Name:

Melo Griffith

Genre:

Rap/Rnb

Founded:

2017

# of Albums:

1, 3 EPs

Latest Album:

Left On Read

Latest Single:

Avenue

Latest Video: 

Favourite musician growing up:

Slick Rick

Favourite musician now:

Cash Cobain

Guilty pleasure song:

Made For Me – Muni Long

Live show ritual:

2 poops lol

Favourite local musician:

Majo

EP or LP?

EPs

Early bird or night owl?

Night Owl

Road or studio?

Road, I like exploring and experiencing new people and places. I feel it helps move the creativity for the studio anyway. And the studio is anywhere you can set up a mic these days, to be honest.

Any shows or albums coming up?

Latest single, Avenue available everywhere!

Performing in Rotterdam Netherlands May 31st – June 2nd for NEW SKOOL RULES Music Fest & June 4th – June 9th for CANADIAN MUSIC WEEK

Upcoming Album, THE CAVES HAVE WIFI 2, dropping May 24th at midnight!

Where can we follow you?

Spotify | Apple | Amazon | YouTube | Soundcloud | Instagram | Tiktok

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Rapid Fire Local Questions:

What is your favourite local restaurant?

El Jefe De Pollo

What is your favourite street in your city and why?

Queen West & Ossington, all the chic dive bars and the food spots are dope

What is your favourite park in your city and why?

East Riverside Park, because I shot one of my favourite videos there where we got to run around and fly kites lol

What is your favourite music venue in your city?

My fav venue would be the Drake Underground

What is your favourite music store in your city?

Don’t have one

The post Five Minutes With: Toronto Rap Artist Melo Griffith appeared first on Toronto Guardian.

With his distinctive voice and lyrical prowess, Slick Rick’s impact can be heard in the music of countless superstars. His magnetic presence has been immortalized in songs by musical icons such as Beyoncé, Nas, Eminem, Mariah Carey, Beastie Boys, The Notorious B.I.G., TLC, Kanye West, MF Doom, Black Star, Miley Cyrus, and Snoop Dogg, to name just a few. Notably, collaborations with Outkast’s Andre 3000 and Big Boi on “Da Art of Storytellin'” and “Street Talkin'” have solidified his status as a force to be reckoned with.

Slick Rick’s influence extends beyond his musical contributions. Admiration for the rapper radiates from all corners of popular culture, evident in the ardent support of influential figures worldwide. Eminem, referencing Slick Rick’s impact, famously declared, “I’m just a product of Slick Rick” on his 2020 hit “Godzilla.” Jay-Z has cited him as an inspiration on the acclaimed Netflix series, My Next Guest Needs No Introduction with David Letterman. Actor and A-list star Idris Elba pursued his admiration for Slick Rick by signing him to his 7 Wallace UK imprint. Even celebrated musician and producer Mark Ronson dissected Slick Rick’s work as part of an illuminating TED Talk. The rapper’s enduring legacy was further solidified when Mariah Carey welcomed him onstage during a sold-out show at Radio City Music Hall in 2019 to perform their duet “Giving Me Life.”

No hip hop celebration would be complete without a tribute to Slick Rick’s catalog of hit singles. Gems like “La-Di-Da-Di,” “Mona Lisa,” “Hey Young World,” and “Children’s Story” have become timeless classics, capturing the essence of his smooth flow and thought-provoking lyricism.

Moreover, Slick Rick’s fashion sense has left an indelible mark on the hip hop scene. Just as recognizable as his melodic delivery and insightful bars, the artist’s fashion choices have become synonymous with the explosion of hip hop fashion. From his love for customizing Clarks Wallabees with platform soles to his affinity for statement jewelry, Slick Rick’s style continues to captivate. He has lent his image to high-profile campaigns, including the MCM “POP-IN @ NORDSTROM,” and has collaborated with brands such as Puma, Ballys, Urban Outfitters, Odd Sox, and Optics. His fashion sense has earned him the top spot on “The Best Dressed Rappers Of All Time” on The 40 Flyest List.

The Toronto concert at The Phoenix Concert Theatre promises to be an unforgettable experience. Fans of Slick Rick should mark their calendars and prepare for an electrifying night that will undoubtedly go down as one of the top performances of 2024 in the city.

Tickets Available at Showpass – HERE

Edit: A previous version had the date of February 11th but the show was rescheduled to a later date. 

The post Hip Hop Icon Slick Rick to Make Long-Awaited Toronto Debut appeared first on Toronto Guardian.

Name:

Aidan Skira

Genre:

Melodic Rap/ Pop /Whatever I want to make

Founded:

I started making and posting original music in grade 8 but had performed covers at school talent shows since grade 4.

# of Albums:

2

Latest Album:

“What Happened?”

Latest Single:

“I tried”

Latest Video:

Favourite musician growing up:

There are way too many but XXXTentacion, Trippie Redd, Justin Bieber, Aries, Ed Sheeran etc all really shaped my sound.

Favourite musician now:

It changes constantly but Kanii, Skaiwater and Travis Scott have been in the rotation a lot recently.

Guilty pleasure song:

“Exploration” From the Coraline Soundtrack

Live show ritual:

Practice in my PJ’s in my basement the day of until the last second before I need to leave for soundcheck.

Favourite local musician:

Drake if we’re going by artists who became mainstream from here. Anders if we’re going off underground.

EP or LP?

We need to bring back people’s attention spans. That’s the bottom line. I’m tired of people only caring about minute-long songs and little projects with no substance. Some EP’s / short projects can be really powerful and do what they gotta do, for example, XXXTentacion’s “17”. Even my album “What Happened?” was only 22 minutes long. As long as the project has quality all the way through that’s all I care about.

Early bird or night owl?

I live like Batman for real. It’s a problem. 4 am is my bedtime, I always feel more creative at night but there’s no way it’s beneficial for my brain.

Road or studio?

Recently I’d say shows to be honest, but I love the recording process when I have something to write about that feels natural.

Any shows or albums coming up?

I’ve got a new track called “Happy Meals”. Links to everything in my bio on Instagram or my events page on Spotify. Follow and come out!

Where can we follow you?

Linktree

***

Rapid Fire Local Questions:

What is your favourite local restaurant?

The OG Kelsey’s by Canada’s Wonderland is the move

What is your favourite street in your city and why?

Old Kleinburg is a really nice street with a bunch of shops and an ice cream place it’s really nice to walk down really late at night, especially in the summer. I filmed one of my first music videos there as well for a song called “Perfect”.

What is your favourite park in your city and why?

The Elder’s Mills Nature Reserve is really peaceful I like to walk there and sit on the bench overlooking the big pond sometimes when I’m in my feelings or just need to get outside.

What is your favourite music venue in your city?

There aren’t too many good venues by my place in Vaughan – but out of all the venues I’ve performed at, Lee’s Palace in Toronto Is definitely my favourite. The way they have the stage high up and the floor in a pit has always stood out to me.

What is your favourite music store in your city?

Sonic Boom is really dope. I bought my first vinyl there a few months ago.

The post Five Minutes With: Toronto Musician Aidan Skira appeared first on Toronto Guardian.

Rolling Loud is bringing some of the biggest names in hip-hop to Ontario Place from September 9th-11th, and the city is ready.

Rolling Loud announced their Toronto line-up at the end of April, and it is safe to say this festival is coming in hot. Hip Hop  artists Dave, Future, and WizKid will be headlining the upcoming music event this fall.

This is Rolling Loud’s first foray into Canada and will be running in four different countries throughout 2022.

Looking for Canadian acts? No problem. Rolling Loud has no shortage of Canadian talent showcasing their music this year. Homegrown artists like Belly, Roy Woods, NAV, and Pressa are all set to perform at Ontario Place, the former theme park Canadians know and love.

Tickets are still on sale, so grab them while you can and make summer ’22 the best one yet. For more information, visit www.rollingloud.com/toronto.

***

To stay up to date on all things Rolling Loud Toronto, follow their socials for more info.

Instagram – Twitter – Facebook

The post The Biggest Hip Hop Event is Coming to Toronto this September appeared first on Toronto Guardian.

In 2019 Christian released the record “Baby Tonight” which gained new fans across Canada to Los Angeles all the way to Brazil. The song is featured in multiple Tik Tok videos across many accounts most notably Tik Tok influencer Bruce Gallinger, with a following of over 2.6 Million people the meme video that includes “Baby Tonight” has now over 310,000 views.

In February of 2021, Christian released the song titled “Braggadocious” which peaked at number 16 on the Hip-Hop/Rap iTunes Canada Chart along with peaking at number 132 on the All Genres iTunes Canada Chart. This was Christian’s first-ever chart placement. Christian then went on to release his debut Micro Album titled “The Dinner Table Has a Wounded Pull”

Name:

Christian Mariconda

Genre:

Hip-Hop/Rap

Founded:

I started recording my own original music in 2014 but didn’t develop and evolve into my own sound until 2017 when I discovered my love for Hip-Hop and rapping.

# of Albums:

None as of yet but I released my debut micro album last April titled “The Dinner Table Has a Wounded Pull” and plan to release a full-length album possibly this year in 2022.

Latest Album:

The Dinner Table Has a Wounded Pull

Latest Single:

Never Fold

Latest Video:

Favourite Musician Growing Up:

At one point it was Michael Jackson, then later on after high school for a bit it was Justin Timberlake and Drake, but my greatest inspiration to my artistry is Kendrick Lamar.

Favourite Musician Now:

Still Kendrick Lamar (laughs)

Guilty Pleasure Song:

I’d probably have to say as of right now it would be “Kiss Me More” by Doja Cat and SZA

Live Show Ritual:

I wouldn’t say I have a specific ritual that I do every time I prepare for a show that night, but rehearsal is vital for me in preparing and getting my vocal cords ready as is drinking my tea and tons of water throughout the day, I’ll intentionally only eat organic foods all day as well as set time aside to meditate and keep my body, soul and inner energy clean before getting on that stage, more importantly, my solitude and alone time means a lot to me on the day of my show, just being in my own space helps me remain grounded and centred as I see myself putting on the most special and impactful shows for my fans and the audience.

Favourite Local Musician:

Clairmont The Second and Derin Falana are two artists that are really creating and putting out unconventional, unapologetic and authentic music that I really resonate with and appreciate, they are global stars in the making coming from Greater Toronto Area.

EP or LP?

LP’s because they reveal more about an artists perspective and experiences during a longer period of time in their life, for me, a full-length album is more similar to an entire book or an entire show/movie in a musical format, it can pull the listener in more to a journey of stories and sounds that are uniquely made for the album and may never be made again in that artist’s discography. A full album can also come at a time in someone’s life when they need it the most, during times of suffering, times of joy and times of culture and societal events.

Early Bird or Night Owl?

I’m an early bird type of person, depending on how early I start my day it only generates momentum into how I approach the afternoon, the evening and eventually the nighttime and for me because I’m always working on my music I wanna be in my zone earlier rather than later. Considering I don’t like creating when it’s deep into the night cause I value my sleep too. So my morning has a ripple effect on how focused and productive I am after that.

Road or Studio?

I love both so much. On the one hand, the creative process is such a magical and therapeutic space to be in from start to finish. On the other hand, I get to perform in front of my fans and people who enjoy and vibe out to the music I make, plus they resonate with my message and experiences. To see and hear a crowd singing and rapping along to these songs that I’ve manifested into physical reality is a special feeling unlike any other. Live and on stage in front of whether it’s 100 people or 100,000 is why I make music other than it being a place of my self-healing process, music connects people in a way that goes beyond society’s limitations and biases.

Any Shows or albums coming up?

Since we are in times of chaos with the pandemic still at the top of 2022, no live events and performances from me and my team are being put together as of right now with the current capacity restrictions. Currently though my new song “Never Fold” is available now on all streaming platforms and the music video to the song will be released very soon along with some other special things to be released as part of the world Never Fold is building into over the next three months.

Where can we follow you?

Instagram | Youtube | Spotify

***

Rapid Fire Toronto Qs

Favourite Local Restaurant:

August 8 Sushi

Favourite Street in Your City:

A street called Sandalwood Parkway, just because of growing up just a few minutes away from Sandalwood I walked and rode my bike and drove down the street so many times growing up. It’s a part of my journey and my childhood all the way to me now as a young man.

Favourite Park In Your City:

To be honest there are parks all over my hometown in Brampton that I created many memories and had many experiences with friends and my family, any memories I have of being at a soccer field, a playground, a basketball court and just at a park in general from my hometown really holds a special place in my heart.

Favourite Music Venue In Your City:

The Rebel in Toronto.

Favourite Music Store In Your City:

At the local mall which is called Bramalea City Center, there used to be an HMV there but I wanna say four or five years ago the store changed its name to Sunrise Records. I used to pick up all my CD’S there when I was younger from my favourite artists and their newest releases, and also just albums I loved so deeply. As I got older I started to really love vinyl so I would go to Sunrise Records to collect vinyl as well.

The post “Five Minutes With” storytelling Rapper, Christian Mariconda appeared first on Toronto Guardian.