G.Grand

"So much style without substance
So much stuff without style
It’s hard to recognize the real thing
It comes along once in a while”

An astute lyrical observation from Rush drummer/chief lyricist Neil Peart in the band’s song “Grand Designs” can still be applied to the world of music today – where listeners may indeed have to wade through that which is lacking to find something quality. This idea of aspiring to execute at a high level rings true for Ottawa’s G.Grand and Jeepz – the emcee/producer combo who made waves within the community one year ago with their Freshly Pressed EP. Stepping back into the spotlight with a brand new full-length in tow, Grand Designs serves as a twelve track manifesto dedicated to setting goals and working towards them – all to the blueprint of incredibly clever wordplay and knocking, sample-driven instrumentals.

With a touch of class on the record’s simple piano introduction, G.Grand outlines his goal of making the most evocative music possible. It doesn’t take him long to do so, getting started immediately after with smashing opener “Look Up To The Sky”. Is it a bird? A plane? Not quite – it’s the emcee himself rattling off bars at a speed previously unheard in his prior work. [Welcome to the show, name is Grand, I’m your host/Specialist in pushing audio dope/Psychedelic for your ears/Beat like smoke/Wordplay to put rappers in a choke] – such lightening fast execution over top of flighty vibraphones makes for a dizzying trip in his verses indeed. It’s an early favourite for the summer playlist – as well as one of the best things to ever come from the collaboration.

Though he may not rap as fast anywhere else on the record, it seems that one new trait in G.Grand’s recorded performance replaces another. At points, we hear a little more power and aggression than has been exhibited on past releases. “Une Chanson Pour Toi” crashes forth in a near drunken brawler fashion, bars being spit with a vengeance accompanied by a beat that (as the lyrics say) will truly make one’s head snap back. “Pardon Me, Brother” carries itself with a similar, swaggering gait, seeing G.Grand take an introspective look towards family members, spurred on by some heavy-hitting hand drums and horns.

Most of all, the consistency in G.Grand’s writing has stayed sharp – showing a strong, precise command over the language that will have your brain trying to keep up with each line. Listen close enough and you can catch references to Francis Ford Coppola, orchestral music playing techniques, Juicy J, martial arts, eating opposing emcees for three square meals a day, the art of seduction, and the name of almost every featured artist on the record – and that’s just the tip of the iceberg.

The duo have opened the doors to a few collaborators as well, from both here and away. Hyfidelik the GypsySun of fellow Ottawa wordsmiths Missing LinX makes a quick appearance on the jazzy “Give ‘Em A Show”, while G.Grand makes sure to save a spot for his Class of 84 cohort Logik on “Where You Are”. He is also joined on the mic by Fairfield, California’s Kay Flow (who has also worked alongside Jeepz), and Montreal native Words.

On the instrumental side of things, Jeepz has returned with an expanded sonic palette. A handful of these new compositions draw on jazz music samples – from the smooth, fusion stylings of Roy Ayers and George Benson to his reworking of a producer playbook favourite in French outfit Cortex. Fear not – the soul still heavily lies in the chops of classics from Curtis Mayfield and Lou Bond, among others. Armed with a library of drum breaks so vast it could take days to hear them all, is it time to refer to knocking percussion as a signature component of his sound? Certainly – tracks such as “Une Chanson…” and “We Bout It” make it hard not to. The latter sees the beat conductor get a little help on the decks from fellow Ottawa producer DJ So Nice, who lays down some fine record scratches over the bouncing backbeat.

Grand Designs‘ closing track should give us all something to think about – “We might as well get it”. This release sees G.Grand and Jeepz on their way to truly getting theirs, and for a newly minted graduate looking for a foothold in this writing world like myself, this is a quality collection of sounds for getting mine.

Stream the entire album in the player below. Read some quick thoughts on the duo’s previous effort, Freshly Pressed, and a profile on producer Jeepz. - Music Notes Blog - Callum Singerland (Exclaim, Noisey)