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"If this world was mine, all my homies on the block would put down their Nine. Politics would be about the truth, so every country I walked would send home their troops."
There you have it. In two succint lines, 80 Proof, an obscure hip-hop group from Lawrence Heights, smashes two stereotypes. One: that hip-hop is in love with guns. And two: that the music has lost its political conscience.
The track I pulled those lyrics from is called If It Was and it's off 80 Proof's debut album, The First Sip. This is definitely one of the most optimistic hip-hop jams I've heard in a while. It imagines a world where there's "no crime, no sirens, no people in the streets dying," no homelessness, teenage pregnancy and AIDS clinics.
The group is made up of two friends, Richard Gopaul, a.k.a. ReeGee, and Courtney Chambers, a.k.a. C-MAC. Both boast interesting musical backgrounds: Richard played trumpet and guitar before falling in love with hip-hop.
And before he was bitten by the hip-hop bug, Courtney participated in his school choir and played the violin.
Here's hoping that some of their contemporaries in this city take a page from the track If It Was and not be shy to drop songs filled with optimism instead of songs that reinforce negative stereotypes.
This review was originally posted on March 28, 2007.
http://www.cbc.ca/metromorning/metromusic/2007/03/80_proof.html - CBC Metro Morning Metro Music
Discography
The First Sip LP - 2005
If It Was - Single - Featured on CBC Radio 1 and 102.1 The Edge
Working on Second Album, Release date TBA
Photos
Bio
Once upon a hot minute in the T-Dot, the year was 2003, Richard Gopaul (ReeGee) and Courtney Malcolm Alexander Chambers (C.M.A.C) came together to form a truly unique sounding in your face hip hop duo now known as 80 Proof. 80 Proof is now storming the Canadian hip hop scene with their independently produced debut album The First Sip. Comprised of 14 blazing tunes, from club hits, ladies joints, to street bangers, and more personal tracks, 80 Proof’s debut CD has something for every listener out there. “We wanted to make a record that would appeal to anybody. We’re very versatile in the music we listen to and we wanted to portray that same versatility to our audience through our own music.” The album truly shines with different styles. 80 Proof proves they can rock the club in tunes like Party In Here Tonight, they can appeal to the ladies with hits like Tell Me When You Ready and Beautiful girls, they can keep it hood with tracks like What’s Really Good and Too Hot, they have a humorous side unleashed in No Pimps No Dimes and We’z Crazy Son, but they can also keep it serious and personal with tracks like album opener Just Live and If It Was. 80 Proof undeniably brings their own sound to the table. ReeGee’s alternative/hip hop vocal style, put together with CMAC’s straight hood style makes for an agreeable and original blend of vocals. Throw in ReeGee’s patented beat technique, laced with slamming drums and soulful funky guitar riffs, 80 Proof delivers a new flavor of hip hop that is unparalleled and innovative in its own right.
Official Website
www.80-proof.com
Youtube Channel
http://www.youtube.com/80proofcanada
80 Proof on MYSPACE
http://www.myspace.com/80proofcanada
Links
