Revelation: Battle-Rap and Hip-Hop Emcee

5IVE-FOLD ENT. – LIAM GRAHAM PROFILE

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Revelation

Battle-Rap and Hip-Hop Emcee

Location: Barrie, Ontario Canada

Gender: Male

Age: 29

Battle Record: 5 – 1 (W – L)

Meaning Behind The Name: A divine takeover and manifestation of truth and will that entices change.

Contact Platforms: Youtube – revelation705;  Instagram – 705rev705; Facebook – Revelation Hip-hop;  Email – revelation705booking@gmail.com;  Versetracker – versetracker.com/rapper/revelation

“It’s Revelation: 705crew, StylinFlow, Naughty-North and Lqiuid-Chrome.  Those are the people I rep for.”

Revelation is a relatively fresh-faced addition to the local battle-rap/hip-hop movement.  Born in Toronto, Revelation moved to Barrie before he was a year old, and considers it his home.  Revelation made his on-camera debut at one of StylinFlow’s many fresh Friday events in Belleville.  The battle was done over beat against battle-emcee Genghis Khanscience and can be found on StylinFlow’s YouTube channel.  Not long after his emergence into the battle league game, 5IVE-FOLD BATTLEGROUNDS ENT. Caught wind of Revelation and booked him for their first volume event.  Since his 5IVE-FOLD debut, Revelation has proven to be a formidable addition to the roster, and it doesn’t seem like he intends to back down.

Aside from battling, Revelation studied Music Management at Durham College.  Revelation and StylinFlow Entertainment’s JL Prophet are currently working on an album that will be released around April.  There is a single out to promote the album on YouTube titled, “watch the flames,” for fans to take in.  Revelation’s current plans are to touch people’s lives with his music and establish himself as a distinguished battler among the competition in the battle-rap movement.

“I like the competitive nature of Hip-Hop.  It keeps me focused and doesn’t let me slide.”

SHANE MAC: BATTLE & HIP-HOP EMCEE

5IVE-FOLD ENT. – Liam Graham Profile: Shane Mac

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Shane Mac

Rap Battle & Hip-Hop Emcee

Location: Windsor, Ontario

Gender: Male

 Age: 27

Battle Record: 15 – 3 (W – L)

Meaning Behind The Name: “Master at Communication”

Contact Platforms: Twitter - @shanemac519; Facebook – facebook.com/shane.mac.1232; Versetracker -  versetracker.com/rapper/shane-mac

“Shane Mac, These Lames Whack, The B*****s smile when they look at me, you already know.”

Shane Mac is an enigmatic entertainment figure coming out of Windsor, southern Ontario.  Born in 1987, Shane grew up exposed to rap/ hip-hop and started challenging other emcees to impromptu house party battles without a film crew. Three years ago he made his on-camera debut thanks to Windsor’s Border City Battle Club (BCBC) and ever since, Shane has been on a warpath.  Now in his adult years, Shane has appeared in multiple leagues and boasts an impressive battle record: determined to establish himself further as a strong force to be reckoned with in the battle-rap movement. 

Shane’s current plan is to continue to build his battle-rap fan-base so he may use his recognition to get a jump-start advantage on his mix-tape concept. As well as planning a mix-tape, Shane Mac is aiming to get himself state side this year and further expand his presence in the battle-rap/hip-hop movement.

Enigmatic and entertaining, these two words sum-up the creative presence Shane is continuing to build for himself.

“If you want bars, I got bars. If you want Schemes, I got Schemes.  It’s what the crowd wants, I am a performer.”

5IVE-FOLD BATTLEGROUNDS TITLE MATCH: SHANE MAC VS. REVELATION

5IVE-FOLD ENT. – LIAM GRAHAM TITLE MATCH

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5IVE-FOLD BATTLEGROUNDS TITLE MATCH

Shane Mac vs. Revelation

February 15^th, 2015

This March 21^st, 5IVE-FOLD ENT. Will be hosting its third event, 5IVE-FOLD BATTLEGROUNDS: BABYLON, at The Fox theatre in downtown Barrie Ontario.  Despite the fact that this is the third event there will be a first time occurrence for the league aside from the usual battles:  The first title match to crown a league champion. The match is three, two-minute high intensity rounds and will be one of the last battles of the night.  Two battlers will face off and one will be crowned not only the winner, but league champion as well.  The two contenders, Shane Mac and Revelation, have the honour of competing to be the first-ever 5IVE-FOLD champion.

With his hometown being Barrie, Ontario, Revelation does not have to travel far for the upcoming title match.  With an adequate record of five wins and one loss, a loss he says only happened because he was underprepared for the time limit.  Being relatively new to a capella battling (only two of his prior battles are a capella) Revelation is not swayed by Shane’s larger record.  When inquired about his thoughts going into the upcoming title match, he responded with this, “All I am going to say is I’m coming in as the underdog, and I am not leaving the underdog,” he said, “I don’t really have a battle rap history like these other guys do but I’ve been doing hip-hop for 11 years… I went to school for music management.  I know my shit,” he said. 

Coming out of Windsor, Ontario, Shane Mac is a battler/emcee boasting an impressive overall record of 15 wins and 3 losses, and a local record with 5IVE-FOLD of one loss as well as one non-judged promotional battle.  When asked about his record and upcoming title match he had this to say, “I’ve lost three battles, they are all debateable,” he said in a serious tone, “I am the champ of 5IVE-FOLD, you can say it now or after… he thinks people are sleeping on him, well Imma’ wake up at that battle and go in,” he said laughing.

With both battler’s primed and ready to go, it is obvious that the 5IVE-FOLD fan-base has a firecracker of a battle to look forward to among others that will be happening at the BABYLON event.  Other big name battlers in the Ontario hip-hop scene such as Windsor’s Jay Cyphe, Sudbury’s Nefarious, London’s Sirreal and York region’s A major will be there as well as performances by local hip-hop artists such as Urban Havoc and Workshop Regime.  The Fox theatre is located at 50 Dunlop St. West in downtown Barrie so if you love Battle Rap and Hip-Hop be sure to get down there for 3:00 P.m. on Saturday March 21^st.   There is a $10.00 cover charge at the door and there will be door prizes and giveaways, come through and keep hip-hop in the north alive by representing the 705IVE!!

Thanks! -5IVE-FOLD ENT. TEAM

KUESTIONS WITH KUSH

Kuestions with Kush

“I am Sauga city, period.”

Mississauga is home to many talented music artists, especially when it comes to hip-hop.  Coming out of Mississauga, Ontario, Kush McCloud is an enigmatic and proud contributor to the hip-hop movement in Mississauga and the GTA.  During our interview we covered how he got where he is now, his view on the potential for the movement to grow larger, and his upcoming plans for 2015.

Born in Midland, Ontario, Kush moved to Mississauga before he hit the age of one, so he considers it his home.  “I was born in Midland, it’s a small northern town,” he said, “But I moved to Mississauga before I was one so yeah, technically I was raised there,” he said proudly.   Growing up in the GTA throughout the eighty’s and ninety’s, Kush was able to witness the evolution of rap and found his inspiration from groups such as Heltah Skeltah, Wu-Tang Clan, and Brooklyn Academy.  Kush said he is more of a lyricist as opposed to a beat producer, which is why his inspirations are mainly east-coast.  “Don’t get me wrong, I like the West coast for beats, but I’m a lyricist so I like the east coast,” he said,  “Lyrically, the East Coast is untouchable, Brooklyn pretty much founded Hip-Hop… they pride themselves in lyricism.”  Using this inspiration, Kush set out to establish a name for himself in the local scene.

“At first, I kinda threw myself under the bus.”

In 2005, Kush wrote his first song, and sheltered it.  “I Caught the bug in 2005 and took on the name Omega” he said, “I told myself I was going to do it, and then I never put it out to anyone,” he said.  “In 2008 or 2009, I jumped on twitter and started saying I was an emcee… I got known through twitter,” he said.  After Kush gained followers, they asked him if he had any tracks, and he still had nothing to show for it.  “At that point people were like okay, you should probably start doing that,” he said, “ So I created a make shift studio and I recorded myself and dropped some tracks I had written before.”  His first few songs, “Omega” and “Seconds to go” received positive attention and Kush had attained the proof he needed to progress.  Using his twitter network, Kush started travelling and putting on shows.

“I was taking artists from Toronto and bringing them in to do shows in Oakville.”

After promoting/paying artists at the Oakville venue, Kush made a link in Mississauga following the closing of his previous venue.  “I made a link in Mississauga and established The Sauga Continues,” he said.  The way the event works is similar to his old events: Kush helps promote for the artists playing and pays them for their performance.  “I pride myself in Networking, and now I know everybody,” he said happily.  Seeing all of the local talent in the area is what drives Kush to continue his supportive role in the scene.  “Get involved with what’s going on,” he says, “There’s a lot of talent here, on a production level, on every level.  Get involved.”  Kush has gotten to a comfortable level of oversight and direction in the local movement, allowing him to expand onto better independent projects.

“I got some projects coming up.”

Kush is going into 2015 ready with an album titled “When Kush Comes to Shove” as well as a mixtape, “It’s called The adventures of Reefer Sutherland, its going to be a funny and uplifting mix tape,” he said, “It’s going to involve me getting high and going on little adventures themed after Keifer Sutherland projects.”  The mix tape will focus on projects such as Flatline, 24, Lost boys, Etc…  No date has been given but according to Kush both projects will be coming soon in the year.  Kush has a show where he is opening for emcee Ritz at Rockpile West venue this April. 

“Just google Kush McCloud… I’ve got like nine or ten pages.”

Kush McCloud is available on twitter at @KushMcCloud and Facebook by the same name.  Be sure to check up his Reverb Nation page at http://www.reverbnation.com/kushmccloud as well as my sound cloud page at https://soundcloud.com/liam-graham-10 for the podcast of our full interview for additional information not in the written article.  Also be sure to check out the 5ivefold battle league entertainment page for all things rap/battle rap related at https://www.facebook.com/groups/852060204816466/

Keep Hip-Hop in the North Alive and Rep the #705IVE

The Return of Scott Free

The Return of Scott-Free

Liam Graham

This coming Saturday there will be a cold front of battlers advancing upon The Port bar in Barrie, Ontario.  20 plus battlers will be in the building and among them, Scott-Free: a former KOTD veteran finally making his return to the ring after a four-year retirement gap to battle Duff.

“Scott-free, Bell-city, BCB, Workshop Regime… That’s me baby.”

Born and raised in Brantford, Ontario, Scot Flinders made his emergence into the rap battle scene around six years ago, during the younger state of KOTD.  Originally slated to battle Dexta Dunx, the battle didn’t go through due to Dex having troubles with the law.  Having no one to battle, Scott was able improvise a battle with a local M.C. Zilla and get the win he came out for.  Since that day, Scott went on to forge a warpath through some of KOTD’s toughest competitors, establishing his alias as a force to be reckoned with until he took a break after his last battle with Mac at the Bell City Battle League.

“It’s been four years, my last battle was on my 25^th birthday.”

 When asked how he heard about 5ivefold and how he got the battle, he said, “It was Tipsy, he was trying to get me a battle out in Barrie.”  Tipsy, or Tipsy Russell, runs Bell City Battles in Brantford and is a long time friend of Scott.  Recently, Tipsy as well as other passionate MC’s such as Malakai Williams and Flintlock decided to network.  Seeing as each of them have experienced hands in organizing battle events, they decided to get together under one roof and lo and behold, the Cold Front event was birthed.   Tipsy got a battle and, understandably, started talking to Scott about driving there.  Agreeing, Scot eventually heard that another battler (Duff) had been talking smack, and the old shooter decided he would dust his guns off for some practice and bring them along for the ride.

“I heard through the 5ivefold grapevine that this guy said he could body me.”

After we talked about how he got involved with 5ivefold Scott proceeded to tell me a bit about his philosophy on battle rap, and his goals for his Hip-Hop Career in 2015.

“ I want to teach these kids how to play ball,” he said.  “You need a way out? KOTD isn’t fuckin with you?  Then earn your stripes out here.”  Scotty had this to say and more about the ever growing and expanding world of Battle Rap.  He then went on to stress to me how too many battlers are trying to jump to the big leagues right away without even building up an original style or getting practice in at smaller leagues, something he thinks is vital to individual success and the success of the smaller leagues so they can grow too.  He also greatly stressed the importance of being original.

“Don’t think you need antics cuz Daylyt is getting famous from it, don’t copy other styles, create your own.”

Aside from his upcoming battle this Saturday, Scott’s group WORKSHOP REGIME will be performing a live set at the event as well as hitting Brantford on the 29^th in January and Feb 16^th in Brampton.  His goal is to hit thirty shows in forty days on a tour, as well as touring around different apartment projects to play basketball with the youth come spring.  The latter of the two goals was inspired by ODB’s Grammy cameo speech line, “Puffy good but Wu Tang for the children.”  Puffy good but WORKSHOP for the children is the name of Scott’s inspired movement, which will be hitting the streets this spring provided all goes well. 

“I predict my name will pop up in a few new mouths…”

This Saturday (January Tenth) the cold front comes to Barrie.

Thirty Battlers.

Fifteen battles.

Two live performances.

One crazy #COLDFRONT

Shout out to Malakai, Tipsy, Flintlock, Scott, Hynesyte and the rest of the 5ivefold staff for making this a reality and helping hype it up to what it is now as well as a shout out to CaseClosed holding it down out west for our #ALBErTADIVISION.

And Shout out to all the loyal fans of all the hard working battlers that will be tearing each other apart for your enjoyment!

#REPTHE705IVE