Duplex is back. Boxing day and rap music is an institution in Halifax.
This year we get some other great genres thrown in the mix, flavors for everyone! Christmas = Gifts = Treats = Ghettosocks, who is the main force behind this event every year. Big props for the homie, glad to see the tradition continue. Here’s what Socks has to say about the Jam.
This is the sixth year that we’ve done the Duplex Party. It originally started at the Khyber in 2004 until 2006- when it moved to the Marquee from 2007-2008. Now we’re bringing it back to the Khyber with an amazing line-up of performers and visual artists.
Capacity is limited so be sure to arrive early!
The Khyber Institute of Contemporary Arts
1558 Barrington St.
19+ID is required. (licensed event)
$10 Admission
Limited advance tickets are available for $10.
Email > theduplexparty@gmail.com < for details
First leak from the Uncle Fester and Ambition Mixtape entitled K.R.E.A.M. This is the Bonus track on the Mixtape…
So you know if this is the bonus, the rest of the mixtape is fire….They boys have been hard at work and plan on releasing this in the next week or two.
Also, Ambition’s first full length solo album is being finished as we speak by Dexter Doolittle and you know that Ambition + Dex = Hip-Hop fun for everyone.
Hit the link below for the download, we got you covered with the full .wav quality….also, streaming below with a download for MP3
Saturday (June 13) was the video release party for Ghettsock’s “Ballz In Yo Stomach” at the Paragon. It’s been the best treat of the day so far, in my opinion. It features Timbuktu and Pip Skid, and was directed by Jason Levangie. The release party was packed full of fans, and ended in laughter. Check out the video, and you’ll know why!
Backburner massive is turning up everywhere these days… sometimes you see and don’t hear us. Sometimes you hear and don’t see us. It’s all pleasant, though, right? I got some treats for you.
Here are three new music videos, listed in decreasing order of Backburner involvement.
1. Rhythmicru – We Have Come For Your Children
Rhythmicru members D-Ray, Cale Sampson and DJ Sawtay come lovely with a grip of central Canadian MCs on the help-out. In addition to Backburner members Ghettosocks, Wordburglar and More or Les flexing rhymes on the cut, in the background of the video you can detect cameos from Fresh Kils, Timbuktu, and Timbuktu’s troubling moustache.
The other MCs featured are Odario from Mood Ruff/Grand Analog, Bath-O and Uncle Dropsi. Obviously this is an epic posse cut and it looks vibrant and rugged even on YouTube thanks to the video by Ghostmilk Studios.
Edit: I just realized this is Canada’s/2009′s answer to the Monstarrs rap off Space Jam. Don’t pretend it isn’t.
2. Modulok – Ink Spots
Modulok is not a type of industrial fencing… he is a He-Man figure. I think he was part of Hordak’s horde? His arms and legs and body parts all came off and went back on and stuff. It’s crazy.
He’s also lead vocals in a rap crew called Red Ants who put out one of my favourite records of 2008, Omega Point. Now he’s rather selfishly blowing up 2009 with another record that features him front and centre on raps and a different dedicated beat maker, Leon Murphy. The record is called Cities And Years and it’s a huge departure for the imposing Modulok, who usually sounds gruff as hell and twice as mean on the mic but spends this record in a more reflective mood (not that his more aggressive material isn’t thoughtful) kind of lamping and dropping smooth lyrics with more personal perspectives (not that hip-hop adaptations of classic cold war sci-fi can’t be personal) than one may be used to.
Anyway, aside from how close Modulok is to the Burner crew as fam, our direct involvement with this album is that Uncle Fester provided cuts and scratches for the whole thing and it sounds lovely, doesn’t it?
Yes.
3. Josh Martinez – Going Back To Hali
This one has zero audio involvement from Backburner, but due to the very special cast of thousands of notable Halifax hip-hop personages, we’re represented in the scenery. Starting as early as 24 seconds in, you see Fester, Ghettosocks, Dexter Doolittle, then Wordburglar sitting with Jorun at about 1:37. Lots of other legendary homies represent but if you want to know who they are… read THEIR blogs. Ha.
This video is really touching to me, having moved away from Halifax almost two years ago now. It captures many of the sights and familiar areas and scenes I grew up around in a way that really transports me back, and I think that’s what Martinez was looking for as a fellow expatriate who’s been away much longer than I have.
Halifax is where it all started. Well… not hip-hop (that was invented in Toronto, right?), but Backburner when it was just nascent and all of us were way wacker than we are today (which is: zero wackness amount, which is why everyone likes to have our pretty faces all over their videos).
Next time you come around, you might be ready to hear a little something about the two music videos that Ghettosocks has in post-production at the moment… or the ridiculous slew of records about to trample you in your sleep… or maybe just a picture of Jesse Dangerously with the head of a Jackalope. Anything can happen.
Until then, keep listening to Jive-era Hiero and rocking your hat crooked but good crooked.
Halifax has a long tradition of breaking out from the fam the day after Christmas and unwinding and celebrating the season to the cities best hip hop, always at the Marquee Club.
Almost 10 years later the tradition is still alive, the team behind it has changed but the party still rocks.
Another Halifax Hip Hop tradition of the season is Duplex. This is the fifth year for the legendary showcase that displays both music and live installment of visual art.
Droppin Science & LIFTED team up to keep tradition alive and tear the roof off the Marquee for one last triumphant Boxing Day Jam.
ABOUT THE ART AUCTION:
This years art installment will be a mural painted by Ghettosocks and Peter Farmer going head to head right in front of your eyes. The painting will be sectioned off and auctioned throughout night.
The paintings will be giant- both in size (4×8′) and value (bidding starts at only $100!) so be sure to register to bid at the door when you arrive!
You just might end up getting an original piece of art that fills that wall behind the couch just perfectly!
(Arrangements can be made to deliver the art to your home!) www.artcabaret.com
Backburner participation includes:
-WordBurglar, Ghettosocks (live Painting) and Uncle Fes
