Born in Somalia, raised in Canada, Ahmed Ali is a spoken word poet coming up through the Edmonton scene. Known more by his alias “Knowmadic,” he is an accomplished young man with multiple awards and performances all over North America. Ali has used his knowledge of the art to found Poetry festivals within the city of Edmonton.
He does all sorts of great things for the community and internationally. Everything from working for local anti-racism seminars, to running the cities only youth poetry slam. Ahmed has also performed for relief benefits supporting the Haiti relief effort and the water crisis in Ghana.
Ahmed shows us some of the darker things in the world from a perspective we would not have otherwise seen. Such as the ignorance of people, and the racism and poverty that Somalis are faced with. He shows anyone who is willing to listen not to always follow the media because because of their biased spin and selective editing .
Ahmed Ali is doing some amazing things for the youth that surround him and the worldview of others who hear his message. When his teachings begin to spread, hopefully more and more youth will be able to challenge themselves by focusing on the betterment of the community.
- Nico Luigi Joseph Miatello, Assistant Manager, Flavor Clothing
The local rap scene has recently gained a lot of buzz, and a huge part of the credit for that, has to come from Edmonton’s own brand new battle league; Rep Yo’Self. The league just finished its third show, pitting some of the cities hottest talent against one another.
RYSRB debuted October 6th and was founded by local artist Loyal ‘T’, it is open for local talent to come and check out the battle scene. It also gives the host and founder Loyal ‘T’ a chance to look at the up and comers, it is an opportunity for local artists to get into a huge movement. So give Loyal ‘T’ a shout about a chance to get in on something that is poised to go a long way.
RYSRB has been improving in size and quality with every single installment, RYSRB 3 being the best one to date. The league is getting so big, with so much recognition, that for RYSRB 4 they are moving to a new venue Chicago Joe’s, this event will take place April 27th at 7:30PM.
The next installment will have the semi-finals for the RYSRB championship, having two hype battle featuring Timbo Slice versus Bugzy Malone and Herbs versus Max-A-Million. This looks like it will be one of the sickest cards yet, also featuring three other hot battles, highlighted by FAM member Guillotine taking on Flavor’s own Mitchell Lawler.
Here is a quick VLOG from Loyal ‘T’ hyping up the up coming event. Make sure you all buy tickets by E-mailing repyoselfrapbattles@gmail.com This event will sell out and you want to be there.
Edmonton rapper Toxsic has dropped a second hot EP on the city. Bringing a combination of the dark murder rap his Prequel EP got him known for, and a more mainstream vibe that people can bump to while they party.
Light Speed, Toxsic’s new ep features 5 sick tracks and one video for his song “The Party, The Animal.” Directed by Jeff Eckert. The video has a different sound that I personally really like. A mixture between Toxsic’s usual vicious fast raps, and a singing melody mixed with a hard beat, it has a really new feel to it and is definitely worth checking out.
Light Speed is the bridge between Toxsic’s Prequel EP and his album, and if he has shown this much growth from the already dope Prequel we can only imagine what that upcoming album will bring.
You can download Light Speed here , checkout Toxsic fanpage and his YouTube here .
-Nico Luigi Josepi Miatello, Assistant Manager, Flavor Clothing
If you’ve lived in Edmonton for a while it’s pretty easy to become complacent of some of the attractions we have in the city. Sometimes though, those old attractions spring some new surprises! The Muttart Conservatory has a plant called the Corpse flower that very rarely blooms, and it was just announced that this flower is only days away from it’s full bloom. The most incredible tid bit I read was that the plant is growing 6 inches every day!
Check out the details below:
“Ladies & Gentlemen, we’ve got a flower!
It’s official: our corpse flower (Amorphophallus Titanum) is in a flowering stage. Growing at a rapid rate of six inches per day, “Putrella” (Pew-trella) has wowed us since the tiny bud appeared at the end of February. The extraordinary flower is expected to bloom in a few short weeks and, as the world’s tallest blossom, could reach a height of 10 feet. This will be first time that Western Canada has ever seen an Amorphophallus bloom.
The corpse flower is named for the stinky smell it emits to attract its pollinators — carrion beetles. The flower only blooms for a brief 2-4 days. Seeing (and smelling) it will be a once in a life time experience that you will not want to miss. Keep tuned to our Facebook page for updates on Putrella’s expected “bloom date”.”
For more information and to keep up to date, be sure to visit the Muttart’s facebook page.
-Wade Stanley Earl Tompkins, Co-Founder, Flavor Clothing
YEG Hip Hop had a solid long weekend for Easter. Two dance battles were hosted, What the Funk for the Lockers and Poppers as well as the Break the Silence bboy battle. You can check out some pics here. We also had our own show on Friday with Jo Thrillz opening up for Mitchell Lawler’s debut live performance at the Yellowhead Brewery.
With people showing up before the doors were even open, it was obvious the fans were eager for some solid Hip Hop Entertainment. Thrillz started it off in true goony fashion by coming out in a full on gorilla costume only to later reveal it wasn’t him in the outfit. The joker was using a wireless mic from backstage and came out from behind everyone. His first song for the night was Chicago Style and he killed it, and every song after.
Lawlz came on after a fine introduction by Sarah Dharshi of Bad Bitch Mentality, the night’s host. He started off with MLawlz and the whole crowd joined right in. It may have been a small venue but we packed it in real good! The wave of arms and bodies pumping to the beat was unreal. Mitchell continued on with Lawlerisback and a whole shit load of tracks from his mixtape ‘New History’.
Resonate Music Studio donated a prize package for the night. We were super appreciative of that and I’m sure Pat Grim was too since he won the raffle! Pat now gets 4 free music lessons at Resonate as well as a copy of New History and a Flavor snapback.
The die hards that stuck around to the end got a solid Easter egg. Not a literal one! Just a nice surprise. A ton of rap locals were on scene to show their support and wound up jumping on stage for a cypher to end the night. Self from the Liberators, Kazmega, ID of Locution Revolution, Jo Thrillz and of course, Lawler himself, freestyled to beats spun by DJ Creeasian. For your viewing pleasure, check the video here:
-Wade Stanley Earl Tompkins, Co-Founder, Flavor Clothing
When Flavor first started almost 2 years ago, we were fairly oblivious to the Edmonton Hip Hop community. Bad Bitch Mentality were the first to really introduce us to the scene. From there we did our research and started discovering more and more artists. From our interview with Touch and Nato we got hooked on the rap scene. Eventually we ran into the boys at WACK and all the talented cats painting at the free wall. DJ Creeasian and Jeff ‘Poppin Fresh’ were solid fellas who showed us everything we know about poppin, lockin and breaking.
After being exposed to all these facets, known as the pillars of hip hop, we noticed something. Each pillar is strong and robust; However, they seem to stand alone. Bboys throw an event and only the bboy crowd shows up. A Street Artist puts up a new piece and the only shout outs on facebook are from other painters. The last time I went to a local rap concert, it was full of rappers.
I understand we all have our own tastes and interests and it’s hard to get out of that shell. That only means that it’s more important for us, the artists/entertainers, to get out of our comfort zone and get involved in the Hip Hop community so that our friends and fans follow our example.
Right now a Rap concert might see 150 people; A weekly bboy battle brings in 50 people. Kurly’s art show last weekend was similar and the Raps on Wax off event pulled a similar draw at the Artery.
Now, imagine if instead of having segregated communities of Hip Hop, we all put in the effort to support each other. Download some of the local music being made, walk by the free wall sometime and tweet eighbit’s latest piece and scream like crazy at a bboy battle. Our
events could easily triple in size. With larger events comes more renown, more funding and bigger, more exciting venues. We can take this sleepy ‘town’ and build something, build a strong united community where people can’t make up excuses that there’s nothing going on. There will be shit going on all the time. It won’t just be the same old same old either. It’ll be concerts, battles, art shows, competitions, murals and cyphers.
Two weeks ago was Artist Emerge. Last weekend was Kurly’s art show and the hip hop in the park fundraiser Raps on Wax off. This weekend we have our concert with Mitchell Lawler and Jo Thrillz, Saturday is WHAT THE FUNK a poppin’ and lockin’ battle and open Funk cypher. Sunday is Break the Silence a bboy battle at the Kore. Let’s all make a concerned effort to start now and get out to the hip hop community, all of it!
- Wade Stanley Earl Tompkins, Co-Founder, Flavor Clothing
The Liberators seem to have suddenly popped up on the local scene with a showing of experience clearly defined by years of hard work and talent. The truth is, they’ve been around a lot longer and their skill in rap and mastery of vocabulary is some of the strongest you’ll see. With songs like ‘Lude Behaviour’ and ‘Funk Like Us’ you get a clear picture of their oldschool influences and versatility in style and lyrics.
From Edmonton, down to the States and all the way out to Europe, The Liberators are making moves. After listening to their past and current releases we’re excited to hear what they come out with over the coming years.
Bio’s on the B’ys So’def / Dboy
Age – 29
Born – Edmonton Alberta Grew up in north B.C. , and in and around Vancouver B.C. till I was 19 years old , moved back to Edmonton and found a spot on the north side when I was 20 , picked up rapping at the same age , making demo tapes and what not , started making beats around the age 23, linked up with The Liberators shortly after that , I released a beat project on July 1, 2011 called Life and Sound , been working with Self and Press here and there on tracks ever since , Doing a bit of music with my man Skip Sanders that I only met until about a year ago , doing some solo stuff as well , and just planning to throw some more beat projects out in the near future , so along the lines of 9 to 10 years deep in a very underground lifestyle towards my music.
Self/Bluest Eye
Age: 22
Born: Edmonton Alberta. I Grew up in Edmonton but I’ve lived all over. Picked up writing rhymes in school and haven’t really been able to stop really. I’d say I was about 12-13 when I first started like, keeping writtens, and taking time to memorize verses. Began recording when I was like 15. First considered “releases” were with the Liberators, and were called The Spiritual Dilemma, and The What’s Happenin’ EP. I’ve been putting in work with a ton of dudes, from all over. Mainly MASSacre Music from Massachusetts, Veks from California, and Da Shogunz crew out of Holland. Been doing my thing musically for close to 10 years, and my rap style is really undefined to me still. Sort of everything, is what I try to account for in my words.
Presser/John Press
Age: 27
Born: Edmonton Alberta. Born and raised in Edmonton, AB. Started making beats in 2000. Eventually started the Liberators with my brother, Self. So far we’ve done an album, Spiritual Dilemma; and an EP, What’s Happenin’. I also release my own solo albums under John Press, so far I have two; The Soft Sounds and Near Deaf Experience. I am currently producing a 3rd, As Last Seen, which will probably be out summer 2013. I like Pete Rock, Large Pro, the Rza and DJ Krush.
- Wade Stanley Earl Tompkins, Co-Founder, Flavor Clothing
One of our biggest creeds at Flavor is ‘Always learning, always growing’. It helps us approach our issues with long term thinking; with the idea of making sure that with every situation we encounter we leave it having learned something and improved upon ourselves. With this spring line, we’ve kept with that creed and feel we have once again pushed our designs to be better than the last!
All of our clothing is still very limited to ensure you’re not one of 1000’s of people walking around with the same item. Instead, your clothing is a unique item you share with a very small group of people which helps you identify yourself as an individual of a community, rather than one of many countless all wearing the same thing.
To expand our clothing lines and keep up with demand, we’ve increased the total amount of designs produced rather than the amount of items manufactured. That’s why we have 3 spring lines, all with their own unique feel and look. Check out the video, and for further details on each line, check below!
Graffiti line with AJA Louden x Flavor
AJA is a prominent figure in the Edmonton art scene and Graffiti world. Our first impression of him was the Geordi Laforge Portrait he did on the Etown free wall. After we met him in person for our Artist Series with YEG Street Art we knew Louden was legit!
He spent weeks coming up with a culmination of really wicked designs. Some have even been pushed forward to summer release options. In the end we mixed, matched and now we feel AJA came out with an incredibly solid design that shows off his artistic ability, our partnership with him as an artist and our involvement as a company in our community.
Previous Flavor designs have dabbled in the rep Edmonton style. Our City of Champs hat was a direct ode to the birthplace of our company and residence of so many of our fans. Since releasing our City of Words T back in Summer 2012, a lot of people have been asking us where they can grab one. Unfortunately we sold out a long time ago!
It felt only right that with so much pride coming from Edmonton, and how much we owe to this city, that we dedicate an entire line to her!
Our Tshirt and Crew neck design are an evolution of City in Words. We’ve updated it with more names and different names. Unfortunately we couldn’t get everyone on there… maybe if this does well you will see a new one next year! The line is designed to be worn as an outfit. The black pullover sports a very subtle AV Flavor logo embroidered onto the left chest. This darker garment is accentuated with the red/turquoise shirt peeking through the quarter zip and matching skull bracelet over the sleeve.
Flavor Line
The final entry in our Spring release is our classic Flavor line. We have visited the flecked and marbled cotton patterns and furthered the designs with functional and aesthetic enhancements. Since spring is such a garble of weather and temperatures, it’s important to have a combination of heavy, medium and light garments.
Our hoodie is a tight fitting zip up with the ultra soft fleece we’ve become known for. Many people have asked for a zipper and we’re delivering with a clean, warm and comfortable hoodie. The henley and polo take on a different approach to previous releases. They are meant to be versatile, soft, comfortable and still fresh. Our polo for example can be worn tighter with the sleeves up for a dressier look, or go up a size with the sleeves down for a baggier street look.
Between the two, lies the henley. Long sleeves, button up and no collar leaves the design looking stylish, while be functional for both cool and warm temps.
Take a look for yourself! Shout out to Jinji, our “Director of International Affairs’, for modeling this line!
- Wade Stanley Earl Tompkins, Co-Founder, Flavor Clothing
Liquor Breath - Screen Cap Courtesy of Vintage Reprise
MC Lovely is a talented femcee, artist, and veteran of the Edmonton, AB Canada hip hop scene. With 10 years of performances + features under her belt, Lovely has developed a unique style and flow that’s garnered her a loyal group of fans.
She works tirelessly to promote and support local talent, lending her efforts and promotional skills to promote “1 LUV” – an idea that’s become the credo of her promotional crew, Ladies United Voice (LUV).
LIQUOR BREATH, directed by Vintage Reprise, is the first single off her debut album THE TRUTH IN TRUE LOVE WAS LIED, to be released in Spring 2013.
A two minute “alcoholic anthem”, this video features MC Lovely and Jaide dousing the camera (and everything else) in booze of all sorts, while telling tales of an explosive girl’s night out.
Keep your eye out for the new album, and much more to come from this talented rapper.
MC Lovely feat. Jaide – Liquor Breath
Video link:
Directed/Produced by: Vintage Reprise https://www.facebook.com/VintageReprise
Produced by: Chris Nickerson aka Loophole
Recorded, Mixed, and Mastered by: Sonik @ Musicbox Studios
Although it’s not hitting news headlines every day anymore, the Idle No More movement is still holding on strong. In small part from artist like Rellik who are showing their support through the medium they do best.
Check out Rellik’s newest single Idle No More, which has a catchy beat and lyrics, with a profound message: our natural resources belong to us, not foreign corporations.
- Wade Stanley Earl Tompkins, Co-Founder, Flavor Clothing
Born in Somalia, raised in Canada, Ahmed Ali is a spoken word poet coming up through the Edmonton scene. Known more by his alias “Knowmadic,” he is an accomplished young man with multiple awards and performances all over North America. Ali has used his knowledge of the art to found Poetry festivals within the city of Edmonton.
Now, imagine if instead of having segregated communities of Hip Hop, we all put in the effort to support each other. Download some of the local music being made, walk by the free wall sometime and tweet eighbit’s latest piece and scream like crazy at a bboy battle. Our
