Canada’s hip-hop artist ARLO MAVERICK shared his astute perspective on working-class struggles last month with the release of his album, ‘Blue Collar’. Now he’s unveiling a new video for his track, ‘Retail Therapy,’ which probes the artist’s complicated relationship with money and materialism, and offers a suitable soundtrack to Black Friday remorse.
Over hard-edged UK drill-inspired beats and name-checks to Central Cee, the track captures the anxiety and impulsivity of consumption without the means, and the acquisition of material things as a form of social currency.
Alongside the track, is a dance-fueled video that Maverick says, “flaunts flyness and gives UK drill an Alberta twist.” Directed by Natalie Meyer and shot at various Edmonton and Calgary train stations, the video features rhymes and moves from Mahk Milliano and cameos by Calgary rapper Tea Fannie, R&B artist Rome IX, Edmonton MC and clothing designer Lion Luciano, and video director Da Kid T.
In probing materialism as a means of status-chasing, Maverick reveals the superficiality and foolishness in it all: “Got a closet full of product/That I only wore once/If I’m honest there’s no logic/I just bought it just to stunt.”
With every amusing, scathing observation, Maverick holds up a mirror to many of today’s social ills. “In our society a lot of us wear our successes and seek validation with items we purchase,” he says. “We acquire things that we don’t need to feel a certain way; to appear successful or flaunt status. But we often find ourselves in debt and still unhappy.”
After his recent appearance on the blog with video for track, ‘Day Ones’ Canadian rap veteran ARLO MAVERICK unleashes his second solo album, ‘Blue Collar’. The collection draws on personal experiences to give a compelling account of the grind and hurdles of a blue-collar worker.
Much of the themes on ‘Blue Collar’ revolve around a universal pursuit of purpose, prosperity, and happiness, from the disillusionment of the job market after graduating from college to the gratification of indulging in material things to being undervalued at a 9 to 5. It’s an album that tries to capture the seemingly endless balancing act to meet our personal needs, satisfy our wants, and get ahead in an economic environment that makes it harder and harder to do so.
“This album comes from a personal place, but the overall message of hard-work, self-determination, and perseverance is a universal one,” said Arlo Maverick. “I hope this record resonates with blue-collar workers in Alberta, and across the country – people who are working hard, trying to keep their head above water and make their dreams a reality no matter how out of reach they may seem.”
On ‘Night Shift,’ the album’s centrepiece, Maverick ponders the tension between balancing making ends meet and material success, and the overwhelming sacrifices made to reap the rewards. In sharing his story of real-life hurdles, he offers an empowering anthem to the bleary-eyed workers of the world navigating similar experiences.
Elsewhere, the experienced rhymer takes his sound into bold new directions, experimenting with UK drill (‘Retail Therapy’), and flexing his vocals on the soulful trap number (‘Day Ones’), all while keeping true to his appetite for old-school hip-hop flavours and gospel (‘Losing My Religion’).
Maverick holds nothing back on tracks like ‘On Me,’ about taking accountability to build a legacy, and the album closer, ‘Nothing of Value,’ which details the effects of an abusive shop floor supervisor and a worker’s eventual breaking point: “Walk away from everything/You’ll be lucky if I leave a note.” It’s an explosive finale that speaks to self-determination in the workforce, and the ability to take back control of one’s own fate.
Having spent the entirety of his solo career delivering scathing social critiques, with ‘Blue Collar’ he continues to spark conversations about the frustrations of work life and professional ambitions. An instantly relatable collection of songs, ‘Blue Collar’ positions the rapper as a powerful voice for the working-class.
Check out the powerful album below…
Must Listens: On Me, Night Shift, Late Nights, Father, Nothing Of Value
Canadian hip-hop artist ARLO MAVERICK is sharing a new video for his track, ‘Day Ones,’ a song of appreciation for all the people in his life that have supported him since the beginning. The soulful trap-inflected tune will appear on his forthcoming album, Blue Collar, slated for release 20th October 2023.
A detour from Maverick’s cerebral rhymes and biting commentary, he switches up his usual flow to flex his singing skills while offering a simple message: appreciate and hold the loyal people in your life close. The video features a montage of friends, family, and loved ones over the years. Appropriately arriving ahead of Thanksgiving weekend, it’s a tender show of thanks to the community that lifted him up – and the haters that made him stronger – in his quest to make something out of nothing.
“The music video features archival footage of people who were on or tied to a label we ran in the 2000s, called Music For Mavericks, including members of Politic Live, Kreesha Turner, and others,” said Arlo Maverick. “We were a family in a lot of ways and we all keep in touch so I thought it was fitting to centre this video around them. Everyone at the table is part of this legacy. With hip-hop celebrating 50 years, this video in some ways pays tribute to Edmonton’s hip-hop history by showing some of today’s leaders in the culture like K-Riz and Mouraine when they were first starting out.”
While the previously-released Blue Collar single, ‘Night Shift,’ revealed the hard work and sacrifice of those working to get ahead, ‘Day Ones’ shows the importance of appreciating the people who have stood by through it all.
As Maverick says, “For entrepreneurs, the road to success is extremely lonely, but there are always the handful of people who help you achieve your goals. This song acknowledges and celebrates them. I hope this song gets listeners into a thankful mood to show gratitude to the people that have always had your back.”
Canadian hip-hop artist ARLO MAVERICK‘s video for new single, ‘Night Shift,’ offers a portrait of a person wrestling with the increasing demands of getting by and fulfilment, and positions Maverick as a chronicler of modern day working-class woes. The tune will appear on his upcoming release, Blue Collar, set for release on 20th October.
On the track, Maverick ponders the tension between balancing making ends meet and material success, and the overwhelming sacrifices made to reap the rewards. The video, co-directed and edited by Maverick and featuring emcees KazMega and Just Moe, depicts various people – a labourer, an office worker, and a janitor – grinding through a day of work.
“We wanted the video to be an honest representation of what sacrifice sometimes looks like for people hustling to get ahead,” says Maverick. “Being able to share the fruits of that labour with family is what makes it all worthwhile.”
Through a succession of buoyant, march-like beats, the track mirrors the monotony of work, while Maverick delivers the bleary-eyed refrain, “Working that night shift/I just want to go home/I just want to go home/I just want to go home.”
“This song shows the impact of shift work on your health and happiness; how you miss important moments in your family’s lives, and how these typically dead end jobs offer no possibility for advancement,” Maverick adds. “The dilemma we face in trying to live our best lives and make our families happy is often more overtime and less time together.”
Much of the themes on Blue Collar revolve around a universal pursuit of purpose, prosperity, and happiness, from the disillusionment of the job market after graduating from college to the gratification of indulging in material things to being undervalued at a 9 to 5. It’s an album that tries to capture the seemingly endless balancing act to meet our personal needs, satisfy our wants, and get ahead in an economic environment that makes it harder and harder to do so.
‘Night Shift’ is out now, with more to come from Maverick as he preps the release of his second full-length solo album. Check out the video for the track below…
I am so chuffed to have caught up with K-RIZ, one of the hottest Canadian artists around, to discuss latest critically acclaimed album, ‘Peace & Love’as well as his plans for the rest of 2021.
I don’t think there’s no need for a big introduction for this guy – by the time you finish reading this Q&A, trust me, you’ll love his music as much as I do…so let’s get down to it.
NLM: Hey, thank you for taking part in an interview with NEW LEASE MUSIC. How is 2021 treating you so far?
K: Thank you for having me! Y’all have been showing so much love over the past year, I’m truly thankful. 2021 has been good to me. Released a lot of music this year, and I’m finally feeling as close to 100% as I can from a car accident in 2020. Feeling good and looking forward.
NLM: You released your album, ‘Peace & Love’ last month (24th September). What is the public perception on the project so far?
K: The perception has been really cool, and surprising. I’m pretty surprised by the songs people are loving. “A City Too Small,” for example, is really hitting people. I don’t really expect much when I release music, so any love shown is always a plus.
NLM: How would you describe the album’s sound to potential fans?
K: The sound ranges from classic hip-hop to full out R&B songs with live instrumentation. I’m definitely a student of the game and I embrace all styles of music, from the old to the new. So I wanted that aspect represented throughout the album.
NLM: What inspired you to produce the album?
K: I wanted to make a happier and more conscious album, but there were so many negative things in my life that I never dealt with or maybe I avoided them. In order for the music to be authentic and genuine, I had to embrace what I was feeling. An album I was listening to was The Velvet Rope by Janet Jackson. She was very raw and emotional on that record. I heard the vulnerability and I felt that was the way to go.
NLM: What is/are your favourite single(s) from the album and why?
K: “A City Too Small” – love the darkness of the track and the bassline in the hook. “The View” – I loved how this song came together. It’s a song you can close your eyes to and drift away from start to finish. I always feel better after listening to it. “I Don’t Trust You” – it’s a song that gets me moving every time.
NLM: What message would you like the listeners to take away from your album?
K: I hope people hear a person who is human and healing. I’m sure we are all healing from something, so I hope the music heals and shows that it’s okay to go through these things, to feel and find a way to release these feelings and thoughts.
NLM: If you had to feature one mainstream artist on the album, who would it be and why?
K: It would have to be Nas. That’s my favorite rapper of all time. That will always be my answer until it happens.
NLM: Do you have other project(s) for 2021?
K: We got some visual projects in the works, as well as features. I’m currently headed back to the studio to begin work on the follow-up. Staying busy, always.
NLM: How can potential fans find you?
K: The best place to find me is on my website at krizmusic.com and you can also find me on the socials.
NLM: Finally, any special shout outs to those involved in the production of ‘Peace & Love?
K: I want to shout out and thank the entire HonorRoll Music Collective. This album is a stamp on a great era for us musically. Also, everyone involved in making this album and encouraging me to release it. Y’all know who y’all are! Thank you to the people out there listening.
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