Northern Touch
Encyclopedia
"Northern Touch" is a Canadian
hip hop
single, which was released in 1998 by Rascalz
in collaboration with Checkmate
, Kardinal Offishall
, Thrust
and Choclair
. It is one of the most important individual songs in the history of Canadian hip hop
, which almost singlehandedly transformed the genre from a largely ignored underground movement into a viable commercial endeavour.
, Devon
and Dream Warriors
, had significant chart hits, but there were to be difficult years ahead. Milestone Radio
applied to the CRTC for an urban music station in Toronto in 1990, which would have been Canada's first radio station devoted to that format, but was denied in favour of a country music
station. The Canadian music industry had a poor history with Black Canadian
musicians, and the Milestone decision was the final nail in the coffin: after 1991, there wasn't another Canadian hip hop song on the pop charts for over half a decade.
, they wrote "Northern Touch" as a sort of anthem for Canadian hip hop's resilience and determination, inviting several other guest musicians to perform on the track. The song was also originally scheduled to include k-os
and Jully Black
, who cancelled due to other commitments.
The song was subsequently released as a single, and garnered radio airplay throughout North America
, becoming Canadian hip hop's first hit song since 1991. Although the song just barely missed the national Top 40 charts, peaking at #41 in RPM
, it reached the Top 10 in most major markets, and was the first Canadian hip hop song to reach the Top 100 at all, and the first to garner widespread radio airplay both in Canada and internationally, since Dream Warriors
' "My Definition of a Boombastic Jazz Style" in 1991.
It was not on the original pressings of Cash Crop, but was quickly added to follow up pressings of the album, due to its popularity.
Cash Crop won the Juno Award
for Best Rap Recording
in 1998, but Rascalz refused the award because it was presented in the non-televised portion of the ceremony along with the technical awards. The award was moved to the main ceremony in 1999. Rascalz won the award again, this time for "Northern Touch" itself, and performed the song live at the ceremony.
. Coincidentally, American rapper DMX
also released a single in 1998, "Get At Me Dog
", which used the same B.T. Express sample.
, and the first film appearance by actress and model Melyssa Ford
.
B-side
Canada
Canada is a North American country consisting of ten provinces and three territories. Located in the northern part of the continent, it extends from the Atlantic Ocean in the east to the Pacific Ocean in the west, and northward into the Arctic Ocean...
hip hop
Hip hop music
Hip hop music, also called hip-hop, rap music or hip-hop music, is a musical genre consisting of a stylized rhythmic music that commonly accompanies rapping, a rhythmic and rhyming speech that is chanted...
single, which was released in 1998 by Rascalz
Rascalz
The Rascalz are a Canadian hip-hop group from Vancouver, British Columbia, who played a crucial role in the artistic and commercial development of Canadian hip hop. The group consists of MCs Red1 and Misfit, and DJ Kemo. Breakdancers, Zebroc and Dedos were also part of the group.Formed in 1991, the...
in collaboration with Checkmate
Checkmate (rapper)
Checkmate is a Canadian hip hop artist from Vancouver. He is most known for guesting on the Rascalz' 1998 single "Northern Touch", which also which featured Kardinal Offishall, Choclair, and Thrust. He has also done work with Rascalz outside "Northern Touch". His 2002 album R.A.W...
, Kardinal Offishall
Kardinal Offishall
Jason D. Harrow , better known by his stage name Kardinal Offishall , is a Canadian rapper and record producer. He is often credited as Canada's "hip-hop ambassador", and is best known for his distinctive reggae and dancehall-influenced style of hip-hop.-Life and career:Harrow was born in...
, Thrust
Thrust (rapper)
Chris France , better known by his stage name Thrust, is a Canadian rapper from Toronto, Ontario. He is most known for his appearance on the Rascalz' 1998 single "Northern Touch" which also features Kardinal Offishall, Choclair, and Checkmate...
and Choclair
Choclair
Kareem Blake, better known by his stage name Choclair, is a Canadian rapper. He helped develop Canadian hip hop in the 1990s, as a member of the Circle.-Career:...
. It is one of the most important individual songs in the history of Canadian hip hop
Canadian hip hop
The Canadian hip hop scene was first established in the 1980s. Through a variety of factors, it developed much more slowly than Canada's popular rock music scene, and apart from a short-lived burst of mainstream popularity from 1989 to 1991, it remained largely an underground phenomenon until the...
, which almost singlehandedly transformed the genre from a largely ignored underground movement into a viable commercial endeavour.
Background
At the end of the 1980s and beginning of the 1990s, several Canadian hip hop musicians, including Maestro Fresh WesMaestro (rapper)
Wesley Williams , better known as Maestro and formerly Maestro Fresh-Wes, is a Canadian rapper, record producer, and actor. His pioneering status and outstanding achievements have led to him being referred to as the "Godfather of Canadian hip hop".In 1989 he became the first Canadian rapper to have...
, Devon
Devon (rapper)
Devon Martin, better known as Devon, is a Canadian rapper.He released his first solo album, It's My Nature in 1992. He won the Juno Award for Best Rap Recording in 1993....
and Dream Warriors
Dream Warriors
Dream Warriors were a Canadian hip hop duo from Toronto, Ontario, comprising King Lou and Capital Q. Described as "a pair of deft, intelligent rappers" by Allmusic, they were major contributors to the jazz rap movement of the early 1990s. Their 1991 debut album, And Now the Legacy Begins, is...
, had significant chart hits, but there were to be difficult years ahead. Milestone Radio
Milestone Radio
Milestone Radio Incorporated was a Canadian radio broadcasting company headquartered in Toronto, Ontario. They were the only broadcasting company in Canada that was owned and operated by Black Canadians. The company's president was Denham Jolly....
applied to the CRTC for an urban music station in Toronto in 1990, which would have been Canada's first radio station devoted to that format, but was denied in favour of a country music
Country music
Country music is a popular American musical style that began in the rural Southern United States in the 1920s. It takes its roots from Western cowboy and folk music...
station. The Canadian music industry had a poor history with Black Canadian
Black Canadian
'Black Canadians is a designation used for people of Black African descent, who are citizens or permanent residents of Canada. The term specifically refers to Canadians with Sub-Saharan African ancestry. The majority of Black Canadians are of Caribbean origin...
musicians, and the Milestone decision was the final nail in the coffin: after 1991, there wasn't another Canadian hip hop song on the pop charts for over half a decade.
Creation and impact
Rascalz, who had recorded their first album in 1993, survived the 1990s by learning the business aspects of the music industry, operating their own independent label as well as touring and performing. Following their 1997 album Cash CropCash Crop (album)
Cash Crop is an album by Canadian hip hop group Rascalz, released in 1997 on ViK. Recordings. The album is the group's most successful record to date and was certified gold by CRIA with sales of over 50,000 copies across Canada.- Northern Touch :...
, they wrote "Northern Touch" as a sort of anthem for Canadian hip hop's resilience and determination, inviting several other guest musicians to perform on the track. The song was also originally scheduled to include k-os
K-os
Kevin Brereton , better known by his stage name k-os , is a Canadian rapper, singer, songwriter and record producer...
and Jully Black
Jully Black
Jully Black |Julie]]"; born Jullyann Inderia Gordon; November 8, 1977) is a Canadian R&B singer–songwriter. She has collaborated and written for many artists, including Nas, Missy Elliott, Saukrates, Choclair, Kardinal Offishall, Destiny's Child, and Sean Paul.-Life & career:Black was born Jullyann...
, who cancelled due to other commitments.
The song was subsequently released as a single, and garnered radio airplay throughout North America
North America
North America is a continent wholly within the Northern Hemisphere and almost wholly within the Western Hemisphere. It is also considered a northern subcontinent of the Americas...
, becoming Canadian hip hop's first hit song since 1991. Although the song just barely missed the national Top 40 charts, peaking at #41 in RPM
RPM (magazine)
RPM was a Canadian music industry publication that featured song and album charts for Canada. The publication was founded by Walt Grealis in February 1964, supported through its existence by record label owner Stan Klees. RPM ceased publication in November 2000.RPM stood for "Records, Promotion,...
, it reached the Top 10 in most major markets, and was the first Canadian hip hop song to reach the Top 100 at all, and the first to garner widespread radio airplay both in Canada and internationally, since Dream Warriors
Dream Warriors
Dream Warriors were a Canadian hip hop duo from Toronto, Ontario, comprising King Lou and Capital Q. Described as "a pair of deft, intelligent rappers" by Allmusic, they were major contributors to the jazz rap movement of the early 1990s. Their 1991 debut album, And Now the Legacy Begins, is...
' "My Definition of a Boombastic Jazz Style" in 1991.
It was not on the original pressings of Cash Crop, but was quickly added to follow up pressings of the album, due to its popularity.
Cash Crop won the Juno Award
Juno Award
The Juno Awards are presented annually to Canadian musical artists and bands to acknowledge their artistic and technical achievements in all aspects of music...
for Best Rap Recording
Juno Award for Rap Recording of the Year
The Juno Award for Rap Recording of the Year has been awarded since 1991, and is awarded for the best rap album in Canada. It was awarded under the title Best Rap Recording from 1993 to 2002....
in 1998, but Rascalz refused the award because it was presented in the non-televised portion of the ceremony along with the technical awards. The award was moved to the main ceremony in 1999. Rascalz won the award again, this time for "Northern Touch" itself, and performed the song live at the ceremony.
Sample
The song samples "Everything Good to You (Ain't Always Good for You)" by B.T. ExpressB.T. Express
B.T. Express was an American funk/disco group, that had a number of successful songs during the 1970s.-Career:...
. Coincidentally, American rapper DMX
DMX (rapper)
Earl Simmons , better known by his stage name DMX, is a multiplatinum American rapper and actor who rose to fame in the late 1990s. His stage name pays tribute to the Oberheim DMX drum machine, an instrument he used when he made his own rap beats in the 80's...
also released a single in 1998, "Get At Me Dog
Get at Me Dog
"Get at Me Dog" is the first single by DMX. It's his debut single for Ruff Ryders Entertainment and Def Jam Recordings from his debut album, It's Dark and Hell Is Hot...
", which used the same B.T. Express sample.
Music video
The song's video was one of the first music videos directed by Little XLittle X
Julien Christian Lutz , better known as Little X, X or Director X, is a Canadian music video director. He also has his own clothing line X Fit...
, and the first film appearance by actress and model Melyssa Ford
Melyssa Ford
Melyssa Savannah Ford is a Canadian model and actress. She attended York University and studied in the field of forensic psychology. Ford's father is Afro-Barbadian and her mother is Russian and Norwegian...
.
12" single
A-side- "Northern Touch"
- "Northern Touch" (Remix)
- "Northern Touch" (Accapella)
B-side
- "Solitaire" (Remix)
- "Solitaire" (Remix Instrumental)
- "Solitaire" (Remix Accapella)
Chart positions
| Chart (1998) | Peak position |
|---|---|
| Canadian RPM RPM (magazine) RPM was a Canadian music industry publication that featured song and album charts for Canada. The publication was founded by Walt Grealis in February 1964, supported through its existence by record label owner Stan Klees. RPM ceased publication in November 2000.RPM stood for "Records, Promotion,... Singles Chart |
41 |