Big Up Fire Kid Steenie! Once again, he pulled out all the stops and accomplished a feat that only a few before him have managed to do - he packed the Kool Haus with an all Canadian DJ line-up for his birthday bash Diced Pineapples. The night was a success! Steenie can relax now for another nine months or so before planning his next one. I entered the Kool Haus at 1:45 AM and exited at 4:00 AM. The event [...]
I arrived at Hickory House shortly after 2 AM with camera in hand...King Turbo was jus' winding up their second round and were getting props for their (Cham) "Lawless" dub - creatively mixed to identify and big up Toronto neighbourhoods and the communities within them. Standing on the side, near the bar, the first thing I noticed was the sound - one could hardly hear the audio and if there were more people in attendance, this would have been a [...]
Girls Rush is a pivotal Toronto dancehall event, because for years now, the massive here has switched from celebrating New Year's Eve (the traditional big night to celebrate) to celebrating New Year's Day instead - Girls Rush. In years past, the event has featured stars like Tony Matterhorn and has peaked in attendance to accomodate approximately 3,000 people at the Kool Haus. This year's Girls Rush took place at the Brampton's Throne Nightclub and featured music by New York's Steelie [...]
Event promotion offers no guarantees. This Boxing Day event fell victim to Toronto's first major snow storm of the winter. Attendance was low, but, the people who 'braved' it out to Hickory House that night made the best of it and loosened up to to have fun until the wee hours of the morning. Big Up Alan Ladd, Magnum Force and King Turbo who all played while I was there. I didn't see Fire Kid Steenie, Soul Survival or Desert [...]
I went and checked out Sample King's "Pimpers Paradise" the night before Christmas at Santa Rosa Nightclub, now under ownership/management by our own (DJ) Troopa (King Majesty). Usually, a Sample King event is a guaranteed sell-out, but, this year's event wasn't. Promotion was low key despite holding it in a venue that can easily hold 400 people. Sample King planned it that way - he wanted a simple yet intimate gathering. When I arrived at 1:45 AM, there [...]
It is impossible to speak of Sound Clash in Toronto and Canada and not talk about Super Fresh Sound. This high energy Canadian war sound was created in 1991 by founding members Double Six aka Father Six and DJ ShortMan (currently residing in Jamaica). Later, Prophet, Fire Kid Steenie (now solo) and Milo were added to the sound. Many people know of my dark history with Super Fresh. To put it bluntly, if King Turbo (I use them [...]
Ten years ago, I went to New York for World Clash and witnessed Rebel Tone winning the championship. Disappointed that I would not be attending Global Clash this year, I found myself heading down to Borderline (18 Automatic Dr., Brampton) on Friday, where a last minute "send-off" for King Klepto Sound (the only Canadian Sound on Global Clash) had been advertised (blasted by BBM) featuring a barrage of local clash sounds who were supposed to pass through to 'pay [...]
Tasha Rozez repped for Gunz'N'Rozez by playing harrrd. Not only is she the world's number one female selector /clash champion, she is also Canada's most traveled 'soundman' and is the first female to host Sound System Fridays. After a 10 PM start time, Tasha delivered some of her exclusive dubs and specials that we haven't heard her play in sometime. Afterall, it WAS Sound System Fridays, she could play and say as she pleased. Tasha wasn't in a talkative mood, [...]
DOWNLOAD | Watch It On RMTV (Ustream) Heatwave started out as a Kingston, Jamaica sound during the early 80's. Certain things happened and now Heatwave, a sound founded by Bobby Digital, resides here in Canada where Spragga Roots is at the controls and sometimes, Lindo P. If you love Reggae classics from the 80's and 90's - Shabba, Ninja Man, Sanchez etc. then this is where you might hear dubs by the aforementioned artistes that you've never heard before. [...]
This dance had some interesting moments. On The Roxx Nightclub was full but not rammed packed, and the people there seemed like they were ready for anything to be thrown at them. I'll tip my hat to DJ Whitebwoy though, he was ON and had the crowd eating out his hands - singing choruses to songs long after the chunes had ended. He proved himself - he does 'draw' a crowd and his fans follow him to every gig. It [...]