So you’ve noticed The Chef’s been spending a lot of time in the North lately, right? Yeah, we have too. It’s kinda hilarious–albeit innocently coincidental– that Raekwon describes Edmonton as “colonial-ish,” because in this interview with HHC‘s Amalia Judith in Vancouver, the Wu-Tang legend announced his plan to come up into the North and scoop up the rutted talent that doesn’t have the momentum nor means to make it out of our pregnant yet barren land.
“I’m startin’ an ice-h20 Canada record company out here, so all this talent out here that’s sunken in this situation where they not able to carry it across seas, across the world, across to America, I’m here to give them the opportunity. Right now I think I’ve got enough business savvy friends that’s going to come and help me allow others to get into this business. There’s a lot of talent here. It’s been too many years that we’re not able to hear the music like how ya’ll hearing us constantly. I wanna be able to hear ya’ll constantly the same way, and see new artists come and get on.”

I couldn’t believe this when I was looking at it from my phone, I was really excited for the concert because I’ve never seen Game live before. I would like to thank The Substance Group Entertainment for realizing an amazing like The Game to bring him to Canada. It would have definitely be an exciting tour and I know Halifax was excited for The Game tonight on 4/20.
Update: here is the official press release.
OFFICIAL MEDIA STATEMENT
THE SUBSTANCE ENTERTAINMENT GROUP
68 BROADVIEW AVE.B2. TORONTO, ON. M4M 2E6
OFFICE: 416.467.0839 FAX: 416.467.9890
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
April 22nd, 2011
We as the Canadian promoters for the “Red Nation” tour featuring hip-hop artist The Game, completed all necessary work permits and paperwork to allow him entry into Canada.
However, while The Game was flying to the first scheduled tour date on April 19th 2011 we were informed credible evidence had been obtained by Canadian customs to allegedly prove The Game is a member of the notorious gang The Bloods. Based on this intelligence they received – combined with his alleged association to organized crime – Canadian customs declined him entry into Canada.
The past criminal history of The Game was never addressed in conversation with Canadian officials and at no point was that the issue for his denied entry. Customs insisted the reason was strictly his current gang affiliations.
Continue to the full post to keep reading.

You may recall how excited I was the very first time Odd Future made their way to the East Coast for what was both then and now so obviously a historical performance. I was only following along on twitter (virtually every critic and music source I follow out of NYC was twittering out of control) but it was one of those shows where you just knew history was going down. And look where we are now: Tyler’s at over 100k followers (from 2000 when I first caught on), the OF clique is all up on MTV, and they’ve kinda sorta become a bona fide North American pop culture sensation.
But if you missed the first part of their escalation to success, don’t fret because we’re about to witness another level of it. IN DA FLESH! ODD FUTURE has announced their very first East Coast tour, and on it is their first appearance in Canada, for TORONTO ON MAY 15th AT THE MOD CLUB. Just make sure you wear a face mask and the appropriate protective gear. You never know when one of them may fly from the ceiling, perhaps landing foot first on your nose (depending on your degree of delusional fandom, you may even consider this swag).
Click below to peep all of the stops.

Back in January, TCUS x Potholes In My Blog premiered a free sampler EP to gear up listeners for Hamilton based Canadian Winter‘s excellent full length debut concept album Just Wait Till February, a lo-fi indie hip-hop project that chronicles emcee Kobi’s first experiences arriving in Canada from his native UK. Since then, Canadian Winter has officially released JWTF, have played a bunch of shows including one alongside Shad this past week, and have been signed with Urbnet Records. Not bad in a three month span, huh?
SO! We’re psyched to announce that we’ve teamed up with Potholes to bring you another dual premiere, this time for CW’s first official video “City Lights.” And it’s coming atcha TOMORROW, Monday April 11th.
Stream “City Lights” below and watch out for the Robert Michael directed visuals at some point on Monday. Trust– you’re in for a snack.
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It was an amazing response, hundreds of you entered the contest and were patiently waiting for the trivia question. I planned to announce the winners at midnight but yall wanted to know ASAP.
These answers were a difference of SECONDS.
FIRST PLACE- Brad McMillan (Playing on Classified’s team)
SECOND PLACE- Craig Vallesi (Playing against Classfied’s team, Team Mic Boyd)
As a bonus the following will get a pair of tickets to the Classified show in London.
Baha
Kayla Matchett
Greg Benenati
I’m really excited about this interview and the live footage we got is AMAZING. Our full interview will be out this Wednesday 7pm on The Come Up Show TV and obviously on The Come Up Show website. For now check the quick promo video.

If you didn’t already know Pharoahe Monch album W.A.R. is out today. Make sure to cop it on itunes and if you want to hear it first check out the album stream in full uploaded by Duckdown records.
Nate Dogg. For those who really did smoke weed every day (and for all of you who still do), this G-Funk Pea-Eye-Emm-Pea is the reason you remember half of the West Coast rap songs you do.
It actually takes some digging, for instance, to find a youtube version of Dre’s “The Next Episode” that isn’t called “Smoke Weed Everyday.” That perfectly timed little hook that Nate sorta adds on non-chalantly but affirmatively at the end of the track is of course not the name of the song. But it is certainly its most memorable line. What’s further, it is likely the most significantly quoted lyric from all of Dre’s seminal The Chronic 2001. How many times have you been hanging out and blazing with this tune on when some stoner accidentally sings out that bit a few seconds too soon during the wickedly satisfying little stretch of silence before the song’s last declamation? Spoilers aside, it never fails to be a something awesome moment when you and your fellow sessioners manage to get Nate’s mantra in sync. Even if you don’t know the dude next to you, so long as you manage to sync up those lines, then chances are you’re likely to be near best friends by the time “Let’s Get High” finishes.
To this day, “The Next Episode,” or as it is more affectionately dubbed, “Smoke Weed Everyday,” remains Dre’s second most downloaded song on iTunes. Yet Nate has managed to hit notes in all the right places more than just once. To call Nate prolific even, is an understatement. Sit back, hear, and reflect over a few more of Nate’s most iconic hooks– preferably while you roll and smoke one–to honour this legend whose unmistakable voice has touched us all. R.I.P.
“Click “Read More” below to watch a selection of videos from across Nate’s career.

Hamilton Ontario’s indie/hip-hop newcomers Canadian Winter have announced today that their debut album Just Wait Till February has been picked up by Urbnet Records. Since we first heard CW a couple months back, we have been supporting these guys in every way we can because, well, if you have heard their EP Bundle Up (which we were lucky enough to host along with Potholes) or their full length album JWTF, you’ll know why: their music is awesome.
From all of us at TCUS, congrats guys! We’re looking forward to seeing (and hearing) what happens in the future.
If you haven’t the chance to hear CW yet, reconcile this now (!) by streaming “Plaid Shirts” below, and clicking on the link-ins above.
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On the same day the people of Egypt finally had their voices heard, the hip-hop community in Toronto also managed to make enough noise to save a staple to the city. At least for now.
On Friday, the CRTC made a decision to keep CKLN on the air until they further review the situation.
The CRTC passed a ruling to revoke the station’s license on Jan 28, 2011. Since then, the urban community has come together to display their support for the long running station. Thousands of signatures were gathered for a petition and letters were written to the CRTC which stated the significance of the station to the community.
Although it was a day to celebrate, there are still ways to go to ensure nothing like this does not happen again. It was another example of the things that can be accomplished when you have people striving for a common goal.
For further details of the ruling, check out: http://www.ckln.fm/

I had a feeling something was up with Wolf Haley when “Yonkers” dropped a couple days ago–which by the way, is already at over 300k views and counting–because for the first time he didn’t post a free download link to the track on the Oddfuture tumblr. Indeed, for the first time you can and must head over to itunes to buy “Sandwitches” and “Yonkers,” the former being a single featuring Hodgy Beats and the latter being the first single from Tyler’s forthcoming sophomore album, Goblin.
Charging a buck a tune only makes sense, because now that Tyler, The Creator has signed a one-time album deal to release the highly anticipated Goblin with XL recordings …
Click below to read the rest.

D-Sisive’s fourth full length solo album Jonestown 2 with production from Muneshine has been in the works for a while. But with all the other things Derek has had going on over the past year including his name change from D-Sisive to Derek from Northcliffe (which hasn’t really caught on), his recent Juno Nomination for Rap Recording of the Year for Vaudeville, and his RapCity appearance which was followed by even more interesting subsequent performance with Fucked Up frontman Damian Abraham on The Wedge, Jonestown 2 hasn’t really been allotted all the attention it deserves.
To reconcile, today we ponder D’s Jonestown 2 tracklisting (shown above in his ornate scrawl) and view his conceptually elusive album commercials of which there are thus far two installments. Beer cups are tossed, words are at a loss, and someone’s balloon has been bursted. Stay tuned for the February 22 release date and click below to check them out.