After upping the Rascalz album last week, I had a few readers ask me what other Canadian hip-hop albums were worth checking out. Well, admittedly, there aren't that many when stacked up next to this masterwork. Maestro had a couple hits in the late 80s/early 90s that made him a star in Canada and an anomaly in the US, hence the title of this album. By 1993, Meastro had hooked up with the Diggin' In The Crates Crew and began to produce his own tracks. In fact, Showbiz, who helps out here, only produced three of the tracks, making this a mostly self-sufficient effort. Maestro seemed to be studying the DITC production techniques, as his tracks are almost indistinguishable from Showbiz's. His significant leap in talent and help south of the border didn't seem to help this record out-- it dropped in 1994 to little acclaim and yielded no hit singles, even in his native country. Meastro disappeared for four years and dropped the incredibly popular (in Canada) "Stick To Your Vision, which sampled the Guess Who's "These Eyes." His own country re-embraced him, but he would remain a one-hit wonder in the US.Anyways, I hereby declare this, as the title above claims, The Greatest Canadian Hip-Hop Album Of All Time. I challenge any reader out there to name a better one. Drop a comment in the box below and we'll do some sparring.
"I'm drinking Milk Now"
"Pray To The East" (feat. Percee P)
"Certs Wit Out Da Retsyn" video
Download "Naaah, Dis Kid Can't Be From Canada" here.
Check out this great article on the struggle of Canadian hip-hop here. (via CBC)
**The article is quite good, but even the CBC can't get behind this album. *Sigh*
3 comments:
Good album perhaps, but worst title ever, no?
It's pretty good. But what about Dream Warriors?
Don't get me wrong, I love me some Dream Warriors, but I just prefer Maestro's style more. I think that'll be be my next friday post--DW's Subliminal Simulation...one of very few Canadian hip-hop hallmarks. Look out for it.
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