Blog - The Movement Fam, Independent Hip Hop Record Label - Toronto + Montréal
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The Movement Fam
For the second major opening slot of 2014, come and catch Cee, along with guitarist Marlon Kroll, opening for the legendary Black Sheep on Sunday March 23rd at Cabaret Underworld in Montreal! We'll have copies of 'Steps To The Peak' and 'Pride On My Cufflinks' for sale on the night, along with merch from The Movement Fam. Come through!
The first visual - and first single - from Cee's debut album 'This Is All I Know' is a dedication to the sustenance from the sky - 'Rainy Days'. The feelings of despair when the clouds turn grey can be overwhelming, but the fresh start given via the heavenly earth wash is what truly drives and inspires us. Produced by Sydney, Australia native P.R (Bone, Thugs N Harmony, Evidence, Blu, Onyx - and Notion's single 'Young & Crazy'), the tune features Montreal pioneer D-Shade (Shades Of Culture), and the chemistry between the two MCs is evident as they effortlessly trade verses across the soulful soundscape like they've known each other for years.
The Valentine's Day Mixtape Volume 6: Dream, Believe, Turn Up was inspired by the slogan of last summer's Under The Influence Of Music tour (with Wiz Khalifa, A$AP Rocky, B.o.B., Trinidad James and Joey Bada$$) - something ridiculous and funny, yet current. We didn't even really include many tunes you can 'turn up' to, so hopefully the irony isn't lost.
The second visual from Cee & Dr. MaD's critically acclaimed 'Steps To The Peak' EP has arrived! 'Another Day' - featuring The Movement Fam's Notion and Alaiz's Nox - was shot over at NBS (No Bad Sound) Studios in Côte-Des-Neiges, Montreal, in mid-summer last year.
The video was shot in Montreal on a stormy day in July last year, with the Old Port, Quartier des Spectacles, Benelux Brewpub and annual summer fireworks contest providing the backdrop for Notion's moody anthem. With an uplifting narrative that preaches the virtues of enjoying your youth while you still can, this soulful banger lit up every venue on the tour. Shouts to the Fam Cee, Tiffany Alexis and iLLvibe on the cameo tip.
'Pride On My Cufflinks' is a milestone in the now 30 year old MC's career. The EP showcases both Notion's lyrical prowess and his production skills, all the while soaking up his rollercoaster ride experience of leaving his life in Australia and moving to Canada to pursue his music. The often dark yet sparse soundscapes make way for his potent, thought provoking narratives, garnished with equal parts optimism and concern for the future. Production comes courtesy of the USA's Remot (Kidz In The Hall, K-Os), Hungary's Diaz & Sima, Sydney's P.R and of course, Notion handles the vast majority of the work. The guestlist is as international as Notion himself; Ohio's Copywrite, Southern California's Gravity Christ, Australia's NeeQ, Toronto's iLLvibe and B3auu, the legendary DJ Grouch, and Notion's older brother Cee. This project is the perfect appetizer before Notion drops his debut LP, 'Heart On My Sleeve Music', in summer 2014.
It's actually a funny story. FlamesYall asked Cee to write a song for his upcoming sex-themed EP. Cee somehow managed to mis-read the email with the instructions and wrote the song that became 'PromNight', clearly off-topic. Instead of scrapping it and writing a new track, the two decided to release the tune as a single via Soundcloud. When Cee linked with Montreal-based videographer Richard Bastarache, they shot the video for the joint on location at Parc La Fontaine in the 514, and the rest is history.
This project is an eight track love letter to the city of Montreal. It was entirely written, produced, recorded, shot and designed in the 514, with the exception of Notion's mixing and mastering in Toronto (he's part of The Movement Fam so it's cool). Dr. MaD's production is enveloped in the art of sampling, with old Soul and Jazz tunes brought to life by his deft chops, dipping them in Hip Hop on the way out. Cee used this sonic landscape to tell real life stories about his experiences in Canada - leaving his home country of Australia to pursue a dream in the great wide north, the tumultuous move to Montreal, dealings with immigration, and his regular battles with fear, doubt and negative energy. Ultimately, it's a story of two artists connecting through the love of music in order to express their 'amour' for the city, the country and the culture of Hip Hop.
Produced by Abs himself, 'Perfect Definition' is the culmination of a cross-Canadian Hip Hop movement - Abstract is from Winnipeg, Ambition hails from Halifax, DJ Grouch (who graciously laced the track with his signature cuts) reps Toronto, and Cee is posted up in Montreal. The choppy sample is complemented by tough deliveries, solid bars from all three MCs and Grouch's Primo-style hook puts the nail in the coffin. Hip Hop at its rawest, y'all.
"The Movement Fam's Notion (Toronto) and Cee (Montreal) teamed with Heavy Aux Records' Toronto native iLLvibe for a fresh, fun summer jam over one of Notion's productions; as the tangible chemistry between the three MCs became more evident, what began as a simple collaboration had now spawned something much larger and more exciting.
The project has been in the works since early 2013, with the official release currently pencilled in for the late summer. Nova Scotian-born Shane Russell of 9Block Productions, a regular collaborator with Cee on many of his projects this year, linked up with the boys to shoot (along with Richard Bastarache), direct and edit the video for the debut single from the EP, 'When The Chips Are Down'. The track speaks on the highs and lows of immigration, starting in a new place, and leaving your family to follow your dream.
The video is here! The first track from the ongoing collaborative EP #Life, #RoadTrippin, dropped today. iLLvibe x Notion x Cee. Cop the audio free at www.hashtaglife.ca.
#RoadTrippin is the first track from the EP, a soulful Hip Hop journey which encapsulates the imminent summer's carefree vibe of a bunch of friends jumping in a car and seeing where the road takes them.
Due to the fantastic response from Cee's music video for 'Comin' Home', from 'The Indie Experiment Volume 1' project, The Movement Fam decided to completely remix and remaster the entire series and rerelease the three mixtapes with a new, bigger sound, thanks to Notion's amazing engineering work.
The homie Citizen of The Understudies out in the Bay Area, California, hollered at Cee to jump on his latest single 'Ghosttown' produced by Digital Martyrs, which also features Kensho Kuma and Cyberclops of CandleSpit. Go 'head and cop the 3 track EP from iTunes!
'Comin' Home' was shot in locations around Toronto in the summer of 2012 with Dave Dunville and J Mitchel Reed. The track is lifted from Cee's 'The Indie Experiment Volume 1' mixtape, as his ode to both his homes (Melbourne and Toronto) over City & Colour's haunting gem of a tune.
Cee speaks on his feelings after selling everything he owned to move to Canada to pursue his dreams with his music. Much love to Josh Telfer, Clem Ryan, Notion and of course Tiffany Alexis for all their help with the filming of the video, and huge props to editor Andrew Howart for putting it all together.
'My Music' is a heartfelt, soulful banger with a hook that won't get out of your head. Notion speaks on his struggles, his coping mechanisms, his dreams and mostly his passion for music. What better way to prepare y'all for 'Pride On My Cufflinks', his first full length release, coming later this year.
So on March 15th, 2011, myself (Cee), Notion and Bekah (as The Movement Fam at the time) filmed our first music video for the tune 'Ain't No Mountain', from Cee & Bekah's 'The Soul Movement Originals' album. After constant setbacks and delays, last year I managed to retrieve the footage from the cameraman, and this year I finally found an editor to put it all together for us. And even though this tune is from an older project and the video was delayed, the message and the song itself hasn't dated a bit. We feel it's only right that on the two year anniversary of shooting the video, we release it for y'all.
For this volume, we included one exclusive track from Cee & Bekah, featuring the homies from Melbourne, A-Diction, as well as a brand new, all French Craig Bruce interlude. As per usual, the cover was handpainted by the homie Glen, all additional artwork, mixing, mastering and engineering was handled to perfection by Notion, while I (Cee) blended the mix, and curated the song selection with my wifey Tiffany Alexis. So it really was a family affair. And it was the first time we'd completed a Valentine's Day Mixtape between Toronto and Montreal.
The Movement Fam proudly presents Notion's debut music video for 'So Cold'. Directed and shot by Andrew Pierce in Toronto, Canada, shouts to the homies Eric, Ian and Jesse for making it happen, and much love to Shauna and Tiff (our lovely ladies). Y'all can cop the audio of the song free on Notion's Bandcamp.
