T.O. Spotlight: DJ Fase

@DJFase is no stranger to the fader! He's been a Disc Jockey for 20 years and shows no signs of slowing down. He is also a music producer, radio host, and entertains music goers spinning at showcases/ concerts, and the Toronto club scene. Starting out with a couple friends in 1992 forming a trio collective of DJ's; shortly after, he became solo, found his passion and never looked back. To date, DJ Fase has been nominated for the Canada wide Stylust DJ Awards seven times; released an album and numerous singles, and 10 years on the radio at CIUT 89.5 FM -Toronto's longest running mid-weekly show. Check out our interview with this talented DJ, as he talks about his earlier beginnings, touring in Europe and opening up for Nas.

Ne-Yo Tells His Story on VH1 'Behind the Music'

@Ne-Yo!! opened up love, life, and his emotional journey to the top on VH1’s “Behind the Music,” which aired last night. While he sings about living the “Champagne Life” these days, the R&B superstar’s life wasn’t always picturesque. Watch the full episode inside...

Kevin Durant Wants To Record A Rap Album

Kevin Durant entertains on the basketball court and may also entertain in the the music world, as a rapper. We've seen this before with professional ball player picking up the mic, and lets face it, it just simply is not a good look for most. Durant who is the youngest scoring champion in NBA history be joining the likes of Shaquille O’Neal, Allen Iverson, Metta World Peace, Kobe Bryant, Chris Webber, and even a french rapping Tony Parker as NBA All Stars who forayed into the world of Rap.

New Music: Sy Smith - Fast & Curious [LP Stream]

We featured a live performance by Sy Smith on our facebook page and now she has released a new LP. Sy Smith is perhaps one of the few vocalist out here who can sing back up for Whitney Houston, front the Boston Symphony Orchestra and still turn out an underground dancefloor with a progressive house jam. Her new LP Fast & Curious–produced entirely by Mark deClive Lowe–does a good job of capturing the various hues and shades that make up the sound-spectrum of “Syberspace”; house, electronic soul and progressive R&B.

You can listen to the full album below and get familiar with this powerful talent and purchase here.

New Music: Tona - Reform School [Mixtape]

Toronto emcee Tona (reppin' Scarborough) released a brand new mixtape yesterday, March 6th and these tracks will sound nice bumping in my ride cruising across the 401. Reform School presented by DJ Booth and DJ Wristpect, this tape boasts 17 original tracks with features from Kardinal Offishall, Kim Davis, Adam Bomb, Ayah, Freeway, Dosage, Shad K, and more. Production is held down by Boi-1da, DJ Jazzy Jeff, Rich Kidd, and more. After the jump you can listen to the tracks and check for the download link and tracklisting.

New Music: Estelle ft. Janelle Monae - 'Do My Thing'

Estelle has teamed up with a woman of equal authenticity Janelle Monáe for a unique collaboration on the new track 'Do My Thing' which will be featured on Estelle third album All Of Me which will set to be release today in store and online.

Lyrics: “My roll it ain’t your roll, but trust I know just where I’m going,” ...the London artist sings on the energetic retro tune, which was inspired by her journey going from her mother’s garage to starting a successful life of her own in the U.S.

Listen to the track inside....

RECAP: Carl Thomas “Don’t Kiss Me” f/ Snoop Dogg

 

Carl Thomas was a breath of fresh air when he first came out back in the late 90's with his single smash hit 'I Wish' and then with his debut album Emotional which was released in 2000. He released a second album a few years later entitled Let's Talk About It............and then he faded out. This was really upsetting because there aren't too many true R&B crooners around.

Read more and watch the video after the jump...

New Music: Raekwon + JD Era - Michael Jackson's 'Liberian Girl'

Raekwon, a member of hugely influential rap group Wu-Tang Clan, has been scouting the Great White North and recently opened the Toronto office of his new Canadian label, Ice H20. The label's first signing is Toronto's JD Era.

Raekwon and JD Era have put together a remake of Michael Jackson's classic single “Liberian Girl" from MJ's classic 1987 album Bad.

We also featured previously another Toronto artist The Weeknd with his remake of another Michael Jackson classic 'Dirty Diana' which you can listen to here. Go inside to listen to the track....

Music Video: K’Naan featuring Nas – 'Nothing To Lose'

We featured the new track by K'Naan featuring Nas 'Nothing To Lose', and now the music video has been released and you can see it was clearly shot in Toronto...Big up! Notable areas in vid is the Jane/ Weston strip and of course Jane/ Weston is known as 'Little Somila'. The single is from K'Naan's More Beautiful Than Silence EP.

Check it here....

New Music: Brandy & Monica 'It All Belongs To Me'

Well, it's finally here! There has been anticipation since word got out about Monica and Brandy hooking up for another super duet, to follow up their smash hit released in 1998 'The Boy is Mine' and that is something of a challenge to match up to, considering it's only been....14 years! The new track 'It All Belongs To Me' has the time gap written all over it, as it is completely different, not what I would have expected. The mid-tempo track is produced by Rico Love and you can hear that the two ladies have not only mature as women, but also vocally.....

New Music: R. Kelly 'Share My Love'

As R. Kelly moves forward from his recent throat surgery, he just released a new single 'Share My Love' which is to be a part of his 12th upcoming album tentatively entitled  Write Me Back....

New Music: Cris Cab “Rihanna’s Gun” f/ Wyclef + Mavado

2012 is shaping up to a nice picking of creative music thus far, GREAT! As you may have notice in our recent new music postings, there have been some interesting twists and turns in creative fusion. Now we have a new track written by a Miami teen Chris Cab, who we are not sure if he has even graduted high school yet; who wrote this song in response to Rihanna‘s “Man Down”–and then got yard royalty Mavado and Wyclef Jean to jump on it (and is produced by ‘Clef and his brother, Sedeck Jean).

Listen here inside....

New Music: Tarrus Riley, Gyptian, and more Inspired by Jamaica’s 50th Anniversary

Truckback Records have released their latest riddim track, inspired by Jamaica’s 50th anniversary, Freedom Shines is a re-lick of Freedom Blues, a vintage riddim that’s been kicking around since Studio One days and is probably best known in the early ’90s incarnation voiced by the likes of Admiral Tibett, Buju and others.

Voicing Freedom Shines is an impressive crew of artists, each with the requisite timeless appeal to simmer on a rhythm like this: Tarrus Riley, Busy Signal, Gyptian, Warrior King and Turbulence.

Tarrus Riley's “Original Dancehall” is definitely the theme song, an anthemic call for a return to old-time, good-natured dancehall vibes. Listen to the sweet sounds inside...

New Music: Sean Paul & Kelly Rowland – ‘How Deep Is Your Love’

Here is a new one from Reggea/ Dancehall artist Sean Paul featuring Kelly Rowland 'How Deep Is Your Love'....Sound like your everyday radio track, and I sure the masses will enjoy.

Listen Here...

Video: Video: D’Angelo Performs Live, First Time in 10 Years...

D’Angelo performed his first live performance in over a decade in Stockholm, Sweden yesterday. You can watch the video below, as he does a new track 'Sugar Daddy'. He also touched classic tracks from his 1995 debut Brown Sugar, (love, love, love that album) as well as an extended version of the Voodoo staple “Chicken Grease”.

I am really, really glad he is back! (....Carl Thomas, D'Angelo...who's next! Keep it comin') :)

Music: Azealia Banks performs “212″ at Karl Lagerfeld’s House in Paris

Azealia Banks is an up-and-coming singer, lyricist from Harlem, New York signed to Universal Records, and was formerly known as Miss Bank$. She seems to be gaining speed over in the UK for her talents. On December 5, 2011, the BBC announced that Banks had been nominated for the Sound of 2012, to which she ultimately finished third. Her debut single, "212" featuring Lazy Jay, was released on December 6 - peaking at number seventy-five on the UK Singles Chart.

Now, famed fashion designer Karl Lagerfeld called on her to perform at a recent dinner party celebrating a new line with Net-a-Porte, Azealia Banks was the choice of entertainment for his high-profile guests. The fiery singer/rapper let loose an intimate performance of her hit "212".

Check out Azealia Banks entertain the crowd here...

New Music: John Legend f/ Ludacris - 'Tonight' (Best You Ever Had)

John Legend and Ludacris just dropped a new collaboration called 'Tonight (Best You Ever Had).'  “Tonight” is a cut from the Think Like A Man soundtrack, or possibly from his upcoming LP.

His upcoming LP Life of A Player, which may be released this May, features Rick Ross, Prodigy and others.

I got half way through the song 'Tonight'...didn't like it...I didn't believe him! What do you think of the track?

Listen Here....

New Music: Drake + The Weeknd + Jhene Aiko - 'High in July' (A JAYBeatz Mashup)

JAYBeatz is a 19 year old up-and-coming producer who is responsible for putting together the creative talents of  Drake, The Weeknd and Jhene Aiko; and fusing a combination that works on the track 'High in July'.

Listen Here.....
Drake + The Weeknd + Jhene Aiko - "High in July" (A JAYBeatz Mashup) by 


 

JAYBeatz also put out this past December, his own 'mash up' production of Michael Jackson and The Weeknd version of MJ's Dirty Diana.

He did a good job with his verison, definitely suits Michael....at the same time, it does confirm 'why' MJ is the King, especially when someone else is singing with him. They have similar voices; BUT MJ still 'owned' this version of the song....The Weeknd did a good job keeping up!

Listen Here....
The Weeknd & Michael Jackson - Dirty Diana (A JAYBeatz Mashup) by JAYBeatz

Ne-Yo Named VP of Motown Records A&R

Ne-Yo aka to his family and friends as Shaffer Chimere Smith, Jr., is off to a great start this year; as he stars in the movie 'Red Tails', which debuted at No. 2 at the box office this weekend, brings in $19.1 million; and now Ne-Yo will be leaving Def Jam to take a position at Motown as the iconic label’s VP of A&R. The Grammy Award-winning artists will be bringing his Compound Entertainment imprint to the label and plans to put out his fifth studio at some point during the summer shortly after he settles into his duties.

During his tenure at Def Jam, Ne-Yo put out four records including the number one Billboard 200 releases ‘Because of You’ in 2007 and ‘In My Own Words’ in 2006. The R&B singer revealed after his performance at the Michael Jackson Tribute Concert in October 2011 that his upcoming release was currently working with the title ‘The Cracks in Mr. Perfect.’

Ne-Yo is quoted as saying: “I’m honored that I¹ve been given such a prestigious title and trusted with such responsibility; terrified because I know that playing this role in the fashion of one of my career role models, Mr. Smokey Robinson — these are big shoes to fill. But trust, I can handle it.”

R.I.P. Legendary Winston Riley (1946-2012)

The passing of legendary Jamaican singer and producer Winston Riley–who slipped away last week, after remaining in a coma since November, went largely unnoticed in mainstream music circles.
Riley was born in Kingston, Jamaica and he was pivotal figure in expanding reggae music internationally. His entry into the music industry was at 16 years old in 1962, when he formed The Techniques harmony group, which recorded their first tracks for Byron Lee, and then later recorded for Duke Reid. In 1968, he left the group and formed his own Techniques record label, moving into production, producing artistes like Boris Gardiner, The Escorts, Alton and Hortense Ellis, and Johnny Osbourne.

His own song, "Double Barrll", performed by Dave and Ansell Collins under Riley's own production, was one of the first international reggae hits, reaching #1 in the Dutch and UK Singles Chart.

 His "Stalag" riddim has often been used. The rhythm was first released in 1973, as the instrumental Ansell Collins track, "Stalag 17", named after the World War II film of the same name. It reappeared later as "Stalag 18", "Stalag 19", "Stalag 20" and "Ring the Alarm Quick".

Riley produced General Echo's hugely influential The Slackest album in 1979, and he went on to launch the careers of Sister Nancy, Buju Banton, Cutty Ranks, Lone Ranger, and Frankie Paul.