Fake For Real

In 1999, Madlib had introduced us to his alter ego, Quasimoto, on Soundpieces: Da Antidote, the underground favorite he had released with his band, Lootpack. One year later, he decided to dedicate a full album to this character, so that he exposes him a bit better and gives more room to his most...

For those, by the early 2000's, who were no longer satisfied with Slug, Eyedea was an alternative option. Having joined the Rhymesayers clique while still a teenager, won the Scribble Jam in 1999 - against P.E.A.C.E., no less - and made it to the Blaze Battle in 2000, the rapper from Saint Paul was...

The triumph of rap has not always been beneficial to the DJs. While the MCs were becoming stars, they were pushed progressively to the background. And then, with the recording tools and methods becoming more and more advanced, they were replaced by the beatmakers. They didn't disappear, though. They...

Originally, with his far-from-perfect compilations like Time Invested (2002), Factor seemed to play second fiddle in the Canadian indie rap scene. Sure, he had a big address book, including some key names of California's underground. But the simply looped voice, guitar or piano samples, which...

Buck 65, a.k.a. Stinkin' Rich, a.k.a. DJ Critical, has been at the very center of the Halifax rap scene since the early 90's. With Witchdoc Jorun, he managed to unite the rappers of the capital city of Nova Scotia. With his radio program on CKDU, he helped fashioning his city's approach to hip-hop....

You can't have missed them. The guys from the Sauce Factory, indeed, have been quite present over the last few months. They released several mixtapes, and were praised by locals like Slim Thug, as well as superstars like Drake. They are everywhere, and presented like the next wave in one of rap's...