A-Trak, Infinity +1, ThriveRecords

Before the age of twenty, A-Trakflipped the world of hip-hop and turntablism on its head by winning a myriadof DJ competitionsincludingthe three majors (DMC, ITF and Vestax). In2004 Kanye West recruited A-Trak to be his tour DJ, in addition to appearingonWest’s Late Registration (2005) & Graduation (2007)albums. Most recently (more…) Read More

The Respectables, Sweet Mama, Universal

It might be a detriment to the band that the only track that jumped off of the speakers was their single “Sugar” dueto the involvement of producer Gordie Johnson. It is not that the rest of the album is bad, it’s just that the band spends the majority of (more…) Read More

Pete Yorn, Back & Fourth, Columbia

It’s refreshing to see Columbia supporting artists such as Pete Yorn who have yet to enjoy a top 10 hit and who may in fact not be as commercially viable as the latest one hit superstar. He is one of those rare gems lurking on the shelf in your local (more…) Read More

Keri Hilson, In a Perfect World, Universal

Is it wrong when the two lead singles from an album draw your attention based on the guest artists? With both “Turnin’ MeOn” and “Knock You Down”, it’s not Keri’s work that is garnering attention, instead Lil’ Wayne and Kanye’s guest spots (respectively) are overshadowing her debut effort. While (more…) Read More

Madcon, Conquest, Universal Republic, Next Plateau

There’s something seemingly unnatural about Norwegian hip-hop, as it sounds like it should go together about as well as peanut butter and hamburgers. However Madcon have been riding international success on the lead single “Beggin’” from the band’sNorth American debut Conquest, and for good reason. Madcon will draw many (more…) Read More

King Konqueror, Fist Magnet, Indie

King Konqueror has built a loyal following for itself from Halifax to Toronto on the backs of the furious live performances and relentless schedule that they tend to endure. Somehow KK has managed to hit the studio and has squeezed out Fist Magnet, theirlatestindependentrelease. The great thing about King (more…) Read More

Ray, Original Movie Sountrack

The most tormented artists are more often than not the most talented and Ray Charles Robinson is no exception. Charles was haunted by several demons: drugs, women and the childhood loss of his youngest brother. All of which fueled the turmoil from whichRaydrewinspiration. The OST follows the path (more…) Read More