Here’s the breakdown for all the events:

THE ACADEMY and THECYBERKRIB.COM present…
NXNE 2009 SHOWCASES
[6th year of showcasing @ NXNE]
@ Harlem (67 Richmond St. East)

Thursday, June 18
Host Deejays: Sweet Touch Foundation (Riccachet & Thera-P)
09:00pm – Skyscraper Stereo (Louisville, Kentucky)
10:00pm – Black ELement (Boston)
11:00pm – Edreys aka Billy Drease Williams (Buffalo)
12:00am – The Primeridian (Chicago)
01:00am – Frankie Payne (Toronto)
02:00am – Chris Quotes & Dave Sauce (Toronto)

Friday, June 19
Host Deejays: Son of S.O.U.L. and Droppin Dimez (Mel Boogie & JJ Rock)
09:00pm – Crew 54 (Kileen, Texas)
10:00pm – Chromatics (Trinidad & Tobago)
11:00pm – Brendan Philips + KJ (Toronto)
12:00am – Kae Sun + Miles Jones (Toronto)
01:00am – Dylan Murray (Toronto)
02:00am – Bad Newz Brown (Montreal)
03:00am – Relic (Toronto)

Saturday, June 20
Host Deejays: Rod Skimmins and Bozack Morris
09:00pm – Illa Brown (Vancouver)
10:00pm – Truth Universal (New Orleans)
11:00pm – Smash Brovaz + Rich Kidd (Toronto) [note: replacing Yoshi]
12:00am – Ian Kamau (Toronto)
01:00am – WrittenHouse (Philly)
02:00am – Nizm (Chicago)
03:00am – Fineprint (Toronto)

More info: http://www.facebook.com/event.php?eid=121860252032

Sunday, June 21
THE ACADEMY & THECYBERKRIB.COM
in association with THE BEAT LOUNGE present…
@ Revival (783 College St.)

THE BEAT LOUNGE: NXNE $500 BEAT BATTLE
24-producer elimination beat battle
4-8pm (afternoon / early-evening event)
More info: http://www.facebook.com/event.php?eid=84066789265

NXNE EXTRA SERIES HIP HOP SHOWCASE
9pm-1am (evening showcase)

09:00pm – Mantis & Justis (Toronto)
10:00pm – Notes To Self (Toronto)
11:00pm – The LYTICS (Winnipeg)
12:00am – COVERT OPS (marveL & Arcee – Toronto) [first performance ever!]

More info: http://www.facebook.com/event.php?eid=44408244966

My good friends at Roundtable Entertainment, many of whose excellent parties you’ve seen pictures of right here in Dope-A-Lot land are throwing one of their massive 2000 Til. joints on Friday, so if you’re looking for more of a club vibe, and arguably the best looking ladies in town (yes, girls who like hip-hop!!), be sure to drop by the Skybar. Word.

2000 Til Live Teaser from Ayah on Vimeo.

Click on the cover for more info!

National Tour (April 20 – May 3)

TANYA MORGAN (Brooklyn/Cincinnati)
Tanya Morgan is back with their third project, Brooklynati. Since Von Pea, Ilyas, and Don Will formed Tanya Morgan in 2003, they have received high praise from media elites such as Spin, The Source, XXL Magazine and a resounding seal of approval from the blogosphere. Considered by many to be our generation’s torchbearers for De La Soul and A Tribe Called Quest, Tanya Morgan will once again put their skills on display. The sites, sounds, memories, and events of Brooklynati will be unleashed on May 12th through Interdependent Media.
www.brooklynati.com

MASIA ONE (Toronto/Vancouver)
Born in the Lion City Singapore, raised in Vancouver, and currently based in Toronto, this emcee is a unique entity in her own right. As the first female rapper to be nominated for “Best Rap Video” in the MuchMusic Video Awards (2003), Masia is no stranger to maintaining independence in the music industry. She credits Jay-Z, Peter Tosh and Public Enemy as influences. Masia has since gone on to release 2 full-length albums – Mississauga and the latest double release, Pulau. With the Toronto Star calling all of Masia’s current success, “fate” and numerous urban blogs hailing her “the next big thing”, Masia has recorded a forthcoming release with Grammy Award winning producer Che Vicious (Lauryn Hill, Dr. Dre, Aretha) releasing under the label, Kops & Robbers. Hold tight for the positive movements. Masia One Love.
www.masiaone.com

also featuring…

MILES JONES (Toronto)
www.myspace.com/mojorecordings
Runaway Jones coming soon…
CHRIS QUOTES & DJ SAUCE (Montreal/Toronto)
www.myspace.com/puffycoates
www.myspace.com/sauceproduction
Supernova EP coming soon…

with SWEET TOUCH FOUNDATION (Riccachet & Thera-P)
www.myspace.com/sweettouchfoundation

Tuesday, April 28
REVIVAL
783 College St.
Cost: $10 advance | $14 at door
Tickets: clubzone.com . Play De Record . Slinky (MOOG) . LiveStock . Soundscapes
Doors open at 9pm | Show at 10:30 sharp!
19+ event

Click on the image below to view.

The Academy and Shaman Fam once again host their new monthly goodness at Revival. Be there this Saturday.

THE MAIN INGREDIENT
A Tribute to Bonita Applebum

FREE Bonita Applebum Mix Tape by DJ Mensa. http://djmensa.com/mixes/djmensa_bonita.mp3

THE MAIN INGREDIENT collective brings you a soulful Valentine’s Day celebration.  An Ode to Bonita Applebum is a tribute to all the “fly” ladies, and will feature some of the Native Tongues collective greatest material, and artists who were influenced by this era of conscious lyrics and jazzy production.  Our deejay trio will continue to bring you a soulful experience: UK soul, Motown, classic 60/70′s, disco, Detroit street soul, New Jack Swing, house, and more.

featuring

AGILE (MORE / MOJO)
DJ MENSA (Social Experiment / Prizefighter)
SEAN SAX (Soul On Ice / MOJO)

hosted by WAN LUV (MOJO / Cheers)

Saturday, February 14
REVIVAL
783 College St.
Cost: $10 cover | $15 for couples before 11pm
Aquarian’s FREE before 11pm | [limited $5 RSVP guestlist]
Guestlist RSVP: info@thecyberkrib.com | shamanparty@gmail.com
Doors open at 10pm | 19+ event

Visuals by Jason Sanders (aka General Eclectic)

also in the STONE LOUNGE
STREET SOUL ROCKERS V.2
Where Rhythm meets Riddims
DJ SHAI & SURREAL SOUND of FORMULA 1 * DJ MENSA * DJ ROYALE

The Main Ingredient - December '08

Toronto’s top purveyors of forward thinking soul-infused music continue THE MAIN INGREDIENT series. Three like-minded deejays bring to REVIVAL one of the best soul parties in the city – a destination for both core fans and those looking for more experience in the genre. THE MAIN INGREDIENT reveals the diversity of the music today: UK soul, Motown, classic 60/70′s, Detroit street soul, New Jack Swing, Nu-Jazz, Afrobeat, hip hop, house, and more.

featuring
AGILE (MORE / MOJO)
DJ MENSA (Social Experiment / Prizefighter)
SEAN SAX (Soul On Ice / MOJO)

hosted by WAN LUV (MOJO / Cheers)

+ COREY DAWKINS
in the Stone Lounge

Cost: $10 cover [limited $5 RSVP guestlist]
$8 cover with 2 non-perishable food items for Daily Break Food Bank
Guestlist RSVP to: info@thecyberkrib.com | shamanparty@gmail.com
Doors open at 10pm
19+ event

PEEP THIS WICKED PROMO VIDEO FOR MORE INFO

When a young, drunk, hood Common Sense first dropped ‘Can I Borrow a Dollar’ back in 1992, I was the only person in my high school with the CD. I definitely championed his work, despite the naysayers and shit-talkers. So by the time the rest of the world caught up around ‘Like Water For Chocolate’, I was already lamenting the loss of Common’s(still doesn’t feel right saying that instead of Com Sense)fire and intricate wordplay. However, there’s still songs on all of his albums that I love and when I heard “Southside” and “The Game” on the last joint, I was amped. Com Sense was back. Sadly, everything I’ve heard from the FKA ‘Endless Summer’ is on some borderline danceable hipster hop shit. Which, doesn’t really move me from a dude who could easily put out a real rap record and still sell to his new fan base.

I have seen him perform twice. Once in 1995, which was one of the best shows I’ve seen complete with a 5 min long freestyle in which he name-dropped all of Toronto’s ‘hoods and sports teams and had Mista Sinista from the X-ecutioners on the wheels killing it. The second time was probably 1997 or 1998 and Saukrates opened up but came back out to do “Play Dis” with him, plus Com Sense got down and did some floorwork on stage. Crazy.

Let’s switch gears to the opening act, Noone Ever Really Dies. I was into the Neptunes since when they first worked with Noreaga and shortly thereafter, Kelis and ODB. Their quirky, tinny electronic sound totally caught me given the lull that hip-hop was in at that point, and I have ridden with them ever since. When I first caught wind of their offshoot group, N.E.R.D. and that this was in fact, the type of music that they wanted to make, I got on my grizzly to find the record ‘In Search Of’ (it wasn’t out here yet). I was one of the first folks in my circle to have the European release that was produced and all-electronic as opposed to the North American release that they re-recorded with live instruments. I absolutely killed both versions of that album, in fact I’m listening to the Euro one as I write this. Then I scooped an early leak of ‘Fly Or Die’ before it dropped and that album became the soundtrack of about 2-3 months of my life when I was going through some real shit including surgery on my eye socket and leaving the city I was born in to move to Montreal.

However, I have not yet gotten up on the last album and given it a proper listen. I thought the single was clever, but wasn’t in love with the overall vibe. This may be why the mostly ‘Seeing Sounds’ show didn’t really move me, I was expecting to hear more shit from the 2 albums that got me into them in the first place. I had never seen them live, so this was my first look at N.E.R.D. in concert and I definitely was ready to be impressed, but with Com Sense I had a bar that had already been set.

The following is the Blackberry Messenger chat I had during the show. I know it’s not a typical review, but i’m not a typical reviewer. I have some closing statements and detailed explanations of what I say there to close this off so just give it a chance.

ace seis-barbecueorboogaloo: There’s no music
ace seis-barbecueorboogaloo: So awkward
ace seis-barbecueorboogaloo: just crowd noise
ace seis-barbecueorboogaloo: And dark
ace seis-barbecueorboogaloo: And black light
<3 ~Keesha ~ Bailout: Haha
<3 ~Keesha ~ Bailout: U taking notes?
ace seis-barbecueorboogaloo: No. I’m not even paying attention
ace seis-barbecueorboogaloo: Now the show has started
<3 ~Keesha ~ Bailout: Nice. U are the best critic everrrr. We are trying my moms weed in a bong
ace seis-barbecueorboogaloo: Oh boy
ace seis-barbecueorboogaloo: Bong of shake
<3 ~Keesha ~ Bailout: Ugh. This shit tastes so bad
ace seis-barbecueorboogaloo: This show’s ok
ace seis-barbecueorboogaloo: Such a burn
ace seis-barbecueorboogaloo: Call a bunch of girls on stage
ace seis-barbecueorboogaloo: Then play the song about cokehead bitches
<3 ~Keesha ~ 20/20: Ha. Ooh
<3 ~Keesha ~ 20/20: That’s amazing
ace seis-barbecueorboogaloo: Kinda. But I feel bad for the sad pharrell fans
ace seis-barbecueorboogaloo: Taking pics and dancing up on him
ace seis-barbecueorboogaloo: While thats playing
<3 ~Keesha ~ 20/20: They why sad?
ace seis-barbecueorboogaloo: I dunno. Its like watching someone sing on tv
ace seis-barbecueorboogaloo: Awkward
ace seis-barbecueorboogaloo: So much hair tossing and awkward dancing
ace seis-barbecueorboogaloo: The scouting was good tho
ace seis-barbecueorboogaloo: Its pure browns and light browns up there
ace seis-barbecueorboogaloo: Maybe 2 white girls lol
<3 ~Keesha ~ 20/20: Lol. Should I save this convo as ur notes
ace seis-barbecueorboogaloo: Yes
ace seis-barbecueorboogaloo: Clearly
ace seis-barbecueorboogaloo: seriously. Like the asian girl on the boat
ace seis-barbecueorboogaloo: In that bad rap video u were in
ace seis-barbecueorboogaloo: Watching 25 of her on stage
<3 ~Keesha ~ 20/20: Lmaoooo
ace seis-barbecueorboogaloo: My whole review
ace seis-barbecueorboogaloo: Right there
ace seis-barbecueorboogaloo: In a nutsheell
<3 ~Keesha ~ 20/20: Sheells. I love sheells
ace seis-barbecueorboogaloo: Yah
ace seis-barbecueorboogaloo: I collect em
ace seis-barbecueorboogaloo: From beeaaches
ace seis-barbecueorboogaloo: I’m bored
ace seis-barbecueorboogaloo: I want common to effing hurry up
ace seis-barbecueorboogaloo: And get on stage
<3 ~Keesha ~ 20/20: So it started on time?
ace seis-barbecueorboogaloo: Nerd did
ace seis-barbecueorboogaloo: They’ve been off for a while
ace seis-barbecueorboogaloo: They like built a whole new stage set up
ace seis-barbecueorboogaloo: Its basically been 35 mins since anything was happening
<3 ~Keesha ~ 20/20: Is that a good thing or bad thing?
<3 ~Keesha ~ 20/20: Ohhhh. That’s bad
ace seis-barbecueorboogaloo: My boy agile is spinning and the music is good
ace seis-barbecueorboogaloo: But
ace seis-barbecueorboogaloo: I’m still bored
ace seis-barbecueorboogaloo: I wanna sit down and drink san pellegrino
<3 ~Keesha ~ 20/20: Do it
ace seis-barbecueorboogaloo: This show kinda sucks
<3 ~Keesha ~ 20/20: Boooooo
ace seis-barbecueorboogaloo: My review is going to be a bad one
ace seis-barbecueorboogaloo: There’s this contrived theme and fake bar and shit on stage
ace seis-barbecueorboogaloo: Mad acting
ace seis-barbecueorboogaloo: Less rapping
<3 ~Keesha ~ shana tova umetukah: Aw that bites. R u gonna ask other ppl there what they think?
ace seis-barbecueorboogaloo: I know what they think lol
ace seis-barbecueorboogaloo: Same thing as me
ace seis-barbecueorboogaloo: Its over
ace seis-barbecueorboogaloo: I’m going home

First off, N.E.R.D. had good energy, and gave it their all. It may be that the crowd came to see Common and wasn’t trying to give their all to the opening act, but they got a lukewarm reception from the room. I enjoyed hearing a couple songs from ‘In Search Of’, but don’t even think they did one joint off ‘Fly Or Die’. Their set order seemed to be a bit off in terms of building momentum and Skateboard P was certainly very vocal in his demands that the audience crowd surf and give them more energy. I think that made them act even less amped and in fact, was the turning point in the show where I lost the vibe. When they brought up a whole bunch of girls and turned the show into a love-in for P and Shay, it was just uncomfortable. Especially when he called them out for being fans and taking pics on stage, get over yourself homie. You obviously love the attention, or you wouldn’t be have 20 young girls on stage surrounding you in the first place.

Now, for my dude Com Sense. What happened, man? I completely understand the rationale behind expanding your audience and pushing the envelope of the traditional rap stage show(guy rapping, a bit of walking back and forth), but you lost me. The interaction with you and those 2 cuties on stage was not something we needed to see, and the voiceover bumpers between songs were soooo fromage. For someone who made Electric Circus and totally stepped outside of the box on several occasions, you have definitely placed yourself in a box. A bland, cheesy, make a girl from the suburbs geek out over your “smoothness” type of box, too. I didn’t hear ANY of the tracks I wanted to hear, and I like songs from every single one of your albums. You didn’t even do ‘The Light’, and that’s the song that got you this crowd in the first place. The live band was tight, but their interpretations of some of the tracks just made them sound weird. See, Jay-Z Unplugged backed by The Roots for an example of how good rap can be played on live instruments.

Last year’s Manifesto was a terrific showcase of local talent and this weekend’s festivities promise to be even better. It kicks off tonight with Shad at the Mod Club, and Dope-A-Lot will most likely have coverage of the main event, this Sunday at Nathan Phillips Square. BlogTO has posted a very thorough outline of what the show is all about, so check it out and be sure to check out the (mostly) free parties this weekend.

The Academy debuts a new, semi-regular concert series entitled Hometown Heroes this Friday, May 2nd at the El Mocambo in Toronto. This series is all about showcasing Toronto’s finest, and the lineup looks positively Heroic.

“The performers for the first concert are HERO (official Toronto launch performance for their debut album), Masia One (fresh of an Asia tour), Marvel, Anonymous Twist, and Focus. The deejays will be DJ Mensa and Rod Skimmins and the host for the evening will be Wan Luv.”

I strongly encourage everyone to come and show some love to our homegrown talent. We’ve covered Hero recently on Dope-A-Lot when they opened for Zaki Ibrahim and this NYC / Toronto duo are about to blow up!

The Academy has been kind enough to extend two complimentary tickets to Dope-A-Lot readers, so send a quick note to contest@dopealot.com with your name and e-mail address. We will pick a random winner and notify them at 12:00pm on Thursday. Click here to check out Cyberkrib United’s blog entry on the concert including tracks you can download to get a taste of what to expect.

See you Friday!

Speaking of articles, you may have noticed that the reviews have gotten considerably better than my short blurbs in the last little while. This is due to the fact that Noah Goodbaum, whom some of you HHK diehards may know as Rhinoceros, has joined Dope-A-Lot as a contributing writer. His reviews are honest, skillfully penned and are a genuine joy to read. He will try and make it to as many events as possible, and provide you with insightful commentary on the world of Toronto hip-hop. Some recent events that were covered by Noah include Pete Rock, Prince Paul, Rhythmicru / Down With Webster and Hip-Hop Karaoke. Check them out, they are a great read! Noah will be also be penning album reviews – very exciting! Mr. Goodbaum can be reached directly via noah@dopealot.com.

As well, I’m currently working with the wonderful Marta van Eerdewijk of datemodified and MAS TEES fame on the site layout and we will be trying various things until we settle on something, ahem – Dope! She is also credited with designing the awesome logo that can be seen adorning my recent photos as a watermark.

Be sure to let us know how we are doing! We welcome and strongly encourage feedback or criticism either through article commentary, or directly to either Noah or I. Even if you just want to say hello, don’t hesitate to drop us a line.

Finally, if you haven’t done so yet, join the Dope-A-Lot group on Facebook and for those using RSS, the full site feed is here.

That’s all for now and thanks for everyone’s support!

-phil