracklist for TSOL under the cut as well as his upcoming tour dates with Grand Analog and D-Sisive!

ALBUMS: Shad – The Old Prince | Shad – When This Is Over

VIDEOS: Shad – Brother (Watching) | Shad – I Don’t Like To | Shad – The Old Prince Still Lives At Home

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Circle Research are launching their new album “Gardiner Express” with a release show at The Rivoli on April 22.

Unknown Funk Hero Presents: BEAT LOUNGE: The CIRCLE RESEARCH ‘Gardiner Express’ Album Release Party. BEAT LOUNGE veterans CIRCLE RESEARCH take over Unknown Funk Hero’s BEAT LOUNGE to present the release of their new album ‘Gardiner Express’ Special LIVE! Beat Performance by dynamic production duo CIRCLE RESEARCH Round robin BEAT LOUNGE producer showcase featuring special guests.

Catch up on why these guys have been an important fixture in the city’s local hip-hop expansionist movement after the jump!

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Drake, Classified and K’naan are all performing this year and Jully Black and Danny Fernandes will also be presenters. Overall GREAT look for the April 18th broadcast. The Rap category will also be televised again this year.

Ms. Fiona shows why she’s one of the best out with a dope feature as part of Walmart’s Soundcheck series. Peep the link for a full interview as well as live performances of selections from The Bridge (available now!!!).

Melanie Fiona – Walmart Soundcheck Feature