I have decided it’s time to buy a backpack. Course packs are heavy, my Mac is another couple of pounds, and I might carry an extra sweater for this cold weather. My big purse is no longer doing it. The problem is, I have never really been the backpack type -which includes hip-hop. People do change though, and I am feeling some of Kweli’s new music, including his track “Industry Diary,” from his newly formed group/duo Idle Warship, with female MC Res. Plus if Kanye did it, so can I. That’s what 50 is still saying.
My favorite rapper, Jay-Z, is going on tour (touring, being a crucial part in retiring). Hova will be teaming up with Mary J. Blige (“Can’t Knock the Hustle” still one of my favorite tracks) for the Heart in the City Tour that launches March 22 in Miami. The closest location to Montreal listed thus far is Toronto, on April 2.
For you Sneaker heads, Sneaker Pimps is currently on a Canada wide tour. They trampled through Montreal on Saturday. If you missed both the Toronto and Montreal shows, there is always Vancouver on Feb. 21. If Vancouver is not in your budget, you can live vicariously through the pictures featured on the tour’s online media partner What’s Really Good? magazine’s website, www.wrgmag.com. If you are unfamiliar with Sneaker Pimps, it’s a traveling sneaker show, founded by Peter Fahey, which showcases exclusive footwear, fashion, arts and culture. The exhibitions include performances, limited edition sneakers – including celebrity autographed and new and vintage pairs-and sneaker culture-inspired artwork.
One of Montreal’s best hip hop DJs, Skratch Bastid, is also on tour. He will be all over Canada and the United States for the next two months, including stops at South By South West Music Festival in Austin Texas and the Juno Awards in Calgary, Alberta on April 6.
Empire Skate Shop opened their new location at 1111 St-Antoine Ouest and celebrated with a launch party on Feb. 11 that featured DJs Team Canada. For anyone that saw the first shop, this one is bigger and features two floors with a lounge area upstairs and a DJ booth with a live web cam.
For the hater and lover in all of you, as Valentine’s Day is imposed upon us–this is where I shamelessly plug my radio show–make sure to tune into The Reign’s Annual Hate/Love Edition featuring “Montreal’s biggest Hater Kenza.” The show will be split up into two segments – an hour of hate and an hour of love. Tuesday Feb. 12, 4-6 p.m. on www.cjlo.com.
And with that, Happy Haters Day (more commonly known as Valentine’s Day). Until . . .
The Reign Recommended Bangers:
MC Elixir – “Freak”
B.O.B. ft. Amy Winehouse snippet – “Grip your Body”
Hunt ft. Fabolous – “Badd Man”
Big Noyd ft. Joell Ortiz – “Ghetto”
Re-Up Gang – “20 k Money Making Brothers on The Corner”
