Thoughts From The Rap Nest
vol023-064
Thoughts
Big release day for the homie Factor as he drops his newest album Spinning Like a Planet tomorrow! I love that Factor is still killing it after all these years and continues to push himself to new heights. It can’t be easy to do over and over, but he continually does it time and time again. It has been super fun to have been around for the entire ride, from the first beats to tomorrows release. Super happy for you homie as always and I hope you have a really awesome release day!
Records are still available at Fake Four Bandcamp. Saskatoon release party June 16 at Amigos. Going to be one hell of a party.
Super exciting news yesterday as UGSMAG issue 4 dropped!! I am humbled once again that Noyz let me contribute to this issue. I had the wonderful opportunity to get to know more about Es in the interview I conducted in this issue. I think if we lived in the same city we would be homies. I really related to a lot of the things we talked about especially when it comes to legacy and vinyl. I hope you enjoy it as much as I did. My other contribution was a TFTRN piece that focused on my dj journey through the various mixers I have bought, sold and still have over the years. It was a fun journey down memory lane for me and I hope it sparks one for you! You can cop this issue and some back issue HERE.
The homie The Gumshoe Strut is dropping a new single tomorrow from his new ep titled No Time 2 Die, which I am stoked to have dropped some cuts on! This one is super sick! Excited for everyone to hear the whole project!
I gotta send out an apology to the homie AraelRapsGood for spelling his name wrong a couple of times a couple TFTRN’s ago. At least if nothing else I was consistent in my misspelling. Sorry homie! Copies of the super dope album Content are still available.
Really dope new Red Rum single from the homie Ol’ Gorilla Bones follow up album, Revenge Vol 2. On handsolo records. This one is super sick! Can’t wait for this one to drop.
The Wordburglar dropped a Bandcamp vinyl campaign for one of my favourite records of his. The 2012 release of 3rdburglar. I am super excited this is coming to vinyl. It features some of my favourite Wordburglar songs in Croque Monsieur, Rhyme O’Clock, Your Friend’s Brother, Drawings With Words, and Sneaky Neighbours. It would have looked and sounded even better on Classic Black Vinyl, but what can you do? You can click on the weird Bancamp link photo below to support this campaign.
I have been wanting to see the documentary Drop The Needle since it dropped last year. It will hit streaming services tomorrow on Prime in Canada. I am not sure about the rest of the world. It is focused around Play Da Records which is an iconic record store in Toronto and played a large role in fostering a Toronto Rap scene.
Some really exciting news as Ooohh That’s Heavy is dropping a Bandcamp page! Peep the info in the email sent by the good homies at Audio Recon.
Our partner label Ooohh! That's Heavy has been putting out great records independently since 2007. They are finally hopping on the band(camp)wagon and preparing to launch their own page! They have been a huge driving force behind many of the records we've released in recent years. It's not easy nor cheap to put out vinyl these days especially as indy labels and artists. However, we all love these records so much that we continue to find ways to press them up! We are extremely grateful for the indie labels and artists who pitch in to help make it happen!
To kick off their page properly this Friday, they'll have 2 amazing new records up for sale. First, they'll have Factor Chandelier's newest record, 'Moving Like a Planet' which is set to release worldwide that day! We were thrilled to work with Fake Four Inc. and Ooohh! That's Heavy to press this masterpiece on limited edition color vinyl.
Secondly, and in honor of the 15-year anniversary of Glen Porter's debut album "Blessed by a Young Death," we are thrilled to present it as a limited edition 2xLP. This marks the first time this album has been available in its entirety on vinyl, with only 200 copies worldwide courtesy of Audio Recon, HHV, Inner Current Recordings, MISM, and Ooohh! That's Heavy. “Blessed by a Young Death" holds a special place in our hearts and we’re sure many feel the same. In addition to celebrating the album's anniversary, this release serves as a tribute and 5 year memorial to the late Ryan Stephenson (Glen Porter). The album resonates with themes of loss, acceptance, and the bittersweet beauty of life, making it a perfect tribute to our friend and collaborator.
In addition to the vinyl, there will also be limited T-shirts available designed by La Mano Fria and printed by AWOL One via Brainheart Co.
Missed Third Verse last night? Ugsmag has you covered once again to stream or download NOW! Catch Third Verse on CFCR 90.5 fm in Saskatoon, SK every Wednesday 9-10:30pm CST. Stream online via CFCR.ca or Radio Garden.
As always the last 10 episodes of my other weekly radio show You Know Know the Rules on UMFM in Winnipeg airing every Sunday night 10:00pm -11pm CST. Episodes available NOW!
Anyone that knows me, knows I am pretty big sports fan. You would also know that I am even a bigger fan of sports mascots. They are the best in so many ways. They make everyone feel welcome, bring smiles to peoples faces and are just all around the best. You can learn so much from Mascots. In my hockey fandom renaissance this past season, I went a lot of Saskatoon Blades games mostly with my brother and it was a lot of fun. The Blades have one of the best sports Mascots in North American sports in my opinion. The name of the Mascot is Pokecheck and I believe they are an Abominale Snowperson/Yeti type creature. One of my pregame rituals this last season was to meet up with Pokecheck before the game, give them a high five and wish them a good game! Enough with the back story, I am sure you get the point. Back to last weeks post and shout out to my partner Karlie for the amazing Birthday gifts last week. I picked up the present I teased last week which is my first Saskatoon Blades Jersey and it is personalized just like Pokecheck’s jersey with their last name and the number 1. Pokecheck during games walks up and down the isles interacting with fans and that was always one of the highlights at the game. I took this selfie with Pokecheck sitting behind me and sent it to Karlie one game. She got it printed on my birthday cake! It was the ultimate. I hope you enjoy these pictures. I can’t wait for next season.
Record One
Meaty Ogre - Escape From Grenades!
I have to give a shout-out to the homie Noblonski for letting me know there were some more tapes available for sale. I missed out on the first drop of this to get one was a really nice surprise. I have always enjoyed Meaty Ogre’s production and this mixtape of quick hitter versus/songs is really dope. Lots of heavyweight mc’s on this one including Mestizo, Buck65, Sixtoo, and Doseone to name a few. It works perfectly as a cassette and is best when played in the walkman. I really like the concept of this and I hope it is something that others do.
Record Two
Brass Tacks - Rush of The Planet
90’s Tapes out of Berlin Germany has been killing it for the last few years, re-releasing and releasing for the first time to vinyl, cd and tape many unreleased or under released projects. There is a wide range of releases from the super obscure to major label releases over due for a reissue. They have released over 60 albums and I think I have a sampling of around 20 or so from the catalogue. Last week they teased a Canadian release and I tend to get extra excited when it is is a Canadian rap release. This one was Toronto’s Brass Tacks (Before Reaction Analyze Situation Serious Talk All Conscious Knowledge Sense) comprised of Diamonds Eye and Catalogue are best known for the Toronto rap classic jam Ice Breaker Classic. It was recently reissued to 45rpm a little while back on Funky Dividends Records.
I was pleasantly surprised to wake up to see a release from Brass Tacks last Tuesday morning. I was not familiar with this release but it was an instant cop for me based on the Ice Breaker Classic track. I am glad I picked it up, it is everything I thought I would be. Classic Toronto rap from the 90’s that I have really grown to appreciate as I age. I am not sure how much I would have liked this when it dropped. I like many at the time were anti-Toronto rap as I didn’t understand it at the time outside of the obvious heavyweights. I am glad I have gone back and taken deep dives into it over the years and really grown to appreciate its uniqueness and importance to the hip hop landscape that makes up Canadian hip hop.
Rap Shirt
This weeks shirt features one from the homie Matre.
Classic Material
MC Paul Barman - Post Graduate Work
Me and my homie Knowskills were big Mc Paul Barman fans. His quirkiness, uniqueness and just who different he was at the time really resonated with us. He was really one of this love or hate mc’s of that era. In the Summer of 2000 Knowskills who has a PHD in Astro Physics and is a tenured Professor at the University of the Fraser Valley in British Columbia had the opportunity to go and do graduate research at Duke that summer. He drove down in a super beat up and well used Hyundai Pony. While he was there he checked out some really good rap shows including a Mc Paul Barman show. When he returned from the summer for the fall semester here at the University of Saskatchewan he gave me this super dope 7”record. He even got Mc Paul Barman to sign it for me and it is incredible. This was 23 years ago yesterday, that he saw MCPB live and got the record signed as it is dated May 31, 2000. MCPB wrote the following on the inner sleeve of the record.
Yo….. CHAPS!! I called out “SASKQUE” but you weren’t here!! next time: BE HERE- MCPB
Knowskills said that MCPB randomly shouted out Saskatchewan at the show and that they talked about it after the show when he was getting the record signed for me. I wonder if Knowskills was the first person that MCPB ever met from Saskatchewan? This was before MCPB showed up on the skits/interludes of Masta Ace’s Disposable Arts album as Paul from Saskatchewan. Which was always so weird to me, but I guess it mades sense to make a nerdy white guy roommate from Saskatchewan.
Knowskills sold me the pony for a Jones Soda and a pack of Mike and Ikes. This was the first car I had but it was on its last legs and barely worked. This was in 2000 and I was still living at home going to University but my parents separated and I had to move out and that is when I moved in with my brother and a couple of his friends in the infamous 106 Clarence Avenue North house, that housed many touring rap homies. The car wouldn’t start so we towed it to that house with a rope behind one of my new roommates cars. It was super sketchy but pretty much par for the course in Saskatchewan in that era. I think I drove the car a few times until I couldn’t get it started anymore and left it parked in that large back yard of 106 North until I moved out and called Kidney Car to come take it away as a donation for Diabetes research.
This is a photo of the Pony in the back yard of 106 North. People in the photo left to right. ?, Dj Known, Danny, ? Epic, Addvice, Christie, Dren, Nolto and Factor. Circa 2000.
Closing Ramblings
As always, thank you for reading and for the feedback!
**legal disclaimer all records and songs were run through the RAP NEST 5000 SUPER ANALYTIC COMPTROLLER MACHINE that is certified by the I.A.A.R.R.A (International Association of Analytical Rap Recordings Analysis) in layman’s terms, it means the machine is never wrong.
Catch you next week with more thoughts from the rap nest.
Peace
-chaps
Much love my dude! Since day 1!
Drop the Needle is amazing, homie. You won't be disappointed. There was a showing at the Dave Barber Cinematheque several months ago with a Q and A moderated by Ness. It was a great night.
I'm really looking forward to reading that Es interview! Other than the Chuck D co-sign and a handful of other things, I don't know a whole lot about him. He seemed to dig that illustration I did of him.