Blog - The Movement Fam, Independent Hip Hop Record Label - Toronto + Montréal
Viewing entries tagged
Australian Hip Hop
An album a decade in the making, Montreal-via-Melbourne's Cee and Oakland-via-New Mexico's Po3 have delivered a soulful, authentic, introspective and head noddin' project in "Bad Habits".
Conceived in 2008 in the Bay Area after a collaboration, work begun on the project in early 2015. What started as a collaborative EP quickly turned into a 15 track, full-length album as Cee and Po3's creative synergy blossomed.
Positioned as the beginning of the "Notion Island" series, which will see Notion team up with one producer for a full-length project, this first volume puts Notion and Toronto-based up-and-comer Egward in the lab to create a soulful, introspective yet head noddin' piece of work.
Today, Thursday November 8th, is Notion's born day and we're kicking off with the first visual from his new project with Toronto-based producer Egward. "Notion Island Vol. 1" is a soulful journey through the last 18 months since Notion's debut album "Heart On My Sleeve", and this first visual acts more as a teaser than a full length video.
Shot by serial collaborator Richard Bastarche exclusively in the vertical format, "Taste" is one of the first Hip Hop music videos of its kind in Canada. Bastarache's flair with visual FX blend with the Montreal views to create an engaging piece of vertical content, built specifically for Instagram's IGTV platform, and the perfect complement to the summer banger.
While Notion is putting the finishing touches on the EP, he connected with his brother Cee, Toronto's The Mighty Rhino and regular collaborator Digital Junkie for this uplifting, soulful banger. "Back To Life" sees the three artists drop positive bars focusing on progression, dedication, focus and the neverending search for happiness, all tied together by Digital Junkie's razor sharp cuts.
Back in December, Cee dropped his 12th single of 2017, "Net Neutral". Once again helmed by Notion, soulful harmonies provided the backdrop for Cee's timely bars, touching on the recent Net Neutrality repeal, social media addiction and cryptocurrency, all contributing to an appropriate year-end wrap up.
Now Cee has teamed up with King Richard yet again for the FX and message-heavy visuals, shot in Montreal.
The twelfth and final 2017 single, "Net Neutral", is once again helmed by Notion. Soulful harmonies provide the backdrop for Cee's timely bars, touching on the recent Net Neutrality repeal, social media addiction and cryptocurrency, all contributing to an appropriate year-end wrap up.
Summer in Canada is a time for celebration, and Cee teamed up with German super-producer Shuko for a soulful trap banger to soundtrack the hot months.
Shuko has worked with some of the biggest names in the game, including Omarion, Tyga, Bow Wow, T-Pain, Talib Kweli, Keith Murray and Vinnie Paz, so teaming up again was an honour for Cee. They first connected on "Where I Belong" from Cee's Top 10 album "This Is All I Know", and "Hazy" brings some of that soulful flavour with a modern vibe.
Produced by Po3 and Sophia Lucero, "What Do You Believe In?" preceeded the work on the album and is a fitting introduction to the forthcoming group effort. A rootsy guitar lick (courtesy of Noa Bourke) kicks off the track, leading to a sparse, earthy bass-fuelled hook with Po3's conscious chant, while the MCs - including Cee's brother Notion - trade introspective verses about the state of the world as they see it.
The dichotomy of Cee rapping his bars to himself (double time = double Cee) expresses an inner desire to give himself a message of hope and persistence by painting a vivid picture of everything he has gone through to get to where he is. Cee as the stone statue slowly breaking the shackles of his confinement represent the MC and entrepreneur coming into his own as a man, cracking through the hard shell of obscurity into the limelight.
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.
What up peeps? Got a message from my homie Purpose about his new mixtape and album... Download 'Don't I Know It' for free!
My album is finished and ready to roll but in the meantime I will drop 'If The City Had A Voice pt. 3' late November!
It will be a free release as pt. 2 was.
Features: Prime, Motive & Production by myself, Answer, Rob Shaker (WA), Cam Bluff (QLD).
Thanks, homie! Cop that joint, folks...
The big homie Purpose just dropped his latest mixtape, If The CIty Had A Voice Pt II. P is most definitely one of my favourite MCs in Australia, so I'm vibed as hell for the LP. Y'all can download it free from the link below, and in the meantime, check the joint 'While The Whole World Sleeps', which is a soul banger.
So Big Phrase is back, after an extremely successful sophomore album and national tour from his 'Clockwork' album. 'Never Fade' is the first single off the new album (as yet untitled, or at least the title hasn't been announced), written and produced by Phrase himself. I dig the new direction, personally, possibly coz I'm a huge indie rock fan and I think Phrase is now making 'music' (as opposed to putting it in a genre box), but he just happens to rap (which is exactly how I feel about my own music - nothing worse than having to tell someone I rap these days lol).
Anyway, what do y'all think?
Shout outs to the homies from Ghryme Productions, droppin' this lil free tape on ya goddamn heads. This tape features 6 cuts, both previously released and fresh joints, from Broken Aesthetiks, Sinergy Crew and Associated Illness.
Dope Australian Hip Hop, raw lyrics, hard beats (pause)...what more do you want? COP THAT SHIT!
Ya boy Bangs is back with a new video, this one dedicated to social networking and innocent chatting with the shorties.
This continues on Bangs' classic music video steez, but sans green screens and a little bit less emphasis on the chains. However, the shorties are still uber present.
Watch the views; it's currently less than 10K and it went up yesterday...let's see how it goes.
Here's the final part to the Bliss N Eso 'Running On Air' doco. Really dope stuff. Make sure you cop the album, out this Friday! Tomorrow, actually.
Without a doubt, Bliss N Eso have been the number one Hip Hop artists in the country for the last year or two (as Hilltop Hoods haven't had as much of a strong presence).
Their music is usually groundbreaking, their shows are incredible and the whole package is extremely well put together.
The boys returned to the lab to record their 4th studio album recently, and are dropping a 3 part doco to support it. Check out part 1.
While you're at it, check out their video for 'Down By The River', the first single off 'Running On Air'.
