Things done changed

by SCOTT C
Only someone with a very keen memory and a stack of first-generation newsprint copies of Vice would know that the first printed interview that I ever conducted was with Vancouver hip hop group the Rascalz. Red 1, Misfit and Kemo were making Canadian heads proud to be Canadian heads when they first dropped Really Livin’ in 1993, before getting signed to BMG in 1997 and releasing Cash Crop. If you’re like me, you always knew that Red 1 had a little something special to his flow, and set himself apart from whoever was on the track. So it makes full sense to give him a solo record, but why’d they wait so long to do it? Anyway, I know some of you are bugging off the single with Barrington Levy, but check out “Reckless” with Saukrates and Fit if you want a proper tune. Red 1 hits the stage at Foufounes Électriques on Monday, May 21—on his tour to support the new LP, Beg for Nothing—with Karma, Chemistry, MIG, Sir Jay Bee and Psynlangwage. Tix are $15 in advance and $20 at the door.

On Friday, May 25, Virginia Beach, Virginia will be in the building when the Clipse roll into le Spectrum for what will hopefully be a great show. So stop cooking that Kraft Dinner and hot dogs and start diggin’ in the couch for $38.50, because the show starts at 8 p.m. and you’re not getting in without a ticket.

Right here in Montreal, local group FAMN release their new LP Things Done Changed, and launch their new Web site www.FAMN.ca, on Saturday, May 26 at les Minots. The tax is $5 in advance or $7 at the door, and they’ll be shooting a video as well as performing, so get there on time.

That brings us up to the Carte Blanche Tour, coming to town Saturday, June 2, at les Saints and featuring Detroit’s Phat Kat repping his fresh new LP. He’s on tour with none other than Slum Village, DJ Dez and DJ Design, and Dilla’s younger brother Illa J in selected cities. It’s been a minute since Detroit was here to rock it, so make sure you make it out. Also on the bill are D-Shade, Frenchi Blanco and Rugged Intellect, who drops his solo LP Renaissance Man on June 5. Cop it! It’s serious!

Seven reasons Claudio is a first-round draft pick:
1. Moka Only Vermilion (Urbnet)
2. Monsieur OK La Mixtape (LAOK)
3. DJ Jazzy Jeff ft. Peedi Peedi “Brand New Funk 2K7” (BBE)
4. Accrophone J’Theme (Districk)
5. Feist “My Moon My Man” (Polydor)
6. Erykah Badu “Real Thing (Music Is Everything)” (CDR)
7. Sa-Ra ft. Bilal “Sweet Sour You” (Babygrande)

It’s good to be the king... fathead@videotron.ca