Required Listening 2

Required Listening 2 begins its aural tour of Canada with a recording of Toronto Mayor David Miller on the mic introducing the unofficial Toronto anthem, "T'ode" by Abdominal. This dope lyrical tribute to Toronto or the "Screwface Capital"(a term coined by local emcee Theology 3) also features the mad-talented Toronto crew "Notes to Self". "T'ode"solidifies Abs' position in the hip-hop game as one of the most versatile and innovative emcees around.

Bringing the glitchy, bouncy, nu-soul is Vancouver's Sekoya, featuring the sexy, engaging vocals of Amalia Townsend with the track "Loves in Need". Amalia has worked with Swedish producer extraordinaire Opolopo, Compost Records' Eddy Meets Yannah, and Afronaught of the almighty Bugz in the Attic crew to name a few. Sekoya is an amalgamation of Greg Huchinson and Reuben Rogers, the critically acclaimed jazz musicians from the Joshua Redman Quartet as well as founding member Vinstar Kearley.

Representing Montreal is Ghislain Poirier, known as "The King of the Bounce". His well-known Montreal party "Bounce La Gros"and his signature raga style riddems and deconstructed hip-hop, has led him to collaborate with TTC, LoFi Hi-Tek and remixed the likes of Les Georges Leningrad and Lady Sovereign. (Poirier has since moved on to become Lady Soverign's tour DJ!) His track "Pou Ki Sa dub" featuring the Creole singing of Montreal's Nik Myo, has that late night, dirty, dub-step sound.

Wrapping up the East coast meets West cost journey is Toronto's much-loved hip-hop aficionados Circle Research drop their neck snapping remix of indie-rock track "My Sword Hand's Anger"by Apostle of Hustle and flip it giving it a head-nodding re-edit after winning their remix contest.

Required Listening 1 was a taste of what was being cooked up in Toronto's backyard; Volume 2 expands the terrain to show the rest of the world what's blowing up in Toronto, as well as the rest of Canada. Compiler & Do Right label boss John Kong continues his journey across Canada to join the dots between hip-hop, funk, soul, future-jazz, broken-beat, house, techno and everything in between. Required Listening 2 is the second volume in this compilation series that really does require listening.