Scarborough’s Set2 just signed a digital distro deal with HHC/E1 Music. Here’s the first release:

Set2 – BOM BOM!

New D.O. album this Tuesday!

To take things in a different direction, I decided to stray off the beats and rhymes path for last month’s NXNE festival and check out some live hip hop-influenced Cuban funk flavour from Telmary, a self-described jazz poet who has been doing big things around the city for a minute now in the world of Latin music. Long standing haven for Latin and South American acts based both here and abroad, Lula Lounge on Dundas St west hosted the event, which was red-hot from the moment I stepped in the place shortly after the beginning of Telmary’s first of two sets on the Friday night of the festival. With her 8-piece backing band in tow, the charismatic MC played more James Brown-styled groove director than lead vocalist, guiding her musicians through a blistering set laced with face twisting solos and body-moving funk-centric, salsa infused groves, splicing in her snatching vocals and motormouth lyricism to good effect whenever necessary. Blessed with a second set due to a performance mix-up earlier in the night, the crew took full advantage of the extra face time, stretching rehearsed cuts into crowd-pleasing jam sessions that had the dance-floor filled from beginning to end, a feat as admirable at Lula as it is anywhere else in this often cement-footed city.

If you hurry, you can catch Telmary tonight at Corso Italia up on St. Claire before she jets off for a cross-country tour with Cuban-influenced big draw jazz artist Jane Bunnett and sultry local Elizabeth Sheppard. Don’t worry if you’ve got plans, though, ’cause her crew will be back for a return engagement at Lula Lounge on the first of August.

website: http://www.myspace.com/telmarydiaz

Join MANIFESTO and L.I.F.E. Movement as we welcome back the Teacher and close out the weekend with an intimate jam at Revival hosted by KRS ONE.

On the Decks:
DJ WRISTPECT
SWEET TOUCH FOUNDATION

Doors at 12am
$15 before 1am.

NO GUESTLIST

See you in the middle!!

Toronto’s summer kick off jam of 2009 definitely happened last weekend when we played host to TORONTO PRIDE.  This has got to be one of the hypest dance parties I’ve been to in a while and for anyone who has partied with the gay crowd, you know how dope that can be!! (more…)

Manifesto is now accepting submissions to perform and exhibit at this year’s festival! Whether you’re an established artist or an emerging talent.. submit your stuff so we have you on our radar!

Submission Deadline: July 10th, 2009

www.themanifesto.ca

Submitting artists will be considered by Manifesto’s music committee to perform as part of a variet of programming for the entire 4-day festival, and artist information will be compiled into a database intended to help map artists in the city and beyond that will help us and others plan, mobilize, and communicate better!

Artist selections will be made by early August, you will be notified via email as to the status of your application. We wish we had enough stage time to accommodate everyone!.. but time is tight – so if you aren’t selected this year, don’t stress! We want to make sure as many artists as possible get a chance to participate and showcase their talent as part of Manifesto!
Good luck!

PS. applications for Dance, Workshops, Volunteers, and the Freshest Goods Artists Market coming soon!

What’s good Toronto? Really… I want to know!!! I’ve only been back a few months, but I have to say that all and all Toronto is LIVE and I am sooo excited to be here!!!

Thanks to Ty and Rez for having me rep my *new* hometown (I miss you MTL). This blog is going to chronicle all my crazy adventures taking in what community organizations are up to in the City of Toronto, as well as checking out the many, many cultural initiatives and campaigns that are happening throughout the summer.

I’m also going to fill you in on issues affecting residents of the City and how youth, artists, community organizations/initiatives and other do-gooders are mobilizing to create awareness, empowerment and change in the dot.

I recently took up residence at the Manifesto Studio, and believe me when I say that I am in the middle of it all!! This will be the official spot to find out about what happening on the festival side of things and how you can, and should be involved! Check out their website at www.themanifesto.ca for more!

To let me know about the work you are doing or an event you want me in the middle of, please hit me up!!!: munira@bene-fete.com.

If you’re a fan of Drake, Tona, Ayah or  Art Of Fresh then you’re a Slakah The Beatchild fan by default. The producer/musician/singer/director’s crafted “butter-boom-bap” choons for all of the above and just released his debut album “The Soul Movement Vol.1” (in stores on and offline).

I could get into a detailed review of the album but why do that when a pretty reputable site already put the work in?

Okayplayer

Wow, it took me waaaaaaay too long to put these together but it was well worth it because the shots are pretty sick. Thanks to Photo Will for the great work as per usual (and to hustleGRL for the gallery tutorial lol!). Can’t wait to see where Will takes his segment on the blog! Hit the jump for the rest of the pics (all 153 of ’em)!

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