Saint Nick would forgive you for not equating rap and hip hop with Christmas, but there is an underappreciated overlap. Let’s even skip over the fact that Christmas lights are essentially just bling for your house/tree, that Santa’s suit would only otherwise be accepted in a late ’90s rap video, and that the spirit of excess can be heard echoing throughout our seasonal spending. Instead, let’s take a moment or two to appreciate the Maritimes’ predominant emcee’s addition to what may surprise many to learn is a pretty substantial collection of Christmas rapping. Continue reading Classified Brings Us the Gift of a Hip Hop Holiday with ‘The Bells Are Ringing’
Tag Archives: Nova Scotia
Sam Wilson Draws From Pioneer Blues Guitarists on ‘Southern Limbo’
“Southern Limbo” is the latest single from Nova Scotia’s jazz guitarist Sam Wilson, and the first look into her upcoming release Into a Heart – Part II. It is a solo instrumental piece that expands on a pioneer blues guitar sound and offers some immediate contrast to the ensemble post-bop prevalent in her previous work, Groundless Apprehensions. Continue reading Sam Wilson Draws From Pioneer Blues Guitarists on ‘Southern Limbo’
Gabrielle Papillon Celebrates the Sense of Self on ‘New Age Faces’
Gabrielle Papillon has been a pillar of pride and individuality for many moons now. Whether arts is engrained in your lifestyle or not, Papillon’s music is a surefire way to instill surety into oneself, and the award-winning Halifax artist – hailed as one of Canada’s finest songwriters – has done so again with her new music video for “New Age Faces,” from her latest album Shout. Continue reading Gabrielle Papillon Celebrates the Sense of Self on ‘New Age Faces’
Lime Ricky Serves Up Nostalgic Skate Punk on Debut Album ‘Vodka’
Vodka is the first official release from Toronto-based, New Glasgow-born Skate Punk band Lime Ricky, and it’s going to make you want to down some shots and learn how to skateboard (though maybe not in that order). Continue reading Lime Ricky Serves Up Nostalgic Skate Punk on Debut Album ‘Vodka’
waants’ ‘I Won’t Be Sad’ Will Make Your Ears Happy
Not enough credit is given to the abstracts of the old “inside us are two wolves” saying. For every joyful piece of the world that beckons to us, there’s an equally powerful pull of sorrow from elsewhere; to acknowledge either without the other creates a brand new problem as well.
Halifax’s Adam Warren (waants) dodges this trap and emerges in the best way possible with “I Won’t Be Sad,” a track with characterization in spades; from its quirky use of autotune to the expertly-juxtaposed piano. Continue reading waants’ ‘I Won’t Be Sad’ Will Make Your Ears Happy