The Canadian music community took another hit this month with the passing of Boston, Ontario hip-hop artist, Brent Flicks aka B-Flix.
“Determined to change the World through music!” – B-Flix
The 25-year-old passed away on Monday, May 20, after a valiant lifelong battle with Spinal Muscular Atrophy (S.M.A.). The Muscular Dystrophy Association defines S.M.A. as “a genetic disease affecting the part of the nervous system that controls voluntary muscle movement.”
B-Flix originally took interest in making music at a young age and by 2009 he had written his first song. By 2010, despite ongoing medical issues requiring multiple hospital visits, he remained dedicated to his art and pushed even harder to get his music heard. He released his first mixtape (Boston Boy) in April 2010, and followed that with an 8-track EP (Love Me Now, ‘Cause You’ll Hate Me Later) later that same year.
By the summer of 2014, Flix was promoting his full-length album debut, Everything Changed, which he created while recovering from a lengthy hospital stay. The album was nominated for a 2015 Hamilton Music Award, and featured the song “Pray For A Better Day” which was nominated for an American Songwriting Award.
His sophomore album, Genuine, was released in Oct. 2015 and featured various notable guests including D.O., The Emsee and iLLvibe, to name a few. It also features Madchild of Swollen Members on what Flix considered his biggest song to date. “Gotta Be Me” won an Akademia Music Award, as well as an American Songwriting Award.
“When creating music, Flix tries to dig deep into his soul, and bring out his deepest of emotions, that’s why he chose to name his sophomore full-length album Genuine.”
The Genuine II album—Flix’s third—followed in Oct. 2016, and featured another pair of big singles including “Love Will Last,” which featured West Coast legend Moka Only, and “My Unicorn.” The album and its singles bagged Flix a handful of accolades including seven 2017 Canadian Urban Television Hip-Hop Awards nominations: Rap Album of the Year, East Coast Rap Album of the Year, Collaboration of the Year for “Love Will Last” featuring Moka Only, and Rap Single of the Year for “Love Will Last.” “My Unicorn” was nominated for R&B Single of the Year, Music Video of the Year, and Songwriter of the Year.
“Genuine II became Flix’s first album to chart on Canadian college radio, reaching #8 on Kamloops – CFBX 92.5FM’s hip-hop chart in February of 2017.”
In Nov. 2017, his single “Breathe On My Own,” the second song off his album debut, was featured on CBC’s hit show, Kim’s Convenience.
Flix’s entire ‘official’ catalogue can be found on Spotify, Apple Music, and other digital platforms.
Flix’s last official release was a Riverdogs-assisted “Wings Up Above” single which came out Mar. 16, 2018. As of 2017, Flix had plans to release a new album called Forget Me Not: A Champagne Playlist, but it’s unclear if he scrapped the project or if it will be released posthumously. Genuine II is the latest project listed on his digital streaming profiles.
The Flicks family will receive friends at the Thorpe Brothers’ Funeral Home & Chapel (96 West St, Brantford, ON) tomorrow, May 23, from 2 p.m. to 4 p.m., and on Friday, May 24, from 1 p.m. to 2 p.m. A funeral will then be held in the chapel starting at 2 p.m. As expressions of sympathy, donations to Muscular Dystrophy Association or the March of Dimes would be appreciated by the family.
Family, friends and colleagues have been sharing the memories and condolence messages at an online obituary created by the family.
Rest in Peace B-FLix
For more information about Brent Flicks aka B-Flix visit the official site, BFlix.ca.
