Blog - The Movement Fam, Independent Hip Hop Record Label - Toronto + Montréal
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TMF
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.
Last week on Friday April 28th, Notion released his debut album "Heart On My Sleeve" to the world, and to celebrate, we threw a party to end all parties. Well, even if the cops weren't called, it was still lit AF, as the kids say.
We connected with the guys at Laylow in Toronto, a Hip Hop-themed bar and nanobrewery to brew a beer - a super juicy, fruity North East IPA called "Hops On My Sleeve" - just for the event at their super dope spot, and we invited a guestlist of our favourite people in the industry in Toronto. In a first for TMF, we vlogged the whole thing. Check how it all went down below, and buy/stream the album!
The second track in his 2017 monthly series is "Separate Ways", both featuring and produced by his brother Notion. It's a return to their historical sound - a driving soulful head nodder, drenched in their signature honesty, passion and genuine aspiration for achievement. With a hook loosely inspired by Nirvana, the boys break down how they're moving away from any negative energy while truly embracing and manifesting their inevitable success.
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.
"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.
Once again curated by Cee and Tiffany Alexis, the mixtape takes you on a journey that perfectly complements the most romantic night of the year. With synth pop from UK alt R&B baritone Kwabs to trap soul from Bryson Tiller, smooth future soul from IAMNOBODI to reggae-infused rock from Joss Stone, minimal indie pop from Banks to moving slow jams from Aussie Jarryd James, thug love songs from Sean Price (RIP) to island vibes from Jonathan Emile, 'The Valentine's Day Mixtape Volume 8' has something for every taste.
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.
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.
The 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 single conveniently drops on Notion's birthday (November 8th) as a gift to both himself and fans of real, conscious Hip Hop.
Celebrating the better part of a decade between 2002 and 2011, 'Feature Game Vicious Volume 1' contains some of the highlights of Cee, Notion and other TMF artists' guest verses and solo tracks that appeared elsewhere - never all in one place, until now.
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.
Curated by Cee and Tiffany Alexis, 'The Valentine's Day Mixtape Volume 7: High In Lust' features cuts from the likes of the smooth Elijah Blake, the incredible Kwabs, indie pop starlet Banks, the soulful Jack Garratt, British production team The Code, the amazing SOHN, fellow Aussie MC AllDay, OVO's Majid Jordan, the sultry Doja Cat, the powerful Paolo Nutini and even a feature from Cee and Aria Zenua on their Illmind-produced love song 'No Conversation' (from Cee's internationally charting 'This Is All I Know' 2014 debut LP).
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.
One of the highlights of 2014 for The Fam was headlining the All Canadian Port Hope Jazz Festival at the tail end of the summer. On September 6th, Cee, Notion and Digital Junkie were blessed with the opportunity to rock for the entire Saturday night in a large tent in the park. An hour outside of Toronto, Port Hope is a small town with a huge appetite for music - and a three hour headlining set from a couple of rappers from Australia was most definitely something the townsfolk don't get to see too often.
The journey doesn't end here, however. Today, Thursday April 10th (Cee's birthday), his album is officially released worldwide. The first week sales contribute to the final chart figure, and as vague as iTunes are with their numbers, the team and our supporters are vigilantly checking to catch the highest position. So we still need all the support we can get! Give Cee the best birthday gift ever - a debut #1 charting album!
