ATSIC S04E16 - Unstoppable
From now on, I'm going to try to spew out something short about each track on the mix. If there’s one thing this world could use more of, it’s amateur journalism covering amateur Hip Hop. My comments here will probably always be positive since the tracks on #ATSIC have been handpicked from a steaming pile of 8 to 10 hours of music each week. If a track is getting played, it's because it stood out, and because I endorse it enough to give someone 99 cents.
It recently occurred to me that that small endorsement might be more beneficial to artists if I also put it into writing, allowing them to quote me in grant applications or other endeavors. After all, I’m an award-winning “DJ” of a show that once won Best Rap Program in Canada, so who better to endorse what's good in the Canadian Hip Hop scene? I know if I trust one persons taste in rap, it’s mine. Trust.
Indulge me here, I want to explain this line of thinking to make sure you get where I’m going here. The notion of endorsing one another like this is an idea explored by KRS-One in the "Gospel of Hip Hop." That’s the book at the top of the page on the Post sections’ banner. The Teacha pointed out that endorsing fellow artists is a powerful way to elevate their value within the kulture, as well as outside it. Those outside of Hip Hop don’t know what’s dope, and they’ll usually rely on our recommendations when determining what to support. Flip side of that is, if we only flex our Twitter fingers to tear each other down, the spectators will follow suit, leading to a downward spiral, devaluing the entire scene. It's one of my favorite gems from a book that taught me a lot. I recommend it to anyone who’s going to be spending time in Hip Hop spaces.
Anyways, let's get down to it and talk about this week's mix. Coming in hot, just like last week's. Smashing barriers, moving forward with heavy momentum. This mix is the soundtrack you need while demolishing a basement. I mean, it's perfect for that.. Completely coincidentally, that's exactly what I was doing this week to pay the bills. Talk about synergy!
We kicked off with a track from Beck, who I was unfamiliar with before I stumbled across this feature verse from BKRS Club’s newly 18 year old protege Gritfall. Young bull isn’t trying to hear it if you’re a rapper older than Prince. I have to google to know for sure, but there might be one or two OGs I’m still checking for who might be older than Prince would have been.. probably not really though.. lemme see… Prince died at 58.. So hmm.. ya that’s pretty safe, I’m not really checking for anyone that… wait, how old is G Rap? 55. So is Rakim. Basically Grit only sent shots at Melle Mel.
Lord Juco and Cousin Feo pull up with the product for “Next in Line” which finds them dropping some street knowledge over a contemplative lurker of a beat. All dressed up no Ruffles. Well suited to the themes here.
Montreal’s Slik Jack makes his first ATSIC appearance, which was sent over by ThisIsHipHopp, a producer I’ve featured before. They gifted us with some gully shit here. Hardest in the game claims. I don’t know shit from shit when it comes to who’s really real in their tough talk. I just know who sounds like they know what they’re talking about.
I tapped back into “Where There’s Smoke”, the new project from Justo x Fester x DK, and played a downtempo chill selection, “Inner Peace”, featuring an intricate as always verse from Ghettosocks. A peaceful refrain from the simmering aggression on the rest of the episode, driven by the soulful lush boom bap sounds of DK the Producers… production.
Asun Eastwood has been dropping a lot of singles with various artists lately, so this episode has 3 of them. The first is with Pro Dillenger on a spooky Dark Arts beat driven by haunting, twinkling keys. Bars are never in question. Can’t question what’s been proven.
Sayzee breathes life to another sparse key driven beat, bringing us back to the days of VHS and fixing the tracking on the TV. Nostalgic reminiscing. Another rapper who wanted to fuck Topanga. No real shock there or here.
Ren Thomas at one point somehow unintentionally tricked me into thinking he was canadian, but he isn’t. I now know full well he reps New Jersey. But I started following him and now he ends up popping up on my ATSIC Radar lists every second week. Once I listen to the song I still end up buying it to play on #ATSIC, because the tracks always just fit the bill. Bars, boom bap, and scratches (on this one provided by DJ CSP). I felt those bars about being 42 with 140 views though, that’s some foul shit and he cut me deep. I’m not 42, but I will be. And I’ll still be making ATSIC and getting 42 plays in all likelihood.
Elgee vs Mg is a showdown between Da Beatdetonator & East coast emcee McGyver, who I’ve played before on tracks produced by Pete Rock. This one finds him bilingual barring up in english/french fluently, on top of a sinister beat that sounds like King Kongs ring entry music.
”Grown Man Shit” finds Jake Haw & Hi-Q alongside Coast and Ren Thomas (he’s back and he snuck in a bunch of other Americans), this time kicking punch lines about fatherhood, being an old man who will still punch the youth, and fighting with their wives. I feel like this is probably some relateable content for some of the #ATSIC crowd, and I’ve always sorta loved rappers who lean into the “old and grumpy” image as their hair starts to go grey. There’s also some real talk in the last verse here about how rappers refuse to go get a job because they want to be out doing dirt trying to act like gangsters. Taking care of your people is some grown man shit. One of my friends hit me as he listened to this track saying “homie has 100k in the mattress, must be looking to get rolled”. Careful out there folks.
Iron Shirt & Street Da Villan check in to let us know “I’m not a tough talker but they better not be talking about me tho”. There’s also a bar about how he survived a snowstorm by slicing open a bear and crawling inside, and every time I hear it it makes me chuckle. Dope shit. Thats the cartoonish hyper masculinity I’ve come to know and love from this genre.
Le Zeppo & 9th Uno with Detales along for the ride shoot for the stars on “Galileo”. Space bound scary hours music.
Ashton Francis is a Toronto based emcee who makes his first stop at ATSIC this week with a verse on an Asun Eastwood track called “Iceberg Slim”. I really liked when Ashton tells Asun “we heard you bro” while he explains his last line. Asuns always doing that shit lol, which is probably good for most folks, but us emcees hear what was said, we catch it. That’s why we keep coming back to check the next one. And why Ace is on 3 tracks on this mix. The third is from Nowaah the Flood & Machacha, a song called “SHORTSTOPPERS” which got a remix featuring Mr Eastwood over top of a smooth soul loop.
BKRS Club’s Funk Lo spun back with a follow up to his debut album, this time a full project named “Connection Bijouterie,” with AM Early Morning. I played the drumless single for it, “Guerero in Montreal”. Both emcees are in fine form with the added attention to their vocals, kicking signature slick talk.
The BKRS Club all check in on this episode actually, I think. Raz Fresco and The 6th Letter got an A$AP Twelvyy verse for their new one “Wherever I go”. Some gems here. “What’s a dime to a dollar? That’s a fly question”. Jazz club vibes.
Navi the North is back at it again with Dankery Harv & Thrust OG, and they carry on tradition properly on “The Return” for an infectious headnodder with a huge bassline. Super unique steez. Unorthodox hook on this one, but it’s catchy as hell.
Nate Husser continues with the ear worm delivery system fully functioning, with “Itchy Palms” finding him hovering over top of some bouncy 808s looking for a pay day. This track makes me want a swisher.
”Like Nobody Else” is a fitting way to end out the mix. Doc T declares his love for Hip Hop, as rappers are known to do periodically on songs of this theme. I’m still here for it. I’m also here paying attention to this scene coast to coast like nobody else is.
That wraps things up for this mix. But before I go, let me remind you to check out my Twitch stream. I hang out, talk shop, and share behind the scenes studio session and stuff too. When artists send me new music I often listen to it the first time on stream, so if you like exclusive music, you know where to be. It's always a party, come by and say what’s up.
And hey, support the artists you love. Spread the word about the show, share it on social media, and hit that like button on this, mine and their posts. Buy music, rock musicians merch, and show up at their shows. Let's show the independent artists some love, and let them know we've got their backs.
Stay cool in the heat, stay hydrated, and remember, if you're demolishing a basement, blast this mix like and bring the walls down.
Stay Up.
