One of many charitable fundraising events put together to help Haiti. Tonight (Thursday January 28th) @ Wet Bar (106 Peter Street).

For Immediate Release

LINKAGE MOVEMENT LAUNCHES MONTHLY SHOWCASE OF EMERGING URBAN CANADIAN ARTISTS

TORONTO – January 25, 2010 – Linkage Movement is a collective of artists, driven and determined to provide a platform to a thriving niche of urban talent across Canada, starting with Toronto. Linkage Movement is launching their monthly showcase FYI (Follow Your Instinct) on Thursday, February 25, 2010 at Harlem Restaurant, 67 Richmond St. E. Toronto. FYI will feature the best of Toronto’s emerging urban artists backed by the 4-piece “Movement Band”.FYI is open to urban artists, vocalists, and rappers, who have auditioned for Dwayne Dixon, newly appointed Vice President of UMAC, The Urban Music Association of Canada. Selected performers have the opportunity to rehearse with the Movement Band to further develop their art of performance. Performers can vary each month.

More details after the jump!

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The Toronto Urban Music Festival (TUMF) has created Urban Music Week, celebrating Urban Music, Urban Arts and Urban Music Industry Conference.

TUMF is presented by WORD Magazine. It continues to showcase the best in urban music and culture since 1997.

Mos Def, Talib Kweli, Jill Scott, Bilal, K-OS, Pharoahe Monch, Slum Village, Divine Brown, Dwele, Jully Black, Jaguar Wright, Melanie Durrant, Gary Beals, Michie Mee, Royce Da 5’9, J Live, Butta Babees, Eternia, Masia One, Citizen Kane, Saukrates, El Da Sensei, Wordsworth, Dan-e-o, Jeff Hendrick, Dwayne Morgan, Rochester, J-Diggs, Cali, Ayah are among the many talented performers who have taken the stage at TUMF over the years.

Toronto Urban Music Festival Incorporated is a non-profit organization dedicated to showcasing the best in Canadian and international urban music and multidisciplinary talent and providing professional developmental opportunities via conference workshops, seminars and master classes.

WORD Magazine, the soul of urban culture, is the presenting sponsor of the Toronto Urban Music Festival. WORD is now in its 15th year of publication and is available free of charge in Toronto, Ottawa, Montreal, Vancouver, Southern Ontario, and other select cities. Visit www.wordmag.com for more information.

Hit the jump for a list of events and live performances happening this week.

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It was a phenomenal 2009 for Toronto Emcee Theology 3 and there’s no better way to kick of 2010 than with a HipHopCanada.com sponsored remix contest for the Brand New Bangin’ single “IT’S THEO3” produced by the triple threat Anonymous Twist (#1 Rap Attack Charts in 2009 with Opio and Roc.C).

Dope competition with an all-star lineup of judges and affiliates. Producers get all the info HERE!

Cityonmybackpackers, this is my official post to say I’m gooooone for a week to Cannes for Midem. I’ma try to post from out there but I’m sure the rest of the team will continue to keep you updated with all the latest goodies if I get too busy indulging in baguettes and French women. Parlez vous francais, mi amor, merci, oui oui, bon bons and all that good stuff.

3/5! Not too shabby at all although I think the reviewer did go a little overboard on the Kanye comparison. Also funny to me that he mentions “Fresh Cut” as a stand out track but no mention of “How It’s Gotta Be” feat. Kim Davis…..? To each their own I guess…either way, good look for the kid!

With so much pressure these days on artists to hit it big with their first release (as a second one is no longer guaranteed), it is not surprising that young rappers and producers would look to proven styles and artists for inspiration. That is precisely what Famous and production duo Burd and Keyz do on the Canadian rapper’s new album Goddess Girl. Famous hails from Toronto, a place he calls “a city everybody underestimates.” That underdog status, and the “prove everyone wrong” mentality it breeds go a long way to explaining why much of this 31-minute album’s songs can be traced back to familiar and relatively recent sources. It appears as if Famous wants to be everything to everyone, and make recognizable sounds and tap into established fan bases – not a bad way to approach a career.

Click here for the full review!

Previous: NEW VIDEO: Famous – Goddess Girl (Full Short Film + Full Soundtrack)

In this lecture (the second of a [Time + Space] 3-Part Lecture Series with Director X) the focus will be on Artist Performance In Front of the Camera. Director X will be giving a lecture + workshop with live video shoot demos. Under Director X’s guidance, artists, directors and industry participants will learn how to: develop performance skills, creatively direct performers, create the right visual style, develop their cinematic visions, improve their craft and industry presence, and take their works to the next level. This is also an exciting opportunity for us all to learn from the music video industry leader.

Should be dope! Full details after the jump!

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“So Far Gone being named the Mixtape of the Year means a lot to me,” Drake said in Toronto. “It was a risk we all took as a team to put out a mixtape that I’m exploring so many different genres of music — from the Santigolds to the Lykke Lis to Peter Bjorn and Johns, to even myself going from rapping to doing records that sound like old Jodeci songs. It was a mix of all the things that make up my character, and for people to embrace it the way they did and for MTV to name it the top mixtape of 2009 means the world to me.”

Read the full article here!

Tune in to 106&Park today at 6pm to watch Toronto’s own Linda Luztono do her thing on Wild Out Wednesdays! And don’t forget to log on to BET.com to vote for your girl!

Previous: NEWS: Toronto’s Linda Luztono to Perform on 106 & Park (January 13th)

ATTENTION ALL CANADIAN URBAN MUSIC ARTISTS!!!
UMAC WANTS TO KNOW WHAT YOU’RE SAYIN’!

For Immediate Release
January 8^th, 2010

Toronto – UMAC The Urban Music Association of Canada is kicking off 2010 with our first event of the year at Toronto’s Harbourfront Centre, Urban X-Posure: SoWhatChuSayin’? on February 13^th, 2010.

UX: SoWhatChuSayin’? is a multi-platform event focused on Hip Hop and Spoken Word being actively used as art forms for social change. It’s a day where consciousness in rap music and spoken word gets rewarded! Literally!!!

UX: SoWhatChuSayin’? will be comprised of an artist showcase / contest, awarding the most talented conscious wordsmiths and raptivist rhymers who can perform the best positive lyrical expressions with swag.  Lending to the excitement is a cash prize, which will be divided between the top 3 finalists. There will be also be an open infotainment forum in The Round that features organizations who marry art with commerce and activism.   Youth will have an opportunity to get involved with various organizations across the city.  Event highlights will be broadcast live-to-air on the Mixtape Massacre Show on CKLN 88.1 FM.  The entrance fee is $5 for non-UMAC members; free for current UMAC members.

To audition as a performer for UX: SoWhatChuSayin’?, simply send in one socially conscious mp3, a short 100-word bio, a head shot and your contact information, as well as $25 for solo artists and $50 for groups who are current UMAC members or $35 for solo artists and $65 for groups who are non-UMAC members.

Submissions can be sent to submissions@umacunited.com. Payment can be made by PayPal and online banking Interac only. For those who absolutely need to send hard copy submissions, inclusive of applicable payment via money order can do so at UMAC, 675 King Street West, Suite 210, Toronto, M5V 1M9.

Call for submissions begin Friday January 8^th, and ends Sunday January 17^th at 11:59pm.

UX: SoWhatChuSayin’? takes place on Saturday February 13^th, 2010 at 2pm inside The Brigantine Room, Harbourfront Centre, 235 Queens Quay West.

Come out & show your support!!!

UMAC… Where Positivity in Music Happens!!!