Filed under: Canada, Hip-hop, Music, Takin' It Back | Tags: Canada Day, Gowan, Infinite, Take a Look
This is one of the illest hip-hop tracks the Great White North has ever produced (along with this, this and this). Back in ’99, Infinite just absolutely killed it on “Take A Look”.
Every Canada Day party should include some dynamite Canadian jams, so why not add this to your playlist? Or some Gowan?
Filed under: Canada, Movies, Sports, Television | Tags: 30 for 30, 30th Anniversary, Canada, documentary, ESPN, Marathon of Hope, Steve Nash, Terry Fox
On April 12, 1980, a 21-year-old dipped his prosthetic limb into the chilly water off Newfoundland and set off on one of the greatest endeavors any Canadian has ever undertaken. Terrance Stanley Fox had lost his leg three years earlier to bone cancer and he was determined to help make a difference. He decided to run across our huge country from Newfoundland to the shores of British Columbia in an effort to raise $24 million dollars for cancer research (a dollar for every Canadian citizen at the time). His effort captivated our nation, inspired countless people of all abilities and gave everyone who was interested a real glimpse into the power of the human spirit.
Unfortunately, Terry was unable to finish his momentous journey, having to end his marathon just outside of Thunder Bay, Ontario after 143 days of consecutive marathons, or 5,280 total kilometres. While his run did not make it to its conclusion, the momentum he built allowed him to reach his fund-raising goal by the end of 1980, the same year Terry was awarded the Lou Marsh Award as Canada’s Athlete of the Year. He had cast such a large spotlight on his dreaded disease and had united an entire country that he was as revered on school playgrounds as hockey legends Gordie Howe, Bobby Orr or a young Wayne Gretzky. Then, as quickly as he came into our Country’s collective consciousness, he was gone. On June 28, 1981 Terry fell into a coma and died with his family at his side. His funeral was broadcast across Canada and the entire country participated in an unofficial day of mourning. Our greatest sporting hero was gone…
But not forgotten. Terry’s legacy is as unbelievable as was his relentless determination. He continues to be regarded as one of our Country’s greatest heroes and the Terry Fox Foundation has raised hundreds of millions of dollars for cancer research over the past 30 years. He has 14 schools named after him, countless roads, parks and trails, even a mountain and a ship in the Canadian Navy. Adidas even re-released 6,500 pairs of his iconic sneakers in 2005 to help raise over half a million. In 2010, his yearly Marathon of Hope is the single-biggest one day fundraiser for cancer research in the world. Fellow Lou Marsh Award winner and perhaps Canada’s second greatest athlete ever, Steve Nash, grew up idolizing Terry and has directed a documentary for ESPN’s 30 for 30 film series titled Into the Wind that will look into Terry’s journey and the impact he had on so many Canadians. The release date hasn’t been finalized but the film should be out this spring.
Let’s all take the time today to remember the story of one of the bravest Canadians of all-time and to remember everything that he stood for. We have all lost someone close to us to cancer and it is with the courage of all those battling or who have battled the disease that we can work together to someday eliminate it.
You were the man Terry and R&S salutes you!
Filed under: Canada, NHL, Olympics, Sports | Tags: Canada vs. USA, Gold Medal Game, National Anthem, Oh Canada, Olympic Hockey, Team Canada, Vancouver 2010 Winter Olympics
In order to pump up all red-blooded Canadians ahead of this afternoon’s epic gold medal clash versus the hated Americans, watch this amazing footage from Edmonton, Alberta, where the low-end Oiler fans really know how to get a game started off right. Goosebumps for sure. Let’s hope the corporate fat-cats who could afford the $7,500 tickets for today’s game can sing like that.
I’ll be enjoying the game from the safe confines of one of Van City’s illest beach-side pubs but will have my camera and gas mask ready so I can join the inevitable post-game riot. After all, this is Vancouver.
Now let’s get ‘er done boys.
Filed under: Canada, Comedy, NBA, Olympics, Sports | Tags: most ridiculous man in the world, Opening Ceremonies, Steve Nash, Vitamin Water
Another great viral video from Nash and the folks at Vitamin Water. Hilarious stuff, especially his Canadian Tuxedo. This is way better than Dos Equis guy…
I’d also like to say it was great seeing Steve Nash as one of the final torchbearer’s at last night’s Opening Ceremonies. He is one of the greatest Canadian athletes ever and deserved the honour.
Filed under: Canada, Hip-hop, Music, Olympics, Sports, Videos | Tags: Canada, Classified, Hip-Hop National Anthem, Oh Canada
As our great nation ramps up the Olympic nationalism to a fever pitch, I thought today would be a good day to share a hot interpretation of Canada’s national anthem. Props to Classified for this, the Heritage Moments are classic.
Now, if you’ll excuse me I’m gonna be spending the next two weeks trying to win the binge drinking gold medal.
Filed under: Canada, NFL, Olympics, Sports | Tags: Curling, San Francisco Curling Club, USA curling, Vancouver Olympics, Vernon Davis
With the Winter Olympic Games about to touch down in Rhymin & Stealin’s backyard, this particular story caught our attention. 49er’s All-Pro Tight End Vernon Davis, fresh off a record-tying 13 TD season, is heading to Vancouver as part of the US Olympic Team. In November, VD tried his hand at Canada’s unofficial national sport and immediately fell in love. So much so that he filmed a bunch of PSAs for the San Fran Curling Club (can’t find them on the Internet yet, will post when they are available) and has been named the Honourary Captain for USA Curling. Vernon will accompany the team to Van City and take in the whole Olympic experience.
This brought up a question. Is Vernon Davis the first black curler? I feel like he is, or is at least one of a few. He’s like the Jackie Robinson of curling. Congrats Vernon, we’ll keep an eye out for you (and Stephen Colbert) in Vancouver.
Filed under: Canada, Hip-hop, Music, Videos | Tags: Canadian Hip-Hop, Grand Analog, K'Naan, k-os, Ok Cobra, old school, Swollen Members
2009 has been a great year in the world of hip-hop. Banner releases from the likes of Raekwon, Brother Ali, Mos Def and Doom let the world know that hip-hop is far from dead. The success of US hip-hop was also paralleled up here in Canada, where artists such as Kardinal Offishall, Marco Polo, K’Naan and (unfortunately) Drake built on the past success of Michie Mee, Maestro Fresh Wes, Buck 65 and the Rascalz and began to steer some attention North of the border. Let’s take a look at some of the hot fire that has emanated from the frozen tundra so far this year.
k-os – I Wish I Knew Natalie Portman
Arguably Canada’s best MC, k-os dropped his album Yes! in April (drops Nov 17th in US) and then embarked on one of the year’s most innovative and successful tours. Borrowing from visionaries such as Radiohead and Nine Inch Nails, k-os decided to make his entire tour “pay what you feel”, with donations made after the show rewarded with a bonus disc of remixes from the Yes! album. Needless to say, k-os played packed venues from Victoria to Halifax, often coupling every nightclub show with an all-ages gig to reach all of his fans. The album peaked at #9 on the Canadian Albums Chart and was longlisted for the Polaris Music Prize, further cementing Kheavon Brereton as one of Canada’s elite mic rippers. “I Wish I Knew Natalie Portman” is the 3rd single from the album and, personally, my favourite track. On a side note, I also wish I knew Natalie Portman.
Grand Analog – Take It Slow (Spaces and Places)
Originally from Winnipeg and fronted by Odario Williams, formerly of Mood Ruff, Grand Analog made waves with a modern sound described as a “beautiful mess of rap’n'roll, dub and soul”. Their 2009 release Metropolis Is Burning is a gem, with my two favourite tracks being “Play My Kazoo” and “Magnifico”. They are known for a great live show, so make sure to check them out if they are in your area. And if you don’t know Mood Ruff, Wu-Tang ain’t the only ones with “No Hooks“.
K’Naan – Somalia
Born Keinan Abdi Warsame, K’Naan is a Somali-Canadian rapper/musician who has been on a tear over the past couple years. His debut Canadian LP, The Dusty Foot Philosopher, showed a promising talent and his abilities were soon winning Juno’s, featuring in FIFA 06 and getting run on BET. With his second LP, Troubadour, K’Naan called in the big guns. Guest appearances include Mos Def, Chubb Rock, Chali 2na, Damian Marley, Metallica’s Kirk Hammett and Maroon 5 frontman Adam Levine. The album has sold over 50,000 copies so far in the US, landed at #32 on the Billboard Hot 200 and was shortlisted for the 2009 Polaris Music Prize. K’Naan built on the success of Troubador with a trilogy of mixtapes, with each one based on one of three musical icons: Bob Marley, Fela Kuti and Bob Dylan. Done in collaboration with J. Period, all three albums tore up the blogs in 2009 and are available for free download here. If you haven’t heard them yet, chug a red bull and get your download on, cause you don’t want to sleep on this.
OK Cobra – I Quit (I Give Up)
Childhood friends from London, Ontario, rapper Fritz the Cat and producer Recordface comprise one of Canada’s newest underground sensations, OK Cobra. Fritz the Cat built up a cult following as the former writer of a popular music ‘zine “In Search of Divine Styler” and a weekly column in hipster bible Vice magazine, and the duo are now reaching to greater heights. Their 2009 release, Delirium Tremens, was the follow-up to their acclaimed self-titled debut. I Quit (I Give Up) is a track off Delireum Tremens and features a nice sample of the Edie Brickell song Circles. And for those in the know, OK Cobra aren’t the first cats to sample Edie & The New Bohemians… Brand Nubian in the house.
Swollen Members – Bollywood Chick
Not everything Canadian is excellent, which has been proven before by Celine Dion, the CFL and Snow, so our review of Canadian hip-hop in 2009 also had to include some sort of abomination. Enter… Swollen Members. At one point in my life (1999), Swollen were West Coast underground darlings and had released one of the most promising debut LPs for a Canadian hip hop group with Balance. Trust me, the album was a gem (listen to their first big single, Lady Venom, here). But somewhere along the way, Mad Child and Prevail got caught up in the rap game and now only like to make songs about strippers, bikers and sleeveless shirts. Definitely a departure from the dark and haunting imagery they built their fan-base on. R&S has it on good authority that Mad Child might be one of the most insecure and immature dudes in hip-hop, never quite knowing what “it” sound Swollen should follow (as evidenced by the use of Auto-Tune on Armed to the Teeth) and constantly reaching for validation. Validate this Mad Child… your new album blows. Just like every other SM album since Bad Dreams. And get a look at their latest album cover. Skulls, bandannas and AK-47s? Looks like an Ed Hardy knock-off.
So, like the title says… 4 out of 5 ain’t bad.
Canadian Hip-Hop Old School Vault
For some of the best Canadian old school, check out the following links:
Dream Warriors – My Definition of a Boombastic Jazz Style
Ghetto Concept – EZ on tha Motion
Kardinal Offishall – On Wit Da Show
Maestro Fresh Wes – Let Your Backbone Slide
Canada’s representing, eh.
