Kelly Krow – The New Montreal …Litterally

The state of real hip hop and r&b music in Montreal has been in an awkward phase for a good minute now. I just recently had a horrible experience when I watched what’s left of our only Quebec music video channel. Tune in and see it for yourself.

 

Luckily my dreams for a better local music scene were not shattered yet.Attending Kelly Krow’s album release party gave me hope for our local music scene.Kelly Krow’s awaited album party was located at the usual Musik Therapy headquarters, the Blueprint Lounge. The late night event was hosted by the always energetic Kevin Calixte.

Although the evening was dedicated to his upcoming album My Lotus Garden, it did not stop Krow from sharing the stage with his Musik Therapy family.Between his sets, the singer performed Special with the talented and soulful Elle Ray who also scratched a few notes on her guitar. There was also singer Aralune who performed What About Us (produced by Carlito) alongside Krow. It was my first time listening to the West island gal and it was a pretty good surprise.  Spacy trippy music would be the best way to describe Aralune’s sound.

One Nessa was the last songstress to hit the stage with the main guest to perform the crowd pleaser Slow Down. The singer’s sultry vocals reminded me of the former r&b group Issys. How refreshing to see that real R&B is making a comeback.

There is an honest and noticeable sense of unity that Krow and his Musik Therapy peers share amongst each other. Which is pretty refreshing in this self-centered generation. Anu Budz, rapper and producer of MakeWay Studios had nothing but kind words to say towards Krow. Reminiscing of their recording days at the first recording studio, it seems like their creative chemistry has always existed.  Host of the evening and friend Kevin Calixte also gave props about the singer’s work ethic. Team work after all, really does the dream work.

As the evening came to an end, Krow (finally) performed Questions by popular demand and the finished with the catchy Waiting.There is no denying that the Laval singer has been putting work over the last year.

Before ending this article, here is a motivational quote from Colin Powell:

”Success is the result of perfection, hard work, learning from failure, loyalty, and persistence.”

2016 might be an important year for Kelly Krow and Musik Therapy. I think it’s finally time welcome the New Montreal.

 

Follow Kelly Krow and Musik Therapy United on Instagram !

Mavado – Still Gully

Mavado’s music always has been the perfect mix between gritty lyrics, sexy play words for the ladies with a touch of spirituality.

One minute, the Kingston artist sings about his war artillery in Sixteen, the next minute he seduces ladies into his sheets (Come Around, Come Into My Room). He then asks Jehovah for guidance on I’m on The Rock.

Mr. Brooks who arrived on stage around 2 am, was accompanied by his guitarists and vocalists. Live music can sometimes be overwhelming but the electric guitars and the church choir vocals were a great addition to the singer’s performance.

Dressed  in all white, Mavado arrived on the Olympia’s stage with a warm energy. The crowd got hyped as soon as they heard the anger management instrumentals,  a riddim that sent the singer to superstardom ten years ago.

During his hour plus performance, Mavado tried his best to go over his vast music repertoire for the new and older fans. It was not an easy job. The singer performed many of his hits such as Tie Yuh, Pepper, When You Lonely, On the Rock, Cut Them Off and Nah Use Dem. He did not forget his latest hits, Up Like 7 and Inna my League.

 The performance felt a bit rush at times and some of his best songs were only played for 30 seconds. Certainly, an artist like Mavado would have needed an extra hour to perform all his songs.

In any case, Mavado proved the crowd that he is one of the most successful reggae artist of his time. Hopefully  Mavado first ever appearance will set a new trend amongst international artists to pay Montreal a visit in the next year.

Hundred of fans came to see the Gully God.

 

One of Mavado’s guitarist

 

Former Dancehall Queen Rhythm Pink was the only opening act of the night.

 

 

The Brooklynite performed her song, Bad Gyal Pose.

 

Movado had no problems receiving the affection from the female fans.

 

 

Mavado – Gansta and Gully

Mavado has been on my concert bucket list for a while now. Ever since the Jamaican born singer appeared on the 2004 Anger Management riddim, Mr. Brooks has been on a roll to success.

After Beenie Man, Elephant Man or Vybz Kartel ,  Mavado has now become one of the most successful international faces of Jamaica. In 2011, the artist was  approached by Miami king DJ Khaled and announced he was signed to his record label, We Are The Best Music Group.

Since then, Mavado has collaborated with several artists such as Drake, Akon, Ace Hood, Snoop Dogg, G Unit and Nicki Minaj.

You don’t want to miss Mavado’s first ever performance in Montreal. I heard he will be performing with a live band!

What: Mavado (Dancehall artist) first time in Montreal

When: Saturday, November 28th (doors open at midnight)

Where: Olympia Theatre, 1004 St-Catherine E Street

How Much: 50$ (Regular) 60$ (VIP) 100$ Meet and Greet

Click HERE to buy your ticket

 

 

Pou Lakay Nou- A taste of the Caribbean (Pictures/Review)

Thanks to organizer Annaicart Mazile, hundred of guests had fun celebrating the caribbean culture on a chilly Friday night. It was entertainment galore inside Montreal’s Club La Boom. With the help of hosts Paola and Sadrac, the first annual Pou Lakay Nou (For home) was a real success. Not only was the party dedicated to the youth in Haiti but the night also showcased some of the best singers, dancers and designers of the Haitian community of the city.

Poutine Galore – Weekend Calendar (Sept. 17th – 20th)

This weekend, the people behind the annual Ribfest are bringing back to the Old Port for some traditional Quebec food. After its big success in July, The Smoking Bbq is officially launching the fall edition of the Great Poutinefest. Seriously, there will be never enough poutine festivals in Quebec.

This weekend you will get to enjoy our province’s famous meal in various ways. There will be various poutine choices (duck confit, meatballs and mac and cheese) and brand new sauce recipes. This four day celebration will be completed with giants games, kiosks and a mechanical bull.  Bring your kids!

What:  Poutine Fest (Fall Edition)

When: September 17th to September 20th (11am to 11pm)

Where: Click here for directions

How Much: Entrance is free, you only pay for your meal (10-15$)

Avoid waiting on line and make sure you take out money before coming.

Hip Hop Summit – Weekend Calendar (Sept. 17th – 20th)

How come no artist from Montreal has reached the level of superstardom yet? What is stopping Montreal from having our own version of Drake?  Why is it okay for us to pay hundreds of dollars to see an american rapper to perform at the Bell Center but we find it absurd to pay twenty dollars to see a local act ?  What the hell is a culture vulture and why is it stopping our community from breaking into the mainstream world? How come Montreal has no real  24/7  urban radio station?

Saturday will be the best time to answer (or try) these questions. For its second edition, the Montreal Hip Hop Summit will once again welcome a handful of inspiring artists, music producers and motivational speakers who are ready to debate about their common passion for Hip Hop. It is time for us to discuss about the current and future state of  Montreal’s Hip Hop scene. Why not join in?

Check out some of the highlights of the first Hip Hop summit in 2011.

What: Montreal Hip Hop Summit (2nd Edition)

When: Saturday, September 19th, doors open at 1pm  (don’t be late!)

Where: L’Auditoire, 5212 Saint-Laurent Blvd (near Fairmount)

How Much: 10$ in advance or 15$ at the door

It is recommended to buy your tickets in advance.

For more information or to buy your ticket, click here.

Weekend Calendar (August 14th-16th)

The month of August is like that moment in the club when Dj screams ”last call for alcohol”.

For some of you, the upcoming weeks will be a last chance to turn up before your school teacher starts bombarding you with long ass essays  and you getting teamed up with an awkward group of people for the rest of the semester.

The following activities, should cheer you up though.

Not in the mood for clubbing tonight but you still want to hear great music? The Blueprint Lounge might be the right place for you to spend your #TGIF. Montreal has always been hidden with great musical talents all over the metropole. Every Friday nights, you can discover a handful of talented Montrealers reunited and performing at the cozy Blueprint Lounge in downtown Montreal. Don’t miss performances from rapper Ro G or r&b artists like Kelly Krow and Elle Ray.

What: Musik Therapy United

When: Every Friday at 10pm

Where: BluePrint Lounge, 1438 Bleury (near MusiquePlus)

How Much:  10$ all night

I can’t believe it has already been a year since Sean Paul performed in the pouring rain on a rainy Saturday night. This year the Montreal International Reggae Fest (MIRF) has another great brochette of Caribbean artists lined up especially for us. For its 12th edition  living legends such Lady Saw, Cocoa Tea, Shabba Ranks and Beres Hammond will grace the stage for the three day festival.Ladies will also enjoy reggae sensation Dexta Dapps and Kranium on Saturday night.

I can already smell the taste of the jerk chicken mixed with the illegal herbs floating in the air. You don’t want to miss this, rain or shine!

What: Montreal Internation Reggae Fest

When: August 14th to 16th, around 8pm

Where: Montreal’s Old Port

How Much: 30$ to 65$ (prices may vary at the entrance)

Bring some extra cash for the drinks!

Click  here to buy tickets and see the MIRF complete weekend lineup.

Click here to see my interview with  Demarco !

Be Noire – A little bit of everything

What is Be Noire? A black movement? A fashion or photography blog ? That is what Tina Mpondani, Be Noire founder tried to decode to her fifty-something guests, last Saturday July 18th in a cozy Mile End eatery.

About a year ago, the once promising basketball player was alone in her room listening to one of J Cole’s album. ” I couldn’t pass the album intro” she says. On the smooth track, the rapper repeatedly asks his listeners if they want to be free and most importantly, be happy. In that moment, Tina decided make her life much simpler, which is to do what she wants without giving herself any limitation. That’s when Be Noire came into the world.

One thing myself  and the guests learned about the during the three hour brunch, is that Be Noire should not be defined about one thing only.The first thing to know about BN is that its founder is of congolese descent.  A few picture pictures of Tina wearing traditional african patterns were displayed in the bistro. She also loves music and poetry. The atmosphere became vibrant thanks to DJ Dr Mad and performers Micro Skillz (beatbox), Odd Black Man (rap) and Zibz (poetry). I know some of us will remember Zibz’s  Granny poem for a long time.

The guests enjoyed a delectable Moroccan brunch (coucous and cooked eggplant served with eggs). If you stop by La Cuisine d’Izza make sure you tried the fried donuts. Thank me later. 

While she promised us much more surprises throughout the rest of the year, we got a good glimpse of what Tina had to offer to the vast and indescribable that the world of art can be.

Welcome to the world of Be Noire.

 

 

Tina put a nice twist to the typical african clothing. The suit she wore in the picture was handmade by her family back home.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

La cuisine D’Izza, located on Bernard street served the hungry guests sweet eggplant topped with eggs. Another plate of eggs was also served with merguez sausages.

 

The host and founder of Be Noire, Tina Mpondani.

 

 

 

 

Micro Skillz knows how to entertain a crowd! The invited guests enjoyed the beatboxing freestyles.

 

 

Artist Zibz , rapped and shared a few poems about his grandmother to the crowd. Very touching.

 

 

One half of Pure Luckx designer, Jasmine and Make Up artist Sparks.

 

 

The guests were treated to delicious mini cupcakes after the hearty meal.

 

Rapper/Poet is a talent artist from the St- Vincent Island. Stay tune for his touching performance.

 

 

A few guests stopped by the enlarged Instagram box o snap a few pictures with the host.

 

 

 

 

Prince Africa and Rose, videographer and founder of Pace Six.

 

This was not your traditional goodie bag. The leaving guests were given a black rose with and inspirational quote.

 

 

Montreal Dj Dr Madd preparing his set.

 

 

The fired donuts were a hit !

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Weekend Calendar (June 26th – 28th)

How’s your summer diet going?

There’s a lot of good, sweet, juicy and tender stuff coming up this weekend. The Mula will not be held responsable for the return of some unwanted muffin tops or double chins. What you read below will probably have you change your cheat day into an entire weekend. Bon appetit !

 

 

Montreal offers some of the best multicultural dishes in the world. From Russian to West African cuisine , you can taste any type of traditional dishes in the metropole. Having also one of the largest caribbean population in North America, it’s only right for the city to celebrate its community with A Taste of the Caribbean festival.

This three day festival will celebrate the caribbean heritage, from the music to the delicious traditional foods. You can also meets some well known chefs in the black community such as  Meli Melo’s chef Dimitri Livalois or Kelerne Cupid, known for her catering service for celebrity including NBA players.

Luckily you will be able to sweat off a few pounds with some of the various musical performances. You don’t want to miss haitian artists like Kompa/Zouk singer J-Ron and funny group Food Gang on Friday. For all reggae or roots fans, Mikey Dangerous and famous group Morgan Heritage will also be performing at the festival. Montreal Djs Analyza and Little Thunder Sound will be in charge of warming the crowd.

What: Un Goût des Caraïbes/ A Taste of the Caribbean (day & night event)

When: June 26th to June 28th 2015 , Doors open at 11am

Where: Old Port of Montreal (click here for directions)

How Much: Free entrance from 11am to 6pm / Concerts prices may vary (5$- 10$) / Food  price may vary (2$ to 10$)

Ps – Entrance is free children under 12, make sure you bring them along!

Visit www.totc.ca for more information

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Just when you thought you were done with Haitian griot (fried pork) and Jamaica’s jerk chicken, the Ribfest brings you right back to the Old Port. During this five day fest, enjoy the most appetizing dish of the southern USA. Not a pulled pork sandwich fan? No worries, barbecue chicken will also be served on the grill. The Ribfest will be reuniting the best BBQ pit masters from Canada and the United States.

The southern festival is another great event to bring the kids. There will be giant inflatable games, live music and other surprises.

Don’t be ashamed to bring a giant bib, things could get very messy.

What: Ribfest Montreal (day event) 

When: June 27th to July 1st 2015 From 11am to 11pm 

Where: Old Port of Montreal (click here for directions) Arrive early for parking !

How Much: Free entrance / Food  prices may vary

Ps – This is a family event so bring your kids along!

Click here for more information

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Ding Dong at Club V-Lounge – Fashionably Late (Video)

There was a real party atmosphere last Friday at Montreal’s club V-Lounge. Fans and partygoers waited impatiently for the singer, who finally arrived and performed ten minutes before the closing hours.

Although the performance felt a bit rushed, the Jamaican artist reminded us why he is a true entertainer. Ding Dong performed many of his recent and new hits such as Holiday, Skip To My Lou, Wacky Dip, Shampoo and Lowe Mi Nuh. Of course, he could not leave without making the crowd dance to Badman Forward and his latest hit, Syvah.

Check out the dancers’ reunion below. Make sure you subscribe to the M.U.L.A Youtube channel !