Dax has released the music video for the song ‘Searching For A Reason’ from his new album, ‘Pain Paints Paintings’.
“This song was crafted through immense pain,” Dax says. “Somebody out there needs to hear these words.”
Check out the surreal production below…
Coming on the back of two critically acclaimed EPs with his No Tourists collective, which have seen him and his crew garner support from the likes of The FADER, Complex, NOW Magazine, COLORS, and Exclaim! Magazine, among others, Canadian Jamaican experimental rap artist LAN’DO returns for the summer with a captivating and hard-hitting single titled ‘16 BIT’ that excellent fuses two sounds and cultures that have heavily influenced his music – grime and dancehall, with his Caribbean heritage shining through his flow and cadence all over the song.
‘16 Bit’ sees Lan’do collaborating with in-house No Tourists producer universes, who offers Lan’do the perfect soundscape for the Toronto-based artist to flex his lyrical muscles, clever wordplay, and immaculate multi-layered flow, as he unloads on the track in braggadocious fashion, exploring themes such as loyalty, friendship, and relationships, while staking his claim for being best-in-class. For the accompanying music video, Lan’do has linked up with long-time collaborator and video maker Kevin Kudu for a dark, gritty, and layered visual that was shot in his homecity Toronto.
Born in Canada and raised in Jamaica, Lan’do’s introduction to music came through his family – from his grandmother singing in the choir, to falling in love with his mother’s R&B collection, to creating his own sounds with his brother in the group Deadverysoon. He has since come together with fellow likeminded Toronto artists to form No Tourists, who have been garnering worldwide acclaim for their experimental rap fusion sounds. With his new solo music, Lan’do continues to push the envelope even further, and showcase just why he is becoming one to watch out of Toronto’s thriving rap scene.
Check out the video for the epic track below…
NIgeria finest, VANFAVIA and TONEE C bring some SERIOUS energy onto today’s top spot through ‘dAddY pancake.’
Lifted from their their new joint EP, ‘VanTasy’, ‘dAddY pancake, is a bouncy upbeat hip hop anthem which sees both artists showcase flamboyance in lyrics and cadence.
Check out this bad boy production below…
After years of contributing to London’s rich club culture via their Beatnik-themed parties, beloved YouTube channel, and having spun across many eras — from the Y2K pirate radio movement down to world tour arenas — BEATNIK is back with their latest full-length tape ‘Vol. 2’, a collection of six tracks that wanders through the worlds of drum & bass, R&B, dancehall, rap and electropop.
‘Vol. 2’ isn’t a solo affair — there are plenty of noteworthy guest cameos. D&B belter ‘Never So Much’ features vocals from UK songwriting legend and performer Royston, who worked closely with Estelle on her debut LP ‘The 18th Day’.
Beatnik are also both prolific DJs having spun on six continents in more than 70 countries, for events such as The British Fashion Awards, Glastonbury, Isle of Wight Fest and parties for Jay-Z and Beyoncé, Giuseppe Zanotti, ASOS and the F1 races. Working together officially for well over a decade, Beatnik has landed spins on Radio 1Xtra, Rinse FM, Reprezent, Ibiza Radio and many more.
In the studio, the duo has worked with many artists including bass guitar polymath Thundercat, All Saints, LA dancehall artists Nik and Navi, rock band Will & The People, Tyson and UK R&B legend Terri Walker.
When she’s not busy with her Beatnik mantle, Nikki is the personal DJ for Kelis [Milkshake, Caught Out There, Bounce, Trick Me] when she tours the globe, with a partnership spanning over 15 years. With their latest project ‘Vol. 2’, Beatnik has assembled one of 2022’s strongest six-track runs from any genre. Have a listen below.
Introducing Toronto-based alternative rap newcomer DICHOTOMI with their brand new single titled ‘STF 17’. The soulful and infectious lo-fi rap track comes just in time to take over our summer playlists, and is the lead single for dichotomi’s upcoming debut EP that is set for release later this year. ‘STF 17’ is the anticipated follow-up to last year’s fan-favourite ‘plush’, which was a massive radio hit with the likes of CBC Music in Toronto, and Wave Of The Bay in Florida, to mention a few.
Produced by fellow Toronto musician Frizzy Astro, ‘STF 17’ is a catchy melodic rap offering, which sees dichotomi – who wrote the song when they were sick during the pandemic and couldn’t be outside – in a very hopeful mood, as they imagine better times and fantasize about being able to enjoy summertime in Toronto once again. Over lush synth keys and sparse lo-fi instrumentation, dichotomi showcases their infectious flow, clever lyricism, and carefree energy, to great effect.
Speaking about the inspiration behind ‘STF 17’, dichotomi says, “It was the first pandemic winter, and I was really sick… I couldn’t go outside because the weather, and I had no energy or motivation to make life inside more enjoyable because of the mental and physical effects of the pandemic. At a real low point, I started fantasizing about summers in Toronto and told myself that ‘everything will be better in the summer’ – as soon as I said it aloud, I felt compelled to write a song on that theme.
The track quickly took a political lean as I began to ruminate on the social, political, and economic forces that forced me into such a fragile position in the first place. ‘STF 17’ is most definitely a critique of our capitalist society, but with the added goal of offering some levity — allowing us to hope for a more equitable future. Be critical, be angry, be sad, but don’t let the state of this world keep you from turning your face to the sun every chance you get, and tirelessly seek the tiniest moments of joy”.
Highly recommended if you like the sounds of Noname, Tierra Whack or Chance The Rapper, dichotomi is for listeners that like to discover new things every time you listen to a track – they are for fans of lyricism, authenticity and exploring new sounds. Born in Florida and now living in Toronto, dichotomi burst onto the scene in 2019 with resounding music, led by good vibes and wholesome themes that are intended to inspire hope and validate their listeners.
‘STF 17’ was released yesterday across various download/streaming sites. Check out their official animated music video below…
