September 5th, 2011

BACKBURNER: live video from the Heatwave release party

Backburner was on tour this weekend in support of the release of their new album, Heatwave. It all started at $5 Rap Show at Rancho Relaxo in Toronto on September 1st. The played 11 of the 14 songs on the album, all done live for the first time ever. With some members unable to make it to Toronto for the show, you now get interesting alternate versions with Ghettosocks and Mister E subbed in. Here are a couple of my favourites, but you can check the full show at:

http://www.youtube.com/5DollarRapShow

Lifers - Chokeules, More Or Les, Timbuktu & Wordburglar

Heatwave - Thesis Sahib, Timbuktu, Wordburglar, Jesse Dangerously, Chokeules & Ghettosocks

August 31st, 2011

BACKBURNER: Heatwave now available! & Exclaim review

Backburner’s new album, Heatwave, has finally dropped. Orders it at Bandcamp. If you still haven’t heard it, check it out:

The release party is going down in Toronto at $5 Rap Show at Rancho Relaxo on September 1st. Only 5 bones to get in, and another 5 gets you the CD. A soon-to-be classic. Here’s the pertinent info, as seen in this month’s ad for Exclaim:



Backburner’s Heatwave album release party info:

Where: Rancho Relaxo (300 College St @ Spadina Ave)
When: September 1, 2011 (doors at 9:30 pm)
Who: Backburner members Wordburglar, More Or Les, Jesse Dangerously, Thesis Sahib, Ghettosocks, Timbuktu, Chokeules and more…
Why: To release this damn fine album in style!
How much: $5 or $10 with CD


AND EXCLAIM MAGAZINE HAS GRACIOUSLY COME THROUGH WITH A VERY NICE REVIEW, TOO:

Backburner - Heatwave
By Ryan B. Patrick

Even though having everyone physically in a room at the same time happens less often than they would like, for far-reaching Canadian rap collective Backburner to drop crew project Heatwave is a noteworthy feat. Under the Backburner banner, a legion of rappers, DJs and producers have been dropping underground head-nodders for a minute. With a current ensemble that includes underground names like Jesse Dangerously, Thesis Sahib, Timbuktu, Chokeules, SJ the Wordburglar and More or Les, it’s laudable that Heatwave retains a cohesive sound (delivered by a coterie of Backburner producers) while allowing each member their time to shine. If you’re down with the Backburner crew, you’re no doubt down with this 14-track album. Crew albums have the tendency to expose weaker members on wax, but there’s scant evidence of that here. The Amy Winehouse shout-out seems mildly ironic on “Lifers,” “Harm’s Way” stands as a straight-up lyrical showcasing joint and cheeky bon mots (”Getting brains like Jackie Onassis”) proliferate on standout “Show of Hands.” Heatwave solidifies the maturing Backburner sound and is an indication of the fact that these dudes aren’t leaving the scene anytime soon.
(Hand Solo)

Link: http://exclaim.ca/Reviews/HipHop/backburner-heatwave

August 21st, 2011

We’re heading to FanExpo this year! With an exclusive mixtape!!

Are you going to FanExpo in Toronto this year?

It’s August 25th - 28th at the Metro Toronto Convention Centre (South Building, 222 Bremner Blvd), and Hand’Solo Records is going to be representing with a table in Artist’s Alley. We’ll be sharing our space with Wordburglar, Dave Howlett and Jeremy Shultz.

Most know Wordburglar as the fun-loving verbal bandit of Hand’Solo Records, but he’s also the creator and writer of Snakor’s Pizza and the man behind over-the-top personality Grandpa Funnybook. Dave is the talented creator, author and artist of wrestling comic SLAM-A-RAMA as well as the occasional artwork for Wordburglar. Jeremy is a talented film maker who brings Grandpa Funnybook to claustrophobic, larger-than-life life from behind the camera.

At our table we’ll have copies of Wordburglar’s vinyl EP for sale, with awesome comic book-inspired artwork done by Dave Howlett, and everyone will be there to sign autographs. A RARE OPPORTUNITY! And we’re so happy to be at FanExpo for the first time that we’re putting together a limited edition mixtape exclusive to FanExpo. Only 150 copies, and you’ll have to get it from our table at FanExpo. Free with any purchase of $10 or more. The mixtape will be hosted by Grandpa Funnybook, is mixed by More Or Les and will feature a few classics from the Hand’Solo back catalogue along with a bunch of unreleased tracks from Wordburglar, Garthim-Master, Backburner, Swamp Thing and more.

It’s going to be fresh. I mean, just check the artwork:

August 16th, 2011

BACKBURNER - HEATWAVE single out now & Pre-Orders Available!

While the official video is still a couple of weeks off, hopefully to be debuted at the Heatwave release party, “Heatwave” is now making the rounds to DJs and is available to be heard and downloaded for free from Bandcamp. You can pre-order the album there too, for only $5 for a digital copy or $8.99 for CD. It’s a beautiful package.

Track Listing:

1. Straight Out The Vault - Jesse Dangerously, Chokeules, Jay Bizzy & Ambition [prod by Dexter Doolittle]
2. Lifers - Chokeules, More Or Les, Timbuktu & Wordburglar [prod by Timbuktu]
3. Nothin’ Friendly - Jesse Dangerously, Timbuktu, Ghettosocks, Wordburglar, Ambition, Chokeules & More Or Les [prod by Timbuktu]
4. Back Home - Ginzu333, More Or Les, Thesis Sahib, Johnny Hardcore & Psybo [prod by Mister E]
5. Show Of Hands - Ghettosocks, Chokeules, Wordburglar & Timbuktu [prod by Beatmason]
6. Heatwave - Thesis Sahib, Timbuktu, Wordburglar, Jesse Dangerously, Chokeules & Jay Bizzy [prod by Timbuktu]
7. Hurtin’ - Chokeules, Timbuktu, Ghettosocks, Jesse Dangerously & Wordburglar [prod by Ghettosocks]
8. Style Dumpster - Psybo, Manalive, Thesis Sahib & Frank Deluxe [prod by Fresh Kils]
9. Long Story Short - More Or Les, Timbuktu, Ghettosocks & Wordburglar [prod by Fresh Kils]
10. Phantom Ghost - Chokeules, Wordburglar, Mister E, Timbuktu & More Or Les [prod by Beatmason]
11. Harm’s Way - Wordburglar, Timbuktu, Frank Deluxe, Ghettosocks, Chokeules & Jesse Dangerously [prod by Uncle Fester]
12. Freak Show Physics - Frank Deluxe, Timbuktu, Manalive, More Or Les, Chokeules, Thesis Sahib & Johnny Hardcore [prod by Uncle Fester]
13. Showtime in ‘09 (’011 Mister E-Mix) - Timbuktu, Manalive, Jesse Dangerously, More Or Les, Chokeules, Frank Deluxe, Wordburglar, Thesis Sahib, Psybo & Ghettosocks [prod by Mister E]
14. Burn It Down - Ghettosocks, Jesse Dangerously, Timbuktu, Frank Deluxe, Wordburglar, Chokeules, Jay Bizzy, Thesis Sahib, More Or Les, Psybo & Manalive [prod by Dexter Doolittle]

August 14th, 2011

ANGERVILLE: Warfare available on Bandcamp + video and tour update

Hand’Solo Records is excited to be marketing and distributing the new Angerville album, Warfare. Sole member Fortunato has the drive to bring his mix of street level braggadocio and honest introspection to an ever-expanding audience. The album is now available for ONLY $5 for the digital download on Bandcamp. Physical copies coming soon. The video for the second single from Warfare drops on Tuesday. And watch for Angerville opening for Onyx on tour in late August followed by M.O.P. in early September. Exciting!

Track Listing:

1. Intro feat. Scott Jackson
2. No Time Like Now feat Massacre [prod. by Royce Birth] 2:30
3. Aint No Thang [prod. by Stuey Kubrick] 3:29
4. Stake Our Claim feat. Pumpkinhead [prod. by Fresh Kils] 2:56
5. Highway Of Life feat. Bishop Brigante [prod. by Graffic]
6. Change The World feat. Flex [prod. by MMac] 3:51
7. End Of Days [prod. by T-Wiss] 3:24
8. F*ck What You Heard feat. Swann [prod. by Anonymous Twist] 3:39
9. Famine [prod. by Basementunit] 3:36
10. Pain [prod. by Makemdef] 2:50
11. Turn Down [prod. by Derek4Real] 4:09
12. Sin City Remix feat. Evil Ebenezer, Snak The Ripper [prod. by Stuey Kubrick] 4:24

Recorded at Kilzone (Toronto).
Mastered by Dorc for Banging Masters.
Scratches for Tracks 7 & 8 by Uncle Fester

August 10th, 2011

BACKBURNER: “Heatwave” video shoot was a success!

The video for the first single, and title track, from the upcoming Backburner album, Heatwave, was filmed on August 4. A big thanks is owed to everyone who donated money in exchange for some great perks. The video wouldn’t be possible without your help. While we wait or 3AM Design to do their post production magic, here are a few shots from the video shoot…

Domino’s Pizza knows the deal - Timbuktu and Wordburglar with pizza delivery:


Jesse Dangerously and Thesis Sahib wing it on set:


Backburner - Jay Bizzy, Timbuktu, Thesis Sahib, Jesse Dangerously, Chokeules, Wordburglar:


More Or Les and Timbuktu enjoy the wrap party at Poppers:


August 9th, 2011

ANGERVILLE: Two videos from the new album with Hand’Solo Records

We’re throwing our support behind Angerville, helping to market and distribute the new album, Warfare. Physical copies are planned, but for now, the album is available to download

BUY ANGERVILLE - WARFARE FROM iTUNES:

http://itun.es/igN848.

And be sure to check the two Stuey Kubrick-produced (both musically and cinematically) videos from the album…

“Ain’t No Thang” - Angerville (prod. by Stuey Kubrick)

“Sin City Remix” - Angerville featuring Evil Ebenezer & Snak the Ripper (prod. by Stuey Kubrick)

July 26th, 2011

WORDBURGLAR - live w/ Bad Weather, Conn Shawnery & The Undrummer

Hey, Wordburglar’s playing a show at Rancho Relaxo in August and surprisingly it’s not for $5 Rap Show but rather for Rancho regular promoter Two Way Monologues. Wordburglar anchors an evening of what is sure to be weird and wonderful indie and hip hop. Here are the details:



Who:

Bad Weather: http://badweather.ca/
Wordburglar: http://www.wordburglar.com​/
Conn Shawnery: http://soundcloud.com/conn​-shawnery
The Undrummer: http://soundcloud.com/theu​ndrummer

Where: Rancho Relaxo (300 College)
When: Fri August 5th
How Much; $7
Doors at 9 music at 10.

Facebook Event Page: http://www.facebook.com/event.php?eid=246295885399583

July 12th, 2011

$5 RAP SHOW: The Extremities Release Party w/ Ambition & Relic

For those in the Toronto area, Backburner’s instrumental duo of Fresh Kils and Uncle Fester (aka The Extremities) will be hitting $5 Rap Show at Rancho Relaxo this Thursday (July 14) as part of their Eastern Canadian Tour to support the release of their sophomore album. We’d love to see you at the Toronto show, but if you live east of the Megacity, you can probably find a venue closer to your own city on this tour. Check the flyer:



Facebook Event Page: http://www.facebook.com/#!/event.php?eid=123782711043704

July 5th, 2011

BACKBURNER: HEATWAVE has a hot cover!

Special thanks to James White for his great work on the album so far. Can’t wait to see the rest. Check out more of his work here: http://cargocollective.com/signalnoise

June 13th, 2011

$5 RAP SHOW: The wrap up… Thrust live footage!

We’ve been trying to keep footage of many of the soon-to-be classic performances at $5 Rap Show. You can keep up on what’s been going down at $5 Rap Show by checking out the show’s YouTube page at http://www.youtube.com/user/5DollarRapShow. Subscribe to be updated whenever new videos are posted. New videos include footage of Thrust and Noah 23. Here’s a little taste:

June 12th, 2011

BACKBURNER: Help the “HEATWAVE” happen…

Timbuktu is putting the finishing touches on Backburner’s debut album, HEATWAVE, to be released on Hand’Solo Records in August. The first single is the title track, a fun, lackadaisical summer time jam produced by Timbuktu featuring himself, Chokeules, Jesse Dangerously, Wordburglar and Jay Bizzy on the vocals and Thesis Sahib with the hook. It’s a doozy. You’ll find the first minute of the song above. We’d love to make a video for this song but we need the help of YOU, the fans, to make this a reality. The crew have volunteered their time to help, but there are still equipment and travel costs to cover to do this. We need donations, and in exchange we are offering awesome perks from the early delivery of the song and/or album to special artist Starter Kits to guest vocals to an exclusive painting by Thesis Sahib. A great way to begin your discovery or to fill in gaps in your collection. Please consider a donation… Thanks.

June 7th, 2011

$5 RAP SHOW: Thurst, Noah23, Vangel and The Egyptian Prescription

Time for another instalment of $5 Rap Show at Rancho Relaxo. On June 9, Hand’Solo Records, Urbnet Records and The Flavour Stable bring Toronto rap legend Thrust, the Canadian BASEDGOD Noah 23, genre-bending electronic producer David Vangel and Toronto Hip Hop Karaoke fave The Egyptian Prescription. Check the flyer for more info, or hit up the Facebook event page at: http://www.facebook.com/event.php?eid=166839130042595



And here’s a little taste of what to expect:

Noah 23 - Bright Green Laces (David Vangel remix)


Thrust - Whatcha Like


June 6th, 2011

TOOLSHED: More awesome reviews of The Lost

Reviews have been very positive for Toolshed’s newest album, The Lost, earning the trio comparisons to classic hip hop groups such as Tha Alkaholiks, Jeru the Damaja and Beastie Boys. Thank you to both sites for the in depth and honest reviews…



It’s necessary to point out the misrepresentation made by the first reviewer in considering Toolshed a supergroup, which would in fact ignore their previous five albums released in their 15+ years together as a group, before they ever contemplated being solo artists. Still, RapReviews gave the album an overall 7.5/10 and said of Toolshed:

“if they want to be top contenders for the Trios Tag Titles, they need to drop more than one project.”

They have, so let’s get the Shed that title belt… Read the rest of the review here: http://www.rapreviews.com/archive/2011_05_toolshedlost.html



And to show they’re also getting love from the english side of their home country, Lithium Magazine’s Matt Ing pays Toolshed a huge compliment when he writes:

“A group like Toolshed really gives Canada’s hip-hop scene a well deserved boost.”

We love you Matt Ing!

Read the rest of his review here: http://www.lithiummagazine.com/toolshed-lost-review

May 25th, 2011

WORDBURGLAR: vinyl EP now available on CD Baby!

Wordburglar’s self-titled vinyl EP has been out for a few years but until now it hasn’t been widely available. However, it’s now been made available thanks to CD Baby. Featuring songs from Burg’s out of print self-titled debut album, follow-up album Burglaritis, and vinyl-only exclusives, remixes, instrumentals and acapellas. LA Symphony’s Pigeon John appears on “Breeze”. MMMMMmmmmm, vinyl…

Wordburglar: Wordburglar EP

Tracklisting:

Side A

1. Wordburglar
2. Burglaration
3. Three in the Key (Killy G Remix) featuring Dandruff and Thug Luv
4. Wordburglar (Jesse D Remix)

Side B

1. Slobberknocker
2. Best In Show
3. Breeze featuring Pigeon John (of LA Symphony)
4. Wordburglar (instrumental)
5. Burglaration (instrumental)
6. Wordburglar (a capella)

Link: http://www.cdbaby.com/cd/wordburglar2

May 23rd, 2011

TOOLSHED: “Irish Car Bomb Pt 2″ in Last Track Standing



Toolshed battles it out with a bunch of auto-tuned lames on Last Track Standing, a track battle segment on Street Sounds at K103.7 fm. The show runs Monday to Friday from 6 pm to 11 pm EST on www.k103radio.com. The Last Track Standing segment starts at 8 pm. Each night the song with the least number of votes is eliminated and the top four songs are played the following night until it’s down to the final two on Thursday night. Voting runs from noon to 10 pm the day of each show. In other words, voting is open now!

The voting is done online at http://www.morburn-music.com/last-track-standing.html. The easiest way to do it is to log into Facebook or Twitter and leave your vote in the comment box at the bottom of the page. You can vote once per round…

Vote for “Irish Car Bomb Pt 2″… It’s just the better song.

Link to vote: http://www.morburn-music.com/last-track-standing.html#

May 23rd, 2011

TOOLSHED: The Lost Reviews

Toolshed’s new album The Lost is receiving good reviews here in Canada and over in France, too. Thanks to the writers and the websites for these fine reviews:



Our favourite Halifax online magazine will always be Herohill. Comparing Toolshed to classic Alkaholiks, they also write:

“Seriously, you aren’t going to find a better album full of Golden-Age inspired party rap anytime soon – and I mean party rap in the most positive of ways…”

Read the rest of the review here: http://www.herohill.com/2011/05/reviews-toolshed-the-lost.htm



Over in France, Mowno steps up with what was actually the first review for The Lost. Described as having a 90s Golden Age sound, they add:

” Toolshed confirme cette fidélité à un hip hop qui ne manque jamais de marquer les esprits, quel que soit sa couleur.”

Read the rest of the review here: http://www.mowno.com/disques/toolshed-the-lost/



Also in France, Indie Rock Magazine compares Toolshed favourably to Heiroglyphics, writing:

“Cinquième album et premier en 5 ans pour le trio de Toronto dont le hip-hop concilie dimension homérique et décontraction jubilatoire à la façon des Hieroglyphics de la grande époque, entre tension urbaine et coolitude enfumée.”

Read the rest of the review here: http://www.indierockmag.com/article14435.html

May 13th, 2011

HIDDEN FORTRESS: Nominated for Best Of Vancouver - Please vote!



Hidden Fortress has been nominated for Best of Vancouver at the Urban Culture + Conference Awards in the Electronic category. They are currently in 9th place but only a few votes separate them from the top spot… PLEASE VOTE BEFORE JUNE 1st. After that date they will slim down the list by cutting artists at the bottom of the list.

Click the link, scroll down and select the option to vote for the Electronic category. You can only vote once in each category, so please pass this around to anyone who might also be willing to vote for Hidden Fortress. And while you’re there, perhaps you might want to vote for your favourite in the Hip Hop category.

Thanks.

Link to vote: http://urbancultureconference.com

May 11th, 2011

TOOLSHED: “Irish Car Bomb Pt 2″ maxi-single - FREE DL

The first single from Toolshed’s The Lost is now available as a maxi-single for free download…



Track Listing:

1. Irish Car Bomb Pt 2
2. Irish Car Bomb Pt 2 (clean)
3. Irish Car Bomb Pt 2 (instrumental)
4. Irish Car Bomb Pt 2 (cleanpella)
5. Irish Tiger Balm Pt 2 (Savilion remix)
6. Flavor Saviors (remix)

Download “Irish Car Bomb Pt 2″ for free at: http://handsolorecords.bandcamp.com/album/the-lost or www.handsolorecords.com/audio

April 26th, 2011

TOOLSHED - New album out now!

From boozie cups to posse cuts, Toolshed bring the party to end all parties… The Lost is out now on digital and CD. Pick it up from Bandcamp for the best price…


Track Listing:

1. Peppercorns [produced by Fresh Kils]
2. Rock N Rule [produced by Timbuktu & Danny Miles]
3. Flavor Saviors (remix)
4. Prime Evil
5. Clubsuck (redux)
6. Irish Car Bomb Pt 2
7. Round Table ft. More or Les, SJ the Wordburglar and Savilion
8. Dream Team
9. Hit Em’ With His Running Shoes ft. Ghettosocks [produced by Fresh Kils]
10. Worse For Wear
11. Final Round (Muneshine Remix)
12. Strong Bros (Fresh Kils Remix)
Bonus Jams
13. Clubsuck (redux Muneshine Remix)
14. Irish Tiger Balm Pt 2 (Savilion Remix)
15. Dream Team (Bix Remix)
16. Final Round (Original Version)

all tracks produced by Timbuktu except where noted.
cuts by Middlesex Wrestling Team and Uncle Fester.
cover design by Ghettosocks.
liner notes by D-Sisive.

Bandcamp page: http://handsolorecords.bandcamp.com/album/the-lost

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