Noblonski & Nolto "Dandy Lions" (feat. The Gumshoe Strut) [SINGLE]

 

What makes the lions dandy is their devotion to dress and appearance. But, “Dandy Lions” abandons pretence and presentation. It answers the door in a bathrobe. In the evening. “Dandy Lions” is a pleading justification for letting things go, for procrastination, and for experimenting with different ways of living. Noblonski's beat provides a peaceful and relaxing scene, in which Nolto promises he'll simply continue to monitor the results of his dereliction, and The Gumshoe Strut struggles to balance and prioritize his time and attention. The result is a call to inaction: give up the things that don't matter, and see what happens. Go gather more data.

The Dirty Sample's remix abandons the peacefulness of the original and replaces it with a "sick day" spent in a dark basement playing video games, giving a new perspective to what data may be gathered.

Written and performed by Nolto and The Gumshoe Strut

Produced by Noblonski

Epic "Survey in a Box" [SINGLE]

From the MC that has delivered unique concept songs about sleeping shirts, hockey player Alex Hemsky, swimming laps at the public pool, and viewing the Northern Lights, comes this new song about being a rapper, a dog dad, and filling out a survey while buying dog treats. “Survey in a Box” is the third and final single from Epic’s Heater in My Truck II. The beat by Gods&Nmbrs is a chill mix of smooth piano, flute, and sax over hard boom bap drums, a perfect soundscape for Epic’s emo folk rap delivery that is as unique in hip hop as this concept. Epic freestyles his resume and puts the survey in a box!

Written and performed by Epic

Produced by Gods&Nmbrs

Epic "Lethal Test Pressings" [SINGLE]

Since returning to rap after almost 15 years of semi-retirement, Epic has been extremely prolific. "Lethal Test Pressings" is the first single from his upcoming new album, Heater in My Truck II, his third new album in as many years and the sequel to his 2003 vinyl-only album. On “Lethal Test Pressings”, Epic honours the most sacred of hip hop formats, the vinyl release, and specifically the rare test pressing. Over a chill but groovy drum- and guitar-driven boom bap beat by legendary producer DJ Moves (Hip Club Groove, Len), Epic drops lyrical references to hip hop and Canada delivered in his unique Prairie rap flow. Drop another bomb on them, Epic!

Written and performed by Epic

Produced by Moves

Cold Camp x The Dirty Sample "Avalanche" [SINGLE]

 

 

The first single from Calgary crew Cold Camp's upcoming sophomore album, Winter Dreamz, moves with weight and clarity in a steady build that crashes down with purpose. The Dirty Sample’s chime-filled beat for “Avalanche” feels hypnotic, almost serene, until the rhythm hits and everything shifts. His remix switches out his original production for a gritty, off-kilter NYC gutter beat. On the mic, Chaka Boy and Bully Bravo are confident, composed, and unshakable. This Cold Camp anthem highlights momentum, pressure, and power in motion. 

Written and performed by Chaka Boy and Bully Bravo

Produced and Remixed by The Dirty Sample

Pasquale - "I Might Be Gone Fishin'" with Chadio

 

The intro track for Kamloops beat maker Pasquale’s second iteration in the Chadiohead series takes Chadio‘s vocals from his original song “Gone Fishin’” off his debut solo album, Underestimated Raindrops, and pairs them with the main guitar sample from Radiohead’s “I Might Be Wrong”. The result is “I Might Be Gone Fishin’”, featuring Chadio’s classic braggadocio and rapid fire staccato over hypnotic guitar and haunting crooning in the background courtesy of Mr Yorke, plus Pasquale layers in some boom bap flavoru to tie it all together. Another fine mashup to prepare you for the upcoming Chadiohead 2.

Raps by Chadio

Production by Pasquale

"Hey Motherfucker" - It's Proteus x Black Art Ninja!

 

For the second single and title track from Proteus and Black Art Ninja's upcoming new collab album, Hey Motherfucker, producer BAN builds the beat around a metal-style garage-punk Volca bassline with squealing electrolobotomy synths in the background, rebirth and Volca drums, and catchy backing vocals by the Black Art Ninja Choir (Peachy Tickles, Misty Beavers and Jimmy 'Poppa' Noodles) on the hook. It makes for a weird but catchy tune. Lyrically, the single is raunchy and risqué, pushing the boundaries of good taste as you might expect with a song called "Hey Motherfucker". Proteus presents hentai hip hop in all its glory, loading the lyrics with sex and violence - and plenty of anime references! Should you prefer something safer, you would best digest "Hey Motherfunker", the radio edit that is both much cleaner and shorter - and lyrically rearranged. And if you want to go more extreme, you would want to explore “Hey Motherfucker (THINK Reimagine)" on which producer THINK includes a longer vocal cut that increases the crass quotient, the length of the song, and also assaults our eardrums with an extra layer of guitars added throughout. Pick your poison level on this maxi-single and jump into the deranged world of Proteus and Black Art Ninja.

Written and performed by Proteus

Produced by Black Art Ninja

Introducing "Mr Proteus"!

 

With an abundance of lo-fi singles and videos under his belt, Proteus should need no introduction, but that’s what you’re getting anyway for the first single from his upcoming album, Hey Motherfucker, with frequent collaborator Black Art Ninja on production. “Mr. Proteus” reveals an MC with a dense delivery of braggadocio raps that reference everything from anime through comics and sci-fi to the supernatural in a mix of written and freestyle flows. BAN’s uptempo beat is a catchy Motorik Volca 303-style bassline with an 808 and Volca drum pattern. A squealing improvised Electrolobotomy custom synth line drops in throughout along with backing vocals by Peachy Tickles, Misty Beavers, and the BAN Choir singing the praises of—and sometimes insulting—Mr. Proteus. The single also contains a shorter radio edit that flips around the order of the lyrics to create a song that is significantly different from the original album version. Welcome to the weird world of Proteus!

Written and performed by Proteus

Produced by Black Art Ninja

Max Moon - "DEAD END$" featuring ShrapKnel

 

 

Canadian rap artist Max Moon delivers another fresh and captivating take with “DEAD END$”, the third single from his upcoming debut record, The Grand Howl, out September 26, 2025 on Hand’Solo Records. For this raw and moody self-produced joint, Moon taps in Philly/New York duo ShrapKnel, made up of Curly Castro and PremRock. On billy woods’ vanguard label Backwoodz Studioz, ShrapKnel has become venerated for their distinctive approach to lyricism and unorthodox production choices. The team-up is an instant fit. The result is an alluring, driving, stream-of-consciousness cypher, intersecting human relationships, culture and perception. The beat shifts from dark boom bap to loose, distorted breaks, and a blitz of drum and bass flavour supports Castro’s ever-unique, blazing delivery. 

The single is accompanied by an esoteric reconstruction of the song with a bold remix by electronic experimentalist Emilio Portal, a past Max Moon collaborator. “DEAD END$” also receives the visual treatment with an animated lyric video incorporating stop-motion by Max Moon himself.

Written and performed by Max Moon, PremRock, and Curly Castro

Produced by Max Moon 

Art by Apdtum

Max Moon - "Little Do They Know"

 

For the first single off his debut solo album, Nickel City MC Max Moon teams up with Toronto MPC & production heavyweight Fresh Kils, one of only two guest producers on his mostly self-produced The Grand Howl. On “Little Do They Know”, Max barrages the listener with reflective art rhymes across a warped canvas of gitched-out jazz-rap. He expresses a pride in modesty and a focus on the essential’s of life, or as describes it: “Don’t need much, a hand to hold, some skin to touch”. He also asserts his individual and singular approach to the genre. “Little Do They Know” is bound to leave heads spinning as Max Moon shows the world that he does things in a way all his own.

Written and performed by Max Moon

Produced by Fresh Kils

Art by Apdtum

Chadio & The Gumshoe Strut present "Flow State"

 

On “Flow State”, Kamloops-based MC Chadio sinks deep into the zone — pairing effortless delivery with a beat that shuffles, swings, and hypnotizes. Producer The Gumshoe Strut laces the track with jazzy textures and lo-fi grit, creating the perfect space for Chadio to do what he does best: glide. This one isn’t just about rhyming — it’s about tapping into something meditative, focused, and fluid. If you’ve ever found yourself locked into a creative rhythm or lost in your own momentum, “Flow State” is your soundtrack. A perfect follow-up to the head-nodding “Bring It Back,” this track expands the Root Sellers soundscape — still grounded, still raw, but with an introspective twist.

Written and performed by Chadio

Produced by The Gumshoe Strut

Cuts by Chaps

Chadio & The Gumshoe Strut "Bring It Back"

Now based in Kamloops, BC, veteran MC Chadio returns with “Bring It Back”, the second single from his forthcoming album, Root Sellers. Dropping this summer via Hand’Solo Records, the project marks a new chapter — rooted in experience, sharpened by time, and driven by purpose. Over gritty, soul-infused production from acclaimed beatmaker The Gumshoe Strut, Chadio blends clever wordplay, lived-in perspective, and a deep respect for the craft. It’s a boom-bap burner that feels equally at home on dusty speakers or in fresh playlists. Already known to many through his “Sunday Bars” live rap sessions on Instagram, Chadio continues to carve out space for thoughtful, grounded hip-hop that hits hard without shouting.

Written and performed by Chadio

Produced by The Gumshoe Strut

Mickey O'Brien & Lee Reed fight "Plutocracy"

 

Sudbury-based rapper Mickey O’Brien returns with a searing new single that cuts through the noise with unflinching social commentary and raw energy. Fusing gritty boom-bap with razor-sharp verses, “Plutocracy” confronts economic injustice and corporate power with an urgency that speaks to the times. O’Brien and politically-charged lyricist Lee Reed trade bars like battle cries, while Uncle Fester’s surgical scratching and the cinematic production of Danny Miles, drummer for the Juno-winning rock band July Talk, elevate the track into a protest anthem built for the underground. 

Written and performed by Mickey O'Brien and Lee Reed

Produced by Danny Miles

Cuts by Uncle Fester

Chadio & The Gumshoe Strut - "Been A Minute"

    

"Been A Minute" pairs veteran wordsmith Chadio with longtime collaborator and producer The Gumshoe Strut, delivering a track that’s equal parts introspection and head-nodder. Chadio’s bars cut with quiet confidence, tracing themes of distance, reconnection, and personal evolution, while The Gumshoe Strut lays down a dusty, soul-laced groove that feels lived-in and cinematic. It’s a smooth listen with bite—proof that underground doesn’t mean undercooked. If this is the tone-setter, the album’s about to hit deep.

Written and performed by Chadio

Produced by The Gumshoe Strut

Cuts by Chaps

Epic & Deadly Stare serve up "Chickpeas"

 

After living in the inner city for most of his life, Epic retired from his career and moved away from the centre of the city, a change that provided some unexpected time to take a look back at his life and the little details that define who we are. The inspiration was unexpected and Epic soon discovered that Northside life was in sharp contrast to life in the decaying Edmonton centre. Surprisingly, the shining Christmas lights on the many neighbourhood bungalows were most noticeable. With a beat from Deadly Stare (Triune Gods, Endemik Music) that underscore life’s rhythms and precious moments, “Chickpeas” invites us warmly into Epic’s world.  

Written and performed by Epic

Produced and Mixed by Deadly Stare

Mastered by W.C. Spicer

Epic & Deadly Stare drop their Turntables in the Van

 

Capturing the dizzying buzz of the road and the excitement of nightly shows with horns, claps, and raps, "Turntables in the Van" cranks up the boom bap and takes us along for the ride. Inspired in part after witnessing Fugazi’s tour van washing machine routine and realizing the need to tour smartly, especially when traversing Canada’s vast landscape. Epic and Deadly Stare cram the band into the van to bring their music to the people. What is a band without turntables, anyway?

Written and performed by Epic

Produced and mixed by Deadly Stare

Mastered by W.C. Spicer

Artwork by Shauna Doris

Tachichi - "At The Top" (produced by Classified)

 

Born out of a catchy chorus that is both melodic and meaningful, and not just vapid pop, "At The Top" is a semi-autobiographical song about a regular working-class individual and their struggles to make it in the music industry. Just surviving, paying bills, and trying to find the funds to get an album done. But striving for greatness out of pocket guarantees trials and tribulations. Almost at the top of the mountain, but being rich and glamorous isn't necessarily the success they're striving for. Juno-winning producer Classified contributes a beat of bass-heavy drums and plentiful piano while Sipset teammate LXVNDR lays down the crucial chorus and a dope second verse. 

Written and performed by Tachichi & LXVNDR

Produced by Classified

Kaboom Atomic x The Dirty Sample - I Ain't So Proud Anymore

About the single according to Kaboom:

"I used to look back and think about old days and relish in how things were. Then I realized we were just as s*** then as we are now. The truth is, everyone sucked then, and everyone sucks now. Society hasn't declined, it has straight up stayed in its perpetual state of uselessness. Thing is, there was a lot more punching back then if you were a nerd. Now the nerds are burning the Amazon! That's right, Amazon is on fire. And as far as I'm concerned, it's the wrong Amazon."

Written and performed by Kaboom Atomic

Produced by The Dirty Sample

Epic & Deadly Stare have "So Much Class"

“So Much Class” is the first single from Epic & Deadly Stare’s album A library called Calder.  What happens to old legends when time pulls them away from the game? After more than a decade, Epic returned to a local freestyle night in Edmonton, AB to find an alien landscape. Unlike the warm welcome he had found in the past, the new denizens of the cipher were on a whole new tip. Unshaken by their apparent hostility, Epic did what he has always done and cut through the noise with dope raps and so much class. Featuring gut-rattling production from Deadly Stare (Triune Gods, Endemik Music), Epic is back with a sharp reminder that legends never die.

Written and performed by Epic

Produced and mixed by Deadly Stare

Cuts by Deadly Stare

Mastered by W.C. Spicer

Cover art by Shauna Doris

Kaboom Atomic x The Dirty Sample - Are You High?

 

Look, these kids are delulu if they say they're in the GOAT conversation when they still got grape juice mouth. Kaboom is their father, The Dirty Sample is their grandpappy. The last thing we want is our last days to be tainted by these white labs who keep barking when the doorbell rings. They are an embarrassment to our gated community. 

Written and performed by Kaboom Atomic

Produced by The Dirty Sample

Magick Show - Morning Star

 

For the second single from Magick Show’s sophomore EP, the Nickel City supergroup delve deeper into their explorations of the dark arts with this ode to witches and warlocks. Produced by Max Moon, the beat is dominated by ominous organ notes and plodding drums on which original members Mickey O'Brien and Max Moon each drop a verse while new member Johnny Bizness is relegated the rookie role of cursing the soul with a catchy chorus. Welcome the Morning Star into your life with the wordplay wizardry of Magick Show.

Written and performed by Mickey O'Brien, Max Moon, and Johnny Bizness 

Produced by Max Moon

Mastered by Dorc