This is the age of the SoundCloud rapper, where uploading a track to the internet, can bring you the same clout as being signed. One of the most famous acts to blow up off of the platform is POST MALONE, whose breakout hit White Iverson in 2014, was an anthem for people on the come up. Moves since have been colossal, with a feature on Kanye West’s Life of Pablo, and opening for Justin Bieber in stadiums across North America. We caught his performance in Vancouver, and he was decidedly more sweet natured, than his music suggests.
Post Malone strode onstage, dressed in an oversized, down to his knees t-shirt, hair in braids and a gold grill in his mouth His whole persona is a throwback to Southern rappers at the start of the millennium. Before he started the beginning few lines of White Iverson, he gave the first of many, big, wide, cheesy smiles. The audience often mimics the artist, and the crowd was filled with white boys in braids, which is somewhat uncomfortable, as cries of appropriation are never far, when it comes to white rappers. Post held his own, as White Iverson was played twice, both to raucous applause and cheers, and he just seemed to be having such a good time up on stage, it was a contagious feeling.
Post Malone is gearing up to release his first album, the aptly titled STONEY, on December 9th. With features from Justin Bieber, Kehlani, 2Chainz and Quavo, the album has some sturdy star power, which isn’t necessarily seen on too many debut efforts. Post has shown that he’s far beyond conventionality. This album will either propel him past the “one hit wonder” stage, or keep him trapped there until he can prove himself. Whatever the outcome, Post is out there, connecting with fans and having a good time doing so, if his performance in Vancouver is any indication.
In 2016, Chance the Rapper has: performed at major festivals like Bonnaroo, and Made in America, thrown his own Magnificent Coloring Day festival in Chicago, landed a global ad campaign with Kenzo X H&M, and petitioned the Grammy awards to include streaming only music. This would be a monumental year for any artist, but it’s historic for an artist that has remained independent.
“Are you ready for your blessing!” is how Chance begins his show, telling more so than asking his audience. Receiving blessings was the them of the night, as Chance recounted his own torrid path before he reached his own blessing. All the talk of blessings, newfound redemption and higher powers gave him the feel of a preacher at his pulpit, and his message wasn’t lost on the sold out crowd in Vancouver.
Chance the Rapper’s concert felt like an off Broadway revival of Avenue Q, as he was joined onstage by puppets that bantered, flirted, danced, and sang with him on stage. His inclusion of the characters in his live show was a nod to the childlike innocence and optimism in his raps – optimism that is very needed in hip hop right now.
For a full recap of Chance’s performance, check out Episode 37 of The Screen Girls On Air
3:05-6:01 Back From The Dead by RiFF RAFF ft. Skepta
6:03- 9:38 Blessings by Chance the Rapper ft. Jamila Woods
9:40-13:09 Lost by Chance the Rapper ft. Noname Gypsy
13:20-15:00 HAPPY HALLOWEEN!! We chat about why Halloween is a lifestyle.
15:20-23:30 We went to Chance The Rapper‘s Vancouver tour stop for his “Colouring Book World Tour” and we chat about the broadway influences of his show, and Chance’s uplifting music.
23:45-28:00 They Cum They Go by Tommy Genesis
28:04-30:58 Classic by Jviden ft. K Forest
31:59-34:10 Devastated by Joey Bada$$
34:11-37:32 LIT by John Orpheus
Tune in to Part 2 of Episode 37:
02:18-10:15 Halloween always creates some controversy, when people cross cultural boundaries, by borrowing from cultures for their costumes. We discuss what we believe is appropriation for costumes and what is cultural appreciation.
10:20-15:20 Is it possible to exploit your own culture? We chat about whether using your culture to get ahead is seen as exploitative in the same way as appropriation.
16:55-17:15 John Orpheus is a Toronto based artist, whose music makes a statement on pop culture, and our modern ideals in the West. He just released Goldchain Hennessey, a mixtape follow up to his last effort John Orpheus is Dead.
17:16-Toronto area artist Jviden also released some new music this past week. He dropped Pure, which features frequent collaborators like K.Forest and Ashton. The project feels deeply personal, as Jviden takes us through his life over the last few months.
Oshawa born, Toronto based artist DANIEL CAESAR was on our radar after he released Praise Break in 2014. We were instantly hooked, by his lulling falsetto and his range, as much gospel and soul as contemporary R&B. We saw him perform live in Vancouver, and the album came alive under the bright lights of the Biltmore Cabaret as he began to sing Violet, backed by a live band.
Last year, DANIEL CAESAR followed up Praise break by releasing Pilgrim’s paradise, in which the cover art depicts him free falling into nothingness. The existential tone of the cover carries over into the material, as Danny explores coming of age and questions the religious overtones of his upbringing.
Daniel Caesar performs with the animated prescience of an artist who’s already released two platinum albums, won a Grammy, married an actress and divorced her in a very public way. Perhaps his confidence stems from his realization of his gift and the emotions that his powerful voice can elicit. Whatever it is, it was palpable in the room, as we watched him command a packed room, in his his olive green jumpsuit.
Catch a review of his performance on Episode 36 of TSG:OA
00:00-4:59 Birthday Song by 2 Chainz ft. Kanye West
5:02-8:16 Celebrate by Anderson Paak
8:17-12:17 Get Uugly by Duckwrth ft. Georgia Ann Muldrow
12:20-17:16 Rare Panther/ Beach House by Duckwrth
17:45-22:05 We both celebrated birthdays in September – under the spell of Mercury Retrograde. We talk about our experiences over the last few weeks, and the ups and downs another year brings.
22:06-23:40 We attended Anderson .Paak‘s “Anderson .Paak and the Free Nationals” tour, with special guest Duckwrth. We talk about Anderson .Paak’s musicality, and how he’s more of an entertainer, than a rapper.
23:41- 25:17 Duckwrth has been everywhere lately! Nowness premiered his latest video Rare Panther/ Beach House and he’s toured across North America with Anderson .Paak. We’re so excited for him, and we discuss seeing him perform for the first time.
25:20-31:25 We attended the opening of Witness at the New Media Gallery, and during our time there, we pondered whether electric cats dream of robotic fish?
Tune in to part two of Episode 36
00:00-3:09 Violet by Daniel Caesar
3:16-7:07 Death and Taxes by Daniel Caesar
7:33-9:36 We’ve been playing Daniel Caesar on the show since we heard music from his second EP Praise Break. We saw him perform for the first time, and were so excited to hear the music come to life during his performance.
9:46-11:05 Digital artist Pencil Fingerz held an art exhibit showcasing many of his portraits and commissions from hip hop artists. His exhibit was aptly titled “My Creations” and featured works of Frank Ocean and the Underachievers. We discuss checking out his portraits IRL.
11:08 We attended the Vancouver stop of the “Summer Sixteen Tour” featuring Drake, Future, DVSN and Roy Woods. We were most impressed with DVSN’s performance, vocalist has brought the best of ’90s R&B back to life, and it was a nice slow down before Future and Drake turned things back up.
11:18-14:26 Too Deep by DVSN
14:27-19:58 Sept. 5th by DVSN
19:59-24:11 Do It Well by DVSN
24:12 Summer’s Over Interlude by Drake
Summer is over! Tune in to our first fall episode, the Halloween episode on live on October 26 on CiTR 101.9FM in Vancouver. Stream live at citr.ca on the day of the show.
This is the age of the SoundCloud rapper, where uploading a track to the internet, can bring you the same clout as being signed. One of the most famous acts to blow up off of the platform is POST MALONE, whose breakout hit White Iverson in 2014, was an anthem for people on the come up. Moves since have been colossal, with a feature on Kanye West’s Life of Pablo, and opening for Justin Bieber in stadiums across North America. We caught his performance in Vancouver, and he was decidedly more sweet natured, than his music suggests.
