…and stared at all the people young and old frolicking in the grey slated space of this intersection. It was past 12midnight and kids were playing soccer with uncles. Passerby’s stopped to stare idly at the surrounding onslaught of advertisement as seated couples enjoyed the warm Toronto city evening. Here the pollution makes the sky look more beautiful at dusk and provides a safe blanket to caress the cities rich and underbellied. I guess I was no different from any passerby perusing the possibilities of humans still out past their bedtimes.

I can’t believe I’ll get to play there this Friday.

8-10pm Yonge & Dundas Square
ALL AGES

Kayann Ward
Frost
Pam Dundee
Tiff Mak
Ms Toya Robinson
and more…

This summer Dundas Square was DOIN IT! by having FREE concerts from Chaka Khan, De La Soul, Macy Gray…what else people?

I was out in the night hours of Toronto life having left CKLN 88.1 from the Droppin’ Dimez show. These ladies have been holding it down with the show for Hiphop and Toronto city: Mel Boogie, Big G and JJ Roc (psst!!! JJ once had a mixtape called Girls Gone Gangsta. THATS GANGSTA.) I even got to listen to Yo-yo on the phone before my interview.

Please tune into the show every Monday Night 11-2am DROPPIN DIMEZ MYSPACE

Jus Randy Big Up! I’ll tell Ohtake you said Hi!

This was a first sneak peak into what I’ve been working on with label Kops & Robbers and producer Che Vicious. Full production is coming together for SEPTEMBER 3, 2010 Friday Night at DUNDAS SQUARE. Mark the date good peoples…it’s gonna be the jam down!

Much love to dancers Toya & Pam Dundee as well as choreography by Kay-Ann Ward. Jessica Kaya did her thing and stayed smokin’ in her tight up green dress! I had a blast Honey Jam thank you for the love! www.honeyjam.com

Masia One Honey Jam Concert Footage from Masia One on Vimeo.

It’s been so incredibly hectic I apologize that it has been such a long time since I’ve updated this blog. I touched down back from ATI in Jamaica, and hit the ground running performing 3 shows in the last short while. I’m doing my best to edit footage quickly and post it up for those that are not in Toronto.

I’ve been in the process of fine tuning the shows, finding the happy medium between rocking my older material and showcasing where I’m headed. It’s been a blessing to work with the illustrious Jessica Kaya again. Not only is she wonderful to have on backup vocals, she does my makeup & hair as well! (This girl does a meeeeean braid up in 5 min. flat!) Much Love as well to KAYANN WARD for choreographing the show for Honey Jam, as well as to the amazing dancers Pam “Tiger Style” Dundee & MS TOYA for coming out and killing the show.

So bare with me folks as I catch up on things…footage postings soon. For now, some flicks.

INTIMATE & INTERACTIVE, AUGUST 13 2010

Photo by Ishmil TresAmour Waterman

HONEY JAM AUGUST 15 2010

Photo by Anna Keenan Photography

Back stage with the dancers

One Love.

This show is part of Yonge-Dundas Square’s Global Grooves concert series that will run every Friday night in the Summer, Toronto June 25-September 3.   I’m excited to be sharing the stage with DJ SHAI (XIXGON International, iremember, Street Soul Rockers), my favorite selector in Toronto spinning a perfect mashup of Reggae, Dancehall, Hiphop & Soul!!!

Check out his mixes here:

djshai.podomatic.com

http://www.myspace.com/deejayshai

I hope to see everyone out – I haven’t performed in my beloved Toronto Screwface Capital in a MINUTE and I’m thrilled to be given such a great stage.

MERDEKA GROUP will be holding auditions for live musicians (drum, bass, guitar, keyboard) & dancers for an opportunity to tour with Masia One September 2010.  The auditions will be held in Toronto July 2010.  If you are interested, please send your contact info to management@masiaone.com

Mark the Shark plugging Masia One @ Yonge-Dundas Square for CBC Global Grooves Sept 3 2010

Sunday, August 15 2010 @ The Mod Club (722 College Street Toronto)

Doors 7pm, show 8pm

Admin: $20 adv. $25 door Tickets available at Play De Record (357 Yonge Street) proceeds support YWCA Toronto’s program for women and girls.

www.honeyjam.com

Live Performance & Artist/Audience Q&A
Toronto’s only AUDITION-ONLY OPEN MIC with a HEADLINER each and every FRIDAY!

MORE INFORMATION HERE
A night specifically designed for music lovers and music appreciators.

Lambadina Lounge

875 Bloor St. W (2nd floor.) TTC accessible (right across from Ossington Station)

FRIDAY, AUGUST 13TH

Hosted by: MTV’s Tika Simone

$10 before 11pm/ $15 after

Doors Open @ 10pm

Photographs & Creative by: Ishmil Waterman

http://www.twitter.com/iiopenmic

Intimate & Interactive Open Mic was created to bring a sense of awareness around not only performance art but the art of media training in artists as well. Every headliner has been hand-selected to perform and answer questions from the audience in regards to their push and struggle to the top.

Intimate & Interactive proves that everyone has a story and Toronto has many unknown diamonds in the rough ready to take form.

I’ve put my all into this night and I hope to see all of you there.

–Tika Simone

***For Open Mic or Headliner Auditions please email: intimateandinteractive@gmail.com***

click on image for full version

I need help deciding which color scheme to use for the upcoming mixtape for ATI weekend in Jamaica.

The day before producer Smokeshop’s bday, we chopped it up at a session in his Brampton lair and recorded some dubs, 16s, compiled rare unreleased chunes & new singles & he seamlessly created a mix with the right vibe. This mix will be pressed in time for ATI weekend in Negril Jamaica where I will be flooding the jams with these free mixes! I didn’t forget you Toronto – I’ll be making the mix available for download in time for Caribana celebrations! I’m sorry to miss the jump up, jump up in the original 2face Screwface capital, but yard is calling and it’s going to be the jamdown.

Long story short, to get this thing done, I need to figure out which color scheme to go with. Help a Masia out…leave your opinions in the comments below!

Thanks in advance. – one love. Masia.

Rough sketch created at the airport in Toronto en route to Vancouver BC.

Big ups to Anthony at Love 4 clothing that helped me clean up the image to “coloring contest” quality in Illustrator

Thanks Africology Media for the interview after my show @ Brooklyn Hiphop Festival Showcase. Ya’ll were great to kick it with you gentlemen in a random parking lot filled with crotch rockets (inside joke…you’d get it if you were there!)  Check em’ out!

www.africologymedia.com

MASIA ONE ON AFRICOLOGY from Africology on Vimeo.

Photo by Che Kothario

Masia One & DJ SARASA BK meet Toronto live footage rehearsal & show from Masia One on Vimeo.

It’s been a while Brooklyn. The last time I wandered your cobbled streets, smelled your cuban food, listened to your random sound systems and climbed your brown stones was 3 years ago. It never fails, whenever I return to BK I feel like a lost duckling that has re-discovered her pond.

Good morning Brooklyn!

The show at Southpaw was good vibes all around. The basement did not have a stage, which made it difficult for an emcee & dj combo under 5′1 in height. I had been loosing my voice all week, so there was a bit of a concern with how clear the sound would be (the sound man fixed the settings then left the venue all night) but all in all- you know we still rocked it. I was excited to be performing with DJ SARASA as we haven’t seen each other since the PULAU album release party 2008! All the performers were great that night, but I have to give an extra shout out to Tona, who I see as a major force to be reckoned with in the urban music scene for 2011. Don’t sleep…you heard it here first!

Shout outs to ooloo clothing for the fly Tshirt! You know I had to rock it in a shot for yall.

During the days my boss / manager Tamara and I attended a lot of meetings with potential partners in the hustle (shouts out to Audible Treats and Decon).  I’m trying to convince Tamara to rename her consultation firm “Same Day Service” cause that’s what she provides in an industry of missed calls, unanswered emails and stoner artists. A highlight of our wanderings was definitely stopping off at Juniors for some cheesecake – I felt like Puffy up in this bitch!

I enjoyed the beauty in the details of BK Town. I love that you can wander rows of Brownstones a la Cosby show (I know everyone has a distinct affinity to the Cosby Show!) and see random things like a garden full of stuffed animals. Brooklyn is art.

At night, I linked up with my long lost sister J9 and she took me BBQ hopping. Forget club hopping…Brooklyn BBQ hopping is all that and then some. All you can eat, drink and hear. Good vibes all around and some very interesting people willing and ready to meet someone new. That’s how I think life should be.

I had an opportunity to check out the Brooklyn Hiphop festival main stage and witnessed acts like De La Soul, Pete Rock & CL Smooth (reunited!), Smif N Wessun, Black Moon, Black Milk…it was a good day to be a Hiphop head. DJ SARASA held it down on the side stage, starting with some grimey hiphop, then moving into some disco and funk inspired numbers. Big up girl! Keep the people moving. I have to note that the venue for this showcase was stunning – right under the Brooklyn Bridge. My architectural spidey senses tingled non stop as I watched the late afternoon sun shine through the girders and angles of this beautiful feat in modern engineering.

The next day we attended the OK Africa show in Prospect Park. 30,000+ people means a LOT of armpits. The B.O. cross pollinated with humidity was more than I could bare. We watched an early set from The Roots then bounced. We saw lots of the Manifesto fam there, and bid them goodbye as they hopped back on their bus en route to T.O.

Ok, back to work. I have enjoyed roaming the earth far too much in recent months and it’s time to buckle down and get out those mixtapes before the summer is over. Love you Brooklyn…see you soon.

The KOPS & ROBBERS website will be up very soon! Look out for my new single from KOPS & ROBBERS coming to a download near you.

Quinton…forlorn works for you. Good Look.

Paparazzi flicks of my bro Junia T!

I don’t know this man on the left, but he as the biggest smile I’ve ever seen!

This homegirl is coming up to Toronto for Caribana! JUMP UP JUMP UP!

DJ Mensa always holding it down.

Flyest Tshirt of the festival award goes to Basquiat Biggie!

Consolation prize…MR SPARKLE! (One of my favorite Simpsons episodes)

Danilo blessed us with some live painting the night of the show

Teelo looking gangsterrrr.

When did G become such an international man of mystery?

T.O. OGs

Rude boy Tuff Dumplin Sound!

My best friend and arch nemesis Jesse Ohtake of www.thecyberkrib.com

Eternia spots me during a photo shoot

Even Brooklyn be reppin’ Toronto

Ladies and Gentlemen…the irreplaceable Blake Carrington

These guys are talented and awesome.

My 2 favorite trouble makers!

Wan Luv rocking Che-Masia pin

Masia One’s camera sees you sonnnn!

Che of the Manifesto crew said it best…PEACE BK!

Brooklyn Meet Toronto: Masia One from themanifesto.ca on Vimeo.

The night before leaving on my flight to BK, I got a call from the Manifesto Doc team to shoot a quick promo. I told them to roll up to my area near Eglinton West (Little Jamaica) and come check the flavor of my hood. Horace at RAP’S was out front grilling his jerk chicken and kind enough to let us use his store as a back drop. He did want me to mention that his chicken is delicious.

Touched down in Brooklyn Baby, and already feeling great! I love BK…it’s my 2nd favorite place on earth. On the plane ride over they put T and I on the Blue Jays corporate plane! (Thanks for the upgrade Air Canada)  We were ballin’ out of control with our wide seats, chocolates and drinks. Nothing says “living the life” like leg room. We touched down to a pretty smoggy NYC and headed immediately to a nice little corner boogie spot with great music, people and drinks. (For some random reason they were serving free Vodka all night?) Ah, life is nice.

Today I have a meeting Keep a Child Alive, a great organization co-founded by Alicia Keys. I spent much of my spring months touring across Canada with DJ Dopey & Rochester for HIV awareness and supporting the work of KCA. I’m here in their home base to find out how I can continue being involved in helping their work.

Ok, don’t forget Friday night July 9. 2010 I’ll be rocking the show 10:10pm @ Southpaw, Brooklyn. Can’t wait to see all my New York peoples. Rich Kid, Tona, Eternia & Shad will also be rocking the spot starting at 7:30 and should not be missed – I have the greatest respect and admiration for these Toronto bred artists. I’ll be doing it up the Toronto meets Brooklyn way with my homegirl DJ SARASA visiting from Japan. Don’t you love it when a plan comes together? One Love.