F*ck a hook. This is that good ish from Era (paying homage to some of the greats in the meantime)! New DJ pack from JD Era‘s Th1rt3en mixtape! Catch Era live on OTA Live next Tuesday night as well as performing at the Stylus Nominee Party May 30th at MOD Club!

DOWNLOAD: JD Era – Payday

DOWNLOAD: JD Era – Payday (DJ Pack)

Previous: VIDEO: JD Era – You Know This (Behind The Scenes)

Some news from the homie Shad. TSOL in stores next week!

1) SHAD will be LIVE on Much On Demand today at 5:30pm.  We’re welcoming any and all Toronto street-roamers to swing by the legendary Much Music building at 299 Queen St W, to make some noise and get Much Music AMPED about our boy Shad.

2) On Monday May 24th at 7pm, Shad will be ringing in the release of his 3rd full-length disc, TSOL, by doing a special in-store performance at “Sonic Boom” at Bathurst & Bloor.  TSOL albums will be available at the show even though it’s the day before the official release date.

TSOL is in stores on Tuesday May 25th.  Shad’s TSOL National Tour kicks off in Winnipeg on Thursday May 27th, and he touches down in Toronto to perform at The Opera House on Saturday June 12th.  More info at www.shadk.com

HERE IT IS…The BRAND NEW video for THEO3‘s hit single HOW I FLOW part 2 alongside talented Emcee TONA and incredible songstress ANDREENA MILL. The song is produced by Star Toronto Beatsmith BOI-1DA (Forever, Best I Ever Had) and has acheived rotation at both FLOW 93.5fm in Toronto and on MUCH VIBE and RAP CITY Nationwide! To show your support click the link http://www.Theology3.com and REQUEST HOW I FLOW part 2! you can also BUY THE TRACK for only $1!

HOW I FLOW part 2
Director: THEO3
Producer/Editor: RINKU DASGUPTA
DP/EDITOR: JAMES HELLYER
SCREWFACE CAPITAL® RECORDS 2010

You’ve never seen a contest like this before.  T-Dot producers are challenged to take their skill from the basement to the stage for a chance to wear the crown of Toronto’s hottest producer and $1500 cash!

Deadline June 1st.

Check out www.soundbattleroyale.com for more deets!

Seen on 2DB!

Download HERE!

Mr. Lewis connects with one of Chi-town’s finest for “Agony” off Rhymefest’s upcoming El Che album.

Previously: VIDEO: Glenn Lewis & Slakah The Beatchild In Studio + Slakah Video Call

Seen on TRF!

Download HERE!

Apparently Lyve stepped into the studio for an hour then decided to creatively present what he’d done over the course of that time. Really dope collage of the kid’s capabilities, and as a soundscape I totally see this being a viable vehicle for producers to get more exposure; not only as producers selling their music for other artists, but as artists creating something that can stand on its own, sans the traditional rapper or singer.

(Honestly there’s a whole sub-genre of ‘producers’ like Exile, ONRA and Afta1 carving out a new niche market for themselves as artists.. peep mymanhenri! for an introduction. The music might be too far left for some, but HOW these guys are presenting themselves is something traditional hip-hop producers need to pay attention too, especially given the heavy hip-hop undertones of this new movement.)

Bottom-line: The Timbaland, Dre route isn’t the only way – there is another.

T. Ana Cole’s new “Day In The Life” webisodes take us on her journey to record “Back Around” (due out in June). In this episode she hooks up with veteran producer Norm Sabourin. Huge shouts to Mr. Sabourin who was not only my piano teacher a long time ago (in a bizarro galaxy far away) but was also nice enough to give me my first (and only) studio internship (aaah, the good ole naive days, lol).

http://creativityisalifestyle.blogspot.com/

Previously: VIDEO: T.Ana Cole – Wait And See (Commercial 2)

From ATF!

Final tracklist & production credits for TML which hits June 15th.

1. Fireworks (Feat. Alicia Keys) (Produced by Noah “40″ Shebib)
2. Karaoke (Produced by Francis & The Lights)
3. The Resistance (Produced by Noah “40″ Shebib)
4. Over (Produced by Boi-1da)
5. Show Me A Good Time (Produced by Kanye West)
6. Up All Night (Feat. Nicki Minaj) (Produced by Boi-1da)
7. Fancy (Feat. TI and Swizz Beatz) (Produced by Swizz Beatz)
8. Shut It Down (Feat. The Dream) (Produced by Noah “40″ Shebib and Omen)
9. Unforgettable (Feat. Young Jeezy) (Produced by Noah “40″ Shebib and Boi-1da)
10. Light Up (Feat. Jay-Z) (Produced by Noah “40″ Shebib and Tone Mason)
11. Miss Me (Feat. Lil Wayne) (Produced by Boi-1da and Noah “40″ Shebib)
12. Cece’s Interlude (Produced by Noah “40″ Shebib)
13. Find Your Love (Produced by Kanye West)
14. Thank Me Now (Produced by Timbaland)

Hopefully anyone that was griping about the lack of homegrown assists on the album notices that more than half of TML is produced by 40, Boi-1da and Tone Mason.

The city’s waiting for this one. Check out some stills from the video shoot for A-Game‘s hit single “Airplanes”. Also, be sure to tune in to OTA Live next Tuesday night as A-Game will be live in the studio alongside Andreena Mill and JD Era for a special Stylus DJ Awards edition of OTA Talk! A-Game will also be opening the awards show on May 31st. Let it rock b*tches. Pics under the hood.

Previous: CONTEST: A-Game & The Marc Ecko Watches Stylus DJ Awards Present: “Let It Rock!” Dance Contest

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The S.A.R.S. series of mixtapes have become an institution here in the city. Shouts to the entire 5th letter fam! Version 7 features Mezziah in more of a starring role. Here’s a likkle leak from the tape featuring him over Boi-1da‘s beat for “I’m Ill”. Thanks Quakas.

Mezziah is the main emcee on the seventh installment of this series, which will feature exclusives from 9th Uno, Tona, D-Sisive, Nish Rawks, Theology 3, Frankie Payne and more. Be sure to cop it on May 22nd!

DOWNLOAD: Mezziah – I’m Ill Freestyle (S.A.R.S. 7)

Previous: NEW MUSIC: Tona – Don’t Take It Personal Freestyle (S.A.R.S. 7)