Rap Essentials Volume One
Encyclopedia
Rap Essentials Volume One is a Canadian hip hop
compilation album
, released in 1996 on Beat Factory Music
. Its considered a landmark hip-hop album, and it was very influential.
Three songs from the album—"Naughty Dread
" by Kardinal Offishall
, "Fitnredi" by Rascalz
, and "Bright Lights, Big City" by Scales Empire—were nominated for Best Rap Recording
at the 1997 Juno Awards
. "Dear Hip Hop" by Dan-e-o
is considered a Canadian hip-hop classic.
Music video
s for "Dear Hip Hop", "Bright Lights, Big City", and "Sunlight" by Wio-K were put into rotation on MuchMusic
.
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...
compilation album
Compilation album
A compilation album is an album featuring tracks from one or more performers, often culled from a variety of sources The tracks are usually collected according to a common characteristic, such as popularity, genre, source or subject matter...
, released in 1996 on Beat Factory Music
Beat Factory
Beat Factory was a Canadian urban music management/production company and independent record label, based in Toronto, Ontario.In 1982, Beat Factory was founded by Ivan Berry and songwriter Rupert Gayle. Throughout the 1980s and '90s, Beat Factory managed the top urban music artists in Canada...
. Its considered a landmark hip-hop album, and it was very influential.
Three songs from the album—"Naughty Dread
Naughty Dread
"Naughty Dread" is a hip-hop song by Kardinal Offishall. Its his debut single, released in 1996 on Knee Deep Records, before being featured on the Rap Essentials Volume One compilation album. The song contains a sample of "Natty Dread" by Bob Marley & The Wailers.-Background:Kardinal wrote the song...
" by 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...
, "Fitnredi" 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...
, and "Bright Lights, Big City" by Scales Empire—were nominated 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....
at the 1997 Juno Awards
Juno Awards of 1997
The Juno Awards of 1997, representing Canadian music industry achievements of the previous year, were awarded on 9 March 1997 in Hamilton, Ontario at a ceremony in the Copps Coliseum. Jann Arden was host for the major ceremonies which were broadcast on CBC Television.Nominations were announced on...
. "Dear Hip Hop" by Dan-e-o
Dan-e-o
Daniel Faraldo , professionally known as Dan-e-o, is a Canadian hip hop artist of Jamaican and Spanish descent, from Toronto, Ontario...
is considered a Canadian hip-hop classic.
Music video
Music video
A music video or song video is a short film integrating a song and imagery, produced for promotional or artistic purposes. Modern music videos are primarily made and used as a marketing device intended to promote the sale of music recordings...
s for "Dear Hip Hop", "Bright Lights, Big City", and "Sunlight" by Wio-K were put into rotation on MuchMusic
MuchMusic
MuchMusic is a Canadian English language Category A specialty channel owned by Bell Media. MuchMusic is dedicated to music-related programs, pop and youth culture.-History:...
.
Track listing
| # | Title | Performer(s) | Producer(s) | Length |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1. | "Fitnredi" | 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... |
DJ Kemo 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... |
4:29 |
| 2. | "Boiling Point" | Concrete Mob | Scam | 3:17 |
| 3. | "Learn to Earn" | Down to Erf | Down To Erf | 3:25 |
| 4. | "Naughty Dread Naughty Dread "Naughty Dread" is a hip-hop song by Kardinal Offishall. Its his debut single, released in 1996 on Knee Deep Records, before being featured on the Rap Essentials Volume One compilation album. The song contains a sample of "Natty Dread" by Bob Marley & The Wailers.-Background:Kardinal wrote the song... " |
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... |
Kardinal Offishall | 4:24 |
| 5. | "No Lawz" | Black-I | DRK | 4:23 |
| 6. | "Sunlight" | Wio-K | DJX | 3:42 |
| 7. | "Who's Talking Weight (Remix)" | Red Life | Swiff Da Grassroots Da Grassroots are a Canadian hip-hop production team from Toronto, Ontario, composed of Mr. Attic, Mr. Murray, and Swiff. The Juno Award-winning group contributed to the development of Toronto hip hop throughout the 1990s, highlighted by the release of their debut album Passage Through Time in... |
3:46 |
| 8. | "Dear Hip Hop" | Dan-e-o Dan-e-o Daniel Faraldo , professionally known as Dan-e-o, is a Canadian hip hop artist of Jamaican and Spanish descent, from Toronto, Ontario... |
Scam | 3:24 |
| 9. | "Bright Lights, Big City" | Scales Empire | DJ Luv 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... , Kandu (co-producer) |
4:00 |
| 10. | "Twenty One Years" | 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:... |
Day | 4:17 |
| 11. | "Structure, Foundation (What's the Plan)" | Citizen Kane | Down To Erf | 3:14 |
| 12. | "U.L." | Ghetto Concept Ghetto Concept Ghetto Concept is a Canadian hip-hop duo from Toronto, Ontario, composed of Kwajo Cinqo and Dolo. Infinite, who is currently a solo artist, is a former member of Ghetto Concept.-History:... |
Kwajo Cinqo Ghetto Concept Ghetto Concept is a Canadian hip-hop duo from Toronto, Ontario, composed of Kwajo Cinqo and Dolo. Infinite, who is currently a solo artist, is a former member of Ghetto Concept.-History:... |
4:24 |
Samples
- "Learn to Earn" – Contains a sample of "Paid in FullPaid in Full (Eric B. & Rakim song)"Paid in Full" is a song written, produced and recorded by American rap duo Eric B. & Rakim, released as the fifth and final single from their debut album of the same name, Paid in Full....
" by Eric B. & RakimEric B. & RakimEric B. & Rakim were a hip-hop duo composed of DJ Eric Barrier and MC Rakim .Hailing from Long Island, New York, the pair are generally considered by hip hop enthusiasts to be one of the most influential and innovative groups in the genre... - "Naughty Dread" – Contains a sample of "Natty DreadNatty DreadNatty Dread is a 1974 reggae album by Bob Marley & The Wailers. An important transition in Marley's discography, Natty Dread was the first album released as Bob Marley & the Wailers and the first recorded without former bandmates Peter Tosh and Bunny Wailer...
" by Bob Marley & The WailersBob Marley & The WailersBob Marley & The Wailers were a Jamaican reggae, ska and rocksteady band formed by Bob Marley, Peter Tosh and Bunny Wailer in 1963. Additional members were Junior Braithwaite, Beverley Kelso, Cherry Smith and Aston and Carlton Barrett... - "Dear Hip Hop" – Contains a sample of "The Look of LoveThe Look of Love (1967 song)"The Look of Love" is a popular song composed by Burt Bacharach and Hal David and sung by Dusty Springfield, which appeared in the 1967 spoof James Bond film Casino Royale.-Songwriters:...
" by Ramsey LewisRamsey LewisRamsey Emmanuel Lewis, Jr. is an American jazz composer, pianist and radio personality. Ramsey Lewis has recorded over 80 albums and has received seven gold records and three Grammy Awards so far in his career.-Biography:...
See also
- Canadian hip hopCanadian hip hopThe 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...
- Music of CanadaMusic of CanadaThe music of Canada has influences that have shaped the country. Aboriginals, the British, and the French have all made unique contributions to the musical heritage of Canada. The music has subsequently been heavily influenced by American culture because of its proximity and migration between...