Huge shouts going out to Che Kothari and Beautifulcity.ca for rallying the arts community to vote for something that ACTUALLY affects CHANGE. Because of this new tax on billboards not only will there be measures taken to beautify the city but over 10 million dollars from the tax is going to be injected into the ARTS community (although this amount is yet to be guaranteed or solidified – you know how politics goes…). Peep the link below for all the info leading up to the vote which has now passed and been approved!

Read the full article here!

Previous: NEWS: Make Your Vote Count To Increase Art Funding In The City

K’naan, Photo by Che Kothari

The year-end issue of Exclaim! is on the streets right now featuring the best music of the year (well, at least until the end of November) as voted on by the magazine’s contributors. In the hip-hop section, edited by myself, Raekwon’s Only Built 4 Cuban Linx…Pt. II topped the list and the Wu-Tang member has been no stranger to Toronto this year, even referencing the city in his rhymes on the Blakroc project as pointed out by Rez.

Proper Canadian content is present with two highly acclaimed Toronto MCs making the top 10 in the form of K’naan’s Troubadour and D-Sisive’s Let the Children Die .

Check out the full round-up of the top 10 here and if you are interested you can listen to Only Built 4 Cuban Linx…Pt. II streaming in full at exclaim.ca until December 14 here as the Album of the Week.

“Rockin’ the skull full of waves, four frames with his chain, Jamaican accent, fresh out Toronto, he black skin.”

Sure, this is a stretch but to me it’s mainly an excuse to make a post about Damon Dash’s BlakRoc project which I think is sick. I’m just glad there’s one Toronto reference in there to make it post-worthy here. I guess Rae really did fall in love with the city when he visited this past summer – he’s already mentioning T.O. in his rhymes. Back to the album though…”Dollaz & Sense”, “Why Can’t I Forget Him”, “Hoochie Coo” and “What You Do To Me” are on repeat!

Check it out at Blakroc.com.

Caught this CNN Interview with Drake over at 2DB. Now that I have video proof that there are mothers that use text acronyms I finally have enough ammo to bring my mom into the 21st century, lol.

“The Boombox Saints are a collective of emcees that have been establishing themselves in Toronto for the last few years, throwing parties and rocking shows with a classic and raw style of hip hop. Hailing from different corners of the Dot, Boombox spans the city and brings it together every time they combine the momentum of their solo careers.”

Press Release:

December 26^th, 2009: This holiday season, Toronto hip-hop joins together once again to celebrate The Boombox Saints- Round 10; Boomboxing Day.

A landmark installment in this successful series of performance parties, Boombox is pulling out all the stops this time around – no doubt, topping every other legendary show in the past:

Videographers, live body art, photo booths, silent auctions, free giveaways and charitable donations will all be in effect on top of classic beats and dope party rockers.

To top it off, The Boombox Saints are releasing their debut CD/DVD set of new, exclusive and classic material – showcasing their musical talents and visual memories over their 5 years as Toronto’s most consistent hip-hop collective.

Performances have been stripped down to Boombox’s core, while still offering an array of special guests over the night – Fundament, Roshin, Smash Brovaz, Rich kidd, Rayhaan, Kitknows.

Hosted by up and comers WraBeanz, and featuring guest appearances from D-Sisive, Muneshine, Notes to Self and plenty more.

Look out for a series of promotional blasts over the coming weeks, and please be sure to mark your calendars for Boxing Day. This will be an event for the books!

Truly Yours,

-The Boombox Saints

“When I say BOOMBOX, Ya’ll say SAINTS…”

For more info contact: timstuart22@gmail.com

Join the Facebook group HERE!

Drake talks with MTV News about “Thank Me Later” and its tentative guest lineup!

Wow. WOW. What a way to close the year off. Vibe re-launches with Drake on the cover (props to 1Loveto on the pic) then Drizzy, Boi-1da and Melanie Fiona make us even prouder with Grammy nods in their respective genres.

Drake & Boi-1da get 2 noms: Best Rap Song for “Best I Ever Had” & Best Rap Solo Performance with “Forever”, while Ms. Melanie Fiona lands herself in the Best Female R&B Vocal Performance category with “It Kills Me”.

Check the full list HERE!

The 52nd Annual GRAMMY Awards air Sunday, Jan. 31, 2010 on CBS at 8 p.m

Vibe’s relaunch issue hits news stands December 8th.

Congratulations to Drake, Boi-1da & Melanie for putting Toronto and Canada on their back and making some sweet history in the process.

I fuckin’ love my city.

And peep a BTS look at the Drake/Vibe photo shoot after the jump!

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Louwop’s been grinding for a minute!!! Here’s some info on his new project:

Louwop is releasing his album The Great Escape at 12am tonight. It will be free for download from Dec. 1st until Dec. 31st. Complementing the album will also be a music video with Shad and Zaki Ibrahim. Both the video and album will be released at 12am tonight at http://louwop.com.

Just got this in the inbox. All proceeds go to the family. R.I.P. Haydain.

Featuring Nelly Furtado, k-os, Justin Nozuka, Divine Brown, Keshia Chante, Luke McMaster and others.

MONDAY DECEMBER 7, 2009, PHOENIX CONCERT THEATRE, TORONTO

19+/ General Admission
Doors: 7:00PM / Show: 9:00PM

Tickets on sale @ 10:00am Wednesday, December 2nd
Tickets available at all Ticketmaster Outlets or call 416-870-8000 to charge by phone.

Order online at www.ticketmaster.ca
Tickets (incl. GST) $20.00: General Admission (plus FMF and service charges)

ALL PROCEEDS GO TO THE HAYDAIN NEALE FAMILY TRUST

On Monday, December 7, 2009, Haydain Neale’s friends and peers will join on stage to celebrate the life and music of one of Canada’s most beloved artists. Haydain Neale’s legendary voice had been missing from the Canadian music scene since a serious motor accident in the summer of 2007, but his strength and perseverance during his recovery was moving and inspiring. Over the past two years, with the unwavering love and support of his wife Michaela, daughter Yasmin and numerous others, Neale finished production on the album he started almost 3 years ago. While privately battling cancer, Haydain went back into the studio with his fellow jacksoul band mates to complete the record.

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