Rascalz
Rascalz | |
---|---|
ViK./BMG Canada | |
Members | Red1 Misfit DJ Kemo |
Past members | Zebroc Dedos |
Website | Official Website |
Rascalz are a
History
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, and a reworked major label recording was released the following year in 1993 by Sony Music Canada. Both versions of the album received
The group moved to BMG Canada in 1997 to record Cash Crop.
Juno Award protest
Cash Crop was nominated for Best Rap Recording at the Juno Awards of 1998. Due to Canadian hip hop's limited commercial visibility in the era, 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.[5] This fact had previously been criticized for creating a barrier to the commercial visibility of Canadian hip hop.
The band won the award, but alleged that racism was a factor in the award's disadvantageous scheduling and explicitly declined the award on that basis.[6] The band had not yet arrived at the ceremony when the award was announced—when they did arrive, they were simply pulled aside and told that they had won the award.[7]
In view of the lack of real inclusion of black music in this ceremony, this feels like a token gesture towards honoring the real impact of urban music in Canada. Urban music, reggae, R&B, and rap, that's all black music, and it's not represented [at the Junos]. We decided that until it is, we were going to take a stance.[7]
Their move sparked considerable media debate about the state of Canadian hip hop.[5] As a result of the controversy, the Juno Awards moved the rap category to the main ceremony the following year.[5]
"Northern Touch"
Also in 1998, Rascalz wrote a special one-off single called "
At the Juno Awards of 1999, the first time the rap award was presented during the televised ceremony, Rascalz won the award for "Northern Touch",[5] and performed the song live at the ceremony in Hamilton.[9] This represented the first time that a hip hop band had ever performed on the Juno Awards stage.[10]
Later releases
Rascalz released Global Warning in 1999. The album contained the hit single "Priceless" (a collaboration with Esthero).
In 2001 the group performed in Charlottetown, PEI, with Kardinal Offishall, IRS and Jelleestone.[11]
The hit song "Crazy World" (featuring
Red1 released a solo album, Beg For Nothing on March 6, 2007, through his own Killawatt Records.[12]
The original release of Really Livin' was pressed for first time on limited release vinyl in 2019 on Smoke In Records.
The Rascalz have officially retired from producing new music for over a decade, however still perform occasionally.
In 2021, the Rascalz were credited with their first guest appearance for a Canadian artist in over a decade on the track 'Note To The City' by Boslen. The song appeared on his album 'Dusk to Dawn' and was released by Chaos Club Digital/ Capitol Music Group. The actual segment is a sample of Red1's verse on Blind Wid Da Science off their 1997 Cash Crop album.
Discography
Independent albums
- Really Livin' (1992)
Studio albums
- Really Livin' (1993) (reworked major label re-release)
- Cash Crop (1997)
- Global Warning (1999)
- Reloaded (2002)
Solo projects
- Red1 – Beg for Nothing (2007)
See also
References
- ^ "Oh, those Rascalz!: No reunion, they say, 'cause they never broke up". The Province, October 5, 2010.
- ^ "Canada's freeze on rap thaws a little more as the Rascalz issue a ...clear warning: With Juno honours, MuchMusic support and a hot new album in Global Warning, Vancouver's Rascalz are helping to build the foundation of a hip-hop nation". Vancouver Sun, December 23, 1999.
- Halifax Daily News, February 10, 1993.
- Montreal Gazette, February 9, 1995.
- ^ a b c d "Inside the Junos, episode 2: why Rascalz refused their 1998 award". Inside the Music, February 13, 2018.
- ^ "Kinder, gentler rap, eh? Canadians hip-hop onto centre stage", Ottawa Citizen, March 7, 1999.
- ^ a b "Rascalz Refuse Award To Protest Junos: Rap Act Wants R&B Portion Of Ceremony Televised", Billboard, April 4, 1998.
- ^ Canadian hip hop gets the Northern Touch Archived 2007-09-29 at the Wayback Machine, NOW, June 4, 1998.
- ^ "Live Reviews: The 1999 Juno Awards March 7, 1999 Copps Coliseum, Hamilton, ON"[usurped]. Chart Attack, — Mike McCann
- ^ "Kinder, gentler rap, eh?: Canadians hip-hop onto centre stage". Ottawa Citizen, March 7, 1999.
- ^ "LIVE: Kardinal Offishall, Rascalz, IRS and Jelleestone in PEI"[usurped]. Chart Attack, October 19, 2001. Review by: Ryan O'Connor
- ^ "justalilhype! Vancouver HYPE Magazine Interview with Red1", justalilhype! Vancouver HYPE Magazine, August 31, 2009.