Nanaimo's roots run deep in one of sa国际传媒's hottest hip hop acts, Sweatshop Union-- comprised of four hip hop units: Kyprios, Dirty Circus, Innocent Bystanders, and Pigeon Hole, which is made up of Nanaimo's own Dusty Melo and Mr. Marmalade.
Marmalade calls Nanaimo home while Dusty splits his time with Gabriola Island.
"It's nice to get away, to have a separation from Vancouver and work," Dusty says.
Got Pop? Productions brings Sweatshop Union to the Queen's with Moka Only on May 25.
"It's like coming back home, all our friends and family come out," Dusty says, "Queen's is the best live venue in Nanaimo."
The band's tour schedule has been relentless since the April 2005 release of United We Fall, which was nominated for Rap Recording of the Year at the Junos.
Just back from three months on the road in the U.S. with Vancouver's Swollen Members, "It went really well for them," says manager Mark Kesten.
May sees Sweatshop Union playing several shows in sa国际传媒 and on to summer festivals in Salmon Arm, Invermere, and Grande Prairie. More U.S. dates are also in the works and hopefully, a new album.
Discouraged by the seemingly repetitive, negative-natured release of rap music, the Sweatshop Union Collective formed to craft an alternate-flavoured hip hop; rap with a conscience and danceable beats.
Cut Back, a clear stand out party track, tells a post-tour detox story: "Been away every day since when / on the road to no end / half drunk since 10 a.m. / pass out wake up, repeat it again."
"Every album is different, it's always a different dynamic," Dusty says.
On the band's third album, each unit brought its own stuff to the table. While they had written separately there was cohesion to the material and no need for compromise when they put it all together.
"We're trying to take hip hop back where it used to be," says Dusty. It's a move away from the bling and in the direction of a social conscience.
Another prominent Vancouver MC with a conscience, Moka Only is also playing. Former Swollen Member and Battleaxe Records label-mate, Moka Only is celebrating the international release of his latest solo album The Desired Effect. Knowing the collaborative nature of the hip hop scene, look for the guys to share the stage on Thursday.
"I wouldn't be surprised if he shows up on Sweatshop's next album," Kesten says, or vice versa. Look for a 2007 release. For all the news check out www.sweatshopunion.com and www.mokaonly.com.
- With over a decade in the trenches of the music industry, we're reasonably sure Alexandria knows what she's talking about: [email protected].