Toronto, ON - Whether you first heard him on the politically charged "War Report" or you've checked his recent mix CD, The Masters Plan, chances are you've started to hear the buzz on this new cat they call Ken Masters. After grinding for the past year releasing his first in a series of mix CDs, consistently recording, working campus radio and lining up opening spots for artists such as Afu Ra, Planet Asia, Young Buck and Boot Camp Clik, Masters is slowly planting his seeds in the game.

Exclusive Ken Masters Video Interview
Edited by XclusEntertainment.com for HipHopCanada.com [download wmv]

People Ask me bout life / like I got the answers / money's tight / my peoples dying / grandma got cancer / but I tell em stay real / you wont see me fronting / truth is / most days I wish life had a reset button - Ken Masters

Some say he's an arrogant asshole. Others like myself feel he has the confidence, cockiness and swagger needed in this game that is lacking in Canadian hip-hop. One thing is for sure… Dude can rap and is slowly opening people's eyes and showing them the Masters Plan…

HHC: What's with the "Hooray" thing?
Hooray is what we call "Reilly's" talk. I went to the lab after Reilly's one night and after 4 or 5 pitchers of beer a lot of questionable things come out a brother's mouth. So I kept saying it instead of putting my verse down. And it jus stuck. Whenever i'm feeling that vibe I slip that shit in.

HHC: You smashed the game and were one of the first cats to put out your mixcd for free and available for download? A lot of cats relay heavily on mixcd sales for money, so what made you guys do that?
The way I see it is mixtapes are promo. And why not invest in your own promotion. I mean yeah I could go outside every single day and sell like 600 of em on the street or I can get some investors and sponsors (shout out to Roundtable Entertainment and Rocawear) to make some and also put it on the net for download. By putting it on the net I get shit into the hands of potentially millions of people all across the world. And the fact that it's free means people will take it in eventually and once they do they'll know there's a Monster out there and he's coming for all your cookies! To date we've had over 2,500 full downloads and distributed over 1000 physical mix CDs. People have been asking for music for a long time, so The Masters Plan Series is like a gift for them niggas. Look Out for Part 2 coming very soon. I'm grinding. Hooray!

HHC: So Volume 2 is the next Ken Masters project being released?
Masters Plan 2, Masters Plan 3, Masters Plan 4, until I get signed. We also working on the album but those joints stay in the vaults. If y'all like what you hearing on the Masters Plan mixtapes, my album is going to make you puke on yourself. No Joke.

So Move it or lose it / Fuck a rapper / Im a black man / this Backhand Prooves it / Imma stack grands till my hands need soothing/ if it wasn't for the music / I'd be doing something stupid - Ken Masters

HHC: What are your thoughts on the Kardi/Mayhem situation and the J-Staxx vs. everybody beef? Do you think this is good for the Canadian Scene?
It seems like a lot was going on behind the scenes in that Black Jays camp. Shit I don't know about or have the info to completely comment on. I like the excitement this beef shit brings, as long as dudes don't get too excited and cause problems. Bottom line is Kardi and Mayhem are both two brothers trying to do they thing. I hope it works out for them. I'm a supporter of anything that will help this community grow.

Now the Staxx shit was stupid… Dude called out a lot of people that have helped the industry and did it for nothing more than the interest in his growth. People that have offered me a hand and have asked for nothing back in return. Shit was gay. Dude reminded me of that loudmouth kid in high school who was always in a fight but screaming "hold me back, hold me back," you know those dudes, the attention seekers. I mean It sounded like he was whining through the whole shit about how nobodies doing things for him. Do your own thing you're a grown ass man. I'll give him one thing though, He got peoples attention for a short minute but I don't think it was in his best interests. He should have followed up with something. Dude disappeared like??

HHC: What sets you apart from all these rappers in the game right now?
My drive, my versatility and my support team. I feel like I can do it all from club records to street records to introspective shit to storytelling. I just got shit like that. It comes easy to me. This rapping shit is easy, so I need to master all the other arts that come with the business.

HHC: What's the focus right now.
The focus right now is building my demand and building my brand. Consistently putting out music to radio/DJs/tastemakers while at the same time working on the album and building the catalogue. That's the focus right now. We've just started! HOORAY!

HHC: Let the people know your vibe. What are your top 5 current joints right now?
In my stereo right now I got: Grafh - Food, Radiohead - Creep, Kanye West - Celebration, Ken Masters - Fall on your Face, Or Back to Back… I take those in everyday & Nirvana - Smells like teen spirit…that shit gets me amped.

HHC: What DJs does Masters mess with?
I mess wit a lot of DJ's. Shout out to the DJ's for all the support. The only thing I could say to the DJ's is y'all are the cornerstones of this shit. You need to start breaking more local artists. I mean take a risk, play some of their shit in a party, because that's when shits starts getting respected and noticed. Radio Play's cool but it's the parties that are breaking artists. Don't be afraid to take that risk.

I do this for my niggaz / Deesam To Raw / who believed he can do more by the way he handles Bars/ Take a step back/ take a breather and a pause/ then / give niggas the gift/ Like im playing Santa Clause - Ken Masters

Shout out to all the DJ's doing it, Ritz, Scratch, Law, Wikked, Mensa, Grouch, P-Plus, Ononymous, Wristpect, Sweet Touch, Merciless, Mike Mission, Spence Diamonds, Plaeboi and Aliby.

HHC: Your opening up from Boot Camp Clik on November 3rd, what kind of show can the people expect?
Energy. I got a guest appearance plus some dope shit added to the set that a lot of cats are missing in their live shows…. Expect a good show, because I do good shit.

HHC: How does someone get at you?
Get at my management - jay@tdot.ca

HHC: Who's your team you're coming up with?
Jay Dev handles my overall management. I just started recording with Sweet Spot Studios and my man Rez Digital. My man Andy and Roundtable Entertainment help with the promo. Jahmal at Break International and Jay are handling my radio promo. That's the core right now, but I'm working with a lot of other cats. Anybody who's down with the movement!

HHC: Any shout outs?
Yeah shout out to RoundTable Entertainment, Rocawear, Bishop, Daetona, Mayhem, Bunitall, Soze, Sproxx, Projeksiun, Public, Drex, Juice Rochester, Break International, Aliby, Casey Jonez, Frank Dukes, Shane Stirling, Gavin Sheppard, Souled Out Family, Adam Bomb, Scandalis, Friday, Joe Ponix, Jay Dev (he's the slave driver), Deesam, Jay Thomas, Reza, All the producers that been fucking with me... good looking. Sideshow, Drunken Monkz, HHC, Escobar... All the people that support or have supported the Movement. Scream at me. HOORAY!

Editor's Note: Ken Masters - The Masters Plan Volume 1 is available for download [click here]. Hard copies are available for purchase on HipHopCanada.com - [click here].

Exclusive Ken Masters Video Interview
Edited by XclusEntertainment.com for HipHopCanada.com [download wmv]

Ken Masters - Dear Summer [mp3]

Ken Masters - Put Your Lighters Up [mp3]