Floor to the Roof (feat. Velben) – Dragon Fli Empire

Redefine (2009)

I can’t help but love that these guys are from my home town: Calgary, AB. The home of The Stampede, complete with the boots and the hat and the cattle wrangling; certainly not an image you’d associate with fresh and vital hip hop, now would you? But that is exactly where this duo finds their flavour, and boy do I like their flavour!

The pair released their forth release on Makebelieve Records,  Redefine, early this year. It is full of neat little gems of old school inspired hip hop with a clean and unique flair. These two are helping change the stereotype of what Calgary is all about! I’m looking forward to seeing where their talent takes them, well beyond the foothills and the Bow river.

Check out their recent collaboration with Cadence Weapon, via the eclectic, Canadian music blog: Hero Hill, and for more from the band directly, check out the Dragon Fli Empire mySpace page, and LiveFromCgy.com, DFI’s blog about hip hop, culture and Calgary.

I’m happy I got the chance to watch the Michael Jackson memorial today online. Though I sat alone at my desk, listening by headphones, it felt good to be a part of the ceremony, to feel a sense of camaraderie with the millions of people who were remembering Michael at the same time.

Overall the memorial was very well done, with many heartfelt moments, with my two favourite being:

Queen Latifah reading a poem for Michael by Maya Angelou

Jennifer Hudson singing Will You Be There

Goodbye Michael. Your music will live on and on.

Rock with You (Freemasons Remix)

Big Bird in a Small Cage – Patrick Watson

Wooden Arms (2009)

I wasn’t on the Patrick Watson train back in 2007 when he was named New Artist of the Year at the Junos, and won the Polaris Music Prize, but I sure as hell am on the train now! I’ve been listening to a lot of CBC Radio 3 lately, and you can’t escape Watson’s unique blend of pop, rock and classical when you tune into Grant Lawrence. After hearing Watson’s new track Bejing on the radio, I went out and got both his award winning 2007 album, Close to Paradise and his recent release
Wooden Arms and feel in love with them both after one listen each.

Check out the Patrick Watson mySpace page for details on shows, as he’s touring about Canada currently. I’m hoping he’s head back out to Vancouver at some point, ’cause I missed his show at Richards when he was there last month.

Vampire – Pink Mountaintops

Outside Love (2009)

Just in time for Canada Day, I have a Canadian treat for you! Vancouver based band, Pink Mountaintops, released their third album, Outside Love, last month on Jagjaguwar. This recent contribution is worthy to help fill any CANCON quota, with both fun and happy songs, and deep and pensive tracks to suit any mood.

Pink Mountain is currently touring about the Pacific coast. Catch them if you can, as I imagine their shows stir that campfire togetherness feeling when the audience sings along:

Creatures in flight
Let’s be creatures of the night

Check out the Pink Mountaintops mySpace page for details.

It wouldn’t be right to not post about the King of Pop today.

Spend some time in memory lane with some of his best videos:

Billie Jean (1982)

Leave Me Alone (1987)

Smooth Criminal (1987)

Black or White (1991)

Remember the Time(1992)

You Rock My World (2001)