fbpx
Connect with us

Hi, what are you looking for?

HipHopCanadaHipHopCanada

Albums & Mixtapes

David Strickland enlists all-star cast for debut Spirit of Hip Hop

David Strickland

Toronto recording artist, producer and engineer David Strickland recently released his official solo debut, Spirit of Hip Hop.

The new 16-track project is jam packed with an incredible line up of guest appearances from artists based across North America, and beyond. The artists are, in order of appearance, Artson, Ernie Paniccioli, Northern Eagle Singers, Bubblz, Charlie Fettah, Jon C, Aspects, Nataanii Means, Northwest Kid, Chippewa Travelers, Violent Ground, King Reign, Que Rock, Saukrates, Supaman, Spade, JRDN, Whitey Don, Def Squad, Drezus, Hakeem Rose, Snotty Nose Rez Kids, Sten Joddi, EPMD, Leonard Sumner, Maestro, SouFy, City Natives, Joey Stylez, Carabella301, Chase Manhattan, Frankie Payne, Joey Stylez, and Hellnback.

Spirit of Hip Hop was delivered with an in-depth editorial from Apple Music’s editorial department, an honour not given to every project that hits their platform.

“The debut album as a solo artist from Grammy Award-winning Toronto-based engineer David Strickland is really three records in one. On the one hand, Spirit of Hip Hop is a testament to Strickland’s reputation as one of the most respected audio technicians in the rap game—the sort of guy who can rope in legends like EPMD and Redman for features with a quick phone call. On the other, it speaks to his status as an Indigenous rap trailblazer and champion; he hands over several of these 16 cuts to rising First Nations MCs like Snotty Nose Rez Kids and Que Rock, and invites veteran Cree/American music photographer Ernie Paniccioli to deliver an opening spoken-word address on the deep-seated connections between Indigenous and hip-hop cultures. But the album also serves a greater purpose than merely showcasing its creator’s connections.”

Back in April, we interviewed Strickland and featured the video for his single “Turtle Island” featuring JRDN, Spade, Supaman, Artson, and Whitey Don.

“Turtle Island was released on my daughter’s seventh birthday on a rare numerical occasion (2/20/2020). I chose this date in her honour, it contains four 2s in it, which signifies strength, resolve, indicates empowered commitments, emotional stability and the fulfillment of sacred contracts. That significance rings true on the journey I took creating this song and album. Full Circle.”

Spirit of Hip Hop is available on various digital streaming platforms including Apple Music and Spotify.

Advertisement. Scroll to continue reading.

David Strickland enlists all-star cast for solo debut Spirit of Hip Hop

You can follow @David.Strickland on Instagram.

5 Ways to Support HipHopCanada:

EXPLORE HIPHOPCANADA

Advertisement
Advertisement
Button with the words Canadian Music Industry Resources

SPOTIFY PLAYLIST

Canadian Fresh Artwork

RESOURCES

The OpenAI logo on a mobile phone screen.

Off Topic

OpenAI’s new generative Sora tool has sparked lively technology discussions over the past week, generating both enthusiasm and concern among fans and critics. Sora...

More Stories

Videos

Halifax rapper Quake Matthews has dropped off fresh visuals in support of his latest album, Roses. The video for the JRDN-assisted “Where I’m At”...

Albums & Mixtapes

With two big singles already under his belt in 2024—including “Let The Boy Die” with Merkules and a SonReal-assisted remix to his song “Try—Halifax’s...

News

On March 24, the 2024 JUNO Awards are set to ignite the Canadian music scene with a stellar lineup of nominees and performers. The...

Music

A few days ago, Cree-Métis singer-songwriter, producer, and rapper Joey Stylez returned with his first official drop of the year. The new single “Simplistic”...

Videos

9-0-Nickel Entertainment recording artist and CEO Peter Jackson has released visuals for his new JRDN-assisted single, "Like Father, Like Son." The video for the...

Music

Following the late October release of their "I Got Paid Today" single and video, award-winning duo Snotty Nose Rez Kids are back with their...

Videos

Canadian duo Snotty Nose Rez Kids are back with their latest release, "I Got Paid Today." The Sterling Larose-powered video comes just a couple...

Articles & Reviews

Some historians say hip-hop culture all started at a party one hot August night in the South Bronx in 1973. DJ Kool Herc plugged...