Hip Club Groove "Dead Words" [SINGLE]

As old heads coming up in the 90s, Hip Club Groove have noticed a little something different in hip hop these days. Too many rappers are saying a lot while saying nothing. No one pays their damn dues anymore. As MCs, Cheklove and MacKenzie had to address this lack of accountability in the way they know best—by rapping about it. The duo present their case with witty lyrics and humourous punchlines over a throwback boom bap beat dominated by a groovy bass loop and a horny hook section, all courtesy of Moves. The first new song from Hip Club Groove in 30 years was recorded specifically for Bassments of Badmen 4, a compilation celebrating 30 years of Hand’Solo Records, so it had to be honoured as the second single. 

 Raps written and performed by Cheklove and MacKenzie 

Produced by Moves 

Cuts by Moves

   

Ultra Magnus "Golly" [SINGLE]

For “Golly”, the second single from And Nero Played, the upcoming fourth album from Ultra Magnus, the charismatic MC brings the joy and the braggadocio. He flips through his styles, a mix of old school and modern flows that comes together for his own unique sound. His bombastic delivery is always infectious, but especially on this upbeat groove. Brock Berrigan’s instrumental is just so much fun! Bound to get the dance floor grooving while also rocking the crowd live from the stage, “Golly” is sure to be the summer anthem for the underground in 2026!

Written and performed by Ultra Magnus

Produced by Brock Berrigan

 

Backburner "Run Wild" [SINGLE]

 

The Backburner crew take time out of their individual projects to combine for a new song in celebration of the 30th Anniversary of their label, Hand'Solo Records. The shit's so phat it had to be the first single for the label's celebratory compilation, Bassments of Badmen 4. Over a slamming boom bap beat courtesy of Peter Project, each of the 8 MCs brings their own unique style for a lesson in how hip hop should be done. A bit of humour, a lot of braggadocio, and all skills! Backburner run wild!

Written and performed by Chokeules, Jesse Dangerously, More Or Les, Timbuktu, Ghettosocks, Savilion, Wordburglar and Thesis Sahib

Produced by Peter Project

Cuts by Uncle Fester

Noah23 x Fresh Kils "Who Framed Roger Rabbit" (feat. PremRock) [SINGLE]

For the second single from their upcoming collaboration album, Tuff Racket, Noah23 x Fresh Kils tap the talents of ShrapKnel’s PremRock, a frequent collaborator of Fresh Kils. This time around, Kils provides a sunny, synthy, summer jam that somehow still has a darkness to it. Maybe it’s the drums. Still, iIt’s a perfect dichotomy that suits the subject matter, and the stripped back beat puts the focus squarely on the lyrics. For those, Noah23 and PremRock combine concepts of anti-capitalism, drug culture, movie references, and battle rap braggadocio. “Who Framed Roger Rabbit” reveals a trio of artists that combine for a powerful hip hop combo.

Written and performed by Noah23 and PremRock

Produced by Fresh Kils

Pasquale "Specials 2" [ALBUM]

 

Specials 2 is the result of a couple years of work, and results matter. Imagine being whisked away to a far off world filled with similarity and anomaly all together. Over-filled ashtrays and smokey gear. Smoke makes it sound better. Is it a concoction of brilliance? Why do we continue to create? The children thought the chips were delicious. It’s like if graffiti was music. Feel blessed to live in this simultaneously best and worst timeline even with all of the crazy shit going on in the world. Buy that piece of wax you’ve had your eye on, or that new sampler that just came out even though you have five already. Hop in we’re going for a rizz-ide. And here is the soundtrack.

Produced by Pasquale

NOAH23 X FRESH KILS "MILLION DOLLAR DEAL" [SINGLE]

“Million Dollar Deal” is the lead single off Tuff Racket, the upcoming collaboration album by Canadian hip hop staples Noah23 & producer Fresh Kils. The track is reminiscent of Outkast with its electric guitar, bounce beat, and intelligent triplet flow. The 6/8 time signature also provides the single a unique feel to the flow. With its creativity and unmatched technical prowess, “Million Dollar Deal” proves how powerful a duo these two are. There’s no denying that the boys are coming out the gate extremely strong in preparation for their summer album release on Hand'Solo Records, and this is just the first salvo.

Written and performed by Noah23

Produced by Fresh Kils

Epic x Inky "Us" [VIDEO]

On "Us", the fourth and final single from Heater in My Truck II, Epic and featured guest Inky (aka Trevar Fox) provide a glimpse into who they are as individuals before claiming "the only people that we can count on is us". The “us” in this case is not only Epic and Inky but also those old school Canadian hip hop kids that grew up on Rap City in that golden age of Much Music from 1995 to 2009. The downtempo original production from Infinite Potential aka I. Peezy is boom bap heavy on jazzy piano while Trevar Fox's multi-layered remix sounds like a jazz quartet composed of drums, upright bass, piano and organ. It's still jazzy like the original but a whole lot funkier, too! And the laidback flows of the two MCs also bring a lot of chill to the vibe. Trevar Fox also directed an accompanying video that has been released with both the original and remix audio.

Epic & Deadly Stare "A library called Calder (Instrumental)" [ALBUM]

In 2025, Epic and Deadly Stare released their collaboration album A library called Calder, a world-building hip hop album combining the thought-provoking narratives of Epic over the ever-evolving cinematic production of Deadly Stare. With instrumentals this layered alongside the numerous unpredictable change-ups throughout, it was inevitable these instrumentals would get their own separate release. It’s evident these beats hold their own even without an MC involved. A library called Calder (Instrumental) reveals Deadly Stare as an intricate producer with an eye for detail and a tendency to take a beat to unexpected places. 

Produced and mixed by Deadly Stare

Mastered by W.C. Spicer

Pasquale "WindDrift" [SINGLE]

 

Wind drift is the long preferred mode of transportation for say, a tumbleweed in the desert, or perhaps a paper airplane launched off the side of a 200 storey high rise apartment building. We are the paper. Gliding through life at such a fantastic rate we hardly ever take the time to slow down and feel that breeze pass over. Air, wrapped tightly around each branch and twig, propelling us forward, and onward to the next destination. This is no mistake, just a big ball of sticks blowing in and out of municipalities and counties alike. Drifts of wind continue to shape and form everything from the clouds in the sky to the very landscapes we gaze upon in our daily travels. Energy flows and time will continue to carry us into the future.

Noblonski & Nolto "Amazing Saturday" [ALBUM]

 

Eight days a week is not enough to show that some artists care, but German producer, Noblonski, and Canadian rapper, Nolto, only need one: an Amazing Saturday. Their first full length project together, Amazing Saturday is an embodiment of the linguistic concept of “wortbildung” combining different themes and aesthetics to create a new distinct identity that feels familiar. Amazing Saturday combines Noblonski’s comforting melodic optimism with Nolto’s reckless, joyful pessimism, creating a cohesive composition of complaints about life, love, libations, and liturgy. The combination preserves each artist’s signature style and familiar aesthetic while standing authentically on its own as something greater than its parts. Noblonski and Nolto’s friends graciously lend their talents throughout the album, including StapleMouth, Id Obelus, The Gumshoe Strut, Chaps, Chadio, and Cam the Wizzard. This album is not just pleasantly relaxing at the start of a weekend; indeed, it’s amazing.

Written and performed by Nolto and featured guests

Produced by Noblonski

Pasquale "God's Name" [SINGLE]

 

According to Moses Maimonides, we cannot accurately speak of God’s attributes. But, we can name Her. We can wonder and worship. We can spread Her word and Her influence. In Her name. Pasquale shows us his wonder and his worship, in “God’s Name”. It’s a blessing and an embrace, on a crowded bus, on time, and in headphones. You know Pasquale, aka Chadio, by his fruits and not necessarily his names. “God’s Name” is no different. It’s a reverent reminder that the names we use fail to accurately reflect our realities. We simply adopt those reflections and pretend that we recognize them. And “God’s Name” recognizes us in return. She turns the volume a little louder and we love Her for it.

Produced by Pasquale

Remix by Noblonski

Fortunato "The Coalition (The Remixes)" [ALBUM]

 In 2024, Fortunato and The Dirty Sample released their collaboration album, The Coalition, which was remixed by a hand-picked selection of producers as a bonus for the b-side of the cassette release. After two years exclusive to that format, the remix album is now available to the public as a digital release. The first single, “Will To Survive”, features the return of Gordski, the production half of The Goods, who replaces original guest Ol’ Gorilla Bones for a posse cut with Chadio, Noah23, Wordburglar and Ultra Magnus. The album also features remixes from Pasquale, Rove, Noblonski, Sean One, and others, as well as the original demo version of closing track “Get It” produced by Fredro Starr of Onyx. The Coalition - The Remixes is a worthy reimagining of the dusty original album produced by The Dirty Sample.  

Written and performed by Fortunato and guests

Remixed by various producers

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 "Heater In My Truck II" [ALBUM]

The OG of prairie folk rap returns with Heater In My Truck II, an album that is a sequel in both name and spirit to his vinyl-only album from 2003. Epic proves here that he is a master at manifesting the mundane through music, touching on such exciting topics as his “Old Shit out in the Garage”, putting a “Survey in a Box”, and the beautiful “Wallpaper”, all done with a mix of earnest honesty and humble humour. He also honours the roots of hip hop with songs like “Lethal Test Pressings” and “Cassettes”, along with plenty of references to hip hop history matched in number only by his references to Canadiana. You can tell these are two things close to his heart. Unlike his last two albums, Heater In My Truck II taps the talents of multiple producers, such as Moka Only, Moves, Maki, Aries, Gods.& Nmbrs, and more, but the album is purposefully curated to create a jazzy, chill vibe with enough upbeat bops to get the toes tapping along with the head nodding. Recorded alongside the darker, heavier, and more experimental A library called Calder, Heater II is more emo folk rap than that album or even Nassau Manor. And to provide a little more vocal variety, Epic calls on the lyrical prowess of his friends Noah23, Emprime, Inky, Aries, and newcomer 33, who all add their own unique touch to the proceedings. Yet another choice addition to the legacy of late-era Epic.

Written and performed by Epic and featured guests

Produced by various

Pasquale "Orchard Picker" [SINGLE]

 

“Orchard Picker” feels like a late summer evening ride on the back of a wagon down an old country road. But the first single from Pasquale’s Specials 2 instrumental album is also absolutely perfect as background music while you make dinner, or in your headphones on a walk around town, or on your car stereo during your commute home. Heck, you could play this at places like the restaurant your girlfriend works at or during a morning calisthenics routine. And to really go wild, you could even pair it with a fresh freestyle or written verse provided by those of you who rap. In other words, the application of this instrumental are endless and universal. Just try to find a circumstance where  it doesn’t fit.

Produced by Pasquale

Fortunato "Will To Survive (Gordski Remix)" (feat. Chadio, Noah23, Wordburglar & Ultra Magnus) [SINGLE]

 

The first single from the remix album of Fortunato x The Dirty Sample’s The Coalition, is “Will To Survive (Gordski Remix)”. The production half of Halifax hip hop duo The Goods, Gordski makes a surprise return with this remix, turning what was a collaboration between rappers Fortunato and Ol’ Gorilla Bones into a posse cut featuring some of the best in the underground Canadian hip hop scene. Fortunato is joined by Chadio, Noah23, Wordburglar and Ultra Magnus as they each present their views on survival in rap, in life, and even in the afterlife. Each MC provides their own unique vision and vocal delivery while Gordski’s low-end-heavy beat moves through multiple change ups to keep things fresh through this five minutes of funky boom bap. The remix is also accompanied by the original version produced by The Dirty Sample and featuring his MC alter ego OGB. And if you prefer visuals with your audio, check out the animated video by Kaleb Bumboclap.

Written and performed by Fortunato, Chadio, Noah23, Wordburglar, and Ultra Magnus

Remixed by Gordski

Noblonski & Nolto "Psilocybin" (feat. StapleMouth) [SINGLE]

“Psilocybin” is the first single and opening track from Noblonski & Nolto’s forthcoming album, Amazing Saturday. Nolto's smooth sing-song flow contrasts perfectly with guest rapper StapleMouth's uptempo rap delivery as the two reminisce fondly about the therapeutic and spiritual use of the titular drug and their experiences with it over Noblonski’s chill and ethereal soundscape. It’s one part humorous and one part deeply introspective, much like any ‘shroom trip. Get lost on drugs and find yourself.

Written and performed by Nolto and StapleMouth

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

Cold Camp "Winter Dreamz" [ALBUM]

Winter Dreamz is Cold Camp at full frost. A cinematic boom bap record carved out of cold nights, cracked concrete, and heavy snow. The Dirty Sample’s production drops dusty drums, chopped grime, and crunchy loops that feel ripped from a forgotten tape deck and rewired for the present. Bully Bravo and Chaka Boy move through the album like winter veterans: sharp, unflinching, and fully in control. No filler, no softness. Just hard-earned perspective, street poetry, and raw conviction over beats that keep your head bouncing. Winter Dreamz is classic boom bap energy with a modern weight to it. No trends chased. No corners cut. Winter Dreamz is cold, deliberate, and built to last. 

Written and performed by Chaka Boy and Bully Bravo

Produced by The Dirty Sample

Epic x Moka Only "Hathaway's Diner" (feat. Emprime) [SINGLE]

 

On this freestyle track that also serves as the second single to Heater In My Truck II, his upcoming new album dropping February 27, 2026 on Hand’Solo Records, Prairie rap legend Epic is joined by Emprime for this ode to local eatery Hathaway's Diner over a spacey boom bap funk groove courtesy of Juno Award winner Moka Only. While the intro and chorus name drops the diner, Epic and Prime also touch on additional topics such as being an aging rapper, living in Canada, and there is even an homage to the Smoothe da Hustler classic “Broken Language". “Hathaway’s Diner” is new school rap with old school ideals.

Written and performed by Epic and Emprime
Produced by Moka Only