May 20, 2025 • 37 mins
On May 20th at 7 PM CT, the Reggae Hour Podcast drops one of its most anticipated episodes to date: a one-on-one reasoning with rising roots reggae powerhouse – IYAGRADE! 🎤 Hosted by Mr. E, this exclusive session dives into the mystic, message, and mission of IYAGRADE—whose lyrical fire and spiritual depth are sparking a global awakening in the reggae movement. 🌍 Tune in as we explore:
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- His inspiration and journey through roots reggae
- The powerful messages in his music
- What reggae means in a modern, revolutionary world
🎧 Spotify
🎧 Apple Podcasts
🎧 iHeartRadio 🎙️ Subscribe & never miss a beat:
👉 www.ReggaeHour.com 💥 FOLLOW | SHARE | SUBSCRIBE to spread the message of culture, roots, and one love!
Become a supporter of this podcast: https://www.spreaker.com/podcast/reggae-hour--2646280/support.
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Transcript
Episode Transcript
Available transcripts are automatically generated. Complete accuracy is not guaranteed.
Speaker 1 (00:00):
Blessed love and royal greetings to all the massive tuning
in worldwide. Welcome back to the Reggae Hour podcast, the
global roots sanctuary where culture meets consciousness and music meets message.
Tonight we reason with an artist who isn't just riding
the riddim, He's redefining it. A true lyrical architect whose
sound is steeped in the traditions of roots reggae, Rastafari, livity,
(00:23):
and revolutionary fire. This is not your average chat. This
is a voice forged in purpose and prayer. From the
volcanic hills of the Caribbean Spirit to the global soundscape.
Ir Grade has emerged as a blazing force in modern
roots reggae, blending militant message music with soul, soothing melodies
and ancient chants that carry the weight of generations. He's
(00:47):
shared stages with cultural icons, rocked international festivals, and turned
heads in both grassroots communities and global platforms. Whether it's
a street corner cipher or a massive crowding red, gold
and green, ir Grade delivers the same frequency truth, upliftment,
and unity. His name is whispered in conscious circles with reverence.
(01:10):
His artistry is more than entertainment. It's nourishment for the soul,
a torch bearer for the future of roots reggae, and
a living testament that the mission still lives. So who
is ir Grade? That answer lies somewhere between the boom
of the drum, the breath of the wind, and the
words we're about to hear. Family, get ready, because what
(01:32):
we're about to uncover is more than music. It's a movement.
Let's welcome the one and only I your.
Speaker 2 (01:37):
Grade, blessed love.
Speaker 3 (01:39):
Family, Welcome to another episode where we read it with
the voices shape of reggae's past, present and future. Today,
we have a man whose name carries deep spiritual residents,
Chief ir Grade, an artist, poet, producer, and a true
creative force. From the streets of Kingston to the stages
as Toronto. His journey is one of music, evolution and
(02:01):
self uplipment.
Speaker 2 (02:02):
Are you great? Welcome to the show, Brettan No.
Speaker 4 (02:06):
One, bless up that sweet that stray Aia, mister achieve
your grad Ada? How many no coming herself? It play? Hey,
let's regions.
Speaker 3 (02:20):
Yes, sir man, I just got through listening all week
to your music, getting ready for this interview, and I
have to say, I understand why your name is ringing
bells out there. Man, just want to say big ups
to your music. Keep making music like this because this
is definitely what we need.
Speaker 5 (02:38):
No one give.
Speaker 2 (02:40):
All right, but let's start with the meaning behind your name?
Are you great? Is it just a name? It's a mission?
A mantra.
Speaker 3 (02:47):
I is standing upwards, grade, class, quality, and rank.
Speaker 2 (02:51):
Break that down for the people.
Speaker 3 (02:53):
How does this name guide you approach to music in life?
Speaker 4 (02:58):
Well, I would say it on like it's it's I
think we're just upward movements, you know, just continuously growing.
Speaker 5 (03:05):
You know what I mean, yes, sir?
Speaker 4 (03:07):
And the grade is like innoveating youths ascending, generate and revealing, achieving,
devoted and enlightening. You know there's a common I grad.
Speaker 3 (03:21):
Yes, sir man, you have had pushed a lot going
on right now and that's why your music carries that
uplifting vibration. You were born in Jamaica, raised indu Honey Park,
and from early you had this fire, writing songs at seven,
drumming by twelve, performing for two Jamaican governors generals. Looking back,
(03:43):
how did those early experiences shape your sound today?
Speaker 4 (03:48):
I would say, you know the weird shape. My song
would be like keeping music kind of culturally, if you
know what this. I kind of have like new lyrics
but kind of like all the kind of flow kind
of you know, the virus and some of the rhythms
that I choose to go on to, Like it was
like all the kind of vibe, but at the same
(04:10):
time it's still new, you know what I mean. Yeah,
so that's that's how it said, kind of shipped me
from them to know you.
Speaker 2 (04:17):
Know, oh yeah, yeah, I could definitely tell.
Speaker 3 (04:20):
That's one thing that I I The flow grabbed my
attention and the lyrics was like, okay, this new generation,
but yet with this old soul behind. It's always a mixture,
like almost like a perfect blend of bringing old and
new together. And that energy shines in your performances. You
have roots reggae. Radio even crowned you the Roaring Lion,
(04:44):
But me noticed something special while you keep it keep
that roots reggae foundation. You experienced with harmonics in a
unique way. Talk to me about that. How did you
develop the sweetest strain as your signature delivery?
Speaker 4 (04:58):
I would says it kind of it comes down to
at the same time, the rhythms and because like I
also produce some of the rhythms that I make, so
it's like it kind of ties into that. But also
you don't know, I always have a meditation, so it
kind of just goes together in a sense.
Speaker 2 (05:18):
Yeah, definitely, and that bridge is powerful.
Speaker 5 (05:22):
Yeah one.
Speaker 3 (05:23):
Yeah, speaking of which, your music is deeply spiritual. How
does your faith in ancestral connection influence the messages you
bring forth?
Speaker 4 (05:32):
Well, you know, i'd say my faith, you know, most
of it from growing up going to church as as
younger you would, you know, and you know mom instilling
you know, Christianity and the whole soul, you know what
I mean.
Speaker 5 (05:46):
So like growing up in Jamaica.
Speaker 4 (05:48):
You know, there's a lot of churches all over Jamaica,
so every liquor you would go to church. So I
would say the backgrown and the music came from, like
the spiritual contact came from like growing up and going
to church, going to Sunday.
Speaker 5 (06:01):
School and then kind of think they're being an a choir,
you know. Yeah.
Speaker 3 (06:06):
Oh yeah, so that's exactly where you got your roots from,
from your exact roots.
Speaker 2 (06:12):
That sounds iconic.
Speaker 3 (06:16):
Yeah, Now, reggae has always been like a voice for
truth and resistance in twenty twenty four had a share
of like world events like political shifts, protests, the fight
for reparations gaining momentum.
Speaker 2 (06:28):
How do these movements inspire your current work?
Speaker 4 (06:34):
I would say, you know, it's reggae music is the
music where for people were struggle and fears injustice. So
as an artist want looking at the world and it's
certain current you know, situations are in the world. It's
like we tend to speak on it from all point
(06:55):
of view, I would say, So that's all like current eventually,
because we're like the advice for the people that don't
have advice, if you know what I mean.
Speaker 5 (07:05):
So it's like we'll.
Speaker 4 (07:06):
Try to come up with ways and not only discussing
the problems, we're also finding solutions for the current statu score,
if you know what I mean. You know, so reggae
music I've always been that, it's been like it's been
always a protest to the start of score and also
highlighting the injustice that we face globally, you know.
Speaker 3 (07:31):
Yes, definitely, and global the global issues that we're facing
the day.
Speaker 2 (07:35):
It's like unprecedented this time, Like what is one of
the problems that you see in this world today that
actually gathered garners your actual attention to where you want
to focus on that if you had like unlimited time
to just donate to volunteering and unlimited resources, what is
one of those fights that you want to take on?
Speaker 4 (07:55):
What I said, you know, like the injustice that are
people that we go to, you know what I mean,
only systemic like financial suppression of our people, you know
what I mean? But also like you know, you look
in the world, you see a lot of wars going
on and that kind of stuff, and they kind of
see like it there's like a trickle don't effect because
it comes down down into the street as well, you
(08:17):
know with our people, you know what I mean, with
the gun violence and so on and so forth. You know,
So doing anything my time, I would say more like
speaking to the youths, I would say, you know.
Speaker 2 (08:32):
Definitely, definitely yeah.
Speaker 3 (08:35):
Like one of my favorite artists at the Tupac he
had to saying that said that, like, why am I
wasting my time with all these grown ups when these
children out here struggling for this knowledge? When it comes
to growing up in Jamaica and now residing in Canada,
what are the similarities that you see when it comes
to the the problems that the youth face when it
(08:57):
comes to the future that they're going to have to inherit.
Speaker 4 (09:02):
Well, what I'm saying like pretty much is the same problems,
you know what I mean, Like we don't have certain programs,
you know, like for the youth them to keep their like,
to advance them in certain things that they would want
to do, you know what I mean. So for instance,
sports or whatever whatever it be, music, whatever it be,
Like you know, with tech and stuff like that, computers,
(09:25):
you know, like the programs and the facilities are.
Speaker 5 (09:28):
Not there for the youth.
Speaker 4 (09:30):
So you find the most of the youth and then
live on the streets, you know what I mean said
and you know all that, you know.
Speaker 2 (09:35):
I yeah, And that's actually a good answer. Right now.
Speaker 3 (09:37):
We have a lot of that's going going in twenty
twenty five, our youth still have an issue getting resources
or things that help them. And with this new entity
out AI in a tech space, I want to get
your thoughts about that. Do you think that would like
help the youth or where you think that like destroyed
the like will it hurt the youth in how long
(09:58):
word would it benefit would it hurt.
Speaker 4 (10:00):
Well, you know, with technologies, there's always ups and down, right,
But I think like in terms of like education in
the tech field, like working with AI and stuff like
that could be really helpful going forward for the youth.
But like when you see stuff like say, for instance,
like TikTok and stuff like that, and even for art
(10:24):
generating art, even some of it they're using it for
generating music, that could be helpful. But at the same time,
you know, as I said, with tech has ups and downs,
you know what I mean, who's to say, we're not sure.
Speaker 5 (10:35):
You know, right?
Speaker 4 (10:36):
Yeah, where they're gonna go with it, you know, Yeah.
Speaker 2 (10:40):
Like you said, they out here using AI to create music.
Speaker 3 (10:43):
And I saw a meme on Facebook it was like
I want AI to do my to do my laundry
and to wash my dishes so I have time to
make art and make music. I don't want it the
other way around. And I like I could understand that completely.
And you listen to some music and a lot of
it is like it sounds like a human Maden, what
(11:05):
do you think kind of challenges that a brain to
the music industry?
Speaker 4 (11:11):
Well, for one, your intellectual properties, right, So that's one issue, right,
there for sure, you know what I mean.
Speaker 5 (11:20):
But I think it.
Speaker 4 (11:21):
Will also give a lot of You's also a way
to get into the space I think if you use properly,
you know what I mean. So, as I said with AI,
you know what I mean. With technology, it depends on how.
Speaker 5 (11:36):
You use it, you know what I mean. You can
use it too, you know, for the benefit, or you
can use it for you know what I mean.
Speaker 2 (11:44):
Yeah, definitely.
Speaker 3 (11:44):
Can you see yourself using GET in any of your
music or do you want to keep it strictly human touched?
Speaker 4 (11:51):
I can't say for sure, but I've used it for
art all right, for album cover artwork and stuff like that.
I find it very useful for stuff like that, even
for even doing like some of the effects like in videos.
I find AI to be very effective and it also
(12:13):
gives it like a different look. But at the same time,
with creating the music, there's there's like a love that
goes with like sitting down in the studio making the
beat from scratch, you know what I mean, writing the
lyrics yourself. And I don't think that will bought a fashion,
you know what I mean. I don't think that'll got
a style, you know, Right With yall, I like writing
(12:37):
my lyrics, you.
Speaker 2 (12:38):
Know, right, And.
Speaker 3 (12:41):
Question walk us through your your process. How do you
come up with your ideas? Do you listen to the
instrumental first, the music first, or do you write first?
Talkers walk us through at a time in the studio.
Speaker 4 (12:53):
But I would say ninety five percent of the times,
it's just like just hearing the beat, you know, I mean,
come up coming up with a few.
Speaker 5 (13:02):
Lines in your head, you know what I mean, Like
just going through the motions like that.
Speaker 4 (13:08):
I don't necessarily write, but I do most of the
times when.
Speaker 5 (13:13):
The song is finished.
Speaker 4 (13:14):
That's when I actually write the song down. I have
this process where it's like I like I'm repetitive, like
when it comes to beats, Like I'll sit down and
listen to a beat like over and over and just
because you could. There's so much different instruments and you
(13:35):
can write to you know, you can write to the drums,
you can write to the horns, you can write melody wise,
you can write to.
Speaker 5 (13:41):
The piano, you know what I mean.
Speaker 4 (13:43):
Like, So that process for me is more like I
just kind of just see where the beat's taking me
and just and from there the song starts developing, you
know what I mean.
Speaker 5 (13:54):
So for me, it's like it's just.
Speaker 4 (13:56):
Like I pretty much don't really write five percent of
the times. Yeah, I might get an idea and write
it down, but most of the time it's just like
listening to the beat. Make that like that, you know.
Speaker 2 (14:09):
Oh yeah, now that's that.
Speaker 3 (14:11):
That was kind of the way I like to work
as well, you know, because it's like the instrumental gets you.
Speaker 2 (14:15):
It tells you what the mood is, it tells you
what dillar.
Speaker 4 (14:18):
It's kind of it kind of if you really take
the time, it kind of tells you what what to
actually do in a sense exactly.
Speaker 3 (14:27):
And that's what it makes it a lot easier, and
a lot of people they they use it as a
cookie cut of music where they take something that they
already pre recorded or pre wrote and they apply to
this beat. I don't like actually doing that because it
takes away from the actual beat itself. This beat was
made with a different intention. When you using these instruments,
(14:49):
when you use your beasts, do you have a connection
with the the uh, with the producer who created the
beast or is it more of you just run into
somebody and they give you a beat the jump one.
Speaker 4 (15:01):
Yeah, well, like, well, as I said, I make beats myself, right,
So I'll probably come up with an idea for a
song and you know, come up with it to start
trying to work the beat around a song like that
or with producers, Like I'd get the beat and then
as I said, I'll listen it, I feel that vibe,
(15:21):
what's it telling me? You know, and then I'll go
from there. Most of the times it's just like I
haven't really sad in the studio and like made a
beat with a producer for a song. I've done that
by myself, but not really with a producer, you know.
So most of the times it's just like I get
the beat, like or I get some connection, like a
producer wants me to jump on like one of their
(15:43):
product projects or something, and then let's go from there,
you know, let's make it flow, you know.
Speaker 3 (15:50):
Right, and whenever you make it your beats, Like, what
is the process with that? What program do you use?
Speaker 4 (15:57):
Use? A plethora of programs, you know, like Q bas
reason logics, you know, so different different programs. For me,
It's like, because I'm a drummer, I always normally lay
down the drums first, like I always try to get
(16:17):
a feel for the drum, like, you know, come up
with different patterns and stuff like that on the percussion side,
and then I'll try to get my melody in there sewards,
taking me from there, you know.
Speaker 2 (16:29):
Right, So you've been playing drums for a long time,
I take.
Speaker 5 (16:33):
Yeah, I used to play in a marching band when
I was younger.
Speaker 2 (16:36):
Okay, that is that when you got your started.
Speaker 4 (16:39):
Yeah, okay, school marching band okay.
Speaker 2 (16:44):
And was that in Jamaica?
Speaker 5 (16:46):
Was that a camp that was in Jamaica?
Speaker 2 (16:49):
Oh okay, so yeah, y'all was down there playing the sauce.
Speaker 4 (16:52):
Yeah, we played like we played the stars and stripes
and stuff like that too, blue Moon and that kind
of stuff. Yeah, okay, a little bit of that too.
Speaker 2 (17:02):
Okay, all right. Do you find yourself like using some
of those elements in your music now?
Speaker 4 (17:10):
I would say, like, uh, being in a band like
actually gave me that foundation in terms of like beat
making when I wanted to actually get into that, actually
giving me the foundations for that, you know, like like
understanding timing and stuff like that, the bars, all that stuff.
You know, also writing too, yeah.
Speaker 3 (17:32):
Okay, yeah, see, and that's that that right, there is
what a musician, a real artist is. You got that
basis a lot of people get on this, they get
this mic and they just say what's on their mind
and then they call themselves artists and musicians.
Speaker 2 (17:45):
I'm like, no, you may be a rapper with.
Speaker 3 (17:46):
You and not a real artist, but you got to
construct some art.
Speaker 2 (17:54):
So whatever you're.
Speaker 4 (17:54):
Talking to people like like like like an artist like
gin right, a really good rap battle rapper.
Speaker 5 (18:01):
Dope, But when it comes down to like actually making
a song, and it's like you know.
Speaker 2 (18:08):
Right exactly.
Speaker 3 (18:09):
And that's why a lot of people should be able
to recognize what their niche is. Whenever you're talking to
young artists, like how do you help them develop or
help them to understand what their niche is?
Speaker 4 (18:22):
Well, I think that's like a natural thing, right. I
think that's kind of like a natural thing. You can,
for me see an artists. You can kind of see
like naturally where they're good, what they're good at, you know,
how they flow, their style, they're unique, they're different, you know.
So I think it's just a natural thing when it
comes to music, right, That's why different artists stand out.
Speaker 3 (18:46):
Right, Yeah, definitely, definitely, you got to everybody who has
a style, they always blossom and and then if they
whenever they blossom, you have people that come behind them
and pretty much copycat they style. I know he Goes
was the most coppied yeah, in pop history.
Speaker 2 (19:06):
You sure everywhere.
Speaker 4 (19:08):
It's like everyone for a moment, they're like everyone that
was putting out songs like hip hop Game sounded exactly
like right.
Speaker 3 (19:17):
I'm thinking like I'm hearing a new song and I'm like, dang,
Migos dropped another song though, to say to me, Goes,
who is it?
Speaker 2 (19:22):
I don't even want to know. I don't even want
to know. I'm good.
Speaker 3 (19:26):
Do you do you hear like sometimes do you hear
when you hear other artists?
Speaker 2 (19:30):
Do you hear your style like intermingled with this stuff?
Speaker 4 (19:36):
I would say there's times where you know, because as
I said, there's great wines thinkinglike, but sometimes you'd hear
stuff we're like, damn, man, like, I'm sure the one
that came up with that, you know what?
Speaker 5 (19:47):
Right right.
Speaker 2 (19:50):
Exactly?
Speaker 4 (19:53):
I don't even pay attention to that stuff, man, Like,
like you know, if you're gonna within myself, I like
I sat here and I created, I came up with
that I didn't see someone do it and then try
to copy it, you know what I mean?
Speaker 5 (20:07):
So exactly you know.
Speaker 3 (20:10):
It is right, and like you said, great minds thinking like,
you're not the only one that living in a vacuum
right now. You aren't the only one that going through
your experiences. You may be the only one with your
perspective of that experience, but more than likely there was
somebody else who experienced that experience along with you. Do
you ever find yourself like collaborating with other artists that
(20:33):
you know from like as soon as you talk to them,
oh my god, you got the mentality, you got that
mindset that would be perfect for this song. Or do
you wait until y'all create the song and see what
that mentality brings with the music brings out of their mentality.
Speaker 4 (20:48):
I would say like my experiences with like collaborations, like
I had a song Champion, where like I kind of
knew which artists I wanted to on the song, so
it was just a matter of timing per se with
that one. But then there's an other song that I
did with like some rappers where it was just like
(21:11):
we're in the studio, we're vibing, and we just made
it happen, you know what I mean?
Speaker 3 (21:16):
Right, which one in your period was a better spirit?
Which way got a better outcome for you?
Speaker 4 (21:25):
I would say, like, uh, when it comes to like,
it's two different experiences, I would say, you know what
I mean, But uh, experiencing that and like really like
just being in the studio with other artists and watching
how they work and how they go about it too,
(21:47):
was an experience in itself too as well. Right, the
first one, I kind of knew how because I was
producing this track, so I kind of knew how. I
knew I wanted a female artists, and I knew I
wanted the next artists that was like up to my
caliber because I didn't want to sound dominating on the
track and I wanted us all to blend together. So
(22:09):
it was like that kind of experience was kind of unique.
But then with the rappers, now it was kind of
unique too because it's like none of them have ever
wrapped on a ridden like that that sounds kind of
like calypso or kind of reggae, you know what I mean,
more on that kind of side, So it was like
it was different for them, But then just watching how
they like attacked the beat. It was just like it
(22:32):
was it was crazy, man, Like that was an experience too,
you know, right, So both like both different but really
unique experiences, you know what I mean?
Speaker 3 (22:45):
I would say, right, yeah, it definitely definitely is and
like you got these songs and you fell in the
energy of them, like I'm pretty sure you performing in Toronto?
Speaker 2 (22:56):
Correct?
Speaker 4 (22:57):
Yeah, Okay, how is.
Speaker 2 (22:59):
The performing scene that the like, tell me, how does
the crowd?
Speaker 4 (23:03):
It's like it's like if if you could do your thing,
It's like.
Speaker 3 (23:08):
Okay, you see, that's what a lot of people do
to stay. When they think of Toronto, Canada. The first
person that the mind is Drake Drake. Yeah, how did
you think they do with him blowing up in a
hip hop game?
Speaker 2 (23:21):
What do you think it done for Canada's reggae scene
as well?
Speaker 4 (23:27):
I wouldn't say it has done that much, but yeah
it has, you know what I mean? Like because Head
did that song where he went to Jamaica and like
kind of shed a little spot like that, But like,
I wouldn't say that much. There's other people here that's
like really really doing it as artists coming in on
a regular like touring.
Speaker 5 (23:48):
You know what I mean so right.
Speaker 4 (23:50):
I wouldn't say done that much, but yeah, he also
he did put Toronto on the map. When it comes
to like the racket and stuff like that, you know.
Speaker 5 (23:58):
What about it right right?
Speaker 2 (24:00):
Oh yeah he took that. We gotta give that him.
Speaker 3 (24:03):
But when it comes to the reggae scene, what names
do you say personally helped to build Toronto up?
Speaker 4 (24:11):
Where there's artists out here like you know Blessed b
and Crum, you know like uh Tanya Pe.
Speaker 5 (24:18):
There's also Mishimi.
Speaker 4 (24:22):
Plusor artists es School, Levi h got isis got a
lot of artists up here around, like very talented artists,
you know what I mean?
Speaker 3 (24:31):
Okay, And what do you see yourselves in five years?
Like how do you see Toronto? They did the scene
looking like a five years it's.
Speaker 5 (24:38):
Just gonna get bigger and better. Man.
Speaker 4 (24:40):
Yeah, that's what's up because I said, like pretty much
every in Toronto, like every weekend, we have like a
major reggae or dance artists performing in Toronto.
Speaker 5 (24:51):
You know what I mean? Right?
Speaker 4 (24:53):
If it's not if it's not artists, it's DJs that's
you know what I mean, Like well known DJs doing
parties and stuff like that so scene up here. Like
when it comes to entertainment, it's it hasn't always been
like this, but it's growing. It's grown, especially after COVID,
Like it was just like an explosion. It's like people
are just waiting, you know what, I mean to get
(25:14):
out again, you know, yeah.
Speaker 3 (25:16):
Oh yeah, I can just imagine that after COVID, Man,
everybody would wait the space to the scene. Man, there's like,
I'm tide of these Internet When they started to do
all the shows on Internet on the like live stream
and stuff like, it ain't the same.
Speaker 4 (25:32):
It was kind of it was kind of weird because
like I was gonna really like put a lot of
effort in doing one of those, but it was just
like I'm the type of person where I have to be,
like I have to be with the crowd. Like it
wouldn't be the same, Like the vibe wouldn't be the same,
you know what.
Speaker 3 (25:47):
It wouldn't because they you feed off of the crowd.
Crowd is with hypes you up and you just it's
like you're looking in a mirror where you're performing on
live stream. Man, you ain't gonna get that same thing.
Speaker 5 (25:58):
It's like, yeah, totally different, you know, how did.
Speaker 2 (26:02):
You handle it? Like you you didn't do the last dream.
What was some things that you did during COVID that
I worked.
Speaker 4 (26:07):
On a lot of music. I dropped, dropped an album,
worked on the videos like we we were out here
like COVID didn't exist exactly, having parties, going to parties
like from videos in the studio like you. So I
made a lot of music to COVID. It was It
was actually a good time for me because I had like
(26:29):
I had that time just like focused.
Speaker 3 (26:31):
You know, yes, exactly, you ain't have a lot of
people in your ear at the same time, you deal
with the people you want to deal with. Yes, So
tell us what's next on for I your grade? What
is going to be doing for the next five years?
Speaker 4 (26:52):
Man, there's so much things on my list, But I
definitely I want to I want to really actually get
into like making short films, kind of documentaries, like like
hopefully trying to start like a podcast type of thing.
Speaker 5 (27:08):
You don't get that going to as well, But definitely
I want to do like.
Speaker 4 (27:14):
Something like a story about like the music, you know,
like that come up game, like you know, like out
there like on the circuit, doing the performances, going in
the studio like that kind of vibe.
Speaker 3 (27:26):
You know, is it is it going to be are
you grade centered or is it going to be just
any artist centered?
Speaker 4 (27:33):
I'm gonna I would say it probably loosely based on
my experiences, but it would be pretty much. I try
to keep it like general to like stuff that artists
go through, like as an upcoming artist, you know what
I mean. Yeah, some of the stuff that we face,
some of the stuff that we go through also on
the life side too as well, you know, right, So
not just only with the music.
Speaker 2 (27:54):
You know, a lot of people forget about that.
Speaker 3 (27:57):
That's why I like to have these interviews because a
lot of people forget that these artists just don't live
in the studio.
Speaker 2 (28:02):
They got to get out of the studio.
Speaker 3 (28:05):
You'll probably be in a studio two or three days
out the week versus living the rest of your life.
Tell me some of the things that these the fans
that they don't get when they see you in public,
Like some things that they that you would like to
tell them now that you probably wouldn't want to tell
the day because you don't want to lose that.
Speaker 2 (28:20):
Fan, you know what I'm saying.
Speaker 3 (28:21):
But you know, Eminem came out with that song where
he was talking about something be alone when I'm out
in public, Like what would be some things that you
have some advice for fans.
Speaker 4 (28:34):
It's just like it was just like it was just
personal space type of stuff. Like you know, I'm good
with the fans and stuff like that. You know, set boundaries.
You just don't cross the boundaries. But other than that,
like I'm pretty good with like when I'm out there.
You know, something that you know a lot of people
would know about me is that, Like I was kind
of like I like to I like to be like
(28:55):
one way, you know, I like to hear my thoughts.
Like sometimes I wouldn't say I'm alone, but like you know,
when I'm not out there doing my thing, I'm just.
Speaker 5 (29:05):
Chilling, you know what I mean.
Speaker 2 (29:07):
Yeah, that's where the creativity comes from.
Speaker 5 (29:10):
A lot of people would know that about me.
Speaker 2 (29:12):
It's not that you know, right right, That's that's what
I like. That. That's why I like to have these things.
Speaker 3 (29:20):
Get the chance to be able to speak your mind
in a in a protected place because.
Speaker 2 (29:25):
It's out there.
Speaker 3 (29:26):
You nowadays, with counsel culture, you can't speak your mind
without somebody checking every letter of your sentence, like how
would how do you talk in public without having to
worry about that?
Speaker 5 (29:41):
Man, I don't even get involved.
Speaker 4 (29:47):
It is what it is is spade's a spade, you
know what I mean? So just keep it straight, you
know that is That's what it is.
Speaker 2 (29:55):
That's real, the truth.
Speaker 5 (29:57):
You don't I come from that place.
Speaker 4 (30:01):
It's just like, you know, it's better you just tell
me to my face than like, you know, try to
go buy my back type of shit.
Speaker 3 (30:08):
Right exactly exactly, and not a lot of people understand that.
Speaker 2 (30:12):
Man.
Speaker 3 (30:13):
It's been a wonderful, wonderful conversation with you. We got
I your grade in the beaulting. But before we leave,
we got to know what's in the immedia future? What
kind of tracksuit should we be looking out for? What
kind of performances where you're going to be stationed that
will tell us what are your great has any immediate future?
Speaker 4 (30:30):
Well, it's just as I said, like I really want
to get into like making that, you know, whether it
be short film kind of documentary, biopic type of thing,
you know, and figuring out how to like get the
music in there, like not only just music with lyrics,
but also just like music type of thing, you know
what I mean, Like also hoping to get into like uh,
(30:56):
some sync deals type of thing, you know what I'm saying,
getting the music into like commercial video games whatever, you know,
like that.
Speaker 5 (31:03):
Kind of shit. Man.
Speaker 4 (31:04):
Just upward movements, man, just like putting out more music,
you know what I mean, engaging with the fans, more performances.
You know that kind of vibe, my g Like just
you know, just getting out there and just doing it.
Speaker 2 (31:15):
You know that's real. I love it.
Speaker 3 (31:18):
I love it. How can we find you? Where should
we go right now? If we want to keep up
with you?
Speaker 5 (31:23):
Yeah? Man, if you want to keep up with me,
you can find me on Instagram. You're done.
Speaker 4 (31:27):
No, I A grade or I grade media because you
know I do the media shit too.
Speaker 5 (31:33):
Uh. You also find me on YouTube, you know what
I mean. That's I Y A G R A d E.
You know what I mean. Yeah, man, I'm out here
man doing.
Speaker 3 (31:41):
It, you know, yes, yes, man, And we've been following
you man. Like I said, somebody said, you sent us
your your track and we're gonna be playing it next man.
It was a magnificent piece of art. We had to
get you on here.
Speaker 2 (31:58):
Man.
Speaker 5 (31:58):
So which is what one was that? Yeah?
Speaker 2 (32:00):
So it was your song the Bag.
Speaker 3 (32:02):
Yeah, that right, there was a big I loved that song, man,
because you know, everybody be after that bag and it
had a catchy tune to it. I remember actually bopping
to it. I was like, I gotta interview him. So
you want to say thank you for coming on here
and talking to us. It was a pleasure getting to
know you.
Speaker 5 (32:19):
Man, don't know anybody.
Speaker 2 (32:24):
Anytime. You want to give a shout out to anybody
before we.
Speaker 4 (32:27):
Leave, Yeah, I just want to say, you know, big
up to the most you know what I mean, forgive
me the inspiration to do this. You know what I'm saying,
Big up to the moms, the farms, you know, Big
up to the youth stuff.
Speaker 5 (32:39):
You're done.
Speaker 4 (32:39):
No, you know what I'm saying, Big up to all
the ones out there that support the music over the years.
Speaker 5 (32:44):
You know what I mean. Just keep tuned. We'll be
dropping more music soon. You know what I'm saying. You
have a big up to YouTube. Man, he's done, no
boss radio. We're all here and doing it.
Speaker 4 (32:53):
You know what I'm saying.
Speaker 5 (32:55):
Right, yes.
Speaker 3 (32:58):
Already, Well, y'all already know where it is. Boy, I agree,
you can find him on Instagram and YouTube. You can
find him on all social media, so make sure you
go find him. He's streaming right now on platform, so
make sure you get him. We got his links right
here in the description. So if you're watching us on YouTube,
click that link, hit that subscribe button and make sure
(33:18):
you follow him because he's gonna have way more works
you hurt him here documentary reason more so, make sure
y'all go ahead and follow him today.
Speaker 2 (33:26):
This is your boy, mister e On Hill.
Speaker 3 (33:28):
We're about to sign off of Reggae Album Podcast and
if you ain't already following us, then you're slipping on
your pipp and its.
Speaker 2 (33:33):
Slacking on your Mac.
Speaker 3 (33:34):
And go ahead and hit that follow button, that subscribe
button and until then we are out, So y'all make
sure y'all stay irin.
Speaker 2 (33:41):
You heard me one Love.
Speaker 4 (33:42):
Music are your upliftment forward movements chief cause I agree, Sweet.
Speaker 6 (33:51):
No time to cry, no time to die.
Speaker 7 (33:54):
I seen the spiders one to see myny the mice,
despite the lies, I read it to you in the
lines with the mole side. It's where I reside. I've
got no time to cry, no time to die. I
see the spies wan I see my demise.
Speaker 6 (34:10):
I've seen the light.
Speaker 7 (34:12):
I'm a lett it shine with the moll side. It's
where I reside.
Speaker 8 (34:17):
License the shrill, not gorys like James one, your panamission
Philly regain nation in a Vashian lyrical vision, is youth
ascending elevation simple mat yeah matter Matisian no division addition
that made the only six and my five the eight
(34:38):
has on me. One take where your vibe one drainer
energy and would I love to see your guntel you
know know what your dead filmy stand up stronger, do
it for my for mail me no.
Speaker 6 (34:49):
Time to cry, no time to die. I've seen the spies.
Speaker 7 (34:53):
Wanna see my demise despite the lines I read between
the lines with the mole side, It's where I reside.
Speaker 6 (35:01):
I've got no time to cry, no time to die.
Speaker 7 (35:05):
I see the spies. One, I see my demise. I've
seen the light. I'm a let it shine with the
mole side. It's where I reside from from attain something
for in fly female. That's your logic.
Speaker 8 (35:18):
Hold on panic, sutr money you know start step in
lovish from being published by Champagne Exclusive Parties. I agree there,
you know get it started the music, the people. I'm
wanted the party from not till the money.
Speaker 4 (35:29):
I agreed.
Speaker 8 (35:29):
I'm going to keep on chanting, bringing the feeling, not
even wanting. Remember said I was going out and the
maire the people. I'm dancing ashtag I open.
Speaker 6 (35:37):
I agreed. No time to cry, no time to die.
I've seen the spies wan.
Speaker 7 (35:44):
I see my demise despite the lies I read between
the lines with the mole Side. It's where I reside.
I've got no time to cry, no time to die.
I see the spies one, I see my demise. I've
seen the light. I'm alet it shine with the Mole Side.
It's where I reside.
Speaker 8 (36:05):
Licensed notorious like James Bana, You innovation confusions. You're sending elevation,
simple matamogiction, no division.
Speaker 6 (36:15):
The ponte at the six and my five days all
upon me one. I want energy? Would I love? Tell
I know where it is? Let me stand up, strangle
it from family. No time to cry, no time to die.
Speaker 7 (36:28):
I seen the spies, want to see my demise despite
the lies I read between the lines with the mole Side,
It's where I reside. I've got no time to cry,
no time to die. I see the spies. One, I
see my demise. I've seen the light.
Speaker 6 (36:45):
I'm Alet. It shine with the mole sigh. It's where
I reside.
Blessed love and royal greetings to all the massive tuning
in worldwide. Welcome back to the Reggae Hour podcast, the
global roots sanctuary where culture meets consciousness and music meets message.
Tonight we reason with an artist who isn't just riding
the riddim, He's redefining it. A true lyrical architect whose
sound is steeped in the traditions of roots reggae, Rastafari, livity,
(00:23):
and revolutionary fire. This is not your average chat. This
is a voice forged in purpose and prayer. From the
volcanic hills of the Caribbean Spirit to the global soundscape.
Ir Grade has emerged as a blazing force in modern
roots reggae, blending militant message music with soul, soothing melodies
and ancient chants that carry the weight of generations. He's
(00:47):
shared stages with cultural icons, rocked international festivals, and turned
heads in both grassroots communities and global platforms. Whether it's
a street corner cipher or a massive crowding red, gold
and green, ir Grade delivers the same frequency truth, upliftment,
and unity. His name is whispered in conscious circles with reverence.
(01:10):
His artistry is more than entertainment. It's nourishment for the soul,
a torch bearer for the future of roots reggae, and
a living testament that the mission still lives. So who
is ir Grade? That answer lies somewhere between the boom
of the drum, the breath of the wind, and the
words we're about to hear. Family, get ready, because what
(01:32):
we're about to uncover is more than music. It's a movement.
Let's welcome the one and only I your.
Speaker 2 (01:37):
Grade, blessed love.
Speaker 3 (01:39):
Family, Welcome to another episode where we read it with
the voices shape of reggae's past, present and future. Today,
we have a man whose name carries deep spiritual residents,
Chief ir Grade, an artist, poet, producer, and a true
creative force. From the streets of Kingston to the stages
as Toronto. His journey is one of music, evolution and
(02:01):
self uplipment.
Speaker 2 (02:02):
Are you great? Welcome to the show, Brettan No.
Speaker 4 (02:06):
One, bless up that sweet that stray Aia, mister achieve
your grad Ada? How many no coming herself? It play? Hey,
let's regions.
Speaker 3 (02:20):
Yes, sir man, I just got through listening all week
to your music, getting ready for this interview, and I
have to say, I understand why your name is ringing
bells out there. Man, just want to say big ups
to your music. Keep making music like this because this
is definitely what we need.
Speaker 5 (02:38):
No one give.
Speaker 2 (02:40):
All right, but let's start with the meaning behind your name?
Are you great? Is it just a name? It's a mission?
A mantra.
Speaker 3 (02:47):
I is standing upwards, grade, class, quality, and rank.
Speaker 2 (02:51):
Break that down for the people.
Speaker 3 (02:53):
How does this name guide you approach to music in life?
Speaker 4 (02:58):
Well, I would say it on like it's it's I
think we're just upward movements, you know, just continuously growing.
Speaker 5 (03:05):
You know what I mean, yes, sir?
Speaker 4 (03:07):
And the grade is like innoveating youths ascending, generate and revealing, achieving,
devoted and enlightening. You know there's a common I grad.
Speaker 3 (03:21):
Yes, sir man, you have had pushed a lot going
on right now and that's why your music carries that
uplifting vibration. You were born in Jamaica, raised indu Honey Park,
and from early you had this fire, writing songs at seven,
drumming by twelve, performing for two Jamaican governors generals. Looking back,
(03:43):
how did those early experiences shape your sound today?
Speaker 4 (03:48):
I would say, you know the weird shape. My song
would be like keeping music kind of culturally, if you
know what this. I kind of have like new lyrics
but kind of like all the kind of flow kind
of you know, the virus and some of the rhythms
that I choose to go on to, Like it was
like all the kind of vibe, but at the same
(04:10):
time it's still new, you know what I mean. Yeah,
so that's that's how it said, kind of shipped me
from them to know you.
Speaker 2 (04:17):
Know, oh yeah, yeah, I could definitely tell.
Speaker 3 (04:20):
That's one thing that I I The flow grabbed my
attention and the lyrics was like, okay, this new generation,
but yet with this old soul behind. It's always a mixture,
like almost like a perfect blend of bringing old and
new together. And that energy shines in your performances. You
have roots reggae. Radio even crowned you the Roaring Lion,
(04:44):
But me noticed something special while you keep it keep
that roots reggae foundation. You experienced with harmonics in a
unique way. Talk to me about that. How did you
develop the sweetest strain as your signature delivery?
Speaker 4 (04:58):
I would says it kind of it comes down to
at the same time, the rhythms and because like I
also produce some of the rhythms that I make, so
it's like it kind of ties into that. But also
you don't know, I always have a meditation, so it
kind of just goes together in a sense.
Speaker 2 (05:18):
Yeah, definitely, and that bridge is powerful.
Speaker 5 (05:22):
Yeah one.
Speaker 3 (05:23):
Yeah, speaking of which, your music is deeply spiritual. How
does your faith in ancestral connection influence the messages you
bring forth?
Speaker 4 (05:32):
Well, you know, i'd say my faith, you know, most
of it from growing up going to church as as
younger you would, you know, and you know mom instilling
you know, Christianity and the whole soul, you know what
I mean.
Speaker 5 (05:46):
So like growing up in Jamaica.
Speaker 4 (05:48):
You know, there's a lot of churches all over Jamaica,
so every liquor you would go to church. So I
would say the backgrown and the music came from, like
the spiritual contact came from like growing up and going
to church, going to Sunday.
Speaker 5 (06:01):
School and then kind of think they're being an a choir,
you know. Yeah.
Speaker 3 (06:06):
Oh yeah, so that's exactly where you got your roots from,
from your exact roots.
Speaker 2 (06:12):
That sounds iconic.
Speaker 3 (06:16):
Yeah, Now, reggae has always been like a voice for
truth and resistance in twenty twenty four had a share
of like world events like political shifts, protests, the fight
for reparations gaining momentum.
Speaker 2 (06:28):
How do these movements inspire your current work?
Speaker 4 (06:34):
I would say, you know, it's reggae music is the
music where for people were struggle and fears injustice. So
as an artist want looking at the world and it's
certain current you know, situations are in the world. It's
like we tend to speak on it from all point
(06:55):
of view, I would say, So that's all like current eventually,
because we're like the advice for the people that don't
have advice, if you know what I mean.
Speaker 5 (07:05):
So it's like we'll.
Speaker 4 (07:06):
Try to come up with ways and not only discussing
the problems, we're also finding solutions for the current statu score,
if you know what I mean. You know, so reggae
music I've always been that, it's been like it's been
always a protest to the start of score and also
highlighting the injustice that we face globally, you know.
Speaker 3 (07:31):
Yes, definitely, and global the global issues that we're facing
the day.
Speaker 2 (07:35):
It's like unprecedented this time, Like what is one of
the problems that you see in this world today that
actually gathered garners your actual attention to where you want
to focus on that if you had like unlimited time
to just donate to volunteering and unlimited resources, what is
one of those fights that you want to take on?
Speaker 4 (07:55):
What I said, you know, like the injustice that are
people that we go to, you know what I mean,
only systemic like financial suppression of our people, you know
what I mean? But also like you know, you look
in the world, you see a lot of wars going
on and that kind of stuff, and they kind of
see like it there's like a trickle don't effect because
it comes down down into the street as well, you
(08:17):
know with our people, you know what I mean, with
the gun violence and so on and so forth. You know,
So doing anything my time, I would say more like
speaking to the youths, I would say, you know.
Speaker 2 (08:32):
Definitely, definitely yeah.
Speaker 3 (08:35):
Like one of my favorite artists at the Tupac he
had to saying that said that, like, why am I
wasting my time with all these grown ups when these
children out here struggling for this knowledge? When it comes
to growing up in Jamaica and now residing in Canada,
what are the similarities that you see when it comes
to the the problems that the youth face when it
(08:57):
comes to the future that they're going to have to inherit.
Speaker 4 (09:02):
Well, what I'm saying like pretty much is the same problems,
you know what I mean, Like we don't have certain programs,
you know, like for the youth them to keep their like,
to advance them in certain things that they would want
to do, you know what I mean. So for instance,
sports or whatever whatever it be, music, whatever it be,
Like you know, with tech and stuff like that, computers,
(09:25):
you know, like the programs and the facilities are.
Speaker 5 (09:28):
Not there for the youth.
Speaker 4 (09:30):
So you find the most of the youth and then
live on the streets, you know what I mean said
and you know all that, you know.
Speaker 2 (09:35):
I yeah, And that's actually a good answer. Right now.
Speaker 3 (09:37):
We have a lot of that's going going in twenty
twenty five, our youth still have an issue getting resources
or things that help them. And with this new entity
out AI in a tech space, I want to get
your thoughts about that. Do you think that would like
help the youth or where you think that like destroyed
the like will it hurt the youth in how long
(09:58):
word would it benefit would it hurt.
Speaker 4 (10:00):
Well, you know, with technologies, there's always ups and down, right,
But I think like in terms of like education in
the tech field, like working with AI and stuff like
that could be really helpful going forward for the youth.
But like when you see stuff like say, for instance,
like TikTok and stuff like that, and even for art
(10:24):
generating art, even some of it they're using it for
generating music, that could be helpful. But at the same time,
you know, as I said, with tech has ups and downs,
you know what I mean, who's to say, we're not sure.
Speaker 5 (10:35):
You know, right?
Speaker 4 (10:36):
Yeah, where they're gonna go with it, you know, Yeah.
Speaker 2 (10:40):
Like you said, they out here using AI to create music.
Speaker 3 (10:43):
And I saw a meme on Facebook it was like
I want AI to do my to do my laundry
and to wash my dishes so I have time to
make art and make music. I don't want it the
other way around. And I like I could understand that completely.
And you listen to some music and a lot of
it is like it sounds like a human Maden, what
(11:05):
do you think kind of challenges that a brain to
the music industry?
Speaker 4 (11:11):
Well, for one, your intellectual properties, right, So that's one issue, right,
there for sure, you know what I mean.
Speaker 5 (11:20):
But I think it.
Speaker 4 (11:21):
Will also give a lot of You's also a way
to get into the space I think if you use properly,
you know what I mean. So, as I said with AI,
you know what I mean. With technology, it depends on how.
Speaker 5 (11:36):
You use it, you know what I mean. You can
use it too, you know, for the benefit, or you
can use it for you know what I mean.
Speaker 2 (11:44):
Yeah, definitely.
Speaker 3 (11:44):
Can you see yourself using GET in any of your
music or do you want to keep it strictly human touched?
Speaker 4 (11:51):
I can't say for sure, but I've used it for
art all right, for album cover artwork and stuff like that.
I find it very useful for stuff like that, even
for even doing like some of the effects like in videos.
I find AI to be very effective and it also
(12:13):
gives it like a different look. But at the same time,
with creating the music, there's there's like a love that
goes with like sitting down in the studio making the
beat from scratch, you know what I mean, writing the
lyrics yourself. And I don't think that will bought a fashion,
you know what I mean. I don't think that'll got
a style, you know, Right With yall, I like writing
(12:37):
my lyrics, you.
Speaker 2 (12:38):
Know, right, And.
Speaker 3 (12:41):
Question walk us through your your process. How do you
come up with your ideas? Do you listen to the
instrumental first, the music first, or do you write first?
Talkers walk us through at a time in the studio.
Speaker 4 (12:53):
But I would say ninety five percent of the times,
it's just like just hearing the beat, you know, I mean,
come up coming up with a few.
Speaker 5 (13:02):
Lines in your head, you know what I mean, Like
just going through the motions like that.
Speaker 4 (13:08):
I don't necessarily write, but I do most of the
times when.
Speaker 5 (13:13):
The song is finished.
Speaker 4 (13:14):
That's when I actually write the song down. I have
this process where it's like I like I'm repetitive, like
when it comes to beats, Like I'll sit down and
listen to a beat like over and over and just
because you could. There's so much different instruments and you
(13:35):
can write to you know, you can write to the drums,
you can write to the horns, you can write melody wise,
you can write to.
Speaker 5 (13:41):
The piano, you know what I mean.
Speaker 4 (13:43):
Like, So that process for me is more like I
just kind of just see where the beat's taking me
and just and from there the song starts developing, you
know what I mean.
Speaker 5 (13:54):
So for me, it's like it's just.
Speaker 4 (13:56):
Like I pretty much don't really write five percent of
the times. Yeah, I might get an idea and write
it down, but most of the time it's just like
listening to the beat. Make that like that, you know.
Speaker 2 (14:09):
Oh yeah, now that's that.
Speaker 3 (14:11):
That was kind of the way I like to work
as well, you know, because it's like the instrumental gets you.
Speaker 2 (14:15):
It tells you what the mood is, it tells you
what dillar.
Speaker 4 (14:18):
It's kind of it kind of if you really take
the time, it kind of tells you what what to
actually do in a sense exactly.
Speaker 3 (14:27):
And that's what it makes it a lot easier, and
a lot of people they they use it as a
cookie cut of music where they take something that they
already pre recorded or pre wrote and they apply to
this beat. I don't like actually doing that because it
takes away from the actual beat itself. This beat was
made with a different intention. When you using these instruments,
(14:49):
when you use your beasts, do you have a connection
with the the uh, with the producer who created the
beast or is it more of you just run into
somebody and they give you a beat the jump one.
Speaker 4 (15:01):
Yeah, well, like, well, as I said, I make beats myself, right,
So I'll probably come up with an idea for a
song and you know, come up with it to start
trying to work the beat around a song like that
or with producers, Like I'd get the beat and then
as I said, I'll listen it, I feel that vibe,
(15:21):
what's it telling me? You know, and then I'll go
from there. Most of the times it's just like I
haven't really sad in the studio and like made a
beat with a producer for a song. I've done that
by myself, but not really with a producer, you know.
So most of the times it's just like I get
the beat, like or I get some connection, like a
producer wants me to jump on like one of their
(15:43):
product projects or something, and then let's go from there,
you know, let's make it flow, you know.
Speaker 3 (15:50):
Right, and whenever you make it your beats, Like, what
is the process with that? What program do you use?
Speaker 4 (15:57):
Use? A plethora of programs, you know, like Q bas
reason logics, you know, so different different programs. For me,
It's like, because I'm a drummer, I always normally lay
down the drums first, like I always try to get
(16:17):
a feel for the drum, like, you know, come up
with different patterns and stuff like that on the percussion side,
and then I'll try to get my melody in there sewards,
taking me from there, you know.
Speaker 2 (16:29):
Right, So you've been playing drums for a long time,
I take.
Speaker 5 (16:33):
Yeah, I used to play in a marching band when
I was younger.
Speaker 2 (16:36):
Okay, that is that when you got your started.
Speaker 4 (16:39):
Yeah, okay, school marching band okay.
Speaker 2 (16:44):
And was that in Jamaica?
Speaker 5 (16:46):
Was that a camp that was in Jamaica?
Speaker 2 (16:49):
Oh okay, so yeah, y'all was down there playing the sauce.
Speaker 4 (16:52):
Yeah, we played like we played the stars and stripes
and stuff like that too, blue Moon and that kind
of stuff. Yeah, okay, a little bit of that too.
Speaker 2 (17:02):
Okay, all right. Do you find yourself like using some
of those elements in your music now?
Speaker 4 (17:10):
I would say, like, uh, being in a band like
actually gave me that foundation in terms of like beat
making when I wanted to actually get into that, actually
giving me the foundations for that, you know, like like
understanding timing and stuff like that, the bars, all that stuff.
You know, also writing too, yeah.
Speaker 3 (17:32):
Okay, yeah, see, and that's that that right, there is
what a musician, a real artist is. You got that
basis a lot of people get on this, they get
this mic and they just say what's on their mind
and then they call themselves artists and musicians.
Speaker 2 (17:45):
I'm like, no, you may be a rapper with.
Speaker 3 (17:46):
You and not a real artist, but you got to
construct some art.
Speaker 2 (17:54):
So whatever you're.
Speaker 4 (17:54):
Talking to people like like like like an artist like
gin right, a really good rap battle rapper.
Speaker 5 (18:01):
Dope, But when it comes down to like actually making
a song, and it's like you know.
Speaker 2 (18:08):
Right exactly.
Speaker 3 (18:09):
And that's why a lot of people should be able
to recognize what their niche is. Whenever you're talking to
young artists, like how do you help them develop or
help them to understand what their niche is?
Speaker 4 (18:22):
Well, I think that's like a natural thing, right. I
think that's kind of like a natural thing. You can,
for me see an artists. You can kind of see
like naturally where they're good, what they're good at, you know,
how they flow, their style, they're unique, they're different, you know.
So I think it's just a natural thing when it
comes to music, right, That's why different artists stand out.
Speaker 3 (18:46):
Right, Yeah, definitely, definitely, you got to everybody who has
a style, they always blossom and and then if they
whenever they blossom, you have people that come behind them
and pretty much copycat they style. I know he Goes
was the most coppied yeah, in pop history.
Speaker 2 (19:06):
You sure everywhere.
Speaker 4 (19:08):
It's like everyone for a moment, they're like everyone that
was putting out songs like hip hop Game sounded exactly
like right.
Speaker 3 (19:17):
I'm thinking like I'm hearing a new song and I'm like, dang,
Migos dropped another song though, to say to me, Goes,
who is it?
Speaker 2 (19:22):
I don't even want to know. I don't even want
to know. I'm good.
Speaker 3 (19:26):
Do you do you hear like sometimes do you hear
when you hear other artists?
Speaker 2 (19:30):
Do you hear your style like intermingled with this stuff?
Speaker 4 (19:36):
I would say there's times where you know, because as
I said, there's great wines thinkinglike, but sometimes you'd hear
stuff we're like, damn, man, like, I'm sure the one
that came up with that, you know what?
Speaker 5 (19:47):
Right right.
Speaker 2 (19:50):
Exactly?
Speaker 4 (19:53):
I don't even pay attention to that stuff, man, Like,
like you know, if you're gonna within myself, I like
I sat here and I created, I came up with
that I didn't see someone do it and then try
to copy it, you know what I mean?
Speaker 5 (20:07):
So exactly you know.
Speaker 3 (20:10):
It is right, and like you said, great minds thinking like,
you're not the only one that living in a vacuum
right now. You aren't the only one that going through
your experiences. You may be the only one with your
perspective of that experience, but more than likely there was
somebody else who experienced that experience along with you. Do
you ever find yourself like collaborating with other artists that
(20:33):
you know from like as soon as you talk to them,
oh my god, you got the mentality, you got that
mindset that would be perfect for this song. Or do
you wait until y'all create the song and see what
that mentality brings with the music brings out of their mentality.
Speaker 4 (20:48):
I would say like my experiences with like collaborations, like
I had a song Champion, where like I kind of
knew which artists I wanted to on the song, so
it was just a matter of timing per se with
that one. But then there's an other song that I
did with like some rappers where it was just like
(21:11):
we're in the studio, we're vibing, and we just made
it happen, you know what I mean?
Speaker 3 (21:16):
Right, which one in your period was a better spirit?
Which way got a better outcome for you?
Speaker 4 (21:25):
I would say, like, uh, when it comes to like,
it's two different experiences, I would say, you know what
I mean, But uh, experiencing that and like really like
just being in the studio with other artists and watching
how they work and how they go about it too,
(21:47):
was an experience in itself too as well. Right, the
first one, I kind of knew how because I was
producing this track, so I kind of knew how. I
knew I wanted a female artists, and I knew I
wanted the next artists that was like up to my
caliber because I didn't want to sound dominating on the
track and I wanted us all to blend together. So
(22:09):
it was like that kind of experience was kind of unique.
But then with the rappers, now it was kind of
unique too because it's like none of them have ever
wrapped on a ridden like that that sounds kind of
like calypso or kind of reggae, you know what I mean,
more on that kind of side, So it was like
it was different for them, But then just watching how
they like attacked the beat. It was just like it
(22:32):
was it was crazy, man, Like that was an experience too,
you know, right, So both like both different but really
unique experiences, you know what I mean?
Speaker 3 (22:45):
I would say, right, yeah, it definitely definitely is and
like you got these songs and you fell in the
energy of them, like I'm pretty sure you performing in Toronto?
Speaker 2 (22:56):
Correct?
Speaker 4 (22:57):
Yeah, Okay, how is.
Speaker 2 (22:59):
The performing scene that the like, tell me, how does
the crowd?
Speaker 4 (23:03):
It's like it's like if if you could do your thing,
It's like.
Speaker 3 (23:08):
Okay, you see, that's what a lot of people do
to stay. When they think of Toronto, Canada. The first
person that the mind is Drake Drake. Yeah, how did
you think they do with him blowing up in a
hip hop game?
Speaker 2 (23:21):
What do you think it done for Canada's reggae scene
as well?
Speaker 4 (23:27):
I wouldn't say it has done that much, but yeah
it has, you know what I mean? Like because Head
did that song where he went to Jamaica and like
kind of shed a little spot like that, But like,
I wouldn't say that much. There's other people here that's
like really really doing it as artists coming in on
a regular like touring.
Speaker 5 (23:48):
You know what I mean so right.
Speaker 4 (23:50):
I wouldn't say done that much, but yeah, he also
he did put Toronto on the map. When it comes
to like the racket and stuff like that, you know.
Speaker 5 (23:58):
What about it right right?
Speaker 2 (24:00):
Oh yeah he took that. We gotta give that him.
Speaker 3 (24:03):
But when it comes to the reggae scene, what names
do you say personally helped to build Toronto up?
Speaker 4 (24:11):
Where there's artists out here like you know Blessed b
and Crum, you know like uh Tanya Pe.
Speaker 5 (24:18):
There's also Mishimi.
Speaker 4 (24:22):
Plusor artists es School, Levi h got isis got a
lot of artists up here around, like very talented artists,
you know what I mean?
Speaker 3 (24:31):
Okay, And what do you see yourselves in five years?
Like how do you see Toronto? They did the scene
looking like a five years it's.
Speaker 5 (24:38):
Just gonna get bigger and better. Man.
Speaker 4 (24:40):
Yeah, that's what's up because I said, like pretty much
every in Toronto, like every weekend, we have like a
major reggae or dance artists performing in Toronto.
Speaker 5 (24:51):
You know what I mean? Right?
Speaker 4 (24:53):
If it's not if it's not artists, it's DJs that's
you know what I mean, Like well known DJs doing
parties and stuff like that so scene up here. Like
when it comes to entertainment, it's it hasn't always been
like this, but it's growing. It's grown, especially after COVID,
Like it was just like an explosion. It's like people
are just waiting, you know what, I mean to get
(25:14):
out again, you know, yeah.
Speaker 3 (25:16):
Oh yeah, I can just imagine that after COVID, Man,
everybody would wait the space to the scene. Man, there's like,
I'm tide of these Internet When they started to do
all the shows on Internet on the like live stream
and stuff like, it ain't the same.
Speaker 4 (25:32):
It was kind of it was kind of weird because
like I was gonna really like put a lot of
effort in doing one of those, but it was just
like I'm the type of person where I have to be,
like I have to be with the crowd. Like it
wouldn't be the same, Like the vibe wouldn't be the same,
you know what.
Speaker 3 (25:47):
It wouldn't because they you feed off of the crowd.
Crowd is with hypes you up and you just it's
like you're looking in a mirror where you're performing on
live stream. Man, you ain't gonna get that same thing.
Speaker 5 (25:58):
It's like, yeah, totally different, you know, how did.
Speaker 2 (26:02):
You handle it? Like you you didn't do the last dream.
What was some things that you did during COVID that
I worked.
Speaker 4 (26:07):
On a lot of music. I dropped, dropped an album,
worked on the videos like we we were out here
like COVID didn't exist exactly, having parties, going to parties
like from videos in the studio like you. So I
made a lot of music to COVID. It was It
was actually a good time for me because I had like
(26:29):
I had that time just like focused.
Speaker 3 (26:31):
You know, yes, exactly, you ain't have a lot of
people in your ear at the same time, you deal
with the people you want to deal with. Yes, So
tell us what's next on for I your grade? What
is going to be doing for the next five years?
Speaker 4 (26:52):
Man, there's so much things on my list, But I
definitely I want to I want to really actually get
into like making short films, kind of documentaries, like like
hopefully trying to start like a podcast type of thing.
Speaker 5 (27:08):
You don't get that going to as well, But definitely
I want to do like.
Speaker 4 (27:14):
Something like a story about like the music, you know,
like that come up game, like you know, like out
there like on the circuit, doing the performances, going in
the studio like that kind of vibe.
Speaker 3 (27:26):
You know, is it is it going to be are
you grade centered or is it going to be just
any artist centered?
Speaker 4 (27:33):
I'm gonna I would say it probably loosely based on
my experiences, but it would be pretty much. I try
to keep it like general to like stuff that artists
go through, like as an upcoming artist, you know what
I mean. Yeah, some of the stuff that we face,
some of the stuff that we go through also on
the life side too as well, you know, right, So
not just only with the music.
Speaker 2 (27:54):
You know, a lot of people forget about that.
Speaker 3 (27:57):
That's why I like to have these interviews because a
lot of people forget that these artists just don't live
in the studio.
Speaker 2 (28:02):
They got to get out of the studio.
Speaker 3 (28:05):
You'll probably be in a studio two or three days
out the week versus living the rest of your life.
Tell me some of the things that these the fans
that they don't get when they see you in public,
Like some things that they that you would like to
tell them now that you probably wouldn't want to tell
the day because you don't want to lose that.
Speaker 2 (28:20):
Fan, you know what I'm saying.
Speaker 3 (28:21):
But you know, Eminem came out with that song where
he was talking about something be alone when I'm out
in public, Like what would be some things that you
have some advice for fans.
Speaker 4 (28:34):
It's just like it was just like it was just
personal space type of stuff. Like you know, I'm good
with the fans and stuff like that. You know, set boundaries.
You just don't cross the boundaries. But other than that,
like I'm pretty good with like when I'm out there.
You know, something that you know a lot of people
would know about me is that, Like I was kind
of like I like to I like to be like
(28:55):
one way, you know, I like to hear my thoughts.
Like sometimes I wouldn't say I'm alone, but like you know,
when I'm not out there doing my thing, I'm just.
Speaker 5 (29:05):
Chilling, you know what I mean.
Speaker 2 (29:07):
Yeah, that's where the creativity comes from.
Speaker 5 (29:10):
A lot of people would know that about me.
Speaker 2 (29:12):
It's not that you know, right right, That's that's what
I like. That. That's why I like to have these things.
Speaker 3 (29:20):
Get the chance to be able to speak your mind
in a in a protected place because.
Speaker 2 (29:25):
It's out there.
Speaker 3 (29:26):
You nowadays, with counsel culture, you can't speak your mind
without somebody checking every letter of your sentence, like how
would how do you talk in public without having to
worry about that?
Speaker 5 (29:41):
Man, I don't even get involved.
Speaker 4 (29:47):
It is what it is is spade's a spade, you
know what I mean? So just keep it straight, you
know that is That's what it is.
Speaker 2 (29:55):
That's real, the truth.
Speaker 5 (29:57):
You don't I come from that place.
Speaker 4 (30:01):
It's just like, you know, it's better you just tell
me to my face than like, you know, try to
go buy my back type of shit.
Speaker 3 (30:08):
Right exactly exactly, and not a lot of people understand that.
Speaker 2 (30:12):
Man.
Speaker 3 (30:13):
It's been a wonderful, wonderful conversation with you. We got
I your grade in the beaulting. But before we leave,
we got to know what's in the immedia future? What
kind of tracksuit should we be looking out for? What
kind of performances where you're going to be stationed that
will tell us what are your great has any immediate future?
Speaker 4 (30:30):
Well, it's just as I said, like I really want
to get into like making that, you know, whether it
be short film kind of documentary, biopic type of thing,
you know, and figuring out how to like get the
music in there, like not only just music with lyrics,
but also just like music type of thing, you know
what I mean, Like also hoping to get into like uh,
(30:56):
some sync deals type of thing, you know what I'm saying,
getting the music into like commercial video games whatever, you know,
like that.
Speaker 5 (31:03):
Kind of shit. Man.
Speaker 4 (31:04):
Just upward movements, man, just like putting out more music,
you know what I mean, engaging with the fans, more performances.
You know that kind of vibe, my g Like just
you know, just getting out there and just doing it.
Speaker 2 (31:15):
You know that's real. I love it.
Speaker 3 (31:18):
I love it. How can we find you? Where should
we go right now? If we want to keep up
with you?
Speaker 5 (31:23):
Yeah? Man, if you want to keep up with me,
you can find me on Instagram. You're done.
Speaker 4 (31:27):
No, I A grade or I grade media because you
know I do the media shit too.
Speaker 5 (31:33):
Uh. You also find me on YouTube, you know what
I mean. That's I Y A G R A d E.
You know what I mean. Yeah, man, I'm out here
man doing.
Speaker 3 (31:41):
It, you know, yes, yes, man, And we've been following
you man. Like I said, somebody said, you sent us
your your track and we're gonna be playing it next man.
It was a magnificent piece of art. We had to
get you on here.
Speaker 2 (31:58):
Man.
Speaker 5 (31:58):
So which is what one was that? Yeah?
Speaker 2 (32:00):
So it was your song the Bag.
Speaker 3 (32:02):
Yeah, that right, there was a big I loved that song, man,
because you know, everybody be after that bag and it
had a catchy tune to it. I remember actually bopping
to it. I was like, I gotta interview him. So
you want to say thank you for coming on here
and talking to us. It was a pleasure getting to
know you.
Speaker 5 (32:19):
Man, don't know anybody.
Speaker 2 (32:24):
Anytime. You want to give a shout out to anybody
before we.
Speaker 4 (32:27):
Leave, Yeah, I just want to say, you know, big
up to the most you know what I mean, forgive
me the inspiration to do this. You know what I'm saying,
Big up to the moms, the farms, you know, Big
up to the youth stuff.
Speaker 5 (32:39):
You're done.
Speaker 4 (32:39):
No, you know what I'm saying, Big up to all
the ones out there that support the music over the years.
Speaker 5 (32:44):
You know what I mean. Just keep tuned. We'll be
dropping more music soon. You know what I'm saying. You
have a big up to YouTube. Man, he's done, no
boss radio. We're all here and doing it.
Speaker 4 (32:53):
You know what I'm saying.
Speaker 5 (32:55):
Right, yes.
Speaker 3 (32:58):
Already, Well, y'all already know where it is. Boy, I agree,
you can find him on Instagram and YouTube. You can
find him on all social media, so make sure you
go find him. He's streaming right now on platform, so
make sure you get him. We got his links right
here in the description. So if you're watching us on YouTube,
click that link, hit that subscribe button and make sure
(33:18):
you follow him because he's gonna have way more works
you hurt him here documentary reason more so, make sure
y'all go ahead and follow him today.
Speaker 2 (33:26):
This is your boy, mister e On Hill.
Speaker 3 (33:28):
We're about to sign off of Reggae Album Podcast and
if you ain't already following us, then you're slipping on
your pipp and its.
Speaker 2 (33:33):
Slacking on your Mac.
Speaker 3 (33:34):
And go ahead and hit that follow button, that subscribe
button and until then we are out, So y'all make
sure y'all stay irin.
Speaker 2 (33:41):
You heard me one Love.
Speaker 4 (33:42):
Music are your upliftment forward movements chief cause I agree, Sweet.
Speaker 6 (33:51):
No time to cry, no time to die.
Speaker 7 (33:54):
I seen the spiders one to see myny the mice,
despite the lies, I read it to you in the
lines with the mole side. It's where I reside. I've
got no time to cry, no time to die. I
see the spies wan I see my demise.
Speaker 6 (34:10):
I've seen the light.
Speaker 7 (34:12):
I'm a lett it shine with the moll side. It's
where I reside.
Speaker 8 (34:17):
License the shrill, not gorys like James one, your panamission
Philly regain nation in a Vashian lyrical vision, is youth
ascending elevation simple mat yeah matter Matisian no division addition
that made the only six and my five the eight
(34:38):
has on me. One take where your vibe one drainer
energy and would I love to see your guntel you
know know what your dead filmy stand up stronger, do
it for my for mail me no.
Speaker 6 (34:49):
Time to cry, no time to die. I've seen the spies.
Speaker 7 (34:53):
Wanna see my demise despite the lines I read between
the lines with the mole side, It's where I reside.
Speaker 6 (35:01):
I've got no time to cry, no time to die.
Speaker 7 (35:05):
I see the spies. One, I see my demise. I've
seen the light. I'm a let it shine with the
mole side. It's where I reside from from attain something
for in fly female. That's your logic.
Speaker 8 (35:18):
Hold on panic, sutr money you know start step in
lovish from being published by Champagne Exclusive Parties. I agree there,
you know get it started the music, the people. I'm
wanted the party from not till the money.
Speaker 4 (35:29):
I agreed.
Speaker 8 (35:29):
I'm going to keep on chanting, bringing the feeling, not
even wanting. Remember said I was going out and the
maire the people. I'm dancing ashtag I open.
Speaker 6 (35:37):
I agreed. No time to cry, no time to die.
I've seen the spies wan.
Speaker 7 (35:44):
I see my demise despite the lies I read between
the lines with the mole Side. It's where I reside.
I've got no time to cry, no time to die.
I see the spies one, I see my demise. I've
seen the light. I'm alet it shine with the Mole Side.
It's where I reside.
Speaker 8 (36:05):
Licensed notorious like James Bana, You innovation confusions. You're sending elevation,
simple matamogiction, no division.
Speaker 6 (36:15):
The ponte at the six and my five days all
upon me one. I want energy? Would I love? Tell
I know where it is? Let me stand up, strangle
it from family. No time to cry, no time to die.
Speaker 7 (36:28):
I seen the spies, want to see my demise despite
the lies I read between the lines with the mole Side,
It's where I reside. I've got no time to cry,
no time to die. I see the spies. One, I
see my demise. I've seen the light.
Speaker 6 (36:45):
I'm Alet. It shine with the mole sigh. It's where
I reside.
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