REFLECTION & REASON

As I write this, I'm listening to an Amapiano mix online from Jay Tshepo. Amapiano, a genre I knew nothing about a few years ago, and could have never predicted the way it would capture me. I am pleased that we can still be amazed, impressed, and discover new sounds, practitioners, and audible movements. Continuously, with infinite amounts of song combinations accessible to us.  As we inevitably become closer, globally, the exposure of sounds is also becoming closer. The great thing about African-based sounds gaining newfound popularity in this current era of music, is that it's so much deeper than just one country or aesthetic. South Africa has a buzz right now, but Nigeria does also. Music of the African diaspora feels comforting to my soul. Instantly. It reminds me that we all groove to the same heartbeat (forgive the obvious analogy), but that even within our similarities, there are such important, intricate details that make each demographic even more special. Each country...

Are we as a Black Toronto/Canadian population giving The Weeknd proper accolades, respect, and credit for how fucking amazing he is? Do we realize that [yet another] one of our homegrown musicians is one of the greatest entertainers in the world right now? Not Drake. Not Bieber. We have The Weeknd: this legend, as well. I am still on my high from Saturday night's concert at the Hard Rock Stadium in Miami Gardens, Florida, where I travelled from Toronto to join approximately 60,000 other music lovers for what would be a spectacular musical experience. The After Hours Til Dawn Tour was supposed to kick off in Toronto on July 8, but thanks to the Rogers outage, had to be postponed until September 22 (the last date of the 19-date North American tour).  He tried to pay homage to his beloved Toronto early, but circumstances wouldn't allow that moment to happen.  But it happened for me in Florida, this past weekend. I couldn't have possibly been any further from the stages, but I ...

Maybe I'm just in my feelings because Caribana is back. And because I heard Joeboy's "Alcohol" on the road/Lakeshore before 3pm (big up DJ Snoopy). Maybe because it's Emancipation Day today, and I looked at my television and saw beautiful African Canadian children dancing in celebration at Fort York. I am overwhelmed with cultural pride, and an unexpected sense of relief because I have [physically] felt the shift, and evolution of our Toronto culture this weekend. A significant one. It's been a strange end to the long weekend. They just announced the cancellation of Drake's grand finale for the OVO Fest, a celebrity-studded star on the top of our Toronto Caribbean Carnival Christmas tree. The [wedding] icing on our Black Cake. OVO started our Toronto fantasy weekend with a cypher-like gathering of Toronto hip hop and R&B legends, and then the parade returned...and the parties were back, in their original locations. Caribana was deeply missed; you could...

Is it just me? Does anyone else feel this, almost, spiritual uplifting and unifying of African people, globally? It's quite possible that this thought is completely unoriginal, and that there are impeccably articulated descriptions of this already in existence online. But right now, I felt the need to connect with someone who is feeling...THIS. Music is usually my catalyst, and everything about this particular song this evening just made me stop and pause. I felt it. Without understanding the language, knowing much about the artist, or even the particular African country of origin. The beauty of it is that by this time next week, I'll have had the opportunity to dive deeper into Asake's music and see what I've been missing.   If this is the first Asake track that really caught my ear, then I want to know why. I want to listen to the musical journey thus far. Reconnect with the songs I didn't realize he was featured in. Like listening to some 2012 Burna Boy...n...

I feel it was a big weekend for Toronto dancehall. A couple of days have passed, and I realize it felt significant enough for me to keep processing what just happened. Two things in particular: 1) Spice performed for the Pride festivities during Pride weekend in Toronto. 2) King Turbo 's founding members reunited on stage at the Canada History Clash. It's possible that either event just passed you by this weekend. With the amount of outdoor functions, gatherings, pool parties, fetes, boat rides, and dancehall events, you truly could have been out celebrating the first week of summer with all of the energy and vibrancy you've been holding on to for months. Years. Last summer we were free, but this summer...we're FREE free. You could feel the vibration it in the air...folks in Toronto are ready to have a good time for the next two months, by any means necessary. I saw the footage of Spice performing live at Dundas Square, and it made me smile. It made me feel proud. I was...

CARNIVAL SPOTLIGHT (2014) by SM Robinson Paperback | Ebook I wrote this book as a follow up to " Video Light " and the lives of the main characters Delia and Ryan Wright. An admirer of Sister Souljah's writing , I truly appreciated how she would take various characters from her books, and develop them independently at another space in time. I loved the way that readers had the opportunity to follow up with characters later in life, and continue the fictional journey with them in another book. In writing "Carnival Spotlight" I wanted to explore Delia and Ryan's relationship and whether or not it was capable of evolving. In 2014, I was also headpiece-deep in the production and administration of Toronto's Caribbean Carnival with one of the city's larger masquerade bands, the Toronto Revellers , and I would often observe the social aspects of mas making and marvel at how unique and niche the experience really was. Participating in Toronto Carnival as a...

I really like this brother. Not just because he's from my hometown of Toronto, but because he has that vibe. Star quality. Charm. And his vocals are also ridiculously great. He can rap. He can sing. He can DJ. And this is the element of Tory Lanez that solidified his talent in my eyes. I've heard him flow on so many different styles and across genres, but when I started to hear just how beautiful his vocals could compliment the dancehall genre...it was over. Here are the collaborations and/or remixes that made me understand how deep Tory's talent really went. I enjoy his contributions, always: CROCODILE TEETH FREESTYLE SENSELESS (WITH STEFFLON DON) CALL ME IF (WITH DEXTA DAPS) GIRLFRIEND (WITH BUSTA RHYMES) WE CAN (WITH KRANIUM) This moment was also incredible, and I enjoyed the acoutic vibe and vulnerability of it all. So musical, and really showcased his vocals. PLA...