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2OOLMAN
Key Haviah Collab : “ Smoke feat . Clairmont the Second ” Also Check Out : A Tribe Called Red ’ s “ Land Back feat . Boogey the Beat & Northern Voice ” On top of his success as one half of acclaimed producer / DJ duo A Tribe Called Red , Tim “ 2oolman ” Hill was the co-executive producer of 13 th Floor and the architect behind some of its tracks . He ’ s got a number of highly anticipated projects underway , including his first instrumental beat tape , the follow-up to ATCR ’ s spectacular 2016 LP We Are the Halluci Nation , and collaborations with the likes of Narcy , Odario , Shad , SonReal , Sayzee , and a few more .
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CLAIRMONT THE SECOND
Key Haviah Collab : “ Smoke ” Also Check Out : “ Bent ” from It ’ s Not How It Sounds It ’ s Not How It Sounds , released in July 2020 , is the sixth studio album and second in as many years from the innovative and inimitable Clairmont the Second , and offers something of a musical masterclass . Clairmont produced , mixed , and played every instrument on all but one of the collection ’ s nine tracks , and together , they showcase a wide breadth of his unique artistry . Based solely on its quality and potency , Clairmont should be huge , and at the rate he ’ s working , it shouldn ’ t be long before more people catch up .
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DJ DEM ONES
Key Haviah Collab : “ In Women Colour ” Also Check Out : Killer mixes on her SoundCloud Toronto ’ s DJ Dem Ones perfectly embodies the richness , depth , and inventiveness of the music coming out of her home city . When she ’ s not developing mixes or commanding crowds of her own , Dem Ones holds down the decks for Haviah ’ s performances . Her mixing style boasts tinges of dancehall , hip-hop , house music , and more , all anchored by huge bass and an uplifting , free-spirited energy . That ’ s her voice in the final verse of the awesome “ In Women Colour ” switching from smooth runs to ripping lead guitarsounding licks .
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MIGHTY PRYNCE
Key Haviah Collab : “ Blame ” Also Check Out : the myriad of beats available on his website While he ’ s still relatively early into his music career , Mighty Prynce came out swinging and made a major statement with some big , punchy productions on his sister ’ s 13 th Floor , including two of its most potent tracks : “ Blame ” and “ Bag Up .” The range of beats streaming ( and available for sale ) on his website paint an even clearer picture of his prowess and potential as a unique voice and should have people stoked when his signature tag “ This shit Mighty Prynce , boy ” kicks off any track going forward .
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OBUXUM
Key Haviah Collab : “ In Women Colour ” Also Check Out : “ Don ’ t Blame Them feat . yourhomienaomi ” Obuxum is a sonic storyteller , weaving a plethora of sounds , emotions , and attitudes through her creations regardless of whether they ’ re released under someone else ’ s name or her own . The year after 13 th Floor won the 2019 Polaris Music Prize , Obuxum got a Long List nod herself for her captivating sophomore collection , Re-Birth . The album ’ s often weighty themes pair perfectly with its uncompromising , unapologetic musical foundation that spans swirling , seductive R & B through to big , bass-heavy house beats , and tons in between .
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OMEGA MIGHTY
Key Haviah Collab : “ Wishy Washy ” Also Check Out : Some upcoming new releases … Omega Mighty is Haviah ’ s older sister and a talented singer , MC , and dancer in her own right . Her style unites contemporary R & B and dancehall and is largely responsible for making “ Wishy Washy ” from 13 th Floor one of the standout tracks on a standout album . Omega wears multiple hats within the Mighty Gang universe as Haviah ’ s personal makeup artist , choreographer , and confidant . She says the pandemic has been “ a time of reflection and songwriting ” and teases that new material under the Mighty Gang banner is coming soon .
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ROBOTAKI
Key Haviah Collab : “ Thirteen ” Also Check Out : “ Now That We ’ ve Been in Love ” Preston Chin is the multi-instrumentalist , songwriter , and producer behind the Robotaki moniker . Over the past decade , he ’ s become a widely recognized and revered musician known for expertly implementing his delicate touch and sounds into a wide array of genres and styles . After a breakthrough headlining tour in 2018 and support slots alongside ODESZA , Madeon , Porter Robinson , Jai Wolf , and others , he reached another turning point in his career earlier in 2020 with the release of his debut album , The Grand Mirage .
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SEAN LEON
Key Haviah Collab : “ Waves ” Also Check Out : “ Aquarius ” ( Available exclusively on SoundCloud ) After establishing himself as an in-demand international artist , Sean Leon stormed out of the gates with his songwriting debut on Daniel Caesar ’ s CASE STUDY 01 , which he followed with writing and placement credits on Kanye West ’ s Jesus Is King . His latest endeavor , PUPIL , is an independent cultural boutique that specializes in the ethical development and distribution of music , film , and apparel with a futuristic eye on health and technology .
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TAABU
Key Haviah Collab : “ Wishy Washy feat . Omega Mighty ” Also Check Out : “ Honey ” Born Spencer Heaslip , Taabu is a powerhouse creator and producer who can comfortably work within – or combine – a myriad of musical styles , from metal to EDM to pop , hip-hop , reggae , and more . Surrounding his contributions to “ Wishy Washy ,” one of 13 th Floor ’ s most compelling and popular tracks , Taabu also took on collabs with Snotty Nose Rez Kids , The Sorority , Rochester , Lex Leosis , and many more . He ’ s also got a string of singles and EPs under his own name that showcase his production prowess and wide spectrum of sonic influence .
YOUNG DREADZ
Key Haviah Collab : “ Squad ” Also Check Out : “ On the Low ” from Haviah ’ s 2017 album Flower City Montreal-based composer and beat maker Young Dreadz draws on over 10 years of formal music instruction to generate boundarypushing sounds that defy genre , era , and other stylistic confines . He ’ s also a trained engineer who ’ s studied at the prestigious SAE Institute in Paris and now teaches at Recording Arts Canada in his home city . He has composed , arranged , performed on , recorded , and mixed tracks from a wide array of artists , and of his numerous works with Haviah , he says : “ We have a special alchemy that makes each collaboration easy and allows us to combine the best of our creative
minds .”
CANADIAN MUSICIAN 37
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