Forward motion

>> T.O. MC Motion moves in on Montreal

By SCOTT C

 Aside from Michee Mee, has any other woman from the Megacity been able to make a lasting mark on the microphone? The answer is yes. Motion, the short-stack lyrical powerhouse that has been lacing audiences with her inner-city poetry in both Toronto and Montreal for years now, walks the walk and, more importantly, talks the talk. You can hear her on the radio in T.O. hosting CIUT's Masterplan Show, a staple in the Toronto hip hop scene which celebrates their 10th anniversary this year.

 Working right now as the coordinator for Toronto's Black Youth Literacy Program, Motion is gearing up for the release of her next single, "So What/Devil on My Back," that should be bubbling sometime in March. She's also been busy promoting the Underground Griots Collective, a group of hip hop and spoken word artists that include Anthony Bansfield, Manchilde and herself to name a few. Their album Word Life is a testament to the talented black voices that are to be found right here at home. Motion's hard-hitting lyrics are featured in a moving piece about a party gone bad on the album, and can be found most recently on Manchilde's debut release. On the song "Ill Groove Garden Live" she gets wide open, if only for a minute or two.

 "Me and Manchilde have know each other for about 10 years," she says, "and when he moved to Montreal he was really the only contact I had in the city. He's always had a very innovative outlook on music and that was something we shared. We also shared the stage for many a show."

 While getting ready to shoot the video for her new single next week, Motion is focused on the anniversary of the Masterplan Show. Power moves have also been made to get her record label Blacklist Records on the Net. "Ten years is a long time, and we intend to celebrate it properly." :

 

At Legba, with Debbie Young, Ellementale-5, Makeda Silvera and others, at Lion D'Or on Friday, Jan 28, 8pm, $6