Event: CHECK THE RHYME – Pharoahe Monch, Slaughterhouse, DEL (Calgary + Edmonton)

Foundation Concerts and Ill Movements presents CHECK THE RHYME, a meeting of the best in underground hip hop, this April in Edmonton and Calgary.

CHECK THE RHYME brings together Pharoahe Monch, Del The Funky Homosapien, Slaughterhouse, Bukue One, Peter Jackson and DJ Zac Hendrix for an amazing night of beats, rhythms and rhymes. 

While a member of the New York City duo Organized Konfusion, Pharoahe Monch developed a reputation as one of underground hip-hop’s pre-eminent lyricists, crafting intricate and intelligent raps with partner Prince Poetry. After recording three albums
together from 1991-1997, the two split up amicably, and Monch pursued a more aggressive solo style with the terrific independent label Rawkus. He made guest appearances on other artists’ records and contributed tracks to the Rawkus compilation
Soundbombing II, which raised expectations for his solo debut. The single/video “Simon Says” was released in the summer of 1999 and became a massive hit among rap and club audiences, setting the stage for a surprising debut — just short of the Top 40 — for the full-length Internal Affairs upon its release several months later. While he didn’t release a second album — Desire — until 2007, he was active throughout the intervening years, with fiery singles like “The Life” (with Styles) and “Agent Orange,” along with featured spots on tracks by Ras Kass, J Dilla, Pete Rock, and Sa-Ra. Pharoahe Monch’s third studio album, We Are Renegades (W.A.R.), is set for release in early 2010.

Hailing from Oakland, CA, Del The Funky Homosapien got his start with the crew, the Hieroglyphics, a markedly non-gansta response to the burgeoning 90’s West Coast scene. Most recently he’s been known for his collaborations with artists such as Kid
Koala, The Automator and Damon Albarn’s ‘Gorrilaz’ project. His latest release is the critically acclaimed solo effort, G-Market (2010).

When Crooked I, Joell Ortiz, and Royce Da 5’9 joined Joe Budden on his 2008 mixtape Halfway House, the chemistry on their collaborative track meant “Slaughterhouse” the song would quickly become Slaughterhouse the hip-hop supergroup. Seeing as how Budden, Crooked I, and Ortiz all had issues with their former labels — Def Jam, Death Row, and Aftermath respectively — other tracks recorded at their initial meeting bypassed the usual music distribution channels and were leaked to the net, including “Move On” which gave the music press the group’s backstory in song. They recorded their debut album in a mere six days, signed to the E1 label, and released their selftitled,
debut in 2009. Due to sample clearance issues, the final product did not include the promised single “Woodstock,” but in keeping with the group’s alternative marketing plan, it was released via Budden’s Twitter account.

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CALGARY

Thursday, April 15th – The Whiskey
Advance tickets $35 at Ticketmaster, Giant 45, The Gallery & Sloth
Limited VIP tickets $75 at Ticketmaster ONLY
http://www.ticketmaster.ca/event/11004462E9AFB716?brand=foundation
Presented by Foundation Concerts & Ill Movements

EDMONTON

Friday, April 16th – Edmonton Event Centre
Advance tickets $35 at Ticketmaster, Soular (W.E.M.), EEC, Foosh & Blackbyrd
Limited VIP tickets $75 at Ticketmaster ONLY
http://www.ticketmaster.ca/event/11004462813C7ADC?brand=foundation
Presented by Foundation Concerts & Urban DNA