Biography
Considered by Dose Magazine to be "one of Canada’s most underrated hip-hop groups", Politic Live is a hip-hop trio born and bread in one of urban music’s most unlikely of places, Edmonton, Alberta. Fusing their West Indian roots with past and modern day hip-hop influences, Politic Live has done their own to diversify the genre of hip-hop and set a stylistic, musical precedence for Canadian hip-hop releases.
Their latest album Adaptation, which was partially funded by a grant they received from the Alberta Foundation for the Arts, spent 10 Weeks on Canada's National Campus Radio Hip-Hop Charts where it peaked at #2. State's side the album had a similar streak with charting activity in Waterville, San Jose and Chicago, where the album's single "Droppin' Gems" charted on Illinois Record Pool's Weekly Top 200 Urban Singles for 13 straight weeks – peaking at #69. The albums latest single "Enough" is presently receiving regular spins in Tokyo, Japan on Joint One Radio.
Opening for the likes of Nas, Snoop Dogg, and The Game; appearing on MuchMusic and CBC; and gaining critical acclaim in both Canada and the US, have left Politic Live with a thirst to continue making music that is commercially accessible but still contains substance. In addition to opening for an extensive list of major label acts and hosting their own local shows, Politic Live has been invited to showcase at national and regional music industry events. Fortunately their work has not gone unnoticed. With the assistance of the province of provincial and federal government bodies, the group has been funded for multiple projects and furthermore has been invited to nationally represent the province’s bourgeoning arts community on more than one occasion.
Philanthropists by nature, Politic Live believe in the importance of walking the walk that they talk. Giving back along the way, Politic Live has been involved in a variety of community efforts over the years. While they have helped raise money for Edmonton’s Youth Emergency Shelter and the Red Cross, their most notable contribution is producing, organizing, and hosting Edmonton’s Hip-Hop For Hunger, an annual Christmas time event that in over 6 years has raised 5,000 lbs of food for the Edmonton Food Bank.
Though “unsigned hype”, Politic Live continues to hustle to make sure their name is a mainstay in the minds of Canada’s hip-hop community. Often faced with negative stereotypes due to their geography, this hip-hop team from the prairies is set to defy those ideologies and penetrate the Canadian music industry and international music community alike.
Festival & Conference Highlights
2009 – Western Canadian Music Awards (Brandon, MB)
2009 – Alberta Untapped Concert Series (Edmonton, AB)
2008 – Western Canadian Music Awards (Edmonton, AB)
2008 – New Music West (Vancouver, BC)
2008 – 26th Annual Canadian Music Week (Toronto, ON)
2007 – The Western Canadian Music Awards (Moose Jaw, SK)
2007 – I Heart Alberta Hip-Hop (Calgary, AB)
2006 – 5th Annual Hip-Hop For Hunger (Edmonton, AB)
2006 – Western Canadian Music Awards (Winnipeg, MB)
2006 – New Music West (Vancouver, BC)
2006 – 24th Annual Canadian Music Week (Toronto, ON)
2005 – 4th Annual Hip-Hop For Hunger (Edmonton, AB)
2005 – Alberta Tracks – A Centennial Music Celebration (Airdrie, AB)
2005 – Alberta Scene (Ottawa, ON)
2005 – 23rd Annual Canadian Music Week (Toronto, ON)
2004 – 3rd Annual Hip-Hop For Hunger (Edmonton, AB)
2004 – 57th Annual Peach Fest (Penticton, BC)
2004 – Juno Fest’s Galaxie Urban Music Showcase (Edmonton, AB)
2004 – 22nd Annual Canadian Music Week (Toronto, ON)
Opening Act Highlights
2009 – Opened for Universal Motown recording artist, Busta Rhymes.
2009 – Opened for Virgin recording artist, Beenie Man.
2009 – Opened for Urbnet/Nine Planets recording artist, DL Incognito, for 13 date Western Canadian Tour.
2009 – Opened for Kon Live recording artist, Kardinal Offishall.
2008 – Opened for Poe Boy Records recording artist, Flo Rida.
2007 – Opened for Def Jam recording artist, Nas.
2007 – Opened for Motown Records recording artist, Marques Houston.
2007 – Opened for Universal/Island recording artist, Lloyd.
2007 – Opened for Nature Sounds recording artist, Hell Razah
2007 – Opened for Urbnet recording artist, Moka Only
2007 – Opened for Sony/BMG recording artist, Omarion.
2006 – Opened for Shady Records recording artist, Obie Trice.
2006 – Opened for Aftermath recording artist, The Game
2006 – Opened for Def Soul recording artists, 112.
2005 – Opened for Aftermath recording artist, The Game.
2005 – Opened for Fader recording artist, Saul Williams.
2005 – Opened for Avatar recording artist, Planet Asia.
2005 – Opened for Life Force recording artist, Afu Ra.
2005 – Opened for Battle Axe recording artists, Abstract Rude.
2004 – Opened for VP/Atlantic recording artist, Elephant Man.
2004 – Opened for BMG recording artists, In Essence.
2003 – Opened for BMG recording artist, Sean Desman.
2003 – Opened for BMG recording artists, The Rascalz.
2002 – Opened for Def Soul recording artists, 112.
2002 – Opened for EMI recording artist, K-Os.
2001 – Opened for TVT recording artist, Snoop Dogg.
Instrumentation
Arlo Maverick – Vocalist
Dirt Gritie – Vocalist
Bigga Nolte – Vocalist
Sonny Grimezz– DJ
Discography
Mahogany Public (Side Project)
Jali
Music For Mavericks Entertainment
Released February 2009
The Mavericks Team
Election Year (Label Compilation)
Music For Mavericks Entertainment
Released June 2008
Politic Live
Adaptation
Music For Mavericks Entertainment
Released December 2006
Dirt Gritie (solo project)
This Man’s Life
Music For Mavericks Entertainment
Released June 2004
Bigga Nolte (solo project)
… Is Tommy Kay
Music For Mavericks Entertainment
Released June 2004
Politic Live
Notoriety
Music For Mavericks Entertainment
Released February 2003
Links
| http://www.politiclive.com |
| Politic Live MySpace |