G-WAY legend Sha Hustleย starts 2019 off right by releasing a short but hardbody EP named “3X (Pt.II). It consists of 2 tracks “G-WAY” and “BUZZFEED” with immaculate bar game and thundering self-produced beats.
Toronto’s RepsUp/OVO affiliate Sha Hustle is widely considered an underground legend in Toronto working with Dej Loaf, Raz Fresco and Eric Dingus along with being an occasional in-house producer for RepsUp and having cameos in videos like Drakeโs โHeadlinesโ. His recent resume includes “Murda” featuring OVO’sย Roy Woods and Dej Loaf, “Billie Jean” featuring Toronto-based artist Fijicmdwnย (CMDWN Collective) and Atlanta artist Nessly as well as dropping a banger tune “Medicine Cabinet” featuring hip-hop legend E-40‘s son Droop-E.
Sha’s vibe includes many alter egos one of them being his ubiquitous sing-song style floating effortlessly over the surprisingly bouncy beats. With his new tape, Sha Hustle explores the underground moody but dark sounds combined with slick street talk, inspiration and just enough happiness that his fanbase has grown to appreciate, making him relevant to a new generation of downtown kids. This is definitely cloud rap.
FRESHMILK LABย is a movement thatย highlights rare, new and unconventional trends in Fashion, Art & Music. The creative studio provides exposure and a platform for underground artists. “FRESHMILKLAB 001” is the latest offering from the brand. With the multi-talented Odalys at the Creative Director helm (VOGUE, Yeezy Season, i-D, VFILES, The Weeknd, Boiler Room) the studio chose Toronto’s DATA-Xย to curate their second mix, one that’s sonically in the “Future R&B” genre. No stranger to the sound, he’s played alongside Chase B, Soulection’sย Da-P and CYBER69 along with being featured on Hypebeast for his remix work.
To be sure, the mix is filled with rare gems from an underground culture that continues to heavily influence mainstream Hip-Hop, Pop and R&B. Boston’s Che Ecru is first on the mix with “Satisfied,” a fireball of a track with Cardo crushing the instrumental, inevitably setting the mood for a stress-free listening session: Drew Howard & Birthday Boy’sย “Benny & Lil’ Ze”andย Aidan O’Brien’s unreleased “New Fuzz” formย a lush mini-bridge, a nihilistic rev up for a seductive vibe dictated by the rest of the artists that follow: Roy Woods, Derek Wise, Sha Hustle, Majid Jordan, Plaza, TRIPSIXX, Black Atlass and a host of Canadian youth you’ve probably never heard of. Don’t end the mix without a significant other though as seduction takes a sonically deeper turn. Listen above or on Soundcloud.
There’s no doubt been a recent resurgence in trap music from Canada’s most urban city. A throng of new artists are highlighting street life in a way it’s never been spoken about in Toronto. There is a definite American influence, to be sure, but there is something to this rendition of hard body music that incorporates singing and rapping seamlessly (a local specialty it seems) that is so primal. The energy is authentic.
Swagger Rite is one young artist who has been making steady noise over the last year, teaming up with defacto Reps Up DJ Charlie B, an underrated move that’s kept him on tastemaker radars in the city. His grand entry into the Toronto rap scene however is a serious matter requiring zero co-signs: P.O.M.E. (Product Of My Envorinment Vol 1) is a steady dose of gritty trap music and a masterpiece of a song named “Ghetto”.
The lead single “TRAP 3X” accompanies the tape as a visual and for good reason: Swagger is comfortable in his skin and flexes without trying. P.O.M.E. is filled with A-1 power like “Swerve On Your Endz” and “6Up” but it’s the combination of expertly done “Ghetto” & “Bad Tings” that makes you realize Swagger’s range is much more diverse than it would seem. Listen to the project below:
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.