Classified – July/August 2005
Who: Classified
What: De-Classify
Where: Halifax, NS
To Contact: Urbnet Records, (647) 271-7736, .
Halifax rapper Classified’s latest album, Boy-Cott-In The Industry (on Urbnet/Outside Music), features cover art of picketers carrying such signs as “What Happened To Hip-Hop?” and “Pop Is Not The Answer.” Inside, a bunch of guys are up against the wall. That’s likely how most Canadian hip-hop artists feel. It just ain’t easy. Not much has changed the past decade. It’s been the same names dominating the domestic urban scene, with the odd breakthrough, usually given a leg up by fellow MCs. On what is calculated as Classified’s tenth release, the MC, songwriter and producer (real name: Luke Boyd) gets help from Juno-winning Choclair and former Columbia artist Royce 5’9. Also guesting are J-Bru, Spesh K, Jay Bizzy, and Classified’s brother, Mic Boyd. The video for “5th Element” received immediate play on MuchMusic. A long time in the hip-hop game, Classified has delivered an exceptional work, self-produced at his own HalfLife Studios. He rhymes about a lot of the usual stuff (the state of hip-hop, crap-hop etc.), but his music has soul, due in part to the addition of live instruments. He played keyboards, and brought in guitarists and bassists, and the cool touch of violin courtesy of Sean Kemp. “It’s Just My Opinion”, “Listen” and particularly “No Mistake” and “Problemz” are all accessible. This guy should be De-Classified.