2017 was a big year for the FalconCrest duo, dropping a string of dope buzz records before eventually releasing their impressive mixtape debut, Born In Toronto Raised In Hell. After a successful running promoting that project, group members TEX and DNTE have now pulled the trigger on the album debut, Something Different.
The project is 10-tracks long and features a gang of dope producers including FalconCrest-regular Smokeshopstudio, Vic Grimes, Sadhugold, Abraham Lilson, Therealsklitso, Nicholas Craven, Prythm, and Alex Bridge. The album’s only guest appearance is frequent FalconCrest collaborator, Wyze Wonda, who was featured on the single “Holy Ghost.”
We recently caught up with DNTE and TEX to ask them about their come-up in the Toronto music scene, what to expect from their new project Something Different, working with Twistello from Buffalo, and more. You can find the exclusive Q&A below along with a steam of Something Different.
Q&A: FalconCrest
HipHopCanada: Who is FalconCrest? How did you guys come together?
DNTE: FalconCrest consists of two emcess, TEX and DNTE from Toronto. We both met in our first year of high school in the cafeteria where their was a rap cipher going on. We never knew each other at the time and we both took turns rapping with two different styles. Everyone started going crazy puttin’ they’re gun finger in the air bangin’ on the table, over the shit we were sayin’, it was like it was meant to be, it was magic! After the cipher, we just became friends and didn’t even talk about rappin’ again, we just wanted to fuck bitches and make money. We both quit school that same year. Years later an associate of ours (Jason Banks) suggested that we should make music together as a duo and talk about our life and what we went through growin up. Talking that real shit to the people. Talk about the grind in these Toronto streets, the good times and the bad times, the struggles, the poverty, the ups and downs of hustling.
HipHopCanada: For readers who aren’t familiar with you, describe the FalconCrest sound. Who are your musical influences?
TEX: Our sound is the war drum for all the fallen soldiers in the streets of Toronto. Our sound is life, life imitates art, we’re like wild animals trying to break out of the cage. Our sound is love and hate; it’s war and peace; it’s 9-5 vs. hustlin’; its old and new. It sounds like you heard it before, but it’s the first time you heard it. It’s a blend and a mix of past and present, it’s Toronto..
DNTE: We’ve got two different styles. TEX comes to you like an intelligent outlaw, with a purpose, like a robin hood for the people… take from the rich, give to the poor type of nigga, and tell you why he did it. And make you understand why he did it, droppin’ street education. DNTE is like the icing and the cake talking that fly shit giving you the good, the bad and the ugly. We’re like Blondie and Angel Eyes in that movie… We’re both mastered gun slingers on the mic. We can can rap on anything and make it sound hot! We fathered every style, any beat, you name it we can drop flows on it. We listen to all genres of music, from the likes of Ice Cube, Buju Banton, Peter Tosh, Biggie, 2Pac, Wu-Tang Clan, EPMD, the 70’s soul music, that old reggae rocksteady music, that african deep house music.
HipHopCanada: What are your earliest memories of music? How did you guys get involved with the local hip-hop scene?
TEX: Being that we’re the first generation from the Caribbean people that migrated to Canada, our first introduction to music was reggae, because our parents brought there culture with them to Toronto. Then, as we come of age we discovered hip-hop, and as a black kid it felt like this was something for us that told our story. Hip-hop found its way just like reggae and it spread right across the world. So now we’re giving you our version of hip-hop and you can hear the influence of the early days in our music. Smokey from Smokeshopstudio was the only guy that had a setup for a studio so we would go there and vibe out on the mic. It was a packed studio, it was like a hangout spot for all the g’s in the neighbourhood. After awhile, everyone around was saying that we was telling stories that Toronto hasn’t heard yet. So slowly we put together projects and here we are in the flesh.
HipHopCanada: No doubt. If you had to introduce a new listener to your music using only 1 song, which would it be and why?
TEX: “Sahdu’s Karma,” because its a perfect example of what we’re trying to do, what hip-hop is. We are pulling emotions out of you and making you think. Everyone is living that song, going through karma, from the day they were born to the day they die. You can’t run from it. Karma is as real as your heart beating in you chest! So that would be the song I would start people off with. To let them know they’re about to go on a ride that will challenge you, and remind you of your strengths and weaknesses, where you from and what you stand for, good and evil, god vs devil.
HipHopCanada: Your new project Something Different is on the way. How does it compare to your mixtape, Born In Toronto Raised In Hell?
DNTE: Born in Toronto Raised in Hell is a mixtape we cooked up quick with our homie Pablo from Pound Entertainment. We gave him a bunch of songs and freestyles and he just put it together. Basically it was our introduction to the world. Our mission was to get your attention, droppin’ raw street shit, that “Hell on Earth” type of music, droppin’ freestyles and videos every week. There was no method to our madness, we would just go to the studio in the morning, crush 3 or 4 tracks, then do a video for one of them the same day. Something Different was more thought out, calculated, designedful. We went back home on this project. We talked about our family and what they went through from slavery, racism, our young soldiers out here surviving in this fucked up environment, our corrupt government, the politics in this industry and the game, the ego, the misconception of our people, our seven deadly sins…
HipHopCanada: A steady stream of videos have come from your camp. When should we expect to see some visual support for Something Different? What song?
DNTE: We got “Holy Ghost” featuring Wyze Wonda about to drop any day now.
HipHopCanada: It’s safe to say your music was influenced by the ‘Golden Era’ of hip-hop. How do you feel about the current state of hip-hop in Toronto, in Canada, and overall?
TEX: Everything is a influence from old to new. We draw energy from everything, so it all has a place in the Falcon. Toronto has the eye watching right now so everyone wants the attention, so there is more music being put out then ever before, which shows for once people in the city believe blowing up can happen. You can see it in their eyes, and you can hear it in their voice.
HipHopCanada: You guys have done a lot of work with Smokeshopstudio. How did that relationship come about and will they be involved with the new project moving forward?
DNTE: We’re cut from the same cloth, we have the same culture. Our vibe is natural, off the rip, we just speak the same language.
TEX: Smokeshop and the FalconCrest equals thunder and lightening. He knows everything we’ve been through, he knows what we’re trying to do, Smokeshop is FalconCrest! Smokeshop will be on every project we do in the future.
HipHopCanada: One of the first releases we heard from you was the Twistello-assisted “Disco Biscuits.” You guys have also done another record with Twist called “Russian Roulette.” How did you guys connect with the Buffalo artist and are there any more collaborations on the way?
DNTE: Our business partner, Jason Banks (High Heat Records), used to live in Buffalo. So he just called his peoples in Buffalo and told them to come down and the rest is history. From the jump it was bless. We’ve got a lot more joints coming out with Twist in the future.
HipHopCanada: Any plans on touring Canada soon? What’s the next chance fans will have to see you live?
TEX: We are so busy getting these ideas on record I haven’t even thought about it yet. But we will be seen in the flesh sooner then later.
DNTE: We’ve got some people pulling the strings for us to get this tour started. Ya’ll will definitely see the Falcon flying soon.
