First of all, I grew up in the middle of nowhere in Ontario, with no cable TV, internet, nothing. So I never knew what was going on in music and “culture” except what I heard at school.
Anyways, after spending 5 years in the US, I moved back to Canada in high school and sort of evaluated Canadian music for the first time. I remember liking rappers like Choclair (kinda), Rascalz (you remember “Northern Touch,” right?), and Kardinal Offishall. That was…9 years ago.
Point is, other than K-Os, who is an passable rapper but kind of went hippie, Kardinal is still the only guy worth noting in a country of 30+ million. (Am I forgetting anyone??)
Anyway, Kardi got signed to Akon’s label, good for him. Maybe he’ll start getting some play down south. He also did a great mixtape with Clinton Sparks (get it here) and a Wire-themed video with Akon:
2. March 2008 at 12:33
The first name that popped to mind when I saw the title of this post was Buck 65…
2. March 2008 at 13:11
True. Although I caught his show in Calgary a year or two ago, and it was like rambling-folk-spoken-word…not a rhyme or a breakbeat in sight. I guess that’s his newer shit? I was never a huge fan tbh.