Toronto MC and Canadian Hip Hop ambassador Kardinal Offishall stepped on BET’s 106 & Park’s stage Monday and ripped it! Kardi always bigs up the home front and it makes me proud.

His new album “Not 4 Sale” drops in September. I’m not loving the first single “Dangerous” (that’s a good sign)  it’s doing what it’s supposed to do, the buzz is building. The album features appearances from Riahnna, Estelle, Clipse, and homegrown reggae master Lindo P plus production from Freq faves Jake One, Nottz, Exile and hometown hero Boi-1da.

We know what the album is built for. Looking at the track list and hearing a few joints it looks like a good mix of radio hits and some ish we’d play. Here are a couple leaks for yo ass, Kardi and Clipse “Set It Off” and Kardi with Lindo P “Burnt” both heatery. If that’s not enough download the mixcd with Clinton Sparks, Limited Time Only .

- Inzane

Kardinal Offishall Ft. Clipse - Set It Off [ 4:13 ] Play Now | Play in Popup | Download

Kardinall Offishall Ft. Lindo P - Burnt [ 3:49 ] Play Now | Play in Popup | Download

YouTube. The only place where you can make a complete ass of yourself and become a star. Dude was on the Ellen Degeneres Show for this. Who needs all these high priced ad agencies and consultants. Hip Hop has come along way but this guy regresses it back a few decades. Enjoy.

Can’t stop, won’t stop… take that, take that. Another LP that never saw the light of day due to label complications. The quality once again not the greatest, which is a bit of a tease considering some of the joints are bangin’. My picks are “Autobiography”, “Tools Of The Trade”, “M.N.C.B”, the Pete Rock joint, and “Understand”. I guess this is for the hardcore BCC heads, which I know T Dot is a breeding ground for.

DOWNLOAD IT HERE!

- (Man Like)Keezy

Toronto production team Tone Mason hangs out with us to conclude this session of The New North. These guys have worked with local cats like Rochester, JB and Choclair to name a few to international artists like Talib Kweli to Fantasia. Yet you still might not know them, we’ll fix that.

The Real Frequency July 7th, 2008: The New North f/ Tone Mason11:00-11:33
Common – The Movement (Prod. J Dilla)
Common f/ Pharrell – The Announcement
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The Real Frequency July 7th, 08 [ 1:38:38 ] Play Now | Play in Popup | Download

In the last 5 years, I’ve really opened myself up to a whole other world of inspiration, namely art and design. My personal feeling is that hip-hop doesn’t always represent itself in the best visual way. Graffiti has always been a staple of our culture, but I hardly feel we should be relegated to it. But for some reason, the hip-hop art world outside of graffiti rarely garners any attention. I discovered the work of Kehinde Wiley by accident. I was watching a short film by Hillman Curtis (www.hillmancurtis.com) on design icon Stefan Sagmeister and ended up on www.deitch.com, a NY art gallery that just happened to be featuring the work of the aforementioned Mr. Wiley. I’m hardly the first person to co-sign Kehinde Wiley. I just find it interesting that Elton John was up on him before I was. I could interpret his work at length. But that would be shit compared to checking it out yourself at www.kehindewiley.com.

Easily one of the illest documentaries I’ve ever seen. This story of two grown men living out their destinies to become the World Champion in Donkey Kong is amazing on too many levels. You won’t believe the characters at first. I initially suspected it might be a mockumentary. But make no mistake, this is not FUBAR. The 80’s Arcade Nerd is alive and well. It baffles me how serious these dudes take themselves. Billy Mitchell. Steve Wiebe. Roy Shildt aka Mr. Awesome. Besides being obsessive gamers, they all have on thing in common. They’re all oblivious to the fact that the film they’re starring in reeks of irony.
Mandatory viewing.

-Arcee

REEL PEOPLE “AMAZING”

R&B has been off my radar of late. But a few months ago, I heard my man Jason Palma play this record on the radio and I had to know what it was.
Reel People’s “Amazing” is quintessentially summer. And reminiscent of the early 80’s old school R&B that collectors have recently labeled modern soul. It’s colourful, vibrant music that’ll have you double checking the release date.

- Arcee

Reel People - Amazing [ 5:19 ] Play Now | Play in Popup | Download

More from our man Theology.

Pt. 2 and Freestyle.

The New North Theo 3 Pt. 2 [ 0:01 ] Play Now | Play in Popup | Download

The New North: Theology 3 Freestyle [ 0:01 ] Play Now | Play in Popup | Download

With all the madness going on with oil prices which in turn drives up the cost of just about everything you’d think something like this would be headline news.

This is amazing. A car that runs on water, yes water, or almost any liquid. In these days and times this is so necessary, we’ll see how it plays out. I’m quite sure big oil will try to squash this like they did the electric car.

- Inzane.