“Plutocracy is an old school masterpiece.” – The Wild Is Calling
New review of Mickey O’Brien’s “Plutocracy”, produced by Danny Miles and featuring Lee Reed and Uncle Fester.
“Plutocracy is an old school masterpiece.” – The Wild Is Calling
New review of Mickey O’Brien’s “Plutocracy”, produced by Danny Miles and featuring Lee Reed and Uncle Fester.
The new album from Epic & Deadly Stare is out now!
Welcome to the enigmatic world of A library called Calder, the latest from veteran Canadian emcee Epic. This world-building hip hop record pulls together a rich collection of thought-provoking narratives as Epic issues his reports and observations from once familiar territory. From the opening strains of “Chickpeas”, Epic brings the listeners with him as he points out jarring changes in the world around him, musing about what once was while pressing on into an uncertain future that still finds hope on album finale “Properly Swim”. With a perspective as unique as his voice, Epic guides listeners through a labyrinth of emotions and ideas, each verse twisting and turning around the dreamlike, otherworldly production by Montreal’s Deadly Stare (Triune Gods, Endemik Music). Ethereal beats grounded equally in Golden Age boom bap and sweeping prog rap abstraction serve as the perfect compliment to this mesmerizing and profound record that serves as a travelogue of both past and present. Together, Epic and Deadly Stare have built something magnificent in A library called Calder. Step inside and check it out.
Written and performed by Epic and guests
Produced and mixed by Deadly Stare
Mastered by W.C. Spicer
“[C]’est un réel plaisir de retrouver ce flow nonchalant sachant s’adapter à n’importe quel rythme.” – Indie Rock Magazine
New review of Kaboom Atomic x The Dirty Sample’s 2 Cents by Indie Rock Magazine with two different view points.
TRANSLATION:
Rabbit: The historic label behind the beginnings of Sixtoo and Buck 65, to which we owe the more recent launch of the Backburner collective and its various satellite projects, most of which remain faithful to the label, Toronto’s Hand’Solo Records regularly offers interesting Canadian indie rap, with some fine headliners including producer The Dirty Sample. Associated here with the rapper Kaboom Atomic, whose ironic, deadpan writing is matched by an equally distinctive, nasally flow that should quickly sort out those who like it from those who don’t, the author of last year’s irresistible Beats To Murder Rappers 2 is less dark (with a few exceptions, cf. the eerie bass and other dissonant violins on It’s On Us), more playful and relaxed (Are You High? with its Tachichi airs, or the funky It’s Been Hijacked), without abandoning its cinematic overtones (the keyboards of Don’t Bother, the deliquescent atmosphere of It’s Worse Every Year, the haunted backing vocals of I’m Your Least Favourite Rapper), his Asian incursions (the flute on I Don’t Expect You To Get It) or his taste for offbeat beatmaking (Ashes with its bursts of unstructured beats and chopped samples bordering on glitch, as well as You Ain’t It, I Ain’t So Proud Anymore or the superb conclusion I’ll Deal With This Later).
Namor: A leading exponent of indie rap from Canada, Kaboom Atomic has been on the rap scene since the early 2000s, and his new album comes as something of a surprise to me, as I’ve lost interest in the man’s work. And it’s a real pleasure to rediscover his nonchalant flow, which adapts to any rhythm. I wouldn’t say the same for The Dirty Sample’s prods, which make the rapper’s performance a little pointless as they seem so flat and don’t always do justice to the MC’s elastic diction. The whole thing lacks a bit of rough edges for my taste, even if the “simpler” beats recall the finest hours of the indie scene that Kaboom helped shape (It Ain’t Me, I Ain’t So Proud Anymore, It’s On Us).
“Plutocracy” is the first in a series of stand-alone singles that Mickey O’Brien will be dropping in 2025 as he builds towards a new album planned for 2026.
Sudbury-based rapper Mickey O’Brien returns with a searing new single that cuts through the noise with unflinching social commentary and raw energy. Fusing gritty boom-bap with razor-sharp verses, “Plutocracy” confronts economic injustice and corporate power with an urgency that speaks to the times. O’Brien and politically-charged lyricist Lee Reed trade bars like battle cries, while Uncle Fester’s surgical scratching and the cinematic production of Danny Miles, drummer for the Juno-winning rock band July Talk, elevate the track into a protest anthem built for the underground.
Written and performed by Mickey O’Brien and Lee Reed
Produced by Danny Miles
Cuts by Uncle Fester
“The [t]rack has a mellow and reflective vibe comprising solemn textures and soft drum grooves underpinned by Chadio’s expressive flow and insightful lyrics.” – Word Is Bond
A short review of Chadio & The Gumshoe Strut’s “Been a Minute”, the first single from their upcoming collab album, Root Sellers, as part of Word Is Bond’s Top Submissions EP3 for April 2025.
“Feeling the Sun”, the hot third single from The Dirty Sample’s upcoming beat tape, Love Always Wins If You Let It, is out now!
It’s the first day of Spring. The end of the day. The warmth has tired your very bones and all you want is a place to feel the sun soaked into your skin. Glorious! Like this song. The perfect soundtrack to your sun bathing activities. The Dirty Sample achieves this aspiration with off-kilter drums, some keys, and a drenching of the vocal sample that gives this song its title. Ah, the beauty of “Feeling the Sun”.
Produced by The Dirty Sample
On Monday, April 14 at 8:30 PM EDT, Epic & Deadly Stare will be opening the doors to A library called Calder to take you on a quaint little tour. Hear the album in its entirety almost a full two weeks early, and discover the inspiration behind the lyrics and beats. RSVP here! And we hope to see you there!
Chadio is back with a new single, this time in collaboration with The Gumshoe Strut on production. Their new album drops on June 27. But get ready with “Been A Minute”…
“Been A Minute” pairs veteran wordsmith Chadio with longtime collaborator and producer The Gumshoe Strut, delivering a track that’s equal parts introspection and head-nodder. Chadio’s bars cut with quiet confidence, tracing themes of distance, reconnection, and personal evolution, while The Gumshoe Strut lays down a dusty, soul-laced groove that feels lived-in and cinematic. It’s a smooth listen with bite—proof that underground doesn’t mean undercooked. If this is the tone-setter, the album’s about to hit deep.
Written and performed by Chadio
Produced by The Gumshoe Strut
Cuts by Chaps
The new album from Epic & Deadly Stare entitled A library called Calder is now available for pre-order on Bandcamp. Whether your preferred method of music consumption is digital, CD, or vinyl record, we’ve got you covered! We also have a limited edition run of two t-shirt designs to help improve your fit.
The pre-order page also has the first three singles for you to sample prior to the purchase of the album, and we’ve also leaked currently only available on the Bandcamp pre-order, a fun little song called “Hey Robot Vacuum”.
A special shout out to Shauna Doris for her great cover art and t-shirt designs!
“Over a moody soundscape, Epic takes audiences deep into his life…” – Word Is Bond
A new, short review from Word Is Bond of Epic & Deadly Stare’s “Chickpeas”, the third single from their upcoming album, A library called Calder.
