http://www.myspace.com/camoflaugetoronto
 Toronto, ON – Toronto’s Scarborough region has always been a hotbed for artistic finesse. From the Barenaked Ladies and Jim Carrey to Mike Myers and Maestro Fresh Wes, the East end borough continues to produce talent that can reach a level of success on an international scale. Camoflauge AKA Gangis Khan is one of the latest artists out of Scarborough to keep that torch burning on. With a strong buzz built in a short amount of time, his powerful voice and well-crafted lyrics, along with his ability to create an emotional connection with his listeners, has quickly bumped Camoflauge to the top of many people’s lists of favorites.
And while this story was surely cemented in the streets of Toronto, it starts off a world away in India and Kuwait. After being overly mischievous on one to many occasions at an Irish boarding school in the North of India, Camoflauge and his brothers were sent to Toronto. Enter Scarborough. Still, with a new environment Camoflauge found himself getting into further trouble at school and simultaneously deeply rooted into the streets.
He had started to write rhymes and toyed with the idea of centralizing his energy on building a career in music, but it wasn’t until he found himself recovering from a gunshot to the back that he really took notice. Recovering from open heart surgery gave Camo plenty of opportunity to put his priorities into perspective and he ultimately decided that his musical talent was worth focusing on.
With 3 street albums under his belt and brand new project in the works, Camoflauge has been supplying the demand for his music and setting the stage for the release of his official debut.
Camo recently took a trip up to Ottawa to build with HipHopCanada and, of course, to do what he does best — banging out records. One thing I took note of that I wanted to mention in this article was Camo’s ability to craft a hot track in mere minutes. The skill of writing (and recording) strong verses in a short amount of time has definitely added in his means to provide consistent releases to his fans and to keep his name relevant.
Here is how the interview went down:
 HipHopCanada: Camoflauge, thanks for rolling through for this interview. Let's get right into some background/history and work forward from there. There's a lot of speculation as to where you are originally from. Can you explain your heritage and how you ended up in Scarborough?
Camoflauge: I'm Indian, but I was born in Kuwait. The reason I put it like that is 'cause only real Kuwaiti people with Kuwaiti blood can call themselves Kuwaiti. The Gulf War broke out and after it was done my parents left us in India while they went back to Kuwait trying to get us Visas. We went back to Kuwait but I ended up in Toronto 'cause I got kicked out of school and my folks wanted me to have a better list of opportunities for my brothers and me.
HipHopCanada: So you did a lot of moving around as a youth. Do you feel that the exposure to so many different cultures influenced who you are as a person and as an artist?
Camoflauge: Oh, definitely. The exposure to new places and culture would influence anyone's daily life. It made me very open minded and thankful for what I have. In my case, it’s what makes me who I am as a man and an artist.
HipHopCanada: Can you describe growing up in Scarborough and what kind of influence it's had on the music you make?
Camoflauge: Growing up in Scarborough was very busy. Scarborough is an explosion of culture. It's always had its own culture brewing and music has always been the fuel behind it. When I started rhyming there weren't too many MCs. It's the local legends and OGs that influenced us to do this.
HipHopCanada: Is there a Scarborough sound? In terms of how people say Harlem has its own sound... Or Detroit has its own sound etc.
Camoflauge: Scarborough definitely has its own sound. There's a lot of bullshit out the Borough but the real heads are starting to come together so that sound is going to be even more recognizable soon.
HipHopCanada: You have a very unique family situation in that your twin brother is also a producer! There's often talk of twins having a special connection with each other to the point where they can sense what each other are thinking or feeling. Do you have that type of bond/chemistry with Diddy (Kong)?
Camoflauge: Nah, Diddy and I are totally different. We're tight as hell 'cause we're twins but as far as us being able to think or feel the same shit, never. Musically, we definitely have a bond 'cause he, more than anyone, knows what kind music I like.
HipHopCanada: How did you decide to get into MCing and him into production. Why not vice versa?
Camoflauge: See, Diddy is a quiet type dude. I always had a big mouth. When we started freestyling, Diddy never did nothing but watch and listen. One day we told him he couldn't just stand around. So, he started beatboxing for us. Once he got the programs for the beats, the rest is history.
HipHopCanada: The first Camoflauge project to be featured on our site that really introduced our viewers to you was the Pandora's Box street album. How do you feel the project was received by the public? What was your favorite track on the project and why?
Camoflauge: I love the way the album was taken in. I want to thank everyone who took the time to listen to it 'cause that's how I got to where I'm at right now. I couldn't be happier with the response I got for it. My favorite track was "Ninja Swords" 'cause that's actually the type of music I love. I love gangsta shit but songs 'bout knowledge are hard to do so [they're] more appreciated.
 HipHopCanada: You followed that up with the release of "On Your Own" which was also very well received (and sponsored by HipHopCanada.com!). Which producers did you work with for that one and how did you guys come together?
Camoflauge: We had Vokab, Diddy Kong AKA Killa Kong, Jonny Bosco, RuggedOne, etc. All the producers on there are close friends of mine so it was only natural that we came together on this music shit. Jaylab from Germany was another thing. He hollered at us, we liked what he did so we started working together.
HipHopCanada: And how did you decide which artists you wanted to feature on there with you?
Camoflauge: It was kind of the same with the production. Everyone on there is one of my peoples who I felt would bring more to the songs they're on.
HipHopCanada: My favorite song on the project is "My Little Girl". Can you breakdown the concept and what was going through your mind when you wrote that track?
Camoflauge: See, "My Little Girl" is actually a true story. I started to think about that girl, heard the beat a few days later. Shout-out to Jaylab for the beat. I almost made the song about guns 'cause we call guns "girls" but Hudson pressured me to do a song about the girl we knew. I agreed in time and wrote the track.
HipHopCanada: What's your personal favorite track on the project and why?
Camoflauge: My favorite track is "Everything's Nice" 'cause it makes me happy and helps me escape.
HipHopCanada: Let us know about the Deep Waters connection and what that is all about.
Camoflauge: Deep Waters started off as a gang. We got into a lot of shit over the years and when we started this music shit, everyone who wanted a change came along for the ride. The cats that didn't want give up the gang shit did their own thing.
HipHopCanada: What about the connection to S.L.U.G.?
Camoflauge: S.L.U.G. is my peoples. We came together on a music tip and are still building on that and a personal level.
HipHopCanada: What's the next project you've got in the works and what should your fans expect from it?
Camoflauge: My next shit is for the gangsters. It's going to be mad gun talk. But the one after that is going to be for the righteous ones.
HipHopCanada: Jump off video for the project... Already in the works?
Camoflauge: Definitely. A lot of visual projects are in the works right now.
HipHopCanada: There was word that you've also begun work on a short movie in collaboration with Sharpshooter... Is there any truth to that?
Camoflauge: We're hoping to collaborate with Sharpshooter on the project. He's very talented and in high demand so we'll have to see if the scheduling works out. A short movie is definitely in the works though.
HipHopCanada: Just recently you were given a grant to open and operate a youth community centre for the younger cats out in Orton Park (Scarborough). Congratulations on that. Can you discuss what you're putting together with that?
Camoflauge: For now it's a safe house in the hood. The youth could come in and play video games, ping pong etc. The original plan is to have a studio in there so we could press unlimited local music. Once that comes in, we expect a lot of good music out the hood.
HipHopCanada: A lot of people in this country are quick to say Canada doesn't have any hoods and that opportunities like OSAP prevent those lifestyles from ever really existing. This is also directly connected to people saying Canadian Gangsta rap is unrealistic or an untrue portrayal of Canadian living. What's your view on why these people are quick to dismiss the concept of Canadian hoods and what would you say to these people to explain the reality of your environment… the type of environment that makes something like opening a community centre for youth extremely important?
Camoflauge: All I could say to those people is, "come where I live". Live a couple days in the "hood". Shit is only unreal if you refuse to see it. But the fact is that no one would come and try to experience that so people could think what they want. Just read the newspapers. Toronto is getting bigger and older. The city is getting bad 'cause the younger ones only see bad. Youth centres are our weapons against all this negative around us. We need them.
HipHopCanada: What's your overall take on the industry in Toronto/Canada?
Camoflauge: Canada needs to come together and start believing each other sometimes. If we don't start supporting each other why would anyone else (U.S.A., UK, Europe etc.) support our movments. The industry is soft now but I see its growth. I don't hate it but I wish it was hotter than it is.
HipHopCanada: Thanks for your time Camo. Did you have any final thoughts? Shout-outs?
Camoflauge: Shout out to HipHopCanada, 'cause they helped me get to where I am. Shout-out to the whole of Canada and I want to thank T.O for starting to open up to me. O.P, Deep Waters, S.L.U.G., the whole street fam etc. Thank you.
Editor’s note: Check out Camoflauge at http://www.myspace.com/camoflaugetoronto.
CAMOFLAUGE AUDIO |
Camoflauge - My Little Girl (Prod. by Jaylab) [stream]
Camoflauge w/ Elliot Scars, Heavy Hudson & Dilln Whytes [download]
Camoflauge feat. Neenah - I'll Wet Chya (Prod. by Vokab) [stream]
Camoflauge - If Something Should Happen (Prod. by FreakMode) [stream]
Camoflauge - Life Is Hard (Prod. by FreakMode) [stream]
Camoflauge - Now Oh Now (Prod. by X Man Clan) [stream]
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