Aspektz

LW TW ARTIST TITLE LABEL
7 1 CLASSIFIED The Day Doesn't Die Decon
3 2 L.I.F.E. LONG Samurai Code Of Honor RMX Fly Definition
2 3 SWEATSHOP UNION John Lennon URBNET Records
18 4 ASPEKTZ Swivel True Thorobredz - Rap Attack Lives

LW TW ARTIST TITLE LABEL
7 1 CLASSIFIED The Day Doesn't Die Decon
3 2 L.I.F.E. LONG Samurai Code Of Honor RMX Fly Definition
2 3 SWEATSHOP UNION John Lennon URBNET Records
18 4 ASPEKTZ Swivel True Thorobredz - Rap Attack Lives

For Charles Morgan, getting an education was just as important as making a name for himself in the music industry as Aspektz. The Toronto-based hip-hop artist completed a bachelor of commerce degree at Guelph in 2008 and an MBA at York University this year. He’ll be on stage at U of G Sept. 5 for the halftime show at the Orientation Week football game.

“We have a really cool live show,” says Morgan. “It’s super high energy. We’ve been getting a great response, so the show we have planned for O-Week is going to be incredible.” On stage with Aspektz will be drummer Jaren Hayman, also a 2008 B.Comm. grad.

Blending elements of electronic, hip-hop and reggae, Morgan set out to create a signature style of music that represents the 416 to the 905. “We noticed that a lot of regions, like the West Coast and down South, they sort of have region-defining sounds, and we found that Toronto and Canadian hip-hop in general doesn’t really have that region-defining sound. We set out to take elements that haven’t been used and put them together into a sound that can be known on a worldwide level as the Canadian hip-hop sound.”

He’s just as comfortable inking deals in a boardroom as he is performing on stage. It’s that blend of business savvy and musical talent that keeps him at the top of his game. “I approach music from a business-minded perspective, and that’s where the commerce degree enabled me to connect with alumni and other people on a business level.”

Morgan not only writes his own music, he also wrote the theme song for Court Surfing, a basketball show on the Score, and the theme song for the Toronto Raptors called Go Raptors Go. His other corporate partners include Gucci, Lexus and Timberland. “We’ll never piggyback our brand with something we don’t believe in 100 per cent,” he says.

Aspektz’s mix tapes are part of the Academic Probation collection; two mix tapes called Detention and Commencement were released last year, and a third mix tape is scheduled to drop later this year. His latest single, Swivel, was released on iTunes in July, and his album is coming out in December.

When asked if the album Academic Probation is a reflection of his own experience at Guelph, Morgan replies, “I consider myself a student of life. Sometimes certain priorities joust other ones from the list. It’s sort of a reference to juggling all kinds of walks of life. There are also some hidden references that will be explained.”

His music video for the next single, Snow Day, was filmed in Quebec, but this isn’t just another music video. Filmed with a 360-degree camera, the video puts the viewer in the centre of the action.

“If you watch TV, it’s like walking around with blinders on,” says Morgan. “What the 360 camera enables us to do is capture 360 degrees around you at all times.” The online video allows viewers to click and drag the cursor for a panoramic view. “It creates a brand new music video every time you watch it.”

In the Snow Day video, Morgan wore the camera strapped to his chest as he rode a dogsled through the Quebec countryside, taking viewers along for the ride. “You’re actually immersed into the environment,” he says.

Morgan started performing music in high school with some friends. One of them became DJ Wristpect, with whom Morgan maintains a working relationship. Morgan last performed at U of G’s Orientation Week in 2008. This year’s show will also feature DJ/drummer duo Crash Dex.

Always looking for new projects, Morgan plans to find new ways of making music profitable for artists. “We’re looking to develop things like product placement and corporate partnerships where an artist can still make a living from music even though the music is being made available for free.” - The Portico Magazine

Aspektz discusses the triumphs of his career after graduating from the U of G

Oliver Dzuba

Despite its modest size, the University of Guelph is known to produce a rather large amount of highly successful alumni. This institution of higher education has produced hard working individuals who have found careers in law, academia and business. Charles Morgan, who graduated in 2008, is one of the hardest working alumni to come off campus. Morgan is also a bit of an exception, as he’s taken a salient work ethic and applied it to a job that many of us only dream we could have.

Better known as Aspektz, Charles Morgan has led a successful career packed with highlights.

“I draw my influence more from Toronto’s ambiance, its people and their cultures and the visitors through the city,” Morgan stated.

The city of Guelph has also had an impact on the artist. The 25-year-old graduated in April of 2008 from the the University of Guelph’s Bachelor of Commerce Marketing Management program and feels he has learned far more than what academia could offer.

“I learned to juggle upwards of five jobs with academia, girlfriends and my health,” said Morgan, explaining the challenges of pursuing a career in music while in school. Although this was difficult at times, Morgan was able to overcome the difficulties that school work provided. In fact, these difficulties contributed to Morgan’s work ethic and made his career possible.

“I absolutely credit the university experience with teaching me these traits and it’s the reason that I am able to work over 100 hours a week, every week,” Morgan stated.

After his time at the University of Guelph, Morgan was able to spur a successful career under the name Aspektz. This past year in particular showed many steps forward for Morgan and his team. Innovative music video filming techniques, including shooting music videos with a 360-degree camera, have set Aspektz apart from other acts in the music scene.

Orginal ideas such as these have helped bring the Aspektz name to the attention of influential companies and publications. Picking up sponsorships from Canada Goose, Red Bull and Timberland have helped him make great strides forward, and Morgan feels these brands cross-market with his life style.

A feature in iconic XXL hip-hop magazine was both exciting and gratifying for Morgan.

“As the world’s number one hip-hop magazine, it was an honour to get featured but it was also a strong confirmation that the music, visuals and movement behind True Thorobredz was growing on an international basis,” he said, going on to state that this provided many new opportunities for his career.

“The world is smaller than ever and everybody and everything is within your reach” Morgan said.

Aspektz will be performing next Thursday at a surprise venue in Guelph. Follow him on Twitter @Aspektz or “like” his Facebook page for clues and information. - The Ontarion

Aspektz discusses the triumphs of his career after graduating from the U of G

Oliver Dzuba

Despite its modest size, the University of Guelph is known to produce a rather large amount of highly successful alumni. This institution of higher education has produced hard working individuals who have found careers in law, academia and business. Charles Morgan, who graduated in 2008, is one of the hardest working alumni to come off campus. Morgan is also a bit of an exception, as he’s taken a salient work ethic and applied it to a job that many of us only dream we could have.

Better known as Aspektz, Charles Morgan has led a successful career packed with highlights.

“I draw my influence more from Toronto’s ambiance, its people and their cultures and the visitors through the city,” Morgan stated.

The city of Guelph has also had an impact on the artist. The 25-year-old graduated in April of 2008 from the the University of Guelph’s Bachelor of Commerce Marketing Management program and feels he has learned far more than what academia could offer.

“I learned to juggle upwards of five jobs with academia, girlfriends and my health,” said Morgan, explaining the challenges of pursuing a career in music while in school. Although this was difficult at times, Morgan was able to overcome the difficulties that school work provided. In fact, these difficulties contributed to Morgan’s work ethic and made his career possible.

“I absolutely credit the university experience with teaching me these traits and it’s the reason that I am able to work over 100 hours a week, every week,” Morgan stated.

After his time at the University of Guelph, Morgan was able to spur a successful career under the name Aspektz. This past year in particular showed many steps forward for Morgan and his team. Innovative music video filming techniques, including shooting music videos with a 360-degree camera, have set Aspektz apart from other acts in the music scene.

Orginal ideas such as these have helped bring the Aspektz name to the attention of influential companies and publications. Picking up sponsorships from Canada Goose, Red Bull and Timberland have helped him make great strides forward, and Morgan feels these brands cross-market with his life style.

A feature in iconic XXL hip-hop magazine was both exciting and gratifying for Morgan.

“As the world’s number one hip-hop magazine, it was an honour to get featured but it was also a strong confirmation that the music, visuals and movement behind True Thorobredz was growing on an international basis,” he said, going on to state that this provided many new opportunities for his career.

“The world is smaller than ever and everybody and everything is within your reach” Morgan said.

Aspektz will be performing next Thursday at a surprise venue in Guelph. Follow him on Twitter @Aspektz or “like” his Facebook page for clues and information. - The Ontarion

Aspektz, from Toronto, is looking to be the next Canadian born wordsmith to make an impact in hip-hop…

Name: Aspektz

Reppin’: Toronto (In the TDot)

My style and/or skills have been compared to: My work ethic has been compared to Shawn Carter because I’m enterprising 24 hours a day but my flow has hints of everyone from Pitbull to T.I and Big L to Nas. The truth is, you hear a little bit of everyone in an Aspektz track.

I started rapping: After Wu-Tang Forever dropped, I started writing my own flows, rocking mixtapes and shows around the city. That took up most of my earlier years in the game. In the last few years, I started to take it more seriously and tried to get the business side on point and I have since been picked up on TV and started selling songs for videogames and TV shows.

My standout records and/or moments have been: “In the TDot” premiering on national TV was a huge look and since then, I’ve sold tracks for videogames, made TV theme songs and rocked festivals across Canada with the likes of Young Money, JD Era, Keys n Krates and more. Every year we step it up so every time I can bring my team to the next level is the new “standout moment.”

I’m gonna change the game by: Bringing the sound we established in the clubs of Toronto to the rest of the world. Every region has its own sound and the electro-infused sounds we discovered on the singles (In the TDot, Fresh, Swivel) is a combination of the huge palette of sounds that have been birthed in Toronto. It’s the backdrop for anthems that get people moving all over the world and its no longer Toronto’s best-kept secret.

I’d Like to Work With: Artists that are not scared to take chances and create timeless music. Some of the people that fit this description include Sade, Kanye West, Dave Grohl, Mike Posner, Norah Jones and Quincy Jones.

My goal in hip-hop is: To put out timeless tracks so that when you hear them again in 5 or 10 years, you remembered exactly where you were, what you were doing, who you were with and what it felt like the first time you heard it. When you listen to my catalogue in 2025, it will stand the test of time because of the vivid truth we put into it.

I’m gonna be the next: I will follow the path of nobody in front of me and instead help to break down genre barriers in music. The world is too small to be putting up fences so lets knock a few down while I’m here. - XXL Magazine

We featured these dudes previously in our unsigned section, now download the mixtape.

Aspectz & Kenny Powers o/b/o Eastbound & DownTime, release their mixtape, The 7th Inning Stretch. Available now for free download. Check it out and let us know what you all think. Yes, it’s different but we think you’ll like. - Turntable Tendencies

We featured these dudes previously in our unsigned section, now download the mixtape.

Aspectz & Kenny Powers o/b/o Eastbound & DownTime, release their mixtape, The 7th Inning Stretch. Available now for free download. Check it out and let us know what you all think. Yes, it’s different but we think you’ll like. - Turntable Tendencies

Forget the peanuts and cracker jacks – crack a cold Miller High Life and pay attention. Take a ride with Aspektz and your favorite degenerate pitcher – Kenny Powers, as they take you on a wild adventures on their way back to the big leagues. The 7th Inning Stretch, brought to you by Miller High Life x HBO x True Thorobredz, boasts exclusive production from Agent R and chronicles the madness from North America’s favorite new TV Show – Eastbound & Down. - Raw Drive

Eastbound & Down is quality television. The show is outta control and straight up comedy. Aspektz knows just as well as I do that anything to do with Kenny Powers is fuckin awesome. The rap could be better at times but Kenny F*!?ing Powers helps this one flow smoothly with some well placed cuts from the show incorporated in each song.

Unfortunately, I do not have a playlist. You can download the whole mixtape here. It’s only around 10 tracks so it’s a quick listen. Below are my top 3 that you can listen/download via limelinx. - Too Sick Muzik

Eastbound & Down is quality television. The show is outta control and straight up comedy. Aspektz knows just as well as I do that anything to do with Kenny Powers is fuckin awesome. The rap could be better at times but Kenny F*!?ing Powers helps this one flow smoothly with some well placed cuts from the show incorporated in each song.

Unfortunately, I do not have a playlist. You can download the whole mixtape here. It’s only around 10 tracks so it’s a quick listen. Below are my top 3 that you can listen/download via limelinx. - Too Sick Muzik

People really love this show. For some reason I’m never around when it airs (or I forget that it’s even on sometimes), so I wouldn’t know why. Those people that do know why, however, may get a kick out of this mixtape. Tracklist and link down bottom. - 2dopeboyz

Forget the peanuts and cracker jacks – crack a cold Miller High Life and pay attention. Take a ride with Aspektz and your favorite degenerate pitcher – Kenny Powers, as they take you on a wild adventures on their way back to the big leagues. The 7th Inning Stretch, brought to you by Miller High Life x HBO x True Thorobredz, boasts exclusive production from Agent R and chronicles the madness from North America’s favorite new TV Show – Eastbound & Down.

itstheBino: For all of those out there who don’t know, who is exactly is Aspektz?

Aspektz: First and foremost – Aspektz is a genuine human being. The origins of the True Thorobredz and Mr Thoro are essentially based in loyalty – to the team, to our goals and to our families. Aspektz is the future of music. I have been blessed with the opportunity to travel and party and interact with so many different people from all over the world and by including that in my music, I get to expose and motivate people who don’t think its possible for them to do the same. That is one of the greatest feelings in the world. People reach out to me all the time and say, you know, “I’ve never been to Toronto,” but the IN THE TDOT video makes them want to come and throw down. They say music is a universal language and when people from Europe or Asia hit me up about the tracks, sometimes I just fall back and think how crazy this whole ride has been.

itstheBino: When did you first start rapping?

Aspektz: I started rapping back when I was about 14, in between classes at my school. We would kick freestyles every day and it was a competitive atmosphere. Being a competitive little bastard since I was born, I had to make sure I rocked the cypher better than all the older heads (laughs). That led to a ton of demo’s and misguided songs that I pray don’t turn up anywhere (laughs) but it was all a process to find who I am and what I represent as a man and as an artist.

itstheBino: Who inspired you to make music?

Aspektz: Definitely my pops. My whole family is crazy into music, whether its my old man with rock and roll or my sister with drum and bass or jungle back in the day. I guess the passion for it just passed on to me so when I started recording, I didn’t think there was a narrow lane to make this thing called hip-hop. It has definitely been one of my biggest advantages because while other artists are stuck making the same boom-bap or dirty South tracks, I’m incorporating electric guitars and crazy synthesizers into the tracks. I have to send a thoro salute to Triple A on that too because he comes up with some of the dopest and most unique beats I have ever heard.

itstheBino: Have you looked up to other Canadian artists, specifically Drake? What have you learned most from watching him progress into a superstar?

Aspektz: As far as looking up to other artists, and this is a conversation I had with my producer (Triple A) the other day, other than Drake, there haven’t been too many Canadian artists that have really grasped the new infrastructure of the music industry. Getting a song on the radio seems to be the height of success for so many of them and, having achieved that with national videoplay to go along with it, it didn’t really strike me as a peak. The challenge from that point on was to leverage that into other opportunities like working with the Toronto Raptors (theme song), building with TV sports networks to cut tracks and songwriting with major artists. I guess to answer the second question, his rise basically confirmed what I learned from my other entrepreneurial ventures, which is that success is based on planning and synergy. Once you get that buzz, you need to diversify and give people a full perspective on you as a person and through various outlets, not just radio and 30 second TV clips. That’s why I’m always trying to reach out to fans that hit me up through Twitter or Facebook or email.

itstheBino: What has been the most exciting moment of your career so far?

Aspektz: Some of the songwriting opportunities I have been granted have been mind blowing so I would definitely say being able to write for some open-minded major artists. I also did a joint dedicated to my grandmother when she was terminally ill, called Fading, and it was one of the first times I opened up to that personal side of my life. It wasn’t exactly the most exciting moment, but releasing a joint like that to almost 7 billion people is the best therapy I could ask for. Rest in peace Grandma Thoro. Some other memorable moments are the college and university shows, because the fans in those cities are so wild. I love rocking a show where people are just ready to get crazy and have a dope time from start to end. Plus when the show is over, you know how that goes (laughs).

itstheBino: Can you explain how you collaborated with HBO and Eastbound and Down to create the new 7th Inning Stretch mixtape?

Aspektz: I’m a huge supporter of Danny McBride and Will Ferrell, respectively, - itsTheBino

Forget the peanuts and cracker jacks – crack a cold Miller High Life and pay attention. Take a ride with Aspektz and your favorite degenerate pitcher – Kenny Powers, as they take you on a wild adventures on their way back to the big leagues. The 7th Inning Stretch, brought to you by Miller High Life x HBO x True Thorobredz, boasts exclusive production from Agent R and chronicles the madness from North America’s favorite new TV Show – Eastbound & Down.

itstheBino: For all of those out there who don’t know, who is exactly is Aspektz?

Aspektz: First and foremost – Aspektz is a genuine human being. The origins of the True Thorobredz and Mr Thoro are essentially based in loyalty – to the team, to our goals and to our families. Aspektz is the future of music. I have been blessed with the opportunity to travel and party and interact with so many different people from all over the world and by including that in my music, I get to expose and motivate people who don’t think its possible for them to do the same. That is one of the greatest feelings in the world. People reach out to me all the time and say, you know, “I’ve never been to Toronto,” but the IN THE TDOT video makes them want to come and throw down. They say music is a universal language and when people from Europe or Asia hit me up about the tracks, sometimes I just fall back and think how crazy this whole ride has been.

itstheBino: When did you first start rapping?

Aspektz: I started rapping back when I was about 14, in between classes at my school. We would kick freestyles every day and it was a competitive atmosphere. Being a competitive little bastard since I was born, I had to make sure I rocked the cypher better than all the older heads (laughs). That led to a ton of demo’s and misguided songs that I pray don’t turn up anywhere (laughs) but it was all a process to find who I am and what I represent as a man and as an artist.

itstheBino: Who inspired you to make music?

Aspektz: Definitely my pops. My whole family is crazy into music, whether its my old man with rock and roll or my sister with drum and bass or jungle back in the day. I guess the passion for it just passed on to me so when I started recording, I didn’t think there was a narrow lane to make this thing called hip-hop. It has definitely been one of my biggest advantages because while other artists are stuck making the same boom-bap or dirty South tracks, I’m incorporating electric guitars and crazy synthesizers into the tracks. I have to send a thoro salute to Triple A on that too because he comes up with some of the dopest and most unique beats I have ever heard.

itstheBino: Have you looked up to other Canadian artists, specifically Drake? What have you learned most from watching him progress into a superstar?

Aspektz: As far as looking up to other artists, and this is a conversation I had with my producer (Triple A) the other day, other than Drake, there haven’t been too many Canadian artists that have really grasped the new infrastructure of the music industry. Getting a song on the radio seems to be the height of success for so many of them and, having achieved that with national videoplay to go along with it, it didn’t really strike me as a peak. The challenge from that point on was to leverage that into other opportunities like working with the Toronto Raptors (theme song), building with TV sports networks to cut tracks and songwriting with major artists. I guess to answer the second question, his rise basically confirmed what I learned from my other entrepreneurial ventures, which is that success is based on planning and synergy. Once you get that buzz, you need to diversify and give people a full perspective on you as a person and through various outlets, not just radio and 30 second TV clips. That’s why I’m always trying to reach out to fans that hit me up through Twitter or Facebook or email.

itstheBino: What has been the most exciting moment of your career so far?

Aspektz: Some of the songwriting opportunities I have been granted have been mind blowing so I would definitely say being able to write for some open-minded major artists. I also did a joint dedicated to my grandmother when she was terminally ill, called Fading, and it was one of the first times I opened up to that personal side of my life. It wasn’t exactly the most exciting moment, but releasing a joint like that to almost 7 billion people is the best therapy I could ask for. Rest in peace Grandma Thoro. Some other memorable moments are the college and university shows, because the fans in those cities are so wild. I love rocking a show where people are just ready to get crazy and have a dope time from start to end. Plus when the show is over, you know how that goes (laughs).

itstheBino: Can you explain how you collaborated with HBO and Eastbound and Down to create the new 7th Inning Stretch mixtape?

Aspektz: I’m a huge supporter of Danny McBride and Will Ferrell, respectively, - itsTheBino

Aspektz's mixtape Academic Probation: Detention starts hype with hosts/DJs The Ill Kids drenching the intro in air raid sirens and lots of yelling as they blend in club anthem and first single “In the Tdot.” They follow it up with further club jams “Mr Thoro,” “Baby I'm A Star” and “Cutty Buddy,” piecing the songs together with more chaotic interludes filled with sound effects, yelling of song credits and crew affiliations, and the occasional cuts. As the technique used throughout, it wears thin rather quickly and comes off as an attempt to cover up poor blends. The Ill Kidz also kill the vibe too quick, mellowing out only five tracks in with Anthony David's R&B-ish “Smoke Out” featuring a verse from Aspektz followed by the played out auto-tune R&B of cringe-worthy “Flight School” and the (thankfully) more hyper “Heartless.” The drum and keys minimalism of “Thoro Season” and the boom bap tracks “Against the Odds” and “Royalty Freestyle” are further keepers, as are a couple of other of the club beats. Aspektz drops some knowledge amongst the generic rap topics but he just doesn't sound as comfortable with his flow on the slower tracks, making many of the club tracks the ones that stand-out. In the end, a studio album with fewer, fuller songs would have been better appreciated. The Deluxe Edition also comes with a DVD of the video for “In the Tdot,” which does a good job of working an interesting concept, but additional videos, live show footage or even an interview would have made for nice extras on this bare bones DVD. [Thomas Quinlan] - UrbNet

November 2nd, 2009 – Toronto, CA – Aspektz, Toronto born and raised, recently debuted the video for his new single "In the TDot" to critical acclaim. Directed by Sharpshooter, the man behind the lens for numerous #1 videos already, Aspektz is poised to tackle both the urban markets as well as the pop charts with the dynamic new sound. As he prepares to release his first album "Academic Probation", the True Thorobredz ring leader has crafted a sound totally new to the city's ears.

Produced by internationally applauded hit maker Triple A, the video shows Aspektz bringing the streets of Toronto to life. The video is available on Much Music as well as MTV and has been picking up steam across both CHR and college radio. "We knew the song was going to be major for the city. The city has never seen a movement of this caliber, where a totally new direction in sound and visuals has been able to represent the city we all love" said Aspektz. "There has been a lot of criticism about the amount of love an artist can receive coming from where I come from, but the truth is, if we, as artists, put out strong music like this, the proof is in the pudding."

Currently Aspektz is putting the final touches on his debut album "Academic Probation" while preparing to tour Canada with video releases and launch dates. The followup single, entitled "Addicted to Getting Fresh" is due out in early December, on the same date as the album release.

For more info on Aspektz visit www.myspace.com/aspektz or follow him on twitter www.twitter.com/aspektz

For further inquiries and bookings contact Mr. Thoro || [mrthoro@gmail.com]
Click below to view Aspektz's current single "In the TDot"
http://www.sendspace.com/file/609en7 - HipHop Press

Do you think the picture is too blunt? Actually, it would probably serve the cities of Canada better if we had these posters plastered around every corner and every wall.

For too long, we (Canadians) would go to a concert for any major international band or singer, meanwhile ignoring our local artists.

We still tend to ignore the grassroots music artists that are right around us. With hard work, a Canadian indie/underground music artist has a shot at making it in Canada, however, the theory remains, that Canadians as a whole, cannot accept a local music artist as a major star until they have success in the U.S.

Success in the States doesn't have to be the only means to success in the pop music industry nowadays. With the advent of affordable music recording programs like Pro Tools, music websites, itunes, or video editing programs like Final Cut, etc., the indie/urban music artist has much more available to them, at a lower cost, then ever before.

Starting today, we will show a series of articles highlighting great videos of local music artists, from different cities in Canada. This week we begin the series with Toronto's local music videos.

Again, it would be easy to put up videos from Toronto music stars like: Sum 41, Feist, Drake, Lights, Billy Talent, K'naan, and the list goes on. So, strictly indie videos will be shown here, except if an established artist has a really good video that showcases their home cities. So, let's start the Toronto indie video series.

********************************

The artist known as Aspektz or nicknamed playfully Ontario Banderas, he's been writing and performing locally for a long time, and has grown up among ecletic music his whole life. He's signed to the record label the True Thorobredz, loaded with a new Myspace, and a lot of views on his new single. The recently released first single from Academic Probation through itunes, which is entitled, "In The TDot".

Aspektz Myspace: www.myspace.com/aspektz

Aspektz - In the TDot (Produced by Triple A) (YOUTUBE LINK) - Examiner