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.
The sophomore EP from Magick Show expands the founding duo of Mickey O’Brien and Max Moon into a trio with the addition of new member and long time friend Johnny Bizness. Released to coincide with Halloween, the Nickel City supergroup titled the release Samhain (pronounced sow-in) after the Gaelic festival that marks the end of harvest season and the beginning of the darker half of the year. It’s also the the origin of our favourite spooky holiday. Samhain is also now a 6-song EP of eerie vocal samples and neck-snapping beats provided by Max, Johnny, and Magick Show’s favourite Canadian producer and certified legend, Fresh Kils. The lyrics take you deep into the minds of the trio as they take out their aggressions on the mic with murderous raps about the occult, supernatural phenomenon, and the darker parts of life. The vinyl release of the EP includes the instrumentals and a pull out poster that doubles as a lyric sheet and Ouija board.
Written and performed by Mickey O'Brien, Max Moon, and Johnny Bizness
Produced by Max Moon, Johnny Bizness, and Fresh Kils
On his latest EP, Nickel City MC Mickey O’Brien takes us on a journey around the world with these five new songs he penned while on tour of Japan, Australia, Ireland, the UK, France and across Canada. These songs are postcards written by the MC to himself about what he was going through at the time, like a tour diary. Whether it was closing out old chapters of his life, learning about new philosophies in the East, or discovering his roots in Ireland, each song serves as a reminder of where he’s been as well as an opportunity for fans to experience a sliver of these trips. Post Cards is produced by Fresh Kils, co-produced by O’Brien, and is a family affair with features from many of his usual collaborators: Sarah Craig and Annie Q on vocals, Uncle Fester on cuts, Zachary Clement on keys, Geoff McCausland on violin, and new to the crew, Petr Balaz on guitar. The EP is available on coke bottle clear vinyl and in a CD package that includes a series of six postcards inspired by these songs, along with the usual digital release. With his Post Cards EP, you, too, can live vicariously through the voyages of Mickey O’Brien from the comfort of your own home!
Written and performed by Mickey O’Brien Produced by Fresh Kils Co-Produced by Mickey O’Brien Keys by Zachary Clement Violin by Geoff McCausland Guitar by Petr Balaz Cuts by Uncle Fester Additional vocals by Sarah Craig and Annie Q
The second single from Mickey O’Brien’s Post Cards EP is “Gina”, a love-at-first-sight story set in the birth place of hip hop. On a trip to the city, Mickey and Gina encounter each other, feel the mutual electricity, and decide to explore the feeling despite the limited time they have together. The soundtrack for this tale of romance is a groovy boom bap beat by Fresh Kils beefed up with live keys by Zachary Clement throughout, a guitar solo by Petr Balaz for the outro, and a soulful blues hook courtesy of Sarah Craig and Annie Q. “Gina” is an excellent rap song for anyone who has ever been in love, no matter how fleeting.
The accompanying video was filmed on location in New York City by Dan Jardine for Boom Shoal Enterprises. It’s an accurate visual depiction of Mickey’s story while also perfectly portraying the giddiness experienced in those early days of love.
“Ikigai” is a Japanese word meaning to live a life with purpose, and it is also the title of the first single off Post Cards, the new EP from Nickel City MC Mickey O’Brien. Mickey discusses the trials and tribulations he and the people closest to him have suffered and how through it all he discovered his own purpose: to make music and tell his story. Produced by Fresh Kils, the beat is a symphony of constantly evolving boom bap, assisted by Zachary Clement on keys, Petr Balaz on guitar, and closing cuts by Uncle Fester, blending flawlessly with Mickey’s uplifting lyricism that inspires the listeners to live their life to the fullest and help change the world. Kilganon takes the song in a different direction with his breezy EDM remix as a bonus to the single.
Written and performed by Mickey O’Brien
Produced by Fresh Kils
Co-Produced by Mickey O’Brien
Keys by Zachary Clement
Guitar by Petr Balaz
Cuts by Uncle Fester
Remix by Kilganon
The video for “Ikigai” is the tenth video shot in collaboration with Boomshoal director Dan Jardine. With new album Post Cards inspired by and written during Mickey’s world travels touring Japan, Australia, Ireland, the UK, a few American cities, and twice across Canada in the last year, “Ikigai” was inspired by Japan but filmed on a boat in the Atlantic Ocean and locations around his favourite Canadian city, Halifax, Nova Scotia.
Nickel City blue collar MC Mickey O’Brien released his third solo album on September 29, 2023. Orebody delved deeper into his soul and psyche as he explored his own inner workings with each song representing a specific emotion. Juno-nominated master of the MPC Fresh Kils was once again along for the ride as the sole producer along with the addition of live instrumentation. But Mickey also loves a good remix, so he enlisted his many friends to contribute remixes for every song on the album, originally only available in full on the b-side of the Orebody cassette release, while a few were released alongside the originals for their singles. Contributions from Factor Chandelier, Uncle Fester, DJ Moves, The Dirty Sample and The 555 bring a different vibe to these songs with which you should already be familiar, often pushing into unexpected territory. Orebody - The Remix Album provides another opportunity for the uninitiated to discover the honest, introspective music of Mickey O’Brien while offering current fans a refreshing return to the rhymes of the original.
Written and performed by Mickey O’Brien and featured guests
Remixed by Factor Chandelier, Uncle Fester, DJ Moves, The Dirty Sample, The 555, and Fresh Kils
For Orebody, his fifth project in five years, Mickey O’Brien takes the listener even deeper into his soul and psyche as he explores his own inner workings with each song representing a specific emotion. His process to prepare for the writing of these songs involved sitting with a psychotherapist to discuss what triggers that emotion within himself. And listening to the album, one can actually hear and feel how this blue collar MC perceives the world, like standing in his shoes for a moment in time. To provided the musical backdrop for this emotional rollercoaster, O’Brien once again taps the talents of long-time collaborator, MPC button-masher, and Juno-nominated producer Fresh Kils who crushes it on the pads and production. And as co-producer, O’Brien adds further depth to the music with live instrumentation, enlisting the assistance of Zachary Clement (keys), Geoff McCausland (violin), Anthony Rinaldi (sax), Matt Saroka (guitar), and DJ Versatile (turntables), in various combinations. The result is an album to inspire Canadian youth and the working class alike that mental health matters and healing is within reach.
Written and performed by Mickey O’Brien and featured guests
Mickey O’Brien enlists the aid of rap super duo Low U (aka Adam Bomb and D-Sisive) to tackle the subject of anger on “Alchemy”, the third single from his upcoming album, Orebody, a collection of concept songs, each about a different emotion. For this powerful posse cut, the trio of MCs rage over a big, banging beat by Juno-nominated producer and MPC master manipulator Fresh Kils and co-produced by O’Brien. Beefing up the beat even more is Geoff McCauslan on violin, Zach Clement on keys, and DJ Versatile’s crazy cuts on the hook. The combination of all this talent results in a track that is truly epic! But for those who need more, prolific producer Factor Chandelier provides a deeper, darker remix that emphasizes the bass, brings in elements of reggae and electronic music, and replaces the hook between rappers with an intro and outro toasting from additional guest Xoolu.
The accompanying video was shot in and around Toronto’s iconic Play De Record and features a cameo from its legendary owner, Eugene Tam, an instrumental figure in the Toronto urban music scene. The black and white grittiness of the video along with the chaotic camera work and frenetic editing of Boom Shoal’s Dan Jardine adds perfectly to the intensity of the song. The video also serves as Act 2 in a 3-part series that features an angelic female spirit guiding the artist and helping him navigate life.
Written and performed by Mickey O’Brien, Adam Bomb and D-Sisive
For “On Guard”, the second single from Mickey O’Brien’s upcoming album, Orebody, the MC delves deep into his psyche to tackle the emotion of fear. The anxiety of the artist is made palpable through his mind-splitting lyrics, taking your brain to another dimension. The banging boom bap beat from Juno-nominated producer Fresh Kils is further enhanced by eerie guitar strumming, frantic fiddling, and a haunting piano, while DJ Versatile’s precise cuts on the intro and chorus increases the intensity of the song. The accompanying remix from The Dirty Sample trades the Fresh Kils production for a boom bap beat of banging drums and soaring strings.
The video for “On Guard” is the first part of a three act series of videos from Orebody born from Mickey O’Brien’s obsession with Tarot cards, directed and shot by long-time collaborator Dan Jardine (Boom Shoal) and produced by O’Brien over three days at several locations throughout the GTA. Act 1 is The Fool, and it examines the consequences of ignoring the signs from the universe on the journey of life, doomed to repeat the lessons of the past.
For the second single from his upcoming NTV EP, No Town Vandal solidifies his new rap monicker alongside an excellent guest appearance from Juno-nominee D-Sisive. Together they explore the delusional side of dreaming of rap stardom. D-Sisive deliberates on the need for a star feature to extend his rap career while serving in that capacity on “Vis à Vis” for NTV, and NTV in turn brags of piggy backing off his rap skills. He also plays the game of Six Degrees of Separation, linking himself to MF DOOM through D-Sisive. If the Vandal never blows up, at least he worked with individuals who bumped fists with some of the most iconic rappers in the game. The soundtrack to this confessional is piano- and horn-heavy boom bap bop from Fresh Kils, another Juno nominee.
Written and performed by No Town Vandal and D-Sisive
For the first single from his third album, Orebody, Mickey O'Brien enlists the assistance of Myka 9, a recent touring partner and founding member of the Grammy-nominated Freestyle Fellowship, to touch on the topic of disgust using as a metaphor the general disregard by the general public and the powers that be for the poisoning of our water, which can also refer to humanity as a whole as well as to the self. From Montezuma's Revenge to Flint, Michigan, there's something in the water. The chill, melancholy production by Juno-nominated producer Fresh Kils is augmented by Anthony Rinaldi on sax and Zachary Clement on keyboards. Along with his verse, Myka 9 lends his voice to the hook backed by the soulful singing of Sarah Craig.
The single is released with an even more melancholy and soulful remix by Factor Chandelier, and the accompanying animated video by Baked Clown makes the message of “Antipathy” more explicit.
Written and performed by Mickey O'Brien and Myka 9
“If I talk about God my record won’t get played,” goes the opening and closing refrain of this spiritual ditty unlike most. On new single “Hubris”, the fifth from his new album Shift Change, Mickey O’Brien reveals his spiritual awakening and expresses his belief in, and worship of, God, but he also calls out those blasphemers who distort religion for selfish and self-serving reasons. Accompanying the bluesy album version with its live instrumentation is a new remix from original producer Fresh Kils, a sample-heavy boom bap beat with soulful male vocal replacing the jazzy hook of the original, while the cuts from DJ SLAM! remain a central focus. Both of these records talk about God and surely both should get played!
Written and performed by Mickey O’Brien
Produced and remixed by Fresh Kils
Cuts by DJ SLAM!
Download the DJ Pack:
And if you're in one of these cities, check out Mickey O'Brien live along with Ultra Magnus and legendary Freestyle Fellowship emcee Myka 9!
“Grace”, the fourth and final single from Mickey O’Brien’s upcoming Shift Change album, is a melodic masterpiece with a genre-bending sound that pushes musical boundaries, as any good hip-hop song should. O’Brien belts out a common sense manifesto that breaks down the state of the world and his journey documenting it musically. ”Making art and being in the studio is our safe place from the chaos of the outside world,” according to O’Brien, “and it’s how we deal with all our problems, our saving grace.” The music is constructed by Juno-nominated producer and star MPC button-masher Fresh Kils, but also features further live instrumentation from many of O’Brien’s usual collaborators: Sarah Craig (keyboards, and additional vocals in the background and on the chorus), Zachary Clement (keyboards), Dany Laj (guitar and percussion) and Tommy Fyfe (harmonica). An epic slow jam that fits the format of Top 40 radio as much as a college radio hip hop show, “Grace” is a timely track that ultimately manifests the positive message we all need right now.
The video for “Grace” continues that positive vibe and musical documentation as it depicts a carefree day in the studio with O'Brien and some of his musical family cooking up the sounds at Fresh Kils’ studio, the Kiln, in downtown Toronto. Shot by Dan Jardine of Boom Shoal Enterprises, and fashioned to resemble a 1970s music documentary, it captures the creative process and true friendship of the artists, mirroring the message of the music.
“Grace”, the fourth and final single from Mickey O’Brien’s upcomingShift Changealbum, is a melodic masterpiece with a genre-bending sound that pushes musical boundaries, as any good hip-hop song should. O’Brien belts out a common sense manifesto that breaks down the state of the world and his journey documenting it musically. ”Making art and being in the studio is our safe place from the chaos of the outside world,” according to O’Brien, “and it’s how we deal with all our problems, our saving grace.” The music is constructed by Juno-nominated producer and star MPC button-masher Fresh Kils, but also features further live instrumentation from many of O’Brien’s usual collaborators: Sarah Craig (keyboards, and additional vocals in the background and on the chorus), Zachary Clement (keyboards), Dany Laj (guitar and percussion) and Tommy Fyfe (harmonica). An epic slow jam that fits the format of Top 40 radio as much as a college radio hip hop show, “Grace” is a timely track that ultimately manifests the positive message we all need right now.
The official video for “Bagloops”, expertly crafted by Dan Jardine for Boom Shoal Enterprises, is straight out of Miller’s Crossing or Peaky Blinders. An assortment of sketchy characters—played by friends and collaborators, including producer Fresh Kils, rap artist Max Moon, and Hand’Solo Records label-head Thomas Quinlan—clash as they compete for control of a criminal empire.
Explore this shady and thrilling world with Mickey O’Brien and Premrock on “Bagloops”.
About “Bagloops”
Mickey O’Brien demonstrates his uncanny ability to tackle a variety of topics and tempos with “Bagloops”. The beat, the lyrical references, and the cinematic video, are a larger-than-life, action-packed nod to O’Brien’s Celtic heritage. Juno-nominated producer and MPC button masher Fresh Kils (Ali Shaheed Muhammad, Buena Vista Social Club) lays down a wall of glitched-out, chopped bagpipe loops and rock drums, while DJ SLAM! assists in the cacophony with the addition of a rowdy sea shantey sing-along for the chorus. O’Brien’s raps project a sense of victory and reflect a man familiar with his strengths re-emerging with a new sense of vigour and purpose. Guest rapper PremRock, a disciple of NYC’s vanguard record label Backwoodz Studios (billy woods, Armand Hammer), delivers his vast collection of words, anecdotes, and recollections in his abstract rap format that has been steadily impressing critics and heads alike.
Written and performed by Mickey O’Brien and Premrock
