Friday, August 31st. 9:30pm @ Absinthe – $15 (limited)
One of Hamilton’s most talked about and anticipated hip hop shows is happening at the end of the month at Absinthe.
This show is so huge – it is already basically sold out. Tickets are unlikely to be sold at the door, instead you are encouraged to contact one of the performers (or the organizers via facebook) to see about securing a ticket.
This showcase style show features many amazing local lyricist and MCs. It is a stacked bill that includes: Hamilton Hi-Cats, Arcane, Lee Reed, Jai Steels, Every Day People, D-Toxx, UMSC, Transition & Topicz, J-Ache$, Certified, J Millah, Vision, Lady ASG, The Demon, and more.
The excitement about this show is in part due to a rare appearance by Canada’s Got Talent goldenboy: The Emsee, also know as Hamilton’s Matthew Cathcart.
I was able to catch up with Emsee recently and ask him a few questions about his career and the local hip hop scene.
You were quite popular and well supported on Canada’s Got Talent, what was it like to experience fame?
It was a great experience, the highlight for me was being super busy doing something I love to do. Everyday I’d have new e-mails, interviews, rehearsals, etc.. and I enjoyed every minute of it!
Have you felt any pressure to adapt or change your style as you’ve become more well known?
Not really. I’ve always stayed true to myself with my music, even when I was on Canada’s Got Talent, I didn’t have to change my content or dumb it down. I just did me, and I think people appreciate the fact that I’m not trying to be anyone but myself.
I think that your music stands apart because of you fantastic delivery and the quality of your beats. Where do your beats come from? Do you create any of your own beats?
First of all, thank you for the kind words. A lot of my older songs were beats from producers online, just because I couldn’t really afford anything else. In 2010 I bought some equipment and started making my own beats. Most of the time when I’m making beats I usually start by humming melodies and then I do my best to play it out on the keyboard layer by layer, until I have a full beat. Then the writing starts.
You are playing a stacked show on August 31st in Hamilton. Are there any Hamiltonian MC’s that you look up to or listen to regularly?
I try to do my best to listen to everyone’s music, but we have a lot of Rappers/MC’s in this city. My Personal Favorites are Eklipz, Stealth Elementz, D-TOXX, Iron Mic, Arcane, Lee Reed.
What’s next for The Emsee?
As for whats next for me, I’m just trying to capitalize on the exposure and connections I made from Canada’s Got Talent. I’ve been working an album for the last year or so that is entirely self produced, so right now I’m just trying to get everything lined up on the business side then it should be ready for release!
What is the most played song on your iPod? (or other mp3 player)
The most played song on my iPod is hands down Phil Collins – In The Air Tonight. I don’t know why, but I can listen to that song at anytime
