A1 NYC

On the real, peep this vid. My boy 'Ton & I used to hit this spot regularily 'bout 10 years ago, when OSAP money was plentiful, when 12 hr bus rides were frequent and doable without any hassle - and we'd spend whole days inside A1, and not even take breaks (no pun intended). No lie. Coming home with stacks. No lie. Anything to declare? Yeah, 'bout 200 jams I'm 'bout to pillage, No lie. This was the spot. and apparently still is. Respect to A1. those we're the days. kept CV alive. Pay(ed) them a visit.

The Belly of the Beat from Gasface on Vimeo.

Grey Days Like These

Despite being a very merry individual I find the grey days that make up most Toronto Decembers tough to deal with. Hard to roll out of bed and do what needs to be done. Harder still to be creative, sometimes.

Yet, when you push through this SAD feeling great things can be accomplished. At the very least you'll feel like you accomplished something and that's worth a little bit. Right?

I decided I'd write this in case any one was feeling like me this morning. My goal is to feel inspired when I read this tomorrow.

1 LOVE T.O.

For a minute now the boys of 1 LOVE T.O. (T-Rexx and Brock) have been holding Toronto down with all things T Dot related. Check out Toronto's best blog.

www.1loveto.com

The world in 1 city.

WE SEE YOU PHILIPPINES! BENEFIT PARTY

WE SEE YOU PHILIPPINES! BENEFIT PARTY (for those affected by the typhoons)

PLEASE SUPPORT & GO TO THIS THIS EVENT!

The Big Homie D Scratch (of The Legendary Turnstylez Crew) called on some of his local Bretherens and put together a serious lineup of TO Disc Jocks in support of The Philippines Disaster Relief Fund - in order to help raise money. The team; our very own DJ Dopey will be dropping a set alongside The Turnstylez Crew DJ's D Scratch, Grouch & Lil Jaz! As well as DJ Starting From Scratch, P-Plus, Agile, DJ Riccachet & DJ TheraP! The benefit party is hosted by Flow93.5's Real Freqer Arcee & of course D Scratch. Cover: Donate $5 or more to the Canadian Red Cross International Disaster Relief Fund when you show up. Next Friday Novemeber 19th at Augusta House (152 Augusta Avenue). Be there.

Thank You.

More Fam, More Fire: THE HEY NOW

Our good good Homie James Reid - also our official in-house video editor (the Dude who pretty much slaves over every edit of every video we've ever put together or posted) is indeed multi-talented - he is in an amazing & reletively new indie-rock band called 'The Hey Now'. They most recently released their debut EP entitled 'Louise' on Oct 16th, and threw a blow-out release party at The Central in Toronto (which due to unfortunate circumstances, we didn't post in time to let y'all know before hand that such a party was brewing, sorry JR).

Thier new lead single 'Louise the Dawn' is really #!@$ing dope, and hopefully gets the push it deserves - and I'm looking forward to possibly doing some remixes for these fellas in the near future - but in the meantime, don't sleep like you do on our blog, and go cop their new EP now. and at the very least, visit their online platforms (where you can obviously get a hold of a copy):

myspace.com/theheynow and theheynow.com

I really dig all of their artwork too - website layout w ills / EP graphics / and most notably, thier new poster designs - all them shits is dope & have that attn to detail - the marriage tween the look of their hand-crafted branding visuals & the classic sound of their music is brillaintly pulled-off I'd say. Apparently, they get up with two attractive young female artists from Toronto who knock out most of The Hey Now's newest visuals - and apparently they also keep it a bit of a secret too cus I couldn't really find any links from THN's platforms revealing who these artists actually were - til I saw a photo of one of their posters on their Facebook Fan page, but it worked word-of-mouth nontheless, so shouts to JR for keeping it fresh & still theirs. The outfit is called 'Beside Herself' and they're doing a helluva job cus their artwork is straight classic:

besideherself.ca

Dope. Might have to ask James if he doesn't mind me asking them if I can get something done for Notes. Shit.

Good looks on The Hey Now for making good music & connecting with good visual artists to bring it all together. Y'all are making it happen.

Peep their video for 'No Memory' too if you get a minute - James directed & edited it, and it's a tight piece. All shot at 4500 feet in the air, no lie. James is a beast.

Found this on The Hey Now's Facebook Fan page if you're looking for any product:

The Official HEY NOW Louise EP/CD & Louise Poster!!!

Produced by THE HEY NOW
Poster designed and hand crafted by Carolyn + Alda from Beside Herself.
check em out at besideherself.ca
Email us if you want product!

theheynow@gmail.com

So please check out The Hey Now. Don't front. Shit is classic. and Canadian.

Thanks.

Peace.

NOTES TO SELF open for DE LA SOUL

Bronze and our boy James put this together from photos and footage we got from our opening slot for De La Soul at the Phoenix this Aug. The verse is an ode to De La for 20 dope years.

Swamp

Steve Nash is the Man

And everyone loves him. You can tell he doesn't take himself to seriously. Which is dope. Plus he reps Canada hard.

Look who finally got some airtime!! LOL! Big up's to Dalton & Johnny Hockin for doing up the piece!!

http://video.msn.com/video.aspx?mkt=en-ca&vid=45709191-e828-4441-ae6c-e3180e4584f1&from=&fg=rss

We're Number One

Yellow & Grey Remix with Dilated Peoples just reached number one on both of the college radio hip hop charts. We have been pushing this single for a while and it feels good to see it reach the top. Thanks to all DJ's who are playing our music and supporting us. We won't forget you.

Check out the charts here:

http://www.myspace.com/recordbreakercharts

http://www.rapattacklives.com/charts_396.htm

SUPPORT MORE OF OUR RELATED FAM: this time it's PARISHIL STUDIO!

I wish I was still as nice with the graphics as my dudes Parishil are. These guys are the best you'll ever come across. The New Neu Buro Destrukt... PARISHIL (Adam & Alain, shouts to G-Biz plenty too).

They did our final album artwork treatment with me, among a lot of other stuff coming in and out of their studio. It was an amazing collaboration, and experience. And Btw, They finally put Pound Magazine on the map aesthetically too - and ironically before Pound shut down.

But Notes X Parishil are always working... An October collabo is quickly approaching. But can't drop details yet. All I can say is that it all will thoroughly blow your minds. These cats will rep Notes' visual aesthetic alongside our own Elicser as the new decade appraoches. My Dudes are family, and they hold Notes down.

But more importantly - these cats are throwing a final gala-type closing show tonight for their current space - I said TONIGHT! - as they're moving on from the Barbershop Gallery they once worked in / from / for / and built, simply to help put other cats (that you never got a chance to hear about until they set up this official spot) 'on'. But they aren't stopping - just moving on to their next big idea - so regardless - if y'all had never been by their spot, now is your final chance to see it & meet them. Y'all should def come out tonight & support these two very out-going and creative Think-Tanks I went to High School with. These Dudes are without a doubt some organized talent - some OG Boss's in the visual game, if you will.

Peep the show details below. and GO!
http://barbershopgallery.blogspot.com
www.facebook.com/group.php?gid=32663782185
www.parishil.com
parishil.blogspot.com

Thank You.

Sneaker talk with Grandmaster Roc Raida

This was the last time I got to chill with Raida outside of a club atmosphere. We had a good time that day. Took him to a couple sneaker shops here in Toronto and then dropped him off at the airport. Big ups to J-Tec who was "camera man" that day.

Rest In Peace Anthony Williams aka "Grandmaster Roc Raida"

R.I.P. Grandmaster Roc Raida

This is just the first of several post's i'll be making. We just lost another legend!! Wow!

http://vids.myspace.com/index.cfm?fuseaction=vids.individual&videoid=4485058

More U.S. College Radio Charting

We cracked the top ten on the Rap Network Record Breakers Chart

http://www.myspace.com/recordbreakercharts

Notes to Self is Charting on US College Radio.

Peep our last myspace blog post, Notes to Self is Charting on US College Radio.

http://blogs.myspace.com/index.cfm?fuseaction=blog.ListAll&friendID=25895738

Notes to Self jumps to #15 on Rap Attack Charts TOP 30 this week (Sept.7).

http://www.rapattacklives.com/charts_393.htm

New Shit. and Not Ours. maybe a bit of ours.

Saw this. A bit long & it's conclusion is a tad drawn out but Coppola is still King. Tetro was very Dope. See it. Don't test me, or my Pop won't have us over to the crib for Thanksgiving.

www.tetro.com

Heard this. This is like my New Shit. Infamous is nasty with the beat, he leaves blood on it. Just Murder. Fat Joe is nice on this too... got the Supersoaker for Superjokers...

Long Live Jimi.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kovjJU9ZTBk

Dope ass kit on Sunrise, among other good things on this tune.

http://www.myspace.com/yeasayer

Peep them shits out.

ps. Did you catch Jay Live from MSG lastnight?

BTW: Here's a blog post from our myspace we thought we'd repost here even though Donk posted our review link already... DE LA recap / Aug.24

NOTES TO SELF's debut full-length 'A SHOT IN THE DARK' reviewed in EXCLAIM! MAGAZINE, as well as a short Q&A with Notes to Self:

EXCLAIM! MAGAZINE | SEPTEMBER 2009 - pick-up a FREE COPY in PRINT OUT NOW or read ONLINE (Our print review has been scanned & filed in our Myspace Photos under PRESS)

http://exclaim.ca/musicreviews/generalreview.aspx?csid2=865&fid1=40572&csid1=136

Thank you to Chris Dart at EXCLAIM! for a very supportive review.

Peace to Mike & Del at EXCLAIM! for the constant support & push our way.

EXCLAIM.CA also reviewed De La Soul's 20th Anniversary tour date here in Toronto - The '20 Years & Rising' Tour rolled through TO on Sunday August 23rd at The Phoenix Concert Theatre - and we we're fortunate enough to open for De La and be a part of the whole experience. We thought the show was not only one of thee best rap shows we'd attended in years as fans here in Toronto but a historic night for Canadian De La heads supporting their favourite classic LIVE Hip Hop with non-other than the best rap group in the game, naturally, De La Soul.

http://exclaim.ca/musicreviews/latestsub.aspx?csid1=136&csid2=870&fid1=40763

Thank You to Kevin Jones for the very kind quotable about Notes to Self's performance.

"Up next was the well-oiled Notes to Self machine, who opened with a tribute to the magical year the night's main attraction broke onto the scene before breezing through a bristling set of tight posse cuts, earning much love from the hometown crowd throughout".

Cool little review and mini interview from Exclaim! magazine

http://exclaim.ca/musicreviews/beatsandrhymes.aspx?csid1=136

Twitter

If you like to tweet, retweet or simply follow, find the official Notes to Self twitter page at http://twitter.com/nnnnnotestoself

Also Swamp http://twitter.com/SwampDonkeyNTS

Rosh http://twitter.com/RageRoshin

Dopey http://twitter.com/djdopey

Holla

The Real Frequency Show

Check out Rosh and Swamp getting down on the The Real Frequency Show

Notes To Self Freestyle On The Real Frequency 08/03/2009 from Real Frequency on Vimeo.

Listen to the show and interview here:

http://therealfrequency.podbus.com/blog/2009/08/05/the-real-frequency-aug-4th/

NOTES TO SELF's FOOT NOTES PARTs ONE X TWO X THREE X FOUR (MIXTAPES X 4)

NOTES TO SELF releases Four-Part Mixtape series: FOOT NOTES

FOR FREE DOWNLOAD

--

Take a trip with us through our take on memory lane - a journey through some rap music that was big for Notes as we we're coming up & developing as a group - we are real fans of real rap music - and this is an off-the-cuff selection of some of our favourites. A collection of Notes to Self's listening Habits if you will... mixtapes we used to make for one another, year in/year out of some of the dopest joints we were bugging out to. and still do. These are our FOOT NOTES.

A four-part series of mixes - of that good rap music that we grew up on or were influenced by - as a group. This is in no-way a definitive selection - just some mixes put together by Notes to Self - 'narrated by the crew that can recall where they were when they first heard, or even spotted, a 'classic'. Though chronological from the day Notes came together in 2000, it's an overview of newer joints from the last decade that really pushed Notes in the moment to create. Joints that were 4 days old that helped ignite the writing or passion behind some of the tracks that wound up on our new record. And we talk about it.

All in support of our new debut full-length release 'A Shot in the Dark' that recently dropped.

BBE released them incrementally prior to our release - but all FOUR-PARTS are now available together through our website for download - of course for free - as its a culmination of various artists internationally, again our listening habits at the time, as well as some of our own music + exclusives.

**PLEASE DOWNLOAD our FOOT NOTES at www.notestoself.net

Notes is still coming up, and still big fans or that real rap music.

Thanks for listening.

Peace.

NOTES TO SELF

--

TRACKLISTINGS ONE thru FOUR:

NOTES TO SELF - FOOT NOTES PART ONE

01 Notes to Self – Nobody with Evidence

02 Lootpack – Wanna Test Interlude

03 Tha Alkaholiks – Mary Jane

04 Lootpack – Wanna Test

05 Planet Asia – Definition of Ill Madlib Remix & LIVE in Toronto Interpolation

06 Quasimoto –White Label Remix

07 Bilal – Soul Sista Madlib Remix

08 The Pharcyde – She Said Jay Dee Remix

09 Slum Village - Forth & Back

10 Slum Village - Climax

11 Common – Nag Champa

12 Erykah Badu – Didn’t Cha Know

13 J. Dilla – Featuring Phat Kat

14 The Roots – Act Too (The Love of My Life)

15 De La Soul – Pony Ride/The Bizness

16 Soul Live – Bridge to Bama with Kweli

17 D’Angelo – Brown Sugar Remix with Redman

18 Digable Planets – Dial 7

19 A Tribe Called Quest – Keep it Rollin’

20 Notes to Self – Nights Like These (Days Like These Remix)

NOTES TO SELF – FOOT NOTES PART TWO

01 Notes to Self – Yellow & Grey Remix with Dilated Peoples

02 Cam’Ron – Welcome to New York City with Jay-Z

03 Dilated Peoples – Live on Stage

04 Hieroglyphics – Miles to the Sun

05 Pharoahe Monche –The Truth

06 Canibal Ox – The F-Word RJD2 Remix

07 El-P – T.O.J

08 Yesh – Shout

09 Outkast – Spottieottiedopalicious

10 J. Dilla – The $

11 Jaylib – Starz

12 DJ Jazzy Jeff & Slum Village – R U Ready

13 Common – Star *69

14 Notes to Self – Yellow & Grey

NOTES TO SELF - FOOT NOTES PART THREE

01 Notes to Self - Lifelines Remix with Vast Aire

02 Kardinal Offishall - Bakardi Slang

03 Pangea Project - Caught in the Act

04 Dilated Peoples - Reach Us

05 Little Brother - The Way You Do (Nicolay Remix)

06 Foreign Exchange – All That You Are (Nicky Van Halen Remix)

07 Ghostface Killah – Run with Jadakiss

08 Diplomats – Crunk Muzik

09 Obie Trice – The Set Up with Nate Dogg

10 Jay-Z - You Don’t Know with M.O.P.

11 The Clipse - What Happened to that Boy with Baby

12 Notes to Self (Game Dub) – Put You on the Game with Rayhaan

13 Slum Village - Reunion with J. Dilla

14 Steve Spacek – Dollar

15 De La Soul - Trying People

16 Notes to Self - Days like These

NOTES TO SELF – FOOT NOTES PART FOUR

01 Notes to Self – A Shot in the Dark

02 Lupe Fiasco – Pressure feat. Jay-Z

03 Cage – The Death of Chris Palko feat. Camu Tao

04 Dilated Peoples – Olde English with Defari

05 Ghostface Killah – Kilo

06 Jay-Z – Kingdom Come

07 Evidence – All Said and Done with Kobe

08 Blu and Exile – The Narrow Path

09 Notes to Self (Dilla Dub) – The Streets

10 Little Brother – Dreams

11 Pharoahe Monche – Bar Tap

12 De La Soul – Days of our Lives with Common

13 Kanye West – I Wonder

14 Abdominal - T.Ode with Notes to Self

15 Oddities – Coming Down with Esthero

16 Notes to Self - Don't Try this at Home

NTS X REAL FREQ FLOW 93.5 & NTS X BACKROAD CHRY 105.5 - FM RADIO

NTS X REAL FREQUENCY: AUG. 3 – FLOW 93.5FM

Tune in to FLOW 93.5FM from 11 – 1am

for THE REAL FREQUENCY SHOW

featuring special guest ON-AIR appearance

and short set by NOTES TO SELF

Hosted by ARCEE with P & INZANE on the turns.

NTS X BACKROAD RADIO: AUG. 3 – CHRY 105.5FM

Tune in to YORK U’s CHRY 105.5FM

from 6 – 8pm for BACKROAD RADIO

featuring special guest ON-AIR appearance

by NOTES TO SELF

Hosted by BOZACK MORRIS with BIG JACKS on the 1s&2s.

PEACE to THE REAL FREQS & BLACK RAP

for having us on their shows. HUGE RESPECT.

THANK YOU.

NOTES to the.

NOTES TO SELF OPENING FOR DE LA SOUL

DE LA SOUL
20 YEARS HIGH AND RISING TOUR
with guests Notes to Self & Ko Kapches
Sunday, August 23, 2009
Phoenix Concert Theatre (410 Sherbourne St.)
Tickets are $31.50 (plus any additional fees) in advance and available at Ticketmaster, Rotate This, Soundscapes & Play De Record
19+, Doors at 8pm, Show at 9pm

R.I.P. Baatin of Slum Village

We tragically lost another warrior - so let's remember Baatin y'all. Bump Slums classics!

For those who don't know - Baatin was and is 1/4 of the Legendary Detroit crew of style-sparkers 'Slum Village', but y'all know that already - so raise a glass & remember the work of Baatin.

For those of you who know a bit about Notes' early days - y'all will know how Baatin played a roll in how we connected with our final member of the Notes immediate foursome. For those who don't - we saw Baatin rock Live back in '03, where Dopey happened to open the show that night. Here's an excerpt from an old Notes interview (from '06) that gives you a bit more insight in to why Baatin's energy helped form Notes Four-Strong. Not to mention Slum's obvious influence.

"HHC: The latest addition to Notes to Self is the world renowned DJ Dopey. Dopey, How did you end up connecting with Notes to Self and what are you bringing to the group?

Dopey: I first got down with Notes when I was looking for some talent to put on a mix CD a couple years back. They made me a song called "Live Via Satellite" for the mixtape and it was most def, one of the hotter tracks that made it on to the mix.

Bronze: Hold on Dope, Donks gave you my first 12" at a spot downtown in 2003, and when we officially met at a Baatin performance later that year it was on from get go. Dope and I clicked immediately.

Dopey: Oh yeah that's right, but weren't you making beats for Baatin at that time?

Bronze: Yeah, but things never really came together properly… but that's how Dopey and I connected, so… thanks go out to Baatin."

Interview (SNIPPET) with Notes To Self

By: Robert Bolton at hiphopcanada.com

Originally posted: July 12th 2006 http://www.hiphopcanada.com/_site/entertainment/interviews/ent_int311.php Before all else... http://www.myspace.com/baatin http://www.myspace.com/slumvillage R.I.P. Titus 'Baatin' Glover - condolences to Slum & his Detroit counterparts. Baatin was def an original in our eyes. Peace & Love.

The Circle Research Show

Swamp and Rosh drop by The Circle Research Show.

Follow the link to listen or download

http://thecircleresearchshow.podomatic.com/

Now Magazine

Nice review from Now Magazine. Props to A.R.

http://www.nowtoronto.com/music/discs.cfm?content=170634

A Shot in the Dark OUT NOW!!!

Notes to Self's Debut album is now out. A Shot in the Dark is in Stores (request it if they don't have it) and online!

Follow the link to iTunes

http://itunes.apple.com/WebObjects/MZStore.woa/wa/viewAlbum?id=314957494&s=143455

NOTES TO SELF - A SHOT IN THE DARK EPK

URB NEXT 1000

We are now being featured in the URB NEXT 1000. Follow the link and give us a vote.

http://www.urb.com/promotions/next1000/profile.php?BandId=1649

1 LOVE T.O.

My peoples over at 1 LOVE T.O. did a little write up on us. Their blog is real dope so check for it.

www.1loveto.com

NOTES TO SELF - YELLOW & GREY REMIX with DILATED PEOPLES - OFFICIAL VIDEO

NOTES TO SELF - YELLOW & GREY REMIX with DILATED PEOPLES - OFFICIAL VIDEO

From the forthcoming 'Notes to Self' debut full-length release 'A Shot in the Dark' on BBE Records / Course of Study
Produced by Bronze One for Course of Study / Notes to Self
Directed by Matthew Bronson & James Reid (motioneer.ca)
Shot by Liner Notes (see details below)
Edited by James Reid for Motioneer (motioneer.ca)
Animation sequence by Jabari Elliot / Elicser for elicser.com / Notes to Self

The Team:
Notes to Self & Dilated Peoples
Swamp Donkey, Rakaa, Evidence, Bronze One, Roshin, DJ Dopey & DJ Babu.

Specail Brrrrapps to James Reid – Liner Notes Alumnus & hardest working In-House NTS Editor (motioneer.ca) - for his dedication and loyalty - & - Jabari Elliot / Elicser (elicser.com) - for his love & continued efforts and support. and to Jason Janarious – Photographer & Videographer - who really helped us shoot this last minute on the drop of a dime.

Thank Yous -
Support Team (Not to be Forgotten):
Rayhaan Quraishi (Liner Notes) & Sean C.
Benjamin Young Hart (Liner Notes) for Greenwood Yard
Adam & Alain / Parishil Studio
Extended Support:
Patrick from What's the 411
Jay at REMG
BRL's Alive & Lightskin at CHUO 89

Special acknowledgments go out to Asif Mian for his time and support - & - of course, last but note least - our official extended Notes 5th or 6th member, ha, and partner in crime - Bookworm - for the 'knock heavy' audio mix of Yellow & Grey. Huge. And one-handed claps to GC for the future. See previous 'The Making Of...' Blog for further detailing in our Myspace Blogs: (second one from the top or see link below) http://blogs.myspace.com/index.cfm?fuseaction=blog.ListAll&friendId=25895738&page=2 and Salute to Ev, Rak & Babs - Thank You Gentlemen.

Thank you to all of our families. Enjoy, we did.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=eK-KUa-Je2Y

Peace.
Notes to Self

Warning Shots EP Reviewed

Here's a link to a review we got in the Kalamazoo Gazette

http://www.mlive.com/entertainment/kalamazoo/index.ssf/2009/05/widrs_top_5_27.html

Props to Jeremy Martin!

It's been a long time...

I shouldn't have left you without a post for this long.... even if no one is checking for it!

OK, OK, so lots has happened since 08. Our EP Warning Shots is out. you can cop it through various online stores including iTunes

http://itunes.apple.com/WebObjects/MZStore.woa/wa/viewAlbum?id=308023870&s=143455

We also did a little Canada tour with DJ Babu all the way from Winnipeg to Halifax. Thank you to everyone who came out and supported us, there was a lot of love shown to us and Babs and won't forget it.

What else, what else. Oh!

Our debut album "A Shot In The Dark" is coming out on BBE records (same as the EP) July 7 for North America and June 23 for the rest of the world. Hmmm that seems backwards. We put a lot of work into this album so I hope all yall are feeling it.

I guess that's it for now. Expect posts with to come more regularly in the future.

Swamp

P.S. (Yellow & Grey Remix video with Dilated Peoples coming soon)