My good friend and inspiring peer DJ Wristpect put me onto the talents of Rich Kidd a few years back. This kid is from Toronto, he makes some of the best beats I’ve heard, and he is a dynamic MC.  He recently put out Volume 4 of his We On Some Rich Kidd Shit series.  You can also download the previous volumes here to give you the whole collection.  With superior talent and a great vision for his own sound, Rich Kidd will continue to come up on all of us.  So, listen to what the song says.

Rich Kidd – Don’t Sleep On Me

Last night was the 5th Annual Stylus DJ Awards in Toronto, which is an award show that honors the best of the best DJs across Canada.  I wanted to congratulate my homey DJ Wristpect for being a boss and taking home Toronto DJ of the Year and also Mixtape of the Year for his Bridging the Gap Volume 4 which I posted back in January.  I will also take this opportunity to officially announce that me and Wristpect will be dropping a mixtape project together this fall.  All I can say is don’t expect the expected. I salute you homey, keep killing ‘em.

“Lost Ones” was the first single off of The Miseducation of Lauryn Hill. As one of the best albums of the 90’s, it earned Hill 10 Grammy nominations (she won 5), and album sales of over 18 million.  Her decision to go solo and the overall frustration she experienced with The Fugees, I believe inspired many of the songs, including this one.  Regardless of what went into it’s conception, this album is an undisputed classic, and one of the best of our time.

Lauryn Hill – Lost Ones

It’s the talk of the night, so why not… plus it’s dope.  I heard Flex played it about 30 times in a row. There were some mixed reviews at the studio tonight, but I think anyone that doesn’t appreciate this song, is missing something.  Either that or its going OVER their head.  The Boi-1da beat is a masterpiece, using a different chorus to verse format as far as arrangement – it surprised me how the verse came in on my first listen.  I always applaud people taking chances with music.  I’m really impressed with this record, and hope Thank Me Later brings us more music of this caliber.

Drake – Over

Ten years ago today we lost one of the best rappers ever.  He ran circles around people lyrically, even if he stuttered.  Not much more to say except to support his music, listen to his music, learn his rhymes, appreciate his greatness.  Capital Punishment - certified top 5.

Big Pun – It’s So Hard

Keeping in touch with my homie DJ Wristpect has really opened my eyes to the talent coming out of Toronto these days.  I was having a convo with a well known producer yesterday and he asked me about graphic artists, and who was really killing it out there.  First guy that came to mind was Bryan “Be” Espiritu, who designed the Bridging The Gap Volume4 cover that I posted on here last week.  Why Bryan? – because he seems to be operating on a different level as the competition, and I have been consistently impressed with his work (plus he’s Canadian and rocks a Yankee fitted).  Bryan stays very active developing his brand and website The Legends League, and operating his very dope IdeaLL clothing line. Below is a recent illustration in his “Artorialist Series” of lifestyle-blogger Marcus Troy.

Designers, step your game up, and don’t sleep on this kid.  Stay updated on all his work at The Legend’s League official website and blog. Die enormous, that’s how we on it.

Jay-Z – Can I Live

Here’s volume 4 out of a really cool series called “Bridging The Gap,” done by my dude DJ Wristpect out of Toronto.  In each tape Wristpect combines the music of his home city, with another major region in the hip hop game.  This volume takes it to Virginia and is hosted by The Clipse.  This mixtape and more all available at Wristpect.com.  Don’t Sleep.

When attending university in Canada, my roommate put me onto his friend’s band, Bedouin Soundclash. We went to see them live a bunch of times in small venues, and these guys always did their thing.  They play a reggae style sound, sing very tight harmonies, and were all masters at their respective instruments. “When the Night Feels My Song” was off of their 2005 album entitled Sounding A Mosaic. Since then, the drummer Pat Pengelly (far right) has left the band, leaving behind guitarist/lead vocalist Jay Malinowski, and bassist Eon Sinclair.  Great guys, great musicians, I wish them the best.

Bedouin Soundclash – When The Night Feels My Song