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Interscope / Aftermath / Top Dawg 2015

Feel so good inside myself Don't want to move
Feel so good inside myself Don't need to move
As I grow up I'm growing down. And when I'm lost,
I know I will be found.

--Sly and the Family Stone, There's a Riot Goin' On

The first time I ever heard Kendrick, or was even aware of him, was at a Fader Fort party in New York City for CMJ. This must have been 2010. I was very drunk at the time (damn open bars) and I cannot say I recall much of what I saw. I was more excited to see Wavves play. Several years later, during one of my five-hour drives from Montreal to Toronto, I put on good kid m.A.A.d city with relatively little expectation. I listened to it at least twice in that one drive, and I was actually disappointed when I reached Toronto because I had to turn the record off. It's an awesome feeling, listening to a record for the first time and just knowing you've experienced something truly special. There are few musical experiences I can equate that to. That record has since gone platinum and established Kendrick as hip hop's Golden Child.

A lot has happened since then, in hip hop, in music, and the world. But To Pimp a Butterfly is not about hip hop, or the world at large. To Pimp a Butterfly is about what it means to be black in America. It's almost impossible to write anything coherent about this record so I will not attempt that, and I suppose this is an accurate reflection of the record itself. While his previous records, including his debut Section 8.0, explored broad sonic structures and lyrical themes within a consistent production style, To Pimp a Butterfly feels insular and contained within itself, despite its profound sense of chaos.

Hip hop has become the vessel for Kendrick's message, instead of its central component. The record has a conversational tone that's directly engaging and remarkably absorbing. Musically it's all over the place, taking inspiration from recent Flying Lotus records, Miles Davis' freak-out opus Bitches Brew, and the insularity and pulsating tension of There's a Riot Goin' On. The weirdness of the record recalls early Outkast records, with The Love Below already frequently mentioned as a touchstone for the record.

While its predecessor was stacked with massive singles fit for clubs and parties, To Pimp a Butterfly has not one single I can imagine nearing the top of the Billboard charts or Taylor Swift singing along too. That's not to say there aren't standout tracks. "King Kunta", "U", "For Sale-Interlude", and especially "How Much a Dollar Cost" are stunning and haunting. Previously released singles, including the polarizing "I" take on a new life and meaning within the context of the record. "I" sparked an interesting conversation with how people, minorities in particular, perceive themselves through the adjusted lens of North American society. In the context of the record it becomes an affirming, self-reflective and hopeful moment in an album enveloped in confusion, weariness, and darkness.

At the start of this write-up are the opening lyrics to Sly and the Family Stone's landmark 1971 release, There's a Riot Goin' On. That record was a direct response to Marvin Gaye's equally seminal What's Going On. The DNA of those records are all over To Pimp a Butterfly. At the time, Sly Stone had fallen into a deep depression and hard drugs. Receding into his mind, he delivered a record that reflected the tension, murkiness and sense of deflation felt by an entire generation left dazed by unrealized promises of equality, the blistering aftermath of a failed war and broken economy. Sound vaguely familiar?

Kendrick did not, however, completely retreat into his mind like Sly. Instead he went in and looked out, moving forward to create something that serves as a proclamation and a reflection of the increasingly worrisome reality we live in. It's always framed in the context of his experiences, making it more stinging and deeply affecting in the process. This reaches a climax in the devastating final track "Mortal Man", where Kendrick has a 'conversation' with Tupac. It's impossible to listen to without having a chill run down your spine. Rarely does a musician of this caliber and stature give this much of themselves so openly, honestly and bravely. Kendrick leaves us with more questions than answers, which creates a vacuum that demands to be filled with thoughtful discourse. The conversation has already begun and one thing is clear: we'll be lucky to receive another record like this any time soon.

Rating: 5/5
Best For: I don't even know, man.

--Kenny Chatoor is a regular magazine contributor and former CJLO radio DJ currently living in Ontario, "Yeah, things are good, there's definitely nothing like CJLO in Toronto though, which is a bummer."

We Just Wanna Have Some Fun, Down at the Rock and Roll Club

This weekend, the giant blue marble that we call Earth will be the setting for a very rare celestial event when a supermoon, solar eclipse, and the spring equinox all fall on the same day—Friday, March 20th. While we will not be able to see this phenomenon in Montreal, we will surely feel it, as these cosmic happenings have a much greater meaning than our little human brains can begin to comprehend. Prince Palu was thinking it might be the universe commemorating the 25th anniversary of the passing of Andrew Wood. Then this morning at breakfast his lovely wife Jenny told him that last night she dreamt that Richard Gere had two lines of designer blue jean shirts, one exclusively available at The Bay. Is any of it connected? "No, but maybe yes," says Palu. "In an infinite universe, does everything that's possible have to happen sometime?" He does not know this either, however he does recommend that you buy a lottery ticket Friday night and wish upon the moon. Here are his music recommendations for the weekend.

Thursday, March 19, 2015

The inaugural Hip Hop Week Montreal will already be in full effect by the time you read this. Tonight the party keeps rollin' at Le Bleury Bar à Vinyle (2109 Bleury) when HHWMTL, Hip Hop Heads Concordia, and CJLO 1690AM present Le Cypher jam session, hosted by Urban Science, Montreal's premier hip hop and soul jam purveyors. Doors open at 8:00 with DJ Puggy spinning some hot beats to get the night started while you get yourself ready to throw down or just chill and watch the action from the sidelines. There will be mouthwatering Jamaican food from Boom J's Cuisine, and some fresh gear from Pure Luck X "for those MC's that come correct and deliver!" CJLO's Phantastiq Cypha will be broadcasting live from the event from 10:00-midnight. Tickets are $4 at the door.

Also happening tonight up at Bar Le "Ritz" P.D.B. (179 Jean Talon W.) is the second installment of Yes All Girls!, a cross-genre celebration of women in music. For this special Girls In The Garage edition, you can expect to hear some yé-yé, kraut rock, post-punk, mutant rock, no-wave, bad ass '60s girl bands, and much more. Featuring DJ Annie Q and DJ Romanne Blouin of CISM's Nous Sommes les Rockers. Doors open at 10:00, the dance party begins at 10:01, and it is free!

Now if the return of the frigid cold temperature has got your head all twisted out of sorts and the only cure for it is a live band, then thank your lucky stars that on this night to kick off the supermoon weekend, the good people at Analogue Addiction care about your good health. For the paltry sum of $8 they will present three bands covering so many different genres that there is no way to describe what kind of night this will end up being. From the beatnik revival, conga revolution groove of Toronto's The Holy Gasp, through the bizarro-world Quebecois free jazz pop songs of Hull, QC's Fet.Nat, to the psychedelic confetti pop of Montreal's Adam Strangler, there is no way that you will not find something that'll be good for what ails ya.

Friday, March 20, 2015

The Friday night presentation from Hip Hop Week Montreal gets going early over at Alumni Auditorium at Concordia University (Hall Building, 1455 de Maisonneuve W.) with a lecture from New York City hip hop artist Jean Grae, before the party moves over to Le Belmont (4483 St-Laurent) for a concert of Ms. Grae with critically-acclaimed hip hop producer Freddie Joachim and rapper Bambu. Opening the show at Le Belmont will be Illa J and DJ Gayance. The ticket prices break down like this: lecture: $10, concert: $30, combo (lecture + concert): $35, student combo: $30 - using promo code: STUDENTJEAN. Buy your tickets online from Hip Hop Week Montreal. Lecture doors open at 6:00, talk starts at 7:00. Concert doors open at 9:30.

Another new music festival that is getting started this week is the Montreal Funk & Soul Festival over at La Sala Rossa (4848 St-Laurent) featuring the jivin' disco swing of Static Gold, the hip hop soul-jazz of Clay and Friends, and the funky jazz-fusion of The Liquor Store. After the bands, Boogie Chillen will keep the funky vibes flowin' and the dance floor jumpin' until closing. Tickets are $10 in advance or $15 at the door. Doors open at 9:00 and the show starts at 9:30 sharp.

Saturday, March 21, 2015

For the Hip Hop Week Montreal finale, the organizers have decided to give your weekend a touch of divine intervention when they present the hip hop legend Rakim Allah, aka "The God MC". Like the Friday night presentation, Saturday begins with a lecture, this time in the Leacock Building at McGill University, room 132, where Rakim will speak and take questions from the audience. Following the conversation, the party will once again move over to Le Belmont for a concert with Rakim and openers Nomadic Massive and Gabe 'Nandez. Tickets break down the same as the Jean Grae event, with the student promo code STUDENTRAKIM, and can be purchased online from Hip Hop Week Montreal. Lecture doors at 4:00, talk starts at 5:00. Concert doors at 10:00, show starts at 11:00.

If you can't get into or afford Rakim, but are in the mood for a night of sweaty hip hop vibes, fear not for it is the third Saturday of the month, which means it is time for another Cousins Party Fam Jam at La Vitrola (4602 St-Laurent). This month they present their supermoon inspired "Equinox Eclipse: Black & White Party" with DJs Sammy Royale, Nino Brown, and Tamika spinning the hottest hip hop, R&B, and dancehall tracks to get the room movin' and sweaty. And remember, Cousins Party is a place for open mindedness and one love, and has no time for homophobia or haters. "Come correct, come positive and come to have fun!"

If there is any show this weekend that is perfect for the supermoon celestial trifecta, it has to be the one taking place at L'Escogriffe (4467 St-Denis) on Saturday night when Red Mass returns to the stage. With a band this steeped in Pagan ritual lore, and the guitar of Roy Vucino sounding as if being channeled from another planet, it is only fitting for them to launch their new 7" record, "White Nights", on legendary Quebec label Zaxxon Records, when the planets have aligned thusly. Also in for the fun will be garage-punks Primitive Hands and one of Montreal's greatest new bands, Auks. Only $10, but there are no advanced tickets, so get there early and remember that Saturday is for lovers.

Sunday, March 22, 2015

For the second Sunday in a row there is a great 5 à 7 happening over at Quai des Brumes (4481 St-Denis) with the über talented Giselle Webber presenting her chanteuse française personality Gigi French and a killer band featuring Danny Marks on drums, Damian Nisenson on saxophone, Sam Minevich on vibraphone, Eddy Blake Eaton on double bass, and Sian Teuse with backing vocals. What better way to say goodbye to the weekend and hello to spring than with a cozy setting and some beautiful jazzy French music?

Monday, March 23, 2015

There is a show on Monday night that I thought I should tell you about just in case the supermoon hit you harder than expected and really did a number on your equilibrium. Don't worry too much! Just like the tides, everything will begin to settle back into its regular routine, but you might need to reboot your system a little, and that is what you'll be able to do at Le Cagibi (5490 St-Laurent) with a night of swooning orchestral pop rock with Seattle's Heatwarmer and Montreal's Archery Guild. Opening the night, and pressing your reset button with her ambient soundscapes, will be Toronto's Blunt Chunks. It is PWYC with a suggested donation of $5, and with two of the bands from out of town that is a fair asking price. You know how much it costs to get to Seattle from here? Doors are at 9:00.

--Prince Palu hosts The Go-Go Radio Magic Show, every Friday night from 6 to 8pm. Tune in. Turn on. Freak OUT! Only on CJLO.

Hosted by: Sam Obrand

Stories by: Julian Mckenzie, Emeline Vidal, Tom Matukala

Produced by: Emeline Vidal

We are excited to have a special Hip Hop Week MTL edition of Champions of the Local Scene: Wed March 18, hosted by Sugarface Nene! We will be talking about the highlights of this week-long festival (March 15-21); which include workshops, discussion panels, and performances (+lectures) by headliners Jean Grae and Rakim as well as a prolific line-up of local Montreal artists. We will be talking live with the crew behind the monthly #LECYPHER: Live Hip Hop & Soul Jam at Le Bleury Bar.

The Hip Hop Week edition of #LECYPHER is presented by Urban Science and Hip Hop Heads Concordia and it's all happening Thursday, March 19! CJLO's Phantastiq Cypha will be broadcasting live:10pm to midnight. Urban Science, the force behind #LECYPHER,  is a 7-piece live improvisation ensemble that creates beats and loops in real time! Band leader Vincent Stephen-Ong takes this dynamic group of professional musicians (who have performed/ toured with Talib Kweli, Cirque du Soleil, Nomadic Massive, and Kalmunity to name a few) to different compostional avenues every time.This is highlighted by the equally spontaneous moves of Montreal's best b-boys and b-girls and solidified with MTL's finest DJs and tastiest Jamaican food (Boom J's Cuisine)!

Vincent will be in the studio with fellow band member KOF, who also helps run NoBad Sound Studios. NoBad Sound Studios is a project of La Maison des Jeunes de Côte-Des-Neiges and is the beneficiary organization of Hip Hop Week Montreal. It is a project dedicated to giving urban youth a space to create and record while developing new skills and talents. NoBad Sound facilitates multi-faceted growth- whether it be of one's craft, confidence or experience- and they will be fully repping this talent for Hip Hop Week at the NoBad Sound Studio Showcase at Divan Orange: Wed March 18 @ 10pm.

KTStress will be performing both in this showcase and live in our studios! KTStress is the project of Lolo Douglas, co-founder of Hip Hop Heads Concordia- a student and community run club dedicated to hip hop arts and culture at Concordia University and in Montreal at large. We will be hearing what's behind the scenes with all of these artists and their organizations plus hearing the highlights of their partnerships with Hip Hop Week as well as what lies ahead!

Finally, we will be giving away a set of tickets to Jean Grae and possibly sharing an early-bird code for a few lucky CJLO listeners to go full force into #LECYPHER! We are pumped! Get ready to get tuned- This is all happening Wed, March 18- 6-7pm- Champions of the Local Scene hosted by Sugarface Nene. For more information, visit Hip Hop Week Montreal on the web and tune into Champs to hear about HHW from the artists themselves- Want even more inspiration-? Check out additional CJLO HHW picks by Zachary Goldberg and Sugarface Nene! DO IT.