A downtown Montreal mansion provided the backdrop for the visual, where brothers Cee and Notion speak on their struggle for success, their motivations and the recent passing of their father in split screen, showcasing the duality of brotherhood and the different paths we can all take through life.
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Initially released in late 2015 as a teaser, lead single, "Holdin' Hands" grabs you as soon as the snare hits with its heart-wrenching sample and Notion's personal, introspective lyrics where he tracks his musical journey and professes his gratitude for his fam and his supporters. Crafted by production team DiazSima based out of Budapest, Hungary, the slick video - expertly shot + chopped by King Richard and tirelessly directed + produced by Andrew Cameron - sees Notion deliver his passionate lyrics alongside his brother Cee with support from the 701 Squad b-boy crew.
Cee is kicking off 2017 with the first single from his new monthly series. "Meta" is nightmare trap; rolling hi-hats, eerie synths, vocal stabs and a drawling BPM that allows Cee to breathe as he casually delivers topical word association, with dark, creepy, Marilyn Manson-esque visuals to match courtesy of King Richard. Notion and newcomer Ben Tramer expertly laced the haunting soundscape; they'll be providing the sonic canvas for many of Cee's singles this year.
"Snares & Soul" encompasses 11 soulful, sample-heavy beats, perfectly sequenced to take the listener on a moody almost-30 minute journey through Notion's recent catalogue. Some of these are the very same productions that were showcased on the super popular vlogs, and they showcase Notion's innate affinity for samples. The tape can be enjoyed as a standalone project, or as a playground for singers and MCs looking for their next hit.
To hold the people over until the album drops, Notion returns with a heavy hitting brand new single "Infected". Produced by Saskatchewan's Rayne Drop, the haunting vocal sample, eerie keys and tough drums provide the soundscape as Notion rains bars for almost 3 minutes straight. One of the few remaining true lyricists, the MC let's the people know where he's been at and what's to come:
"I show love, so we talking 'bout the latter / it's mind over matter, MC over rapper, Notion"
The arresting visuals, directed by Jonathan Emile and shot by King Richard, follow Cee as he discovers his neighbour (played by Angela Nashed) has been a victim of domestic abuse, so much so that she does something very drastic to escape her situation. The upbeat vibe and positive lyrical content are juxtaposed with the dark themes, providing a jarring and thought-provoking experience for the viewer.
Cee and Notion are no stranger to creating a movement, and recently they have been part of a burgeoning new collective, the Sons of Boombap. Consisting of almost 70 members across the globe, the fellas aim to preserve the classic '90s Hip Hop sound throughout their releases.
The first of which, a two part mixtape entitled 'The Past Is The Future', dropped recently and features a bunch of appearances from both Notion and Cee.
Produced by Notion, the Arabesque neck-snapper channels J. Dilla via the muffled Middle Eastern vocal sample and tough boom bap drums, while Cross, Cee and Notion break down the challenges of trying to expand and grow beyond their current borders. Serial TMF collaborator Digital Junkie comes correct with the vocal cuts on the hook, exclusively sampling some of the dopest female MCs to ever touch a mic.
Released right on time for the upcoming NBA All-Star Weekend in Toronto (February 12th to 14th), the newest b-ball anthem "SWISH" came about when theory, a TMF affiliate, visited Montreal over the summer in 2015. Notion provided the sample-laden banger from Toronto, and Cee and theory hit the lab in MTL which resulted in the catchy NBA dedication.
This EP marks a return to form for the Aussie MC/entrepreneur, as he explores both the dark and light elements of his psyche - from the uplifting title track to the dedication to his lady on "KeepMyBabyWarrrm", from reflections on his 420 enthusiasm on "UsedToBeHiiigh" to exploring the gender injustices on "MansWorrrld" with Montreal legend D-Shade, from celebrating life on "LoveLoveYalll" with brother Notion to a deeply introspective moment on "AmaliiiaRodrigues". SVNTY6's moving production is steeped in soul samples and is most certainly some of his best work to date, ranging from hopeful and optimistic to melancholy and reflective.
The second single from Cee and SVNTY6's collaborative EP, "Be Better", samples Ms. Rodrigues' classic "O Xaile de Minha Mãe", a song Cee discovered a decade back during Spanish lessons. He had sent the song to around ten different producers over the years, and only SVNTY6 had been able to flip it right.
In June 2014, Cee and Notion went on tour around Ontario and Quebec with Montreal's Clarity and The Bodega Brovas (Travii 7th, Keynote and Headkrack). The boys originally connected in person for the first time at A3C in Atlanta back in 2010, and it wasn't long before they collaborated on a song. They figured that since they were stuck in a van together for a while, they may as well shoot a video for the joint.
Cee has taken this a step further and teamed with good friend Scott Cole for Beer & Other Shhh: The Podcast! Available via iTunes right now - with new episodes every other Wednesday - the first episode includes an introduction to the two beer enthusiasts, a review of a wicked Montreal blanche beer, and more cussing than every existing beer podcast combined.
It's been a quick minute since we dropped a Notion solo joint on the people, so we figured it was about time. Produced by OhNo Da French out of, well, France (now based in the UK), 'Vaxxine' is a haunting, dirty escapade filled with raw bars and off beat drums all peppered with Nosh's signature introspective realness.
Notion is not only an MC and a producer; he's also a very talented audio engineer. His mixing and mastering skills are essential to the label, and to the art we produce as a whole. His signature sound emanates throughout every project we've released since 2008, and has gone on to truly define The Movement Fam's aural direction. So we're extremely excited to announce that Notion is now offering his services outside of the immediate circle - to artists anywhere in the world. Shouts to the internet.
After being the supporting act on their last four tours - to Canadian legends and American veterans, no less - the aptly titled 'Get A Tour Up Ya!' sees the expat Aussies finally cement themselves as viable names for the top of the marquee. We partnered with Toronto's Digital Junkie, a mash up DJ and all around top bloke (who you may remember from our Port Hope Jazz Festival headline set last summer), to bring an amped, fun yet laid back vibe to the stage with none of the typical attitude that can come with Hip Hop tours. We chose regional Ontario for this tour as the major cities are so spoiled for choice - why not show some love to the towns who show so much love to us?
For our first show of 2015, Cee and Notion, alongside the homies Urban Havoc (Barrie), King (Ottawa) and more, are rocking the 'Wild For The Night' event out in Belleville, ON on Saturday January 31st, courtesy of Stylin' Flow! Get down!
The homie J-Lah is a producer/DJ/fashion designer out of Toronto, and he laced us with the soundscape that became 'Wrecked'. A haunting sample kicks off the club-oriented, 808-drenched cut, with tongue-in-cheek tales of intoxication courtesy of Cee and Notion. And for those familiar with internet hilarity, the cover art is a variation of the Really Stoned Guy meme - it's definitely not an old pic of either of the boys...
Quebec representative JPolo hit us with the more soulful production of the two joints; 'Still The Kid' is a slow groove sample-based cut that sees Cee and Notion on their usual TMF ish - double time flows over the eerie synths allow the kids to flex a little, all the while letting y'all know where they came from.
Ahhh yeah. The homie Clarity just dropped his brand new EP 'Good Days, Bad Days' and the project features 'Dreams', with Cee, the fam Tragic (of Philly Moves) with cuts from Uncle Fester (of The Extremities). Check it out!
We hope 2014 was as fantastic for you guys as it was for us. And if it wasn't for y'all - from the bloggers and media showing love online, in print and on TV; to the radio and club DJs supporting our music, helping it chart and spreading the word arond the globe; to our artist homies who rolled with us on tour and schooled us proper; to the promoters who believed in us and put us on the huge shows continually; to the supporters who copped the music, merch and tickets - none of this would have been possible. So we'd truly like to thank you all - your love and support for our dreams mean more than you could possibly know.