Canadian Hip Hop Showcase!!! | Friday, November 20th November 20, 2009

CANADIAN HIP HOP SHOWCASE!!!

FRIDAY NOVEMBER 20TH, 2009

WITH

BISHOP BRIGANTE
JD ERA
MAESTRO
JONNY ROXX

IN THE CiRCA BALLROOM
126 JOHN STREET
TORONTO

19+ | ID REQUIRED

416.979.0044

BOTTLESERVICE: bottleservice@circanightclub.ca

INFO: info@circanightclub.ca

http://www.circanightclub.ca

TWITTER: CiRCAToronto

There are a few tables left call 416 979 0044 to book a table. Make sure you ask for a table in the BALLROOM

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BISHOP BRIGANTE | http://www.myspace.com/bishopbrigante

BIO
Hailing from the streets of Scarborough's notorious Section 6, Bishop is Canadian hip-hop's fastest and most refreshing rising star yet in no way is Bishop a rookie to the game or even a new comer. After gaining street credibility as a fierce emcee across Toronto in the mid 1990s, Bishop's big break came in 1998 on DJ X's seminal CKLN radio show, the Powermove. Premiering his freestyling skills on the show's weekly phone-in competition, Eat The Beat, Bishop immediately took his rightful place in the champion's seat but this wasn't just a one-time win. Week after week he defeated caller after caller, holding the reins for an entire summer and firmly establishing himself as one of Toronto's deadliest freestyle emcees. It's a title he's since then defended at live battles and contests across the city, earning him the respect and attention needed to jump from the stage to the screen and to the studio. Known for his charismatic presence and delivery, Bishop was quickly recruited for a cameo role in the CBC urban drama series Drop The Beat where he played the trouble-making friend of lead actors Mark Taylor and Merwin Mondessir. Recognized for his on-screen presence, he then landed a brief supporting role in the feature film NARC opposite Ray Liotta, Jason Patric, and Busta Rhymes which premiers December 20, 2002. But music is Bishop's main game and his unrivalled freestyle skills quickly found him working studios across the city. His first two releases, "Kipling 2 Kennedy" and "Strange To The Eye" were featured on the Rap Essentials compilation and got regular play on FLOW 93.5 and local community radio stations CKLN 88.1 and CIUT 89.5. This was followed by a series of guest appearances on Choclair's Memoirs of Blake Savage CD, including the collaboration on the track "When I'm High." Following the release of the Canadian hip hop icon's second album, Bishop took his battle skills nation wide on the One Night Stand Tour across Canada with Choclair, Baby Blue Soundcrew, and Harpoon Missile. Looking to step beyond the shadows of supporting roles, Bishop then made Canadian hip hop history to become the first local emcee to drop his lyrics on Freestyle Fridays, BET's weekly showdown on the hugely popular 106 & Park show. Winning the clash three weeks in a row not only proved his skills to the hometown audience but also created a major buzz across the border where producers and major labels all took notice. Also note, Bishop did not lose the champions chair on the show but instead was unduly disqualified for uttering the word "ish" in replacement of an expletive. In response, Bishop is scheduled for a series of releases that will unequivocally demonstrate his ranking in the national hip hop scene. Due to the constant requests for unreleased tracks, The Best of Bishop Freestyles will be independently released as a mixed CD and will feature favorites like "BET Robbery" over a dub of Eminem's "Without Me" Working with local producer Scam of Time Bandits Music, the new single "That's The Way" is already receiving rotation on KISS 92.5, FLOW 93.5 and CKLN 88.1 while "It's Perfect" (on a dub of Missy Elliot's Work It rhythm) is set to rock clubs over the winter. Recently he was a guest on the TSN broadcast of Off The Record with Michael Landsberg, Bishop has also appeared twice on Canada AM as well as in the pages of magazines like Peace, Pound, and It's Your Time. Striving to accomplish his many goals as a performer, Bishop, while aiming for the sky says, "I will always move forward in the fashion I came. I make power moves. Checkmate, your go!"

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JD ERA | http://www.myspace.com/jdera

BIO
Born April 15, 1985, Joseph “JD ERA” Dako was raised in Mississauga, Ontario and developed a love for music at an early age. This love keeps him listening to everything from Jay-Z to James Brown. He started rapping at the age of 14 and began making a name for himself throughout ciphers at local shows and concerts. At age 16 Era began writing rhymes and entered and won his first freestyle competition. His passion for battling other emcees has gained him a reputation as one of the top freestyle lyricists in Toronto. This summer he solidified his reputation with a victory at the Mark Ecko Getting Up Festival’s Freestyle Competition. Under the watchful eye of an energetic crowd and prestigious judges such as Mr.X, JD defeated 15 other emcees and emerged as the last man standing. This was one of the many highlights in his young and promising career.

Only twenty years young, JD is well aware that he is fairly new to the industry, and is more then willing to pay his dues. This summer he was one of the few featured artists on the Nike Battlegrounds Coat Of Arms compilation. He was also invited to perform in front of thousands at the Nike Battlegrounds tournament alongside international artist Kardinal Offishall among others. By the end of 2005 JD had completed two singles added to both Flow 93.5 and 91.5 The Beat. The first track “Ride Clean” received light rotation on both stations. The second, entitled “Take Me Home” featuring Sumeet took urban radio by storm. With its catchy chorus and infectious melody the song was quickly placed into heavy rotation, peaking at #4 on the countdown, finishing at #43 on Flow 93.5’s top 93 of 2005. Needless to say, 2005 was a phenomenal year for the young rapper. Packed with punch lines, witty metaphors, and a smooth flow, JD ERA is definitely a hip hop force to be reckoned with.

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MAESTRO | http://www.myspace.com/maestrofreshwes

BIO
Maestro Fresh Wes began writing his own poetry and raps while still in elementary school in Toronto. He studied under such names as Grandmaster Flash, Spoonie G. and Kurtis Blow, and formed the Vision Crew with Ebony MC (aka Marlon Bruce). After the duo split up in 1987, Fresh Wes recorded several demos and signed with independent LMR Records. His first album, Symphony in Effect (1990), was followed by Black Tie Affair (1991) and Naaah, Dis Kid Can't Be from Canada?!!

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JONNY ROXX | http://www.myspace.com/jonnyroxxmusic

BIO
Focused on total success and determined to do more than just “make it”, rapper Jonny Roxx emerges on the scene with a tight flow and some serious lyrical agility. By fusing the best elements of street hustle with the essentials of commercial appeal his game definitely rivals some of the industry’s most respected veterans. Whether he’s running a freestyle at the back of a club, recording in the booth, or clutching the mic and rocking a crowd this emcee flows effortlessly as if hip-hop is the air he breathes and the blood that travels through his veins.

Born Alonzo Thornhill, Jonny Roxx recalls the music of his youth and says, “I listened to a lot of the things my dad was playing: SWV, Luther Vandross, Toni Braxton, Whitney Houston… and my older brother introduced me to artists like: Naughty by Nature, Jay- Z, Sporty Thieves, and Biggie.” Beyond the outside influences he was also fortunate to have a father who sang while playing guitar and piano in a band he formed with some of Jonny’s aunts and uncles. Given the family background and the diversity of music he took in while growing up, it’s no wonder that this man is able to lace the traditional hip-hop vibe with slight traces of R&B to create a smooth yet hard-hitting overall sound.

Hailing from Montreal, and relocating to Toronto, which is also infamously known as “The Screw Face Capital” Roxx has quickly become a part of the local scene and is already breaking through its confining borders and restrictive boundaries. From the moment he got serious and stepped into the game a little over two years ago, his talent commanded the immediate attention of his musical colleagues, soon to be fans, and industry professionals. After spending some time in the local circuit, Roxx went on to share stages with artists such as Kardinal Official, Choclair, The Clipse, Joe Buddens, and the dubbed “Mixtape Messiah” Chamillionaire. As Jonny Roxx continues to rub elbows with those seasoned in the industry he moves aggressively towards becoming the best and achieving his goal of complete global hip-hop domination.

On August 01, 2008 Jonny took yet another vital step towards his dreams with the release of his premiere project entitled “The Bully.” Bragging features like Tona, Anaya Hayes, Rochester aka Juice and JD Era this mixtape promises to be enticing to even the most critical ear. In terms of production this work will include the clever skills of a wide range of producers such as Spinz, Redrum from Chicago, Marz from the UK, RichKidd and local 16 year old phenomenon Arion. “The Bully” will be available free for download on several sites so be sure to hit them up and cop your piece of history in the making…history that will prove Jonny Roxx always comes real, raw and rude!

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Official Website: http://www.circanightclub.ca