ATSIC S04E20 - PROGRESSION

Last week's episode was a special one, episode 420, but I was on holiday and didn't have the time to make it an epic celebration. It happens, and I'm cool with it. After all, every show is a good show when it comes to sharing fresh tunes from across the country. No one pays me for this gig, so we roll with what we've got, and it's always good enough. I gathered my new MP3s, hit the beach, and started jamming to them to tweak the sequencing a bit.

But just when I thought it would be a standard episode, fate had something else in store. My good friend DJ Baggylean, a talented and incredible guy I've known since the Edmonton rap scene days, hit me up. We've rapped together in crowded pubs, shared beats, and supported each other's Hip Hop endeavors over the years. He's been there for me in good times and bad, and I respect the dude big time. He asked if I was still interested in him mixing and cutting on ATSIC. We had talked about it before, but life got in the way. Now, the stars aligned, and it was a go. I sent him the MP3s, and he did his thing.

And let me tell you, the results are fire! I've never considered myself a DJ—I mean, you need turntables to be a legit DJ in Hip Hop. But Baggylean, he's got those DJ chops, man. He's competed in DMC contests, he's always honing his skills at Edmonton Skratcher meets, and the respect he gets is well-deserved. Together, with me staying on top of the new releases and him slicing and blending records like a pro, we're taking ATSIC to a whole new level. I'm pumped to have him on board, even if it's just for a while. Who knows, maybe he'll dig it and stick around for the long haul. Let's see where this journey takes us!

Get at Baggylean on IG if you need studio scratches for an upcoming project, he’s looking for work and you won’t find many technically better DJs, especially ones willing to work.

Alright, let's dive into the songs on the mix. We've got a solid 90 percent Canadian content, with just a touch of representation for 'Merica—Intell to kick things off, and later on, King Trey & Mick Jenkins. I didn't send Baggylean the ATSIC drops for this one, so I had to add some samples over his mix, you know, so people don't forget what they're grooving to and where to find it.

First up, let's talk about Kaboom Atomic. This dude always cracks me up, but don't let that fool you—he knows how to craft a damn good song. "Double Up" keeps the hilarity going with more witticisms accompanied by a sweet Chuck D sample (I think) on the hook and clever wordplays and punchlines throughout the verses. As for Stroker DeLuca, no clue who he is, but props if they made the beat 'cause it's flames!

Onto "Prudence" by Stephen Hero. I gotta admit, this one is hilarious too, maybe sorta unintentionally. Baggy intitially started clowning it for being a bunch of dick raps, but hey, it's ATSIC, and we're all about embracing all types of music and artists. I mean, he starts off rapping about hanging millionaires by their bootstraps and eating them, and that’s right on point for the show. That sort of thing will always get some love from me. Sure, Stephen goes on about his sexual adventures too, but hey, it's grown folks' music, and grown folks do grown folk stuff. Plus, the beat is dope, and Stephen sneaks in some classic bar references that I caught. Here's the funniest part tho—when Baggy was listening to the finished show in his office cubicle, his phone lost Bluetooth connection, and all the left-leaning ladies in the office were treated to Stephen's dick raps. I couldn't stop laughing when he told me. 😂 I assured Baggy that Mr. Hero often raps about smarter stuff too, and taken as part of a whole, the track plays it’s role well. It's gonna be fun debating stuff like this with him. Maybe Baggy can join me on some "Making of ATSIC" episodes over on Twitch, so we can voice critiques live.

Now, Myka 9's verse on "Antipathy" was straight dope, but Mickey O'Brien held his own too, bringing more intricate and deep vibes than usual. Mickey told me to watch out for his next release, and you bet I will. Sounds like he's keeping that lyrical sword good and choppy, and I'm here for it. More on that when I got the deets from Thomas at Handsolo. Stay tuned!

Super Duty Tough Work, a Winnipeg-based group that CKXU introduced me to back in season 1, caught my attention with their album "Studies in Grey." Now, they're back with the follow-up "Paradigm Shift," and I'm stoked about it. These artists aren't afraid to speak their minds and give it straight, without worrying about who they might piss off. They drop bars on this one about beheading queen E, and serve up a scathing critique of typical rap content. You know, those "non-threatening artists" hogging the spotlight while SDTW is all about real issues: "we're tryna off whites, they're just tryna rock the off whites." Ooof. Can't wait to hear the rest of this one!

Then we've got Edmonton's ILLIAM, a rising star with a laid-back flow that borders on lazy in the best possible way. Some new artists sound like they're trying too hard to make every word perfect, which can come off as anxious or nervous. But not ILLIAM, his smooth vibes skim over a beat like a skipping stone.

I had a chat with Tariiiq for Fly in Formation, and we delved into some of the themes he explores on his latest track "The GOAT was overshadowed by SHEEP." You know, with the internet and all, artists are finding wider audiences, and the game is changing. The legends are starting to feel a bit antiquated with their big, corporate-backed blockbuster releases, then or now. In 2023, artists can cook up a banger in their bedroom with $1500 worth of gear, send it to streaming platforms for the whole world to hear for 14 bucks, and keep doing it day after day. And I'm all about that. The Business Man rapper might get overshadowed by the artist rapper in this new era, and that's just fine by me. I'm on a mission to collect that artist rap and bump it for you every week. It might not be the most commercially accepted stuff or have big promotion dollars behind it, but it's my favorite type of music right now.

The first 3 plays I still thought Sayzee was talking about hitting like Tiger Woods driver in 1998. Then I realized Tiger probably wasn’t famous that early. … Never mind I just googled it and he won the Masters in 97.. Either way, upon further listens, it seems the topic of the song is actually a wrestling move where the victim is dropped right on their neck. Fitting, because “Tiger Driver” slams.

Toronto's own Chris Tipsy & ItsRyan bring the mellow vibes with "No Stress On Me." This one is perfect for those lazy summer holiday days, just chilling and feeling the good vibes.

Gritfall and Raz Fresco from BKRSCLB go back and forth like Rae and Ghost on "Beat Maker's Boutique II," and they nailed it! BKRSCLB has been dropping a ton of music lately, even while Raz is touring overseas and recording new stuff everywhere he goes (dude's a workaholic!). Can't wait to hear his upcoming Cooking Soul project. "Pocket Operations II: Forty Seconds Only" has some cool production, especially since it was all made on a tiny sampler the size of a graphing calculator), but you know Cooking Soul's been on superstar shit for a long time, so the collabo with Raz is gonna be exciting. Definitely tailor-made for ATSIC.

Baggylean was stoked to see DJ Grouch featured on Big Sproxx and Theo3's new track, and I gotta say, the lyricism and vibe were on point and fitting for the episode. "Deeper than Young Chris and Neef in a line behind Bleek, Beans, and Free, for a Rocafella release" just hit me right in the heart with that retro Dynasty era shoutout.

Check out "AYO" by Illvis Freshly! They're back at it with those festival-friendly dance vibes, but what really caught my attention was that classic G Funk synth line. Homage to the old school goes a long way, and I'm all for happy tunes that make you wanna dance during the summer.

Tone Chop & Frost Gamble are back again, as reliable as ever, and this time with a beat that gives me the feeling of tightrope walking for some reason. East New York style rhymes from Tone Chop are the closest thing I can get to new Sean P bars each week. Oh, and did I mention that Frost Gamble launched a beat store this week? If you're looking for some fresh beats, go check it out

Moka Only is one artist I can't tag in my IG stories for some reason. Maybe he's got enough fame already, or maybe he's got a stalker, who knows? But regardless, I'll keep playing his stuff because he's a legend on the underground rap scene and he keeps dropping tracks I love. This week's gem is a favorite of mine, with a sick beat from UK producer Remulak that gives off those classic boom bap feeling. This is my favourite lane for Moka. Plus, being a pop culture junkie, I can't help but wonder if "Starlings Green" is a nod to Neil Gaiman's Sandman series. Whether it is or not, I'm all for comic book references in my Hip Hop.

Recently, I had a chat with Lxvndr & Tachichi for Fly in Formation, and I told them I was gonna play "Toxic Honey" because it feels like the fourth single off their "Found Money" album. Turns out, they both love the track and it's one of their favorites too. They gave some backstory, saying Tachichi wanted to create a song about the overturning of Roe V Wade in the USA. As you know, on ATSIC, we always welcome those kinds of sentiments. It's awesome when artists express what's been on my mind, and Tachichi's verse here really hits home. Nuff said.

ThisIsHipHopp, a Toronto-based producer, linked up with Ren Thomas and Jayy Grams for a new banger. Ren might be from NJ, but he's no stranger to these mixes. His boom bap style and no-nonsense bars always fit right in. Straight-up dope sh*t.

Also on this mix is "Consistency" by Ultra Magnus and Taco Supreme. That's the key to getting noticed in this game. It's what I strive for, and it's what these artists demonstrate. Taco Supreme from Texas handles the beats, while UM does his thing, shedding light on rappers who talk about eating the rich but still exploit the poor. Plus, you don't often hear a guitar solo in rap songs, but this one adds a cool touch and gave me a moment to chat with the listeners as the mix wraps up.

Kimmortal's latest album "Shoebox" is packed with variety, and I decided to close the mix with "ABC." The track spells out a few more things that have been on my mind lately. It's always dope when artists say it for us.

Support art you enjoy. Buy merch. Buy digital music if you can’t afford physical. Hit like, share, follow, subscribe, and tell a friend about the music you enjoy. Do that for the show too, if you know people who like hearing new under discovered rap. It goes a long way and is greatly appreciated.

I do interviews and “Making of #ATSIC” episodes live on Twitch, so come by, hit follow, and say hi in chat.

Upcoming Fly in Formation interviews:

Aug 1 at 3pm MST - Len Bowen

Aug 8 at 7pm MST - Thomas Quinlan from Handsolo Records

Aug 15 at 7pm MST - Ol’ Gorilla Bones / The Dirty Sample (FiF’s first return guest!)

Aug 22 at 7pm MST - Epic (from Saskatoon Folk Rap Records)

Aug 29 at 7pm MST - Arlo Maverick

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