And I told two friends, and so on, and so on...

>> >> Summer fun on the one and the two

by SCOTT C

What kind of fool would I be if I didn't at least try to keep up with the bold movements being made by some of the talented souls who still call Montreal home. Don't have to go very far for some great local hip hop, and you can start with the new Yvon Kreve album, L'Accent Grave. The one they said to watch has released one for the summer with help from friends Ray Ray, Choice, Vane, Boogy, A-Trak and Dave One.

Speaking of Dave One, get ready for a hot plate from his label Audio Research that is releasing all sorts in the next few months. A single from fresh T.O. crew BrassMunk called "Live Ordeal"/ "Rise Up" will be released on the label, as well as a long awaited mixed CD by premier knucklehead DJ Simahlak called Who's Your Daddy? in an effort to expand their catalogue. Also from AR, a re-issue of Obscure Disorder's Lyrically Exposed, featuring a new bonus track produced by A-Trak. Top that off with Obscure solo joints from both Eclipse, and Icon featuring Ill Bill from Non Phixion on a track called "Let's Go," surfacing sometime in August. "Although we didn't sell the 10,000 records that I predicted we would last year," explains Dave, "we still managed to move 7,000 copies of our last single '2004' and cumulative sales are high." As well as a new Obscure single in the works, you can now buy Audio Research shirts at Science, located at des Pins and St-Dominique.

Hey Ricky!

If you haven't heard already, local warm-up boy and man about the mic Ricky J has signed a record deal with Warner, thanks to the boardroom savvy of the Bumpy Knuckles of Little Burgundy, Ricky D. Produced by DJ Majess, stay tuned this summer for material from the latest guy to "make the band," primed exclusively for the club and the bedroom workout! Where the ladies at!

This Saturday, June 17, you can check out what has become quite the fixture in this little town when the Montreal eliminations of the 2000 DMC kick off at Studio. Come on down and watch as deck-heads from every corner of the city battle it out. This also happens to be my first year as a judge, where I get to share the stage with my heroes Alex Kano and DJ Blast! How will I keep it together? Tickets are $10, and the whole thing is hosted by Pat Relic (from the Beachcombers) and Revlon.

Keep your eyes peeled for Toronto's DJ Serious (Headless Heroes Records) and Mr. Attic (Grassroots), as these two hold down the Brass Knuckles guest list on Friday June 23 at Blizzarts. You know that's a party.

Speaking of ill bills...

This summer seems to be full of hip hop shows riding on the backs of other attractions, hardly convenient for the average head to walk into and leave after a fix, but nonetheless, we have shows. Big names KRS and the Jungle Bros. make themselves known at the upcoming A Great Adventure, a fair hike out of town and a pretty penny at that, but worth checking out for the pure spectacle. The Jurassic 5ive and Dilated Peoples do their duty at the Vans Warped Tour 2000, Friday July 21 at Parc Ile-Ste-Hélène, along with every punk band known to mankind. Black Eyed Peas return to Montreal for the first time since that sorely missed Smokin' Grooves thang that we all loved so much up at Jarry Parc a few summers back. They're playing with No Doubt, of course, on the June 26 at Parc Jean-Drapeau.

Next we have all the Jazz Festival goodness that makes summer in Montreal something to brag about. The DJ 2000 Series happening at Club Soda is a feast for the ears indeed with all sorts of great sounds to take in after midnight for the duration of the festival from June 29 to July 9. There's the Bay area crew of Blackalicious, with Chief Xcel and Gift of Gab, and opening knuckleheads Andy Williams and Plan-B. There's Prince Paul, with twisted little associate MC Paul Barman and opening DJs Wig and Luv. There's the well-rounded girth of Fantastic Plastic Machine, Nightmares on Wax, aka DJ Ease, the unmissable Japanese jazz confections of UFO, and the series finale with BossaTrèsJazz. Other Jazz fest shows to check include Meshell Ndegeocello, Maceo Parker and power trio Medeski, Martin and Wood.

Lastly, the boys from Heavyweight open an exhibit at the Saidye Bronfman on June 29 accompanied by a long-awaited catalogue of available works. The boys are in Seattle June 23 to open at the EMP, a museum hatched by the same people who run the Guggenhiem. Some hors d'oeuvres with those oeuvres d'art? :