This Is Book's Music

DL Incognito has a decent album in his hands with Someday Is Less Than A Second Away (URBNET), yet as I listened to it in full, then again, I found myself wondering if this was all that he had to offer. This Toronto MC definitely has skills and knows how to write a song, but from afar it seemed that he found himself locked in one style of rapping and a certain lyrical structure, and kept going with it throughout the entire album. On top of that, his voice stands out but to hear those same tones say words in the same exact way over and over gets a bit old by the time the halfway point of the album comes along. It’s not until the second half where things change just a bit but by them I found myself concentrating more on the production and less on DL Incognito himself. Not a good thing. I found the guests on the album, including Adam Bomb and the great D-Sisive, did better than the star attraction. DL does have something to say, and listeners should pay attention to his stories. For my tastes, I would have liked a bit more variety in how he said these things. Where things hold up strongly, I wish there was more focus on those elements so that these songs could have had time to shine.

Ever since he has removed the mask, D-Sisive has been coming out strong with great music and videos, and here’s yet another. This one, directed by Davin Black, is called “When We Die We Die Together”, perhaps a salute to brother- and sisterhood or… maybe not. Then again, maybe it’s about saluting the power of community, wherever you go. Take it to heart. D-Sisive did, and it’s a winner. Also a winner: the album the song is from, called Jonestown 3: The Dream Is Over.

D-Sisive’s lyrically rich “Don’t Turn The Lights Out” brings him together with fellow Canadians Neverending White Lightsa>, who are adventurous in what they do in the same way D-Sisive is with hip-hop. The song can be found on the deluxe edition of D-Sisive’s Run With The Creeps, available via Bandcamp.

D-Sisive has been quite busy in the last year. His music has always been revealing, whether it’s metaphorical or otherwise, but of course now you can see his face. Like all of us, a mask is always nearby in times of shame, but no shame in the game… okay, I’ll stop. I’ll just say that D-Sisive has made a new video (directed by Dan Jardine) for his forthcoming album, Run With The Creeps (The D-Luxe Edition). You can listen to it in full with the Bandcamp player below, as well as pre-order it for your permanent pleasures. Go ahead.

At the moment the mainstream used hip-hop music for its selfish benefit, it was when one half of the music stunted its own growth. The other half went to college, decided to experiment, try new substances, smell new smells, explore culinary delights, and went out of its way to show that entering new school meant truly opening the new book of knowledge. URBNET‘s brand new compilation, Underground Hip-Hop Vol. 07 is a perfect example of the energies of MC, DJ’s, and producers who may have the energy of youth but are ready to take on the mic as adults to show and prove.

The artists here are not the sole example of what underground hip-hop is about, but merely a slice of some of the best that is out there today. There’s incredible work here from D-Sisive, Moka Only, Declaim, Rel!g!on (whose “Classical Musical” is an optimistic view of how this music will one day be discussed in high regard in 2000 years, with Ras Kass, Torae, and Planet Asia offering their testimonies), Emay, Noah23 & Krem, Animal Nation, and many more.

If there’s one stand-out verse, it has to be that found in Pigeon Hole‘s “Loop Tape”, which will definitely bring back memories for those who will listen to this album and understand exactly what they’re trying to do:

“I grew on the classics, The Chronic‘s, Illmatic‘s
36 Chambers, even Ill & Al Skratch shit
back when we used to laugh how ugly Craig Mack is
when Del still did acid and Hiero was massive
Southernplayalistic Outkast Cadillac shit
Something for my Walkman, I could sing along and rap with
Doggystyle was a favorite
Even though mom and dad probably just hated me for playing it
Sayin’ shit like “G’z up, ho’s down”
And biyaach, we would watch Rap City soul out
Don’t front, don’t front, you know I gotcha opin
I would read The Source for all the verses they were quotin’
When Stakes were High and 5 mics with no lie
Scarface had the diary and Bushwick had no eye
Shimmy Shimmy Ya, Shimmy yeah, shimmy yay
Used to love H.E.R., still do, just in a different way

Get this.

Stuey Kubrick is the man behind the video for “Light Show” by Pigeon Hole, featuring the one and only D-Sisive. If you haven’t heard this song, do so now. It’s from Pigeon Hole’s album Age Like Astronauts (Sweatshop Union Music/URBNET), so as you let that ponder in your head, let the sounds ponder as well.

Those of you in British Columbia will be happy to know that you’ll be able to see them on tour throughout February (with one stop in Canmore, Alberta) as they brave the road with Sweatshop Union supporting:
Feb 3: Revelstoke, BC @ River City
Feb 4: Golden, BC @ Rockwater
Feb 5: Elkford, BC @ Sneaky’s
Feb 6: Canmore, AB @ The Drake
Feb 10: Victoria, BC @ Club9one9
Feb 11: Salt Spring Island, BC @ Beaver Point
Feb 12: Cumberland, BC @ The Waverly
Feb 25: Squamish, BC @ Ocean Port
Feb 26: Pemberton, BC @ Pemberton Hotel

It’s sad when you don’t realize one is killing themselves until after the fact. For me, I thought this was just another release from one of my favorite Canadian MC’s, D-Sisive, who at times is hard to keep up with because he had been releasing a lot of music, especially in 2010. Little did I know that these two songs would end up being his last.

First off, the man behind D-Sisive is not dead, but if a recent Tweet is any indication, he will be putting D-Sisive to rest, at least for the time being. Had I taken the cover for his new single to heart, I would have determined what he was doing. If he’s using Jim Jones as a clue, then he’s offering fans a cup of Kool-Aid with this. In fact, he has been dropping hints for awhile, but did not realize it would lead to… this.

“No More Words” is basically D-Sisive giving off a eulogy, with references to the last episode of The Sopranos and other people and things that offed themselves, and while not a particularly sad song, it’s one about parting ways. “If…” has him speaking about the possibilities of what might happen if certain people in hip-hop did certain things. Would people truly listen, and if someone else did them, how come people aren’t a willing ear? Trust me, D-Sisive, I can relate to this all too well, and yet if people like Kanye West, Jay-Z, and whom D- calls Fakon did them, they would be considered revolutionary. Meanwhile, those who have pushed themselves for years are ignored just because they’re on radio, TV, or on every blog.

It’s difficult to listen to a man who is, at least theoretically, killing himself softly in his song. Word has it that once he pulls the trigger, he will simplfy and become Derek From Northcliffe (Derek is his first name). Maybe he has pulled the trigger and we’re hearing the aftermath. Maybe he has always been Derek From Northcliffe and he is finally removing his mask. Maybe D-Sisive is simply turning his Rubik’s Cube to show another technique towards inevitable completion, which means death. So many twists to go, and he may know how to finish it. He’s not about to do it just yet, he’s in total control. Whatever D-Sisive chooses to do, with or without masks, I hope he still creates great music.

D-Sisive is always thinking about doing things in a unique manner, and he recently recorded an album with production by Muneshine. “No More Words” and “If…” are being passed along to fans and you can download both songs for free by clicking here, both with complimentary instrumentals.

D-Sisive will be releasing another album on November 28th called Jonestown.2:Jimmy Go Bye Bye, and it will be available for free. Stay tuned.

As people are getting ready to celebrate the holiday season, D-Sisive is offering something else for consumption in the form of a drink. He has the sugar packets and the sugar, and perhaps the right type of water to make his drink effective. But how effective is it, and will you be brave enough to take a drink, knowing what has happened before?

He makes a bold move with the release of his brand new album called Jonestown (URBNet), which he’s making available as a free download on his website at D-Sisive.com right now. The album is said to be a throwback to what D-Sisive was known for in the 90′s, with productions from Moss, Anonymous Twist, Muneshine, Murr, Marco Polo, 9th Uno, and Shinogo.

I guess the real question is, what does Jonestown have to do with things? What exactly is the juice his fans will be consuming, or is it a metaphor for hip-hop, and what people have been drinking foolishly for the last ten years? Get your cups ready.

(Mahalo nui to D-Sisive himself for the correction on the release date. If you are in Toronto, there will be an album release party (a “massacre” if you will) on Thursday, November 26th at The Drake Underground (1150 Queen Street W.) in Toronto. $5 at the door, 19 and older. Doors open at 9pm, show scheduled to start at 10pm.)

SOCAN, Canada’s equivalent of ASCAP and BMI, announced that D-Sisive and Robert Baker were winners of the 4th annual ECHO Songwriting Prize for the song “Nobody with a Notepad”, released earlier this year.

The award involves an independent panel of 10 music community tastemakers selecting five songs they felt best showed the variety and creativity of independent, up-and-coming Canadian songwriters. The voting process happened in September, and with competition that included songs performed by Sebastien Grainger and the Mountains, Timber Timbre, Land Of Talk and Joel Plaskett , this self-proclaimed nobody has been honored for his no-nonsense song. Congratulations.

D-Sisive – Nobody With A Notepad