Whither hip-hop?
30 Comments

In search of Windsor’s rap scene


Matthew Froese
LANCE WRITER

T

o the average Windsorite, the notion of a hip-hop scene in the city is a foreign one.

Before Drake came along, the average Canadian probably didn’t even realize that there was a large hip-hop scene in Canada. However, hip-hop has been around for over 20 years, slowly growing in mostly major urban areas like Montreal, Toronto and, surprisingly, Winnipeg.

On paper, Windsor has the makings of a great rap environment; it’s urban, diverse, borders Detroit, a hip-hop mecca, and has loyal and supportive music fans of other genres. Yet, rappers in Windsor have been fairly low key.

Michelle Soullière is a DJ on the University of Windsor’s campus-community radio station CJAM 99.1 FM. Her show UnderRaps is an education in underground hip-hop.

“I don’t think we have a hip-hop scene in Windsor, at least not one comparable to the other music scenes in Windsor,” she said. “There’s an older group, like (hip-hop collaborative) the Academy and guys like them, and there’s a place for them. But there’s a younger generation and that’s where I think the focus needs to be. There’s nothing that connects all of them together. It’s part of the reason I started my (radio) show.”

Soullière said the connections that are needed to create a scene haven’t been formed and fans of the music haven’t discovered the local talent. “There’s lots of hip-hop fans in the city, obviously, but they don’t come out to shows. People don’t want to engage in the local community.”

Part of the problem is that too many local performers don’t want to work their way up through the city, explained Soullière. “There are a lot of YouTube stars, people who want to skip the local step and try to immediately hit the mainstream.”

Yet, Soullière believes that Windsor can be a great source of inspiration for rappers who are trying to be creative. “Hip-hop is a term that I think commands community engagement and reflects local issues. A lot of these basement rappers are still rapping about cars and hoes; stale stuff,” she said.

Clarrissa Guyton is a Windsor hip-hop fan. She honed her love of hip-hop growing up in Harrow. “There wasn’t a ton to do in Harrow, so I listened to a lot of music.”

Moving to Windsor to attend university, Guyton recognized the lack of performance opportunities for local rappers. She began to organize Hip-Hop Spotlights at the Coach and Horse. “The last one was in February,” she said. “I decided to take a break from doing Spotlights all the time; I want people to be hungry for them.”

Soullière and Guyton both gush about local rappers and their potential. The Expansion Family, Jay Braaks and Kayyce Closed are just some of many talented performers.

“We have a scene, I think, but it needs more support,” remarked Guyton, who has a slightly different take on Windsor’s rap scene. She believes there are too many horses pulling the cart.

“So many fans want to try rap too, it gets to the point where we have rappers mainly performing for other rappers. Everybody has a microphone on their computer and they think they can rhyme.”

“We’re really lucky to be a border city, but in Windsor it feels like a lot of people want to get paid to perform. In Detroit, rappers are willing to pay to perform.

Soullière agrees. “Detroit is such a valuable resource for Windsor artists and vice versa, but there’s not enough of a connection or collaboration.”

The potential for a thriving rap scene in Windsor is real; it just needs the right people to develop it.

30 Comments
  • hatesbiasliars

    windsor hip hop is not there because all the rappers are turned off….needle needs to retire whh needs to go away and someone unbias needs to reestblish the scene .this is bc whh is ran by the same rappers who wanna make it big so whenever somone comes out thats good they all hate and blckbll until the peps go away. the groups that own it bite off peps and still suck then take all the promotion nd throw everyone else on the bck burner. theres a few that dont own ny part of whh and do perform an get on with the regulars n no hate just telling it how it is .rissa is a critic and shes for whatever group wants to help her feel special and useful .the scene heres retarded thats why it seems to be dying .thats why noone comes out anymore . if you dont believe me ask who all owns whh and who runs it . same rappers and critics you see and they aint half as good as other peps, they need to step back . bc they always tlk about having a lack of support for the scene well i wonder why they are for themselves and any rapper out there whos tried to get in it finds out the hard way then gets turned off. which creates a dead scene. there are a few good guys out there who know this is true but they stick with the camps cause theyre getting put on but they keep it limited for who gets in .anyways i used to go whatch shows but not anymore i witnessed the clash of bias shit and i was whtchin a video of a windsor rapper the other day and in all truth it sucked hard and this guy believes hes great cause they lead em on so they look better. its all politics whoever runs the scene dominates and brings in who they want regardless of skill and talent… its all negative here not like toronto where everyone puts everyone on and theres no blackballing cause it would get exposed. ya windsor needs to be exposed needle needs to go get a job and get off the rad. let some other dj’s reach out to windsor rappers and let them feel right about coming out not say oh well academys the best academys the best and put them up thre like theyre so great when they aint even and critique other rappers who’re clearly better. im sure i will have lots of angry ppl but everyone who replies thats angry is affliated with them .i liked cjam back when brandon did it .it hasnt been right in over a decade word.. a couple new djs are comin on cjam hope they dont fall in. but its truly to late to many rappers hate the scene here its a known fact. thats also why academy shows re so dead these days. everyone knows even the good rappers they bring in but they will never admit it. so theres the truth .whatch the reactions 32yr ol windsor female underground rapper fan who could say lots more

    • Priest

      Hmmmmm, interesting reply all i can say is that CJAM needs to add a DJ who is reppin hip hop, and help give hip hop artists spins as well, there’s definitely a big hole when it comes to hip hop in windsor, and CJAM

      • Michelle

        HELLO, I AM THAT DJ. UNDERRAPS tuesday 12-2am

      • http://www.facebook.com/djneedle914 Dee Deejayneedle Hanna

        dude im still there .. only one really supporting all local hip hop windsor /detroit.. all these other people talking need to sit down.. no one has ever did what i did for hip hop in this city..

        • Michelle

          Needle, it’s not a contest about who does more for their city or for local hip hop. Are we not in this together, with the same love of hip hop and the same goal of making local hiphop accessible? I don’t understand why you feel the need to prove that you’re better than everybody.
          Love, CityNoise.
          Host of UnderRaps CJAM 99.1FM
          Tuesdays 12-2am

          • http://www.facebook.com/djneedle914 Dee Deejayneedle Hanna

            No one said it was.. but your talking about something you no nothing about. I think you need to stay in your lane…

    • Kayyce

      OK first off..Ill agree there was some biased in WHH but if your an artist out there grinding your gonna shine regardless. Kyle Spratt had people HATING on him and he still had more views and more popularity than any Windsor rapper. Why cuz he went and did it him self. AS FAR as Academy goes.. WE HAVENT THROWN AN ACADEMY SHOW in over a year in a half so how can they be DEAD? And who said Academy was the best thats whoever said that statements opinion. I pretty sure what ever rapper YOUR AFFLIATED with thinks they are the best. Like really who cares. Its not on Academy, DJ Needle, DJ Thor, DJ Vibe,The Lance,Windsor Star, CJam or these mystery people supposedly running WHH to bring crowds to shows or create some scene for the next rapper. Its on the artists themselves. If you been to any HIPHOP Showcase shows you would know this because EVERY ARTIST IS GIVEN AN OPPORTUNITY TO PERFORM, BRING THEIR OWN CROWD AND EVEN GET PAID BUT DO THEY????NO.I laugh when i see these BS conspiracy theories of why the hiphop scene in Windsor isnt flourishing or their homeboy/rapper friend isnt shinning. Needle hasn thrown a show in awhile, theres OTHER radio shows on Cjam like UnderRaps, or Josh Bryant that play hiphop(where are all these “rappers at?) How about Harvesting the FAM( I never see any Windsor rappers there and its a WINDSOR music festival) they have to get artists from Detroit and Toronto, Rissa put shows on for ANY ARTIST who wants to perform and has come outta HER POCKET to throw shows that dont BENEFIT her at all.If your such a big underground rapper fan why dont you name and push the artists that you claim to love soo much, tell them to come out of their pocket to throw and promote a show, tell them network with the DJs in Windsor, tell them to become more involved in the scene instead of complaining,tell them to talk to HipHopCanada to post more of these other rappers by the way (Academy, Jay Braaks, Richy nix, Smyth the kid, Miclordz, Nekos, & Essex Court) have all been featured on there so we must be doing something right, tell them to talk to the promoters to bring more hiphop shows to Windsor, tell them stay at shows and support local shows so these clubs will see its worth putting money in, tell them to learn how to perform cuz most of the artists dont have real performance experience in the first place, tell them to support RealTalkHipHop,Phog Lounge, and the Milk(they do underground hiphop shows all the time). At the end of the day your entitled to your opinion but if your going to direct it at a specific person come more informed than you seem to be

      • Doc. C

        How about using your real name instead of hiding behind a fake alias “hatesbiasliars” … or how about about helping towards a solution instead of talking shit…some people are just clowns Kayyce, they just hate what they don’t understand.

    • http://www.facebook.com/djneedle914 Dee Deejayneedle Hanna

      Who ever you are, Why dont you be man or women to say who you are. Since I have been on the radio I have had the #1 hip hop show in Windsor and still do… I have a job you worthless f*ck face.. You seem to know nothing about what is really going on. Im the only DJ in the city that support any of the rappers.. But if you have something to say.. Come holla at me.. But Im the only person that have thrown a local Windsor hip hop show and packed the place with over 700 people.. Have you.. I have thrown more shows then anyone and 99.9% packed house… who ever you are keep ur mouth shut…

      • Michelle

        Excuse me, but clearly you are NOT the only DJ in the city that supports local rappers.

        We need more love, less hate, less arguing, and windsor hip hop will never be anything substantial unless we come together as a community.

        • http://www.facebook.com/djneedle914 Dee Deejayneedle Hanna

          Ok what club you dj in or have you dj’ed in .. if not then dont claim something ur not..

          • Michelle

            I’m a Radio DJ on CJAM, not a club DJ.

          • Michelle

            Hostility and negativity is pointless.

          • http://www.facebook.com/djneedle914 Dee Deejayneedle Hanna

            THAT MEANS UR AN RADIO ANNOUNCER.. NOT A DJ…

          • Michelle

            Hostility and negativity is pointless.

          • http://www.facebook.com/djneedle914 Dee Deejayneedle Hanna

            WHO IS BEING HOSTILE .. NOT ME. IM SPEAKING THE TRUTH…

          • Michelle

            To quote this article directly: ‘Michelle Soullière is a DJ on the University of Windsor’s campus-community radio station CJAM 99.1 FM. Her show UnderRaps is an education in underground hip-hop.’

            Also, if you’d like to get technical, I’ve DJ’ed at both the loop before. Big friggin deal. So what truth are you speaking? In no way are people who have shows on CJAM ever referred to as radio announcers, but programmers, hosts, volunteers, and DJs. Shouldnt you know that, seeing as you’ve had your show for as long as you have? This argument is pointless, you and your ALL CAPS make me laugh. I have nothing but support for those in Windsor who are working toward building a positive, supportive, inclusive scene. Those who are out for themselves, well, good luck to you as all the best.

          • Michelle

            Please excuse my typos.

    • http://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=588845345 Clarissa Rissa

      Clearly you don’t know me, but hey, thanks for the shout out!

  • hatesbiasliars

    windsor hip

    • http://www.facebook.com/djneedle914 Dee Deejayneedle Hanna

      so you hate urself

  • http://www.facebook.com/djneedle914 Dee Deejayneedle Hanna

    How the hell are you going to throw Windsor’s # 1 hip hop group under the bus…

    • Priest

      Needle, who are you replying to?

      • http://www.facebook.com/djneedle914 Dee Deejayneedle Hanna

        who ever threw academy under the bus

  • http://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=588845345 Clarissa Rissa

    There was a lot more that I had said but I realize he had to edit for space. I just wish there was more support for the scene and it was taken more serious, but it has to start with the artists taking themselves serious!!

    And, I’ll say this again, not everyone who can rhyme cat with hat and has a microphone and a SoundClick beat is meant to be a rapper ;-)

    There are several other artists I would like to mention but here are just a few of my favourites:

    Lye —-> http://www.youtube.com/user/LyesWorld/videos

    Ritt Theme —-> https://www.facebook.com/pages/Ritt-Theme/214926355203317

    Chris Chase —-> http://www.youtube.com/user/KingKongChase/videos

    Eric Smyth —-> http://www.youtube.com/user/smyththekid/videos

    Dusty Delcozzo —-> http://www.youtube.com/user/Dustydelcozzo/videos

    You can also find the other artists mentioned in the article by following these links:

    Jay Braaks —-> http://www.youtube.com/user/jayidolbraaks1/videos

    Kayyce Closed —-> https://www.reverbnation.com/kayyceclosed10

  • Priest

    Local support in windsor is a joke, and i say that because followers have been indoctrinaded by urban terrestrial radio, and are conditioned to think that the skinny jeans movement is what’s really good, and most artist who want to have a fan base don’t realize is that you can’t have just people as your fan base who from from 18 to 21, for the most part, that demographice is broke, or has very little in terms of disposeable income to be able to go out of pocket to come out to a show, or buy your CD, or your T Shirt Merchandise.

    Then you have the BET zombies who don’t want to support anyone local unless they’ve seen you on BET, MTV New York, or seen you in urban magazines like The Source, XXL magazine, or online on urban websites based out of New York.

    Most rap fans have no clue what hip hop is, and they’ve been brain washed, or conditioned into thinking that anything other that rap, just isn’t worth the time or energy of supporting

    Then, you add into the mix that local booking agents, talent buyers won’t even bother booking a hip hop artist because it’s not talking about drugs, dubs, hoes, or being flossed out, so then that leaves hip hop artists like myself out in the cold, and no where to get booked at, and canadians wonder why musical artists, and anyone in the entertainment industry leave canada, hmmmm it’s not really a mystery.

    And i have spoken to booking agents and talent buyers from across canada, including windsor, and they have even told me that for some unknown reason, booking agents in windsor won’t book hip hop artists.

    Then, you also add into the mix the racial profiling that been going on at all border crossings, and airports by the immigration agents, that’s been given the green light by stephen harper himself, immigration agents racially profile afro americans who want to come to windsor, afro canadians who are coming back to canada after being in detroit, and they also profile hip hop,, and rap artists who want to come to windsor, and the rest of canada to tour, and the border agents harass them at the border for hours, making sure that the artists miss their shows, or all together, turn them away, so that they can’t even tour canada, and that’s also including the artists having the proper visas to allow them to tour canada.

  • Music2

    Everything Rules!!

    • Michelle

      Thanks Dad! <3

  • Michelle

    Some More local hip hop Talent:

    The Artice, is a multi-talented interdisciplinary hip hop artist covering the areas of emcee, visual artist, sound engineer & video producer. Creative is the least of it, he often ventures into the realm of experimental sound.

    RawMind (also Disciple-X) is an old soul type of emcee, inspired by Funk & Motown. He is capable of completely flipping your mind with his direct, astonishing musical vibe. His mind may be raw but his voice is warm and buttery.

    Hip Hop junky Desi Des is young and incredibly talented. Always getting better with every mile stone, his insights show through in his lyrics and they will only get better with age.

    Knowledge’s lyrics bring up the deep for discussion, never putting a halt on his quest for intelligence and wisdom. He collaborates with producer Soulful Delinquent, who makes smooth beats, often sampling soul music with a strong J Dilla influence.

    for more:
    expfam.com (RawMind, The Artice, Desi Des)
    http://soundcloud.com/lintonbere (Knowledge & Soulful Delinquent)

    • http://twitter.com/HG_Watson H.G. Watson

      Thanks for posting this Michelle – I have a copy of it and we’re planning on adding it in to the post properly.