By: @CopaseticSoulz
This list is compiled of Hip-Hop artists that have been working in Vancouver for many years and maintain a dedicated fan base, you may not have heard all of them yet, but some you should, and others you will soon. They have worked alongside the biggest names in Hip-Hop in not just on the west coast but around the world, you’ve likely heard their music before without realizing it. This article should help you put a face to the name and a name to the sound.. the sound of Vancouver Hip-Hop.
Azrael (Emcee)
Azrael is a consistently surprising emcee, working hard over the last decade on several cult classic albums with the Imaginations Treetrunk label.
He stands out as a thoughtful lyricist with his deep, dulcet voice and unconventional writing style that has been developing in Vancouver’s hip-hop scene since 2003. Joining forces with ILL-Legitimate in 2009 he released his first collaboration with Sythe, the well received jazz/hip-hop fusion LP “Pocket Watch”. Azzy constantly has projects on the go and can be found collaborating with different artists and producers to keep his game sharp.
Having opened up for the likes of Devin The Dude, Sean Price, Ill Bill, R.A. The Rugged Man, & Smif N-Wessun plus more over the years, he has developed a trademark captivating stage show whether solo or alongside the crew. His next release was a collaborative effort with fellow emcee Inkspill titled “Mur-diddly-
urdlers” through Phonographique Records in 2013.
https://www.facebook.com/azraelrapsgood
Lo Keynote (Producer)
Over ten years in the crates have seen Lo Keynote emerge as a producer/engineer of rare esteem in the Canadian hip hop game. A growing number of rappers, RnB singers, and aspiring pop stars have come to rely on his soulful scores and lasting flavor to bring that sought-after heat to their albums and mix tapes. In the absence of vocals, Lo Keynote beats still set themselves apart from the milieu; the 2007 instrumental album “High Hats” made it to number 5 on college radio charts.
In 2009 Nigel won the first two Vanquish Beat Battles consecutively before seceding the contest. In ‘09 Lo seemed to find his stride. That year’s production and engineering credits include songs on Snak The Ripper’s acclaimed “Sex Machine” album and Camobear label-mate Young Sin’s “Who I Am”, as well as Jeff Spec’s promo EP “FreE Press”. 2010 saw the hustle pick up speed: Lo putting in work on 7 albums, most notably Jaykin’s “Sneakers and Video Games”, Son Real’s “Light Year”, Jeff Spec’s “Sneakerboxxx”, and DJ Chong Wizard’s “Eclectic Relaxation Tribute Mix tape” where he and legend El Da Sensai collaborated on a remix of Tribe’s “Can I Kick It?”. In 2011 Lo produced the first track on Son Real’s breakout, “Where’s Waldo” and collaborated with KAi Skywalker on “Law Of Attraction”, KAi’s anticipated solo debut, that dropped Aug.30th 2011. Directing Music Videos is an art form Lo has recently taken an interest. In Dec. 2012 He made his debut with well received visuals for Def3’s “Life Ain’t Fare”, and has since directed multiple videos and the skill set continues to grow.
Currently Lo is setting up to launch a fresh new recording artist named drxgs with a late April ‘14 release of their mixtape titled “Quarter Moon” and an LP to follow later in the year. Besides having a catalog stacked with soulful heat and his many accolades, Lo Keynote is also a source of good advice and honest feedback for the music community at large. It’s more than likely that somewhere in his lush tunes, engineering prowess, or keen insights, there awaits something you’ve been looking for. Add him on facebook, follow him on twitter, but most importantly, listen to his music.
Words by N. Mojica
https://www.facebook.com/pages/LoKeynote-Production/40567973163
@LoKeynote
Ndidi Cascade (Vocalist)
Ndidi Cascade, who is of Nigerian-Italian-Irish heritage, is a Vancouver born and based hip hop vocalist. She is also a songwriter, recording artist, educator and program facilitator. Ndidi has showcased her music across North America – from classrooms to national concerts, and her music has been featured on Much Music and MTV Canada. She has shared the stage with talents such as Femi Kuti, Digable Planets, The Mad Professor, De La Soul, K-OS and K’naan. Ndidi Cascade also facilitates workshops that use hip hop and spoken word as a medium for healthy self-expression. She is the founder of the “Word Sound and Power” and “Elementalz” education programs which are designed to raise awareness of the origins of the hip hop movement.
@NdidiCascade
Autokrat (Emcee)
For a decade now the name Autokrat has rung through the lower mainland like the aftershocks of an earthquake. Starting out freestyling outside of downtown vancouver clubs in cyphers with whoever was throwin down, this female rapper has climbed the ladder of success in a fashion all her own. But its not for her head to toe tattoo’s and fresh hairstyles that has earned her the respect she gets, its her lyrical ability; an ability that has not only led to krat opening for dozens of the top rappers in the game, which she has, but also just won her a $10,000 prize in a recent MC competition at Fortune Soundclub. Currently Krat is working on her debut solo album and is also in the works on a track with rapper Tech N9ne. If this is the first time you’ve heard be sure to pay attention, because soon it will be impossible not to.
Kapok (Emcee)
Born In Toronto, Canada and holding it down in Vancouver. Kapok draws inspiration from the world around him and the various experiences of his life. The Mayan/Canadian emcee began writing lyrics as a teen and quickly became known for his versatile flow and impeccable freestyles. Kapok has opened for various artists such as the late J dilla’s brother; Illa J alongside Frank Nitty, Jamaica Queens own ONYX, Cormega, as well as The Grouch and Eligh. The driven young MC/Beat-maker is currently working on his debut solo album “No Easy Way To Paradise” set to establish himself as one of the foremost artists out of his city.
@BrotherNatural
Stroker DeLuca (Producer)
With over 14 years of music production experience and Pro Tools audio engineering/mixing to his credit, Stroker DeLuca has amassed a considerable amount of hands on industry experience under his belt. Let alone graduating with a diploma in audio engineering, Stroker has made a name for himself as an accomplished recording artist and live performer. Throughout this time Stroker has had the opportunity of working alongside a long list of various musicians, both as an artist and from the production standpoint. This previous insight has given DeLuca an edge in his current role as producer.
“The term producer gets thrown around a lot i think; I’m not simply a beat maker. As a producer I like to oversee every aspect of the song making process from the ground up, as opposed to simply making a beat and giving it to the artist. I find that’s the best way to really get the best product out the of their performance.”
Hands down one of the busiest independent engineer/producers in Western Canada, Stroker’s ear for excellence and unparalleled editing skills have earned him a reputation as the go-to-guy for all in one audio production and recording among Vancouver’s music community, with services ranging from hip hop and r&b production, to voiceover/ADR, foley and original scoring.
Stroker DeLuca encompasses the superb skill and creative and dedicated approach required to be a literal one stop shop for all things related to song production, without a doubt making him one the premier sources for audio engineering and song production on the westcoast today.
@stroker_deluca
A-Ro (Emcee)
Born in Vancouver, B.C., Canada. Armando Emile Hernandez grew up in Kitsilano with music all around him. Coming from a family of artists of all sorts, he developed a love for all artistic mediums; also becoming familiar with many music genres from folk, jazz, and blues to rock, reggae, and finally Hip Hop. After being exposed to more and more music from a Hip Hop point-of-view, he was hooked.
As his music vocabulary expanded and he took a deeper interest in Hip Hop and began making beats of his own… Soon after, A-Ro met fellow beatmaker Astrological (Nate Drobner). After being featured on a project Astrological and Slippery Elm were working on entitled “Satyr “THE GENESIS” “, Slippery, Astro, A-Ro, and Free-D Ohm began recording songs as the group Elekwent Folk, and in October of 2009 released a second LP entitled “Folk Fest”, which was re-release in the US & Internationally in 2010 on Nasty Habits Entertainment.
@ElekwentFolk
Anonymouz (Emcee)
One of the founding members of Ill-Legitimate, Anonymouz has a vivid honesty, and is a reflection of the rawest elements of hip-hop. Raised in the suburbs of Vancouver, Canada, his easily recognizable sound, philosophy and delivery translates to his live performances which propelled his career out of North America and overseas.
Anonymouz has released 2 solo albums: An.o.nym.i.ty (2005) and Smoking Joints (2011); and is featured on many tracks and albums internationally. Although it is most often by his intricate flow, smoked-out timbre and dense wordplay that he is recognized, Anonymouz has an energetic presence on stage and a resume to testify to his strength in front of a crowd. He has appeared live on bills alongside such artists as EPMD, Immortal Technique, Aesop Rock, Souls of Mischief, Ill Bill and Black Moon to name a few.
@AnonymouzWop
D-Rec (DJ, Producer)
A veteran in the Vancouver scene, D-rec has been holding it down for over a decade, with a stacked resume of house parties, club nights, live show and studio album production and scratch credits. Heavily influenced by late 80’s to early 90’s rap, you can always expect him to drop all the classics you know and love, the obscure gems, classic rock, funk, soul, rnb, 80’s hits, new stuff…anything goes. As official DJ for Vancouver hip-hop artist Snak the Ripper and the group Brass Tackz (Snak, Evil Ebenezer, Young Sin), D-Rec has shared the stage with artists such as Raekwon, The Beatnuts, Tech Nine, Planet Asia, Camp Lo, Ill Bill, Sean Price, GM Roc Raida, RA the Ruggedman, Prince Paul, Kool DJ Red Alert, Gza, Swollen Members and many more. Throw in a residency at Vancouver’s longest running hip-hop night, “Monday Night live”, dj & beat battle victories, numerous tours throughout western Canada, and you have someone truly dedicated to his craft.
@cratecrusader
Dale Evans (Producer)
Nate Evans grew up skateboarding in East Vancouver and has been making electronic music since 2007 as ‘Dale Evans’. Everything that accompanies and upbringing entrenched in skate culture’s creative climate has been coupled with life experiences, travel and experimentation. These elements have consistently formed his brand of self informed electronica as its grown from sample based nu-disco fused dance grooves toward independent forward thinking tripped out beat hop. The Dale Evans sound has been established and re-established on an endless continuum of musical exploration.
Daybi (Emcee)
Daybi represents a much needed voice for a new generation of native culture with the educational approach to his music, working with well respected Canadian artists like Moka Only and DJ Kemo on his debut album ‘First Contact’. His approach includes a wide range of electronic hiphop styles, touching on influences ranging from jazz to indie rock, giving his music a broad appeal to all music lovers. As a film director, digital media designer and recording artist, Daybi has developed simple aspirations for ‘good music and freedom’ inspired by the depth of his native heritage.
http://www.daybi.us/
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SoS (Emcee)
SoS aka Sauce is a Vancouver area hip hop emcee and singer affiliated with hiphop crews/groups: Influents, Fully Faded, Spits N Giggles, Marzipan, Amoeba Sound Design, All Eyed Forces, Bounce Council. With over a decade of live performance and recording experience behind him, Sauce has developed an eclectic sound rooted in traditional hip hop, soul and funk, with a definite eye to the future, that deals with a wide variety of topics and styles.