Various Artists - Required Listening 2  
 
 

“Toronto’s Do Right Music continues to define the converging worlds of hip hop, funk, soul, jazz and broken beats in Canada with this second installment in their Required Listening series.” Montreal Mirror

"This compilation simply makes you want to move. After one spin, you’ll see why its required listening” Theme Magazine

"Do Right mainman John Kong pulled together all the tracks for the set -- and as usual, he's got a great ear for an unusual groove” Dusty Groove

"On a rootsy hiphop vibe but quickly moves into jazzier territory, hitting on some Afrobeat, a bit of deep house, broken beat and soul.... a fun summer compilation and will surely help some of the lesser-known artists gain exposure outside Canada." NOW magazine

 

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.

Triple threat DJ/mc/producer and Toronto hip-hop veteran Anonymous Twist is up next with the track "Sweet Sixteen", a haunting head-nodder (featuring Planet Asia) from his upcoming album. Following hot in the footsteps of Anonymous Twist is, "Jazz Music", a song paying homage to the jazz of the past and its influence on hip-hop by Toronto emcee Justis and his band Ace Kinkaid. Justis describes himself as, "an honest emcee with no fronts" I just tell it like my life is. Balancing out the bumpin' beats is Toronto singer/songwriter Sacha Williamson with her gorgeous jazz vocal track "Hurricane". Sacha is an experienced vocalist and jazz teacher and has worked with the likes of I.G. Culture and Canada's own Nick Holder. The single 'On my mind' produced by Nick Holder with Sacha on vocals was also featured on RL 1.

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.

Picking up the tempo is the dancefloor scorcher "Mista President"by Ottawa afrobeat outfit The Souljazz Orchestra. Taken from their highly acclaimed album "Freedom No Go Die", The Souljazz Orchestra were voted into the top 10 tracks of the year on the Gilles Peterson BBC radio show and continue to blow up the spot.

Flipping the script on the West Coast is dancefloor killah Aklimatize, who's party rockin' brokenlatinosoul sound has taken him across the globe. He has collaborated with Zed Bias, and SA:RA. Aklimiatize's stylings can be heard on the afro-latino inspired broken beat stomper "Dime La Verdad". Holding down the brukbeat vibes is highly respected Toronto Do Right! producer Alister Johnson a.k.a. DJ Catalist. He lays down the brokenbeat foundation to the beautiful, groovy synthy bass of "Like a Star", featuring the stunning vocals of Vancouver based Alonzo and musician Chris Rouse.

Changing up the tempo to a more 4-on-the-floor feel is Vancouver's Cobblestone Jazz. This is a band comprised of world-renowned techno producer Mathew Jonson, programmer Tyger Dhula and keyboardist Danuel Tate. The three are known for their hype live shows and their jazzy, minimal techno sound heard on the track "Creator". Also representing Vancouver is the 8-member band 1 Luv, featuring vocalists Amalia Townsend, Deanna Teeple and Dawn Pemberton. Their soulful, jazzy house track "Starz"explains why this band was discovered by super-crew Jazzanova and was featured on their Secret Love 2 compilation.

"Signs"is the mellow, feel-good; reggae-tinged track by Toronto based folk, pop and soul singer-songwriter Brian Macmillian, who is best known for his calm, warm and seasoned sound. Following the warm cooled out vibe is the acoustic folk-pop with-soul outfit, "Sunshine State". This band formed when musician/producer and Nelly Futaro's guitarist, James Bryan teamed up with good friend, singer/songwriter Aleza and decided to make tracks about modern life and love as a form of musical therapy. Their song "Day Job"gets a re-work by noted producer Alister Johnson a.k.a. DJ Catalist. What results is an up-tempo, deep groove, rich with a Brazilian-infused electronic feel.

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. Down the road, 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. Dante & Dhula of Cobblestone Jazz wind down the Required Listening tour with their dubby, down tempo track "Why Do the Wicked Ones Rule".

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.


Album available on Abdominal featuring Notes to Self - Required Listening, Vol. 2

 
   Tracklisting          

 
1.  Abdominal - T-Ode feat. Notes to self   [Listen]
  2.  Anonymous Twist - Sweet 16 feat. Planet Asia
[Listen]
  3.  Justis - Jazz Music 
[Listen]
  4.  Sacha Williamson- Hurricane 
[Listen]
  5.  Sekoya - Love's in Need
[Listen]
  6.  The Souljazz Orchestra - Mista President
[Listen]
  7.  Aklimatize - Dime La Verdad
[Listen]
  8.  Alister Johnson - Like a Star 
[Listen]
  9.  Cobblestone Jazz - Creator 
[Listen]
 10.  1 Luv - Starz
[Listen]
 11.  Brian MacMillian - Signs 
[Listen]
 12.  Sunshine State - Day Job (Alister Johnson remix)
[Listen]
 13.  Ghislain Poirier - Pou Ki Sa Dub feat. Nik Myo
[Listen]
 14.  Apostle of Hustle - My Sword hand's Anger (Circle Research Mix)
[Listen]
 15.  Dante & Dhula - Why do the Wicked Ones Rule
[Listen]

 Album available on Abdominal featuring Notes to Self - Required Listening, Vol. 2