Are you into original Hip Hop, or do you only get excited when the latest song drops? Either way, we’ve got a conversation for you.
Overview
Traditionally, there’s been a huge divide between old school and new school hip hop artists. OG hip-hop artists are often critical of newer artists even when they haven’t heard or listened to their voices and opinions; at the same time, new school Hip Hop could learn a lot from the roots and craft of the OG’s. Ultimately, both can learn so much from each other.
During this installment of the Hip Hop Café, we’ll explore and discuss this divide. What can old and new school learn from each other? What advice and key teachings can be offered to upcoming artists? We’ll take an insider’s look into the development and growth of Hip Hop, and in particular, the Canadian scene. Join us as we welcome guests representing both the old and new schools within the Hip Hop community.
Guest Speakers
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SpeakerZakisha Brown
Hip Hop Recording Artist
Zakisha Brown, was born in Toronto, Canada and is of Jamaican descent. She is a globally recognized Hip Hop artist who believes in the importance of substance in music, delivery, self-development, and the urgency of the stories told through her art. Zakisha is working on her first album, set for release in November 2021. Her music is available on all streaming platforms.
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SpeakerJeff ‘Spade’ Duke
Rapper/Recording Artist/B-Boy/Graffiti Artist
Jeff ‘Spade’ Duke is a b-boy (a dancer for Michie Mee), graffiti writer (Crazy Roc of the Graffiti Knights), emcee (Spade of the Canadian Hip Hop duo Citizen Kane), and independent record label owner (Treehouse Records). Raised in Scarborough, Toronto, together with Rob "Blye" Paris, Jeff released his debut single, "Soul Survivor" in 1995, his debut album The Epic in 1997, and then his sophmore album Deliverance in 1999 - a release that was considered to be one of the best Canadian Hip Hop offerings of the ‘90’s. Citizen Kane’s efforts to promote Deliverance, in the face of Canadian hip hop's struggle to gain commercial and critical attention in that era, was filmed by Duke's sister — Alison Duke — for the National Film Board of Canada’s documentary Raisin' Kane: A Rapumentary (released in 2001). The duo was also nominated for a Juno Award — first in 1999 for Rap Recording of the Year for their EP The Epic, and then again in 2000 for their album Deliverance. In May 2020, Citizen Kane teamed up with TopLeft Recordings to put out the Scartown Unreleased ClassIcs mixtape - a collection of past recordings from 2001 to 2005 that were never released - which was mixed by DJ Law and mastered by Quarter Inch Kings.
Student Moderators
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Randy Ali
Student
Randy is in his final year at University of Toronto Mississauga (UTM), currently majoring in Criminology with a double minor is Sociology and French Studies. He serves as the Student and Community Programs Assistant for Hip Hop Education Programming at Hart House.
WebsiteRandy’s Hip Hop Café Theme Track: Trauma by Meek Mill
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Kayja Edwards
Student, CCIT and Women & Gender Studies
Kayja is a fifth-year student at the University of Toronto Mississauga (UTM), studying a double major in Communications, Culture, Information, & Technology (CCIT) and Women & Gender Studies. As a young black woman, she enjoys learning about how intersectionality and technology go hand in hand.
She’s also the President of Caribbean Connections, which is a cultural student group at UTM that strives to provide students with interactive spaces and opportunities while sharing Caribbean Culture.
Website