NOTES TO SELF

Notes to Self - All of the Above [BBRC] (Official Video)

2012-01-10T14:14:00.000-05:00

Feeling like Frontiersman, we grew our beards and arrived in Mactier at 7:30pm. Cold as f*ck. 4 hour drive North. Pitch black outside. Cabin smelled like pine and rosé. Dropped our bags, chose our beds, Bronze took the air mattress. Half hour till the NBA Dunk-Off. Donk was geeked. Flat screen, satellite, middle-of-nowhere. Heats on. Lee is lit. Drunk off Timbits. Blake Griffin jumps over a car. Here to shoot a music video. Eric suggested we charge the equipment. Didn't knock on wood. Inexcusable in a cabin. Power went out. Cold as f*ck. Pitch black inside. Cabin smelled like weed and sulfur. Dropped our plans, went to bed, Bronze froze on the air mattress. 5 hours till daylight. Rosh is lit. Left-over Timbits for breakfast. Last night Blake Griffin jumped over a car. Here to shoot a music video, with Ben to direct. A take on raps pioneers, we planned to wear fur. The events that followed were captured on camera; 'All of the Above' took place. This is a true story. *No animals were harmed in the making of this video. - Notes to Self -- Artist: Notes to Self Song: All of the Above [BBRC] Produced by Bronze One (of Notes to Self) for Course of Study & Book (of Beatface) for Jigsaaw *AKA BOOK & BRONZE for Heart on Sleeve Raps by Roshin, Swamp Donkey & Bronze One (all of NTS) Cuts by DJ Dopey (of NTS) Directed & Edited by Benjamin Young Hart for greenwoodyard.com Concept by Benjamin & Matthew Cinematography shot by Eric Boucher Assistant to the Director: Lee Gaul Online by JR for Motioneer.ca Drawing by Adrian Forrow (adrianforrow.com) Graphics & Treatment by Course of Study Creative & Peekay Art Dept. From the forthcoming Notes to Self project "Used to be Dark [RECOIL]" twitter.com/NNNNNotestoSelf http://notestoself.net/

ALL OF THE ABOVE [BBRC] (Video TEASER)

2012-01-05T11:24:00.000-05:00

A sneak preview teaser of Notes to Self's video, "All of the Above [BBRC]" - the third visual from their new project & video series, Used to be Dark [RECOIL].

Live Cut Session by DJ Dopey of Notes to Self (for DopeMuzik)

Live footage Shot by Jason Janarious
"All of the Above [BBRC]" Video excerpts Directed & Edited by Benjamin Young Hart for greenwoodyard.com
"All of the Above [BBRC]" Cinematography shot by Eric Boucher
Teaser Edits & Online by Motioneer.ca
Concept by Benjamin & Matthew

Produced by Bronze One (of Notes to Self) for Course of Study & Book (of Beatface) for Jigsaaw
AKA BOOK & BRONZE for Heart on Sleeve

@NNNNNotestoSelf
http://www.notestoself.net

NOBODY Crew Neck Sweatshirt

2011-12-30T11:14:00.000-05:00

We recently put together a limited run of crew-neck sweatshirts to commemorate the release of our "NOBODY" with Evidence OFFICIAL VIDEO. Only 30 were made, and they will be scooped up fast so be sure to hit us up quick at info@notestoself.net for yours! Specially for the heads, if you're feelin' lucky duck then press your luck!

NTS

Illustration by Adam Hilborn
Designed by PeeKay Art Dept. & Course of Study Creative

All of the Above [BBRC]

2011-12-16T00:10:00.001-05:00

http://soundcloud.com/notestoself/notes-to-self-all-of-the-above

Notes to Self - All of the Above [BBRC]

From mesh tops to bubble goose, from the grill on your car to the grill in your mouth, from the BX to the farthest reaches of the globe - this has become rap music, man.

Growing up in Toronto, we saw a rapper find success as a folk guitarist - we saw a hometown rapper with an island cadence have his song turn into a platinum selling ringtone. Eventually, we even saw a teen actor, who a lot of local artists might've clowned on 10 years ago, become the fastest growing rap star since Lil Wayne.

Welcome to Hip Hop culture in 2011. Rappers are putting together inspiring rookie years in their thirties; singing your own hook is the thing now; and artists poppin in Canada, England and even South Africa are setting themselves up for strong careers. Back in the day they said rap would never die, but I'm not sure anyone saw this coming.

Alabama is not New York, the Bay is not LA, and Toronto is definitely not Houston. But it takes all kinds man, it takes all kinds. As little kids in 92', we had lines shaved in to the sides of our heads, and wore our clothing backwards, blaring "Jump" well after "Warm it up" dropped - those memories are kind of funny now - but then again, that denim vest with rhinestones "so-and-so" inspired you to wear to senior prom, probably will be worth a few chuckels in a couple of years too. But - hence our point - from mesh tops to bubble goose, from the grill on your car to the grill in your mouth, and from the BX to the farthest reaches - rap has always sorta been what you make it - bottom line, rap has become "All of the Above."

--
http://www.blogger.com/img/blank.gif
Artist: Notes to Self
Song: All of the Above
Produced by Bronze One (of Notes to Self) & Book (of Beatface)
AKA BOOK & BRONZE for Heart on Sleeve
From the forthcoming Notes to Self project "Used to be Dark [RECOIL]"

Illustration by Elicser (elicser.com)
Design by COS & PK

twitter.com/notestoself
@NNNNNotestoSelf

DOWNLOAD

Notes to Self - Nobody with Evidence Video

2011-11-24T15:11:00.000-05:00

NOTES TO SELF - NOBODY [ with EVIDENCE ] ** OFFICIAL Video

Remember back back in the day when when you had that 1 Homie who would video tape & record every rap video on TV, or every rap show on the radio? Used to go over to the crib and bug out over new sh*t, even if he only caught the last half of the joint, y'all would still go crazy over it right?

Fast forward 15 years, the Homie has a box of 30 or so VHS cassette tapes sittin dusty in a drawer with names like "Rap City", "Summer Jam", "The Box", "In Da Round" scrolled on the side of'em in some youthful hand-styles fit for a wall or two - and you're like, I need to watch these, take you back, rappin along with every word like it was yesterday. But you ain't mad raps evolved, cus you fu*k with the new sh*t, cus back then "this was the new shit".

Maybe that same Homie back back in the day, meticulously catches the last 50 seconds of that new Jeru joint, making Moms change the channel quick fast in order to record it, cus Rap City is on. Leaving you wondering how Prem does it, making them sound so good right, and saying to yourself "I wanna rap like them".

Artist: Notes to Self
Song: Nobody with Evidence
Produced by Bronze One (of Notes to Self) for Course of Study & Bookworm (of Beatface)
*AKA BOOK & BRONZE for Heart on Sleeve

Directed by JR of Motioneer & Matthew Bronson
*[ MOTIONEER & NOTES TO SELF ]*
Edit by MOTIONEER
VFX by The Farm Team [Kyle Sim, Mike MacInnis, JR]

From the forthcoming Notes to Self project "Used to be Dark [RECOIL]".

@NNNNNotestoSelf
www.notestoself.net

Nobody Teaser Videos

2011-11-24T00:40:00.000-05:00

I don't mean to tease y'all, but check it out. Our latest video Nobody with Evidence drops tomorrow.

Was that who I thought that was....

Nobody [RECOIL Remix] with Evidence

2011-11-18T21:58:00.000-05:00

Nobody [RECOIL Remix] with Evidence by NotestoSelf

I didn't know that Black Squirrels were rare - not until EV told me that they don't have black squirrels in California. EV had seen a program about the black squirrel on the Discovery channel and was really surprised to see one for the first time in person. I guess when you see something everyday it doesn't seem unique at all - this is the kind of stuff we talked about the first time we all met. Evidence is an interesting guy. He was in town on tour with Little Brother at the time when we first hung out. Bronze had met him earlier that year as EV had started working on a solo project - discussing beats - and found that they had both been in touch with DJ Khalil with whom put in a good word. Ev had heard Bronze's beats and agreed to do a track with us on the strength of them - so when he was in Toronto, we got him in the studio as planned, picked him up only to go work on a joint that we'd been crafting with him for a couple of months over the phone and online - something we were excited to play for the label at the time - and we knew we needed something like this for the project. Not the most original concept per say, rap about rap, but something personally historic, that relied on a consistency in delivery between every rappers angle - the early days, the firsts. Our verses were done and recorded, and I thought EV had written his verse already, but when Bronze put the beat on, EV talked about how much he was looking forward to writing to it - and then proceeded to knock a verse out like only a writer of his caliber can, on the spot, staying true to our concept of the song for the whole 16 - asking us what we thought of his last 4 bars before throwing to Rakaa. Shit was fire - and clearly cemented the Brotherhood we now have with EV. What was it like when you first started rapping? An honest question that helped to create "NOBODY" - the song that sorta started all of our west coast collaborations for Notes - the song that led to becoming real family with Dilated - opening the door for us to do more with EV, Rak & Babs, and of course Fash - It was the genisis for our tours and sessions with Dilated and Babu here in Canada - as well as more joints with the Dilated family yet to be released - shouts to EV & ALC.

What you hear now, is the updated version of NOBODY - THE REMIX -- a remix like only Book & Bronze can produce.

- Swamp

DOWNLOAD - http://soundcloud.com/notestoself/nobody-recoil-remix-with/download

Artist: Notes to Self

Song: Nobody [Recoil Remix] with Evidence

Produced by Bronze One (of Notes to Self) & Book (of Beatface)
AKA BOOK & BRONZE for Heart on Sleeve

From the forthcoming Notes to Self project "Used to be Dark [RECOIL]

Illustration by Elicser
elicser.com
Design by PK & COS

@NNNNNotestoSelf

Notes to Self x 59Fifty (Commercial - Part 2)

2011-11-09T14:42:00.000-05:00

Notes to Self release their second commercial promoting their new series of exclusive 59Fifty caps. Look out for their brand new music project, "Used to be Dark [Recoil]" by Notes to Self, in early December -- as well as stay tuned to watch their new series of fitted caps take shape in new colourways & designs.

Designed by Peekay Art Dept & Course of Study Creative
Commercial Directed by Matthew Bronson for Course of Study Creative & JR / Motioneer.ca
VFX by Motioneer.ca

notestoself.net - pkartdept.com - motioneer.ca

Notes to Self's very own ELICSER takes "BEST OF T.O." title home...

2011-11-08T18:20:00.000-05:00

Yep.
Thanks NOW.

http://www.nowtoronto.com/bestof/winner.cfm?category=620&area=587

elicser.com

Notes to Self - Today [I Wanna] Video

2011-11-04T15:45:00.001-04:00

Notes to Self - Today [I Wanna] Video

When the stars align and creativity is at its height, magic happens - believe it or not, it can also be predetermined.

Ever just borrow a camera and shoot a video for a joint that wasn't finished yet, solely off the goosebumps that those very first 16 bars gave you? And before that 16 is even written, that 16 is inspired by a beat that is made in 10 minutes while en route to the session waiting for that 16? Flipped in mere minutes from the energy a soulful voice a friend introduces to you only hours before? That same voice winding up on the hook because it was destined to, because you couldn't get that soulful voice out of your head? A feeling from a beat so powerful, that the same Dude that writes the first 16 to that beat, is also incredibly compelled to write a hook too, on the spot? Who's then convinced, that this is "thee" tune and writes his own 16, forcing the other to? Plays it for the only remaining Homie, who then loses his shit so much that he turns on the Organ, unintentionally finishing the joint together? Has that ever happened to you?

Well, it happened to us, Today.

Artist: Notes to Self
Song: Today [I Wanna] with Lee Gaul
Produced by Bronze One (of Notes to Self) for Course of Study & Bookworm (of Beatface)
AKA BOOK & BRONZE for Heart on Sleeve

Additional Vocals by Lee Gaul

Directed by Matthew Bronson for Course of Study Creative
Edited by Gerrit Van Dyke
Shot by JR at Motioneer.ca
Additional Shots by James Donald

From the forthcoming Notes to Self project "Used to be Dark [RECOIL]".
@NNNNNotestoSelf
www.notestoself.net

NOTES TO SELF - TODAY (Video TEASER)

2011-11-01T15:44:00.000-04:00

NOTES TO SELF - TODAY (Video TEASER)

A sneak preview teaser of Notes to Self's video, "TODAY" - the first visual from their new project & video series, Used to be Dark [RECOIL].

Live Juggle & Flip by DJ Dopey of Notes to Self (for DopeMuzik)

Live footage Shot by Jason Janarious
"Today" Video excerpts shot by JR for Motioneer.ca
Edited by Motioneer.ca

Produced by Bronze One (of NTS) for Course of Study & Bookworm (of Beatface)
AKA BOOK & BRONZE for Heart on Sleeve

@NNNNNotestoSelf
www.notestoself.net

Mr. Polite with Fashawn

2011-10-27T14:40:00.000-04:00

Mr. Polite with Fashawn by NotestoSelf

Mr. Polite

I text EV like "when you in town next, I see your Dude Fash is in Toronto, we should connect". EV hops on Twitter like "Fash meet Bronze, Bronze meet Fash, but on the real Bronze, make sure you take Fash to that Jamaican spot for some roti before you do anything". 3 hours later, Fash rolls a large blunt, passing it to Rosh, and Rosh says "you Cali Dudes and your Blunts" - recalling when EV brought Montage to the crib - at this point I get like 3 beats in, vibing, and Fash exhales, looks at me, and he's like "this is it". By the time I had it looped up, cus the sequence is like an unorthodox eleven and a half bar loop, Fash was already humming the chorus, while trying to fix his phone, woman trying to get at him - he's like "Homies, I'm on the road for real, I'm tired of being, Mr. Polite".

Bang. Song was a wrap. Felt bad too, wrote a classic, yes, but the Jamaican spot was closed.

-Bronze

Artist: Notes to Self

Song: Mr. Polite with Fashawn

Produced by Bronze One (of NTS) for Course of Study & Bookworm (of Beatface)
AKA BOOK & BRONZE for Heart on Sleeve

Notes to Self collaborates with New Era

2011-10-25T12:39:00.000-04:00

Notes to Self collaborates with New Era and releases a series of exclusive 59Fifty caps. New Era teamed up with Notes to Self in 2009 when the group was asked to open for De La Soul's 20 Years & Rising Tour, commemorating De La's classic LP, 3 Feet High & Rising - where NTS began their partnership with NE. Look out for their new Notes to Self project, "Used to be Dark [Recoil]" early December -- as well as watch their new series of fitted caps take shape in new colourways & designs with New Era.

Designed by: Peekay Art Dept and Course of Study Creative
Commercial directed by JR / Motioneer.ca & Course of Study Creative

notestoself.net - pkartdept.com - motioneer.ca

@NNNNNotestoself

Notes to Self with DJ Babu - Lick Shots Tour Encore Video

2011-10-24T12:35:00.000-04:00

Notes to Self with DJ Babu - Lick Shots Tour Encore Video

The Lick Shots Tour Encore Video captures the Lick Shots Tour between DJ Babu & Notes to Self. Photo and video shot by fans and collaborators chronicles this cross Canada tour over 7 cities. After building with Dilated Peoples on the Yellow & Grey RMX, Babu reached out to work with us. The song Lick Shots was created, serving as the starting point for our eventual tour together.

Lick Shots
Produced by DJ Babu
(Book & Bronze Mix)
Directed & Cut by Ben Young Hart for GREENWOODYARD.COM
Online by JR at MOTIONEER.CA
Shot By: Liner Notes, Ben Young Hart, Poyan Pourshian & Tim Stuart.

Download it now: http://soundcloud.com/notestoself/notes-to-self-with-dj-babu/download

http://www.twitter.com/NnnnnotestoSelf
http://www.twitter.com/DJBabuforeal

Ray Ray Malone drops video for "Real"

2011-10-22T16:06:00.000-04:00

RAY RAY MALONE - 'REAL' PROD. SHOW BOIZ

Our good homie Ray Ray Malone, just released a new video for his street single "Real" produced by the Show Boiz. Show him some love and drop a comment or like him on fb below.

http://www.facebook.com/pages/Rayhaan/41780975728

2011-10-01T02:47:00.000-04:00

http://www.djbooth.net/index/tracks/review/notes-to-self-lick-shots/

Here's a link to a lil write up the good folks at Djbooth.net wrote about our joint "Lick Shots" with DJ Babu. This joint was originally for Duck Season 3.5, which never ended up coming out. I'm really glad it saw the light of day though. One of my personal favorites to perform. Touring with Babu was a lot of fun man, if you don't know how funny this cat is, google Decon SSXW. That shit kills me. SSXW man.

NTS x New Era : Home and Away

2011-09-24T00:11:00.000-04:00

Notes to Self x New Era Home and Away. Yeah. We like these ones a lot. Look out for new music next week. The wait is almost over.