Rascalz
Encyclopedia
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 group released an independent album for Calabash Records in 1992. The album, Really Livin, was recorded under the name of Ragga Muffin Rascals. The re-worked major label recording was released the following year in 1993 by Sony Music Canada. The album was nominated for Best Rap Recording at the 1994 Juno Awards. The group moved to BMG Canada in 1997 to record Cash Crop, followed by Global Warning in 1999 and Reloaded in 2002. In 2007, Red1 released his first solo album, Beg For Nothing.
at the Juno Awards of 1998
. Due to Canadian hip hop's limited commercial notability, however, the rap award had never been presented during the main Juno ceremony, instead being relegated to the untelevised technical awards ceremony during the previous evening.
This fact had previously been criticized for creating a barrier to the commercial visibility of Canadian hip hop. Rascalz, however, alleged that racism
was a factor in the award's disadvantageous scheduling, and became the first Canadian hip hop group to explicitly decline the award on that basis.
Their move sparked considerable media debate about the state of Canadian hip hop. As a result of the controversy, the Juno Awards moved the rap category to the main ceremony the following year.
", which they recorded with guest rappers Checkmate
, Kardinal Offishall
, Thrust
and Choclair
. The music video was directed by Little X
and contrary to what people believe this was not the first video to feature
Melyssa Ford
.
Although not on the original pressing of Cash Crop, the song was released as a single, and was quickly adopted as an anthem for Canadian hip hop's resilience and determination. The song broke the odds to become one of the biggest Canadian hip hop hits ever recorded, and was also added to later pressings of Cash Crop.
At the Juno Awards of 1999
, the first time the rap award was presented during the televised ceremony, Rascalz again won the award — this time for "Northern Touch" — and performed the song live at the ceremony.
) appeared on 1999's Global Warning, and "Crazy World" (featuring Notch
and Sazon Diamante) appeared on 2002's Reloaded. They also recorded a song called "Top of the World" from the Global Warning album, and it featured K-os
and Barrington Levy
.
Red1 released a solo album, Beg For Nothing on March 6, 2007, through his own Killawatt Records.
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...
group from Vancouver
Vancouver
Vancouver is a coastal seaport city on the mainland of British Columbia, Canada. It is the hub of Greater Vancouver, which, with over 2.3 million residents, is the third most populous metropolitan area in the country,...
, British Columbia
British Columbia
British Columbia is the westernmost of Canada's provinces and is known for its natural beauty, as reflected in its Latin motto, Splendor sine occasu . Its name was chosen by Queen Victoria in 1858...
, who played a crucial role in the artistic and commercial development 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...
. 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 group released an independent album for Calabash Records in 1992. The album, Really Livin, was recorded under the name of Ragga Muffin Rascals. The re-worked major label recording was released the following year in 1993 by Sony Music Canada. The album was nominated for Best Rap Recording at the 1994 Juno Awards. The group moved to BMG Canada in 1997 to record Cash Crop, followed by Global Warning in 1999 and Reloaded in 2002. In 2007, Red1 released his first solo album, Beg For Nothing.
Juno Award controversy
Cash Crop was nominated for Best Rap RecordingJuno 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 Juno Awards of 1998
Juno Awards of 1998
The Juno Awards of 1998 were presented in Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada. The primary ceremonies at GM Place before an audience of 10 000 on 22 March 1998....
. Due to Canadian hip hop's limited commercial notability, however, the rap award had never been presented during the main Juno ceremony, instead being relegated to the untelevised technical awards ceremony during the previous evening.
This fact had previously been criticized for creating a barrier to the commercial visibility of Canadian hip hop. Rascalz, however, alleged that racism
Racism
Racism is the belief that inherent different traits in human racial groups justify discrimination. In the modern English language, the term "racism" is used predominantly as a pejorative epithet. It is applied especially to the practice or advocacy of racial discrimination of a pernicious nature...
was a factor in the award's disadvantageous scheduling, and became the first Canadian hip hop group to explicitly decline the award on that basis.
Their move sparked considerable media debate about the state of Canadian hip hop. As a result of the controversy, the Juno Awards moved the rap category to the main ceremony the following year.
"Northern Touch"
Also in 1998, Rascalz wrote a special one-off single called "Northern TouchNorthern Touch
"Northern Touch" is a Canadian hip hop single, which was released in 1998 by Rascalz in collaboration with Checkmate, Kardinal Offishall, Thrust and Choclair...
", which they recorded with guest rappers 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:...
. The music video was directed by Little X
Little 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 contrary to what people believe this was not the first video to feature
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...
.
Although not on the original pressing of Cash Crop, the song was released as a single, and was quickly adopted as an anthem for Canadian hip hop's resilience and determination. The song broke the odds to become one of the biggest Canadian hip hop hits ever recorded, and was also added to later pressings of Cash Crop.
At the Juno Awards of 1999
Juno Awards of 1999
The Juno Awards of 1999 honouring Canadian music industry achievements were held in Hamilton, Ontario, Canada. The primary ceremonies at Copps Coliseum on 7 March 1999 were broadcast by CBC Television and hosted by Mike Bullard....
, the first time the rap award was presented during the televised ceremony, Rascalz again won the award — this time for "Northern Touch" — and performed the song live at the ceremony.
Later releases
To date, Rascalz have released two further albums. Each has produced at least one significant hit single: "Priceless" (a collaboration with EstheroEsthero
Esthero ,born Jenny-Bea Englishman, is a Canadian singer-songwriter who currently lives in Los Angeles, California. The name Esthero refers both to the singer and formerly to the two-person team of herself and producer Doc McKinney...
) appeared on 1999's Global Warning, and "Crazy World" (featuring Notch
Notch (artist)
Norman Howell , better known as Notch is a R&B, reggae, dancehall and reggaeton artist. He was the former lead vocalist and one of the creative force behind the hip hop-reggae act, Born Jamericans....
and Sazon Diamante) appeared on 2002's Reloaded. They also recorded a song called "Top of the World" from the Global Warning album, and it featured K-os
K-os
Kevin Brereton , better known by his stage name k-os , is a Canadian rapper, singer, songwriter and record producer...
and Barrington Levy
Barrington Levy
Barrington Levy is a reggae and dancehall artist from Jamaica.-Career:In 1976, Levy formed a band with his cousin, Everton Dacres, called the Mighty Multitude; the pair released "My Black Girl" in 1977...
.
Red1 released a solo album, Beg For Nothing on March 6, 2007, through his own Killawatt Records.
Discography
- Really Livin' (1st Version) (1992), independent album recorded under the name of Ragga Muffin Rascals (Calabash Records)
- Really Livin' (1993) (Calabash Records, national distribution via Epic/Sony Music Canada). Although released as the same title, the album completely differed from the independent release)
- 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 :...
(1997) (ViK. Recordings/BMG Canada) Gold - Global Warning (1999) (ViK. Recordings/BMG Canada)
- Reloaded (2002) (ViK. Recordings/BMG Canada)
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...