Graham Wright, Anthony OKS, and Eternia & Rel McCoy
Graham Wright
The Cost of Doing Business // Ray Cat Records
From the ashes of self-doubt and inner searching arose Graham Wright’s second solo album, The Cost Of Doing Business. In a recent interview, Graham Wright stated, “I just completely lost my way...for a while I just stopped writing altogether”. The inspiration, creativity, artistry, and honesty this album provides Wright’s fans, and Canadian music alike, should be welcomed with open ears and hearts. Why do I say this?, because Wright has exposed his thoughts, his heart and his soul, allowing us to see who he is. As a singer/songwriter, who writes from their heart, this can be extremely challenging.
The Cost Of Doing Business consists of 11 songs that range from upbeat, energetic catchy guitar and lyrical hooks, to ones that are as raw as a skinned knee. The album is an enjoyable and fun listen; however, don’t be fooled, living within the fun is deep lyrical content! Take the track “Bridget” for example; it begins with an uplifting and infectious guitar hook, followed by a quick and upbeat rhythm and tempo. The lyrics on the other hand, tell a rather tragic and lonesome lost love story. I truly appreciate when a songwriter captures the evident emotional opposites, making them work together and complement one another - The Yin and Yang song, brilliant!
When I put my name forward as a volunteer writer for CNC Network, I was asked what I hoped to achieve and what I expected by joining the team. Well, I think I have learned the real answer for both of these questions. What is it? To be exposed to a world of Canadian artists I had no idea existed. It’s one thing for us to listen to music, but it’s another to explore and try and understand who the artists are, where they come from, and how they got to where they are. In that same vein, with streaming services being the predominant way listeners connect with music, there is the disconnect from the liner notes. You know, when you look at the back of an album or at the insert, you open a cassette and unfold the jacket! When I buy a new album, I can’t wait to read and learn about the creative process, the song credits, and the lyrics. My point is this, Bandcamp is a wonderful tool to counter this, and yes, Graham Wright takes advantage of this so please check it out!
“Headphones. That’s the only way to listen to music. It’s all kinds of different emotions because you get real quiet and comfortable and just listen to it.” ~ Gregg Allamn
- Branton Langley
Anthony OKS
In The Garden // LHM Records
What I appreciate most about hip-hop is in its lyrical density, with each song being a complex piece of poetry with vocal inflection and rhythm. What I appreciate tenfold is when an artist uses this idea beyond the premise, and uses their music as a platform for speaking one’s mind. A great example of this thinking-outside-the-box mentality is Winnipeg based MC & songwriter Anthony OKS and his new EP, In The Garden.
"I talk a lot with my people but I don’t always get as deep as I could get. I’m a pretty private person, but music gives me that gateway to let some things go I probably should." Anthony OKS says about his new release, which six tracks reflect inside himself and ponder on the change he’s experienced. There’s a great line in the final track “Mic Live”, which Anthony OKS uses as a love letter to music, “We never prayed for wishes” – which explores how creative opportunity comes through hard work and dedication and not from an idle attitude.
Taking influence from other hip-hop artists such as Mos Def, Common, and Saukrates, In The Garden interweaves thoughtful lyrics with groovy beats reminiscent of jazz and soul. From the groovy bass line of the third track “All About You” to the film noir sounds of the second track “Boy From Freetown”, this album incorporates a variety of genres to compliment the individual themes of each track.
Anthony OKS displays wisdom in high demand; looking back on his past and the choices he’s made, seeing where they got him, and continuing forward with an appreciation for life and a passion to share it with others. This support for community and mutual growth is what inspires people to be their better selves, and In The Garden takes this support and puts it in a pleasant sounding package.
- Brandon Kruze
Eternia & Rel McCoy
FREE // Fat Beats Records
The debut collaborative project by MC Eternia and producer Rel McCoy is a triumph of boom bap and old school sensibilities. That’s not to say that this project is caught in the past, however, at least not in a negative sense; Eternia’s comeback, following by a decade her last Juno-nominated album At Last, is everything you could want from an MC who’s spent the span of many artist’s whole careers reflecting on her craft. The result is a mature and beautifully crafted project that doesn’t presume to be anything but good music that’s well-made both in terms of lyricism and the intoxicating, timeless production that Rel McCoy contributes to FREE.
Driving the sound of FREE is classic Hip-Hop drums, butter-smooth and the kind to make your head bounce. Layered all around these is a healthy mix of low-key sampling, crooning hooks, and, simply put, everything that’s expected from well-executed Hip-Hop. Rel McCoy’s production on FREE is not flashy, instead it is subtle, airtight, and brings the perfect depth to the project, complimenting with perfect ease Eternia’s lyricism, whether it’s melancholy, reminiscence, or dropping knowledge for the new generation of MCs. In turn, Eternia elevates the sound of FREE with the same simply laid out blueprint. As a vet and trailblazer, she’s above cramming syllables into bars or overwritten punchlines and double entendres. With nothing left to prove, there’s nothing for her to do but speak her mind with a dignified and practiced approach. The result is poetic, melancholy, triumphant in equal measure, and dripping with a smooth simplicity that doesn’t betray the depth of the duo’s experience, their skill, or their thoughtfulness in the crafting of this project.
With regards to its subject matter, FREE is both a triumphant return and an examination of the past. On tracks like “From99”, “The Story of Us”, and “Most PPL”, Eternia reminisces about the people who she worked with at the beginning of her career, meeting her now-husband and fellow MC Mr. Lif, and where she is now compared to where she was. This includes being a female rapper who didn’t get the attention that her male counterparts did, navigating the intentions of people in the industry, and, on “Most PPL,” wondering if she “blew [her] one shot for impact”. Interspersed with bittersweet memories of Eternia’s career, FREE discusses generational cycles, dealing with mental health issues and coming to appreciate where we’re at in life, and thinking back on previous relationships, among other things.
Having weathered struggles of life and career, Eternia comes out the other side in one piece and with a unique perspective. Alongside a roster of rap powerhouses like Mr. Lif and fellow Canadian Shad, Eternia and Rel McCoy present a humble ode to Hip-Hop, the industry, love, community, and above all, perseverance. Knowing how the story ends, with Eternia having found her place in life, gives a warm glow to the memories on this project, and it grants depth to the knowledge and perspective that are shared. Delivered thoughtfully and bespeaking a practiced skill, FREE is a masterclass in Hip-Hop, presented uniquely, carrying the past into the future and rendering it timeless.
- Devon Acuña
