Toronto finds itself front and center doing hip-hop’s heavylifting sonically influencing the Billboard Charts and music making trends in the United States at all levels, professional and street.
It can be argued that this has never happened before and if we can assume as such, there is a generation of artists who are responsible for enriching the melodic approach to rapping and moody synth usage by the city’s plethora of drum programmers.
One of Toronto’s consistent influencers is OVO-affiliate $ha (aka Sha Hustle) who in 2014 dropped multiple Eric Dingus collaborations viciously attacking them with a ferociousness unfathomable over the dreamy, atmospheric Clams Casino-ish production. It was his combination of slick street talk, inspiration and comedic darkness that allowed $ha to get a brand-new fan base making him relevant to a new generation of downtown kids. On May 6, he will open for Skepta at Danforth Music Hall, his biggest performance since his memorable Hoxton debut alongside Young Lean.
$ha’s latest single is a woozy symphony of dark drums, a brooding baseline that’s incredibly satisfying and poignant songwriting that complements the three-headed production courtesy of Ashley Scott, BatmanOnTheBeatz and Grammy Nominated producer Daniel Worthy. His now ubiquitous sing-song style finds him floating effortlessly over the surprisingly bouncy beat. In it he confronts the questions of his significant other: his crooning is honest, calming as much as it is risky. That’s not anyone’s concern though as $ha makes it abundantly clear. Even if you asked him yourself he’d give you the same answer: “Don’t Worry”
