photo by JonathanLiaw.com
iD
I find iD on his computer reading (many) emails and sending replies in return. I wonder with a lower case "i" and a upper case "D" which could stand for "I Don",or "I do".With just these two letters in his name (aka) Don Welsh certainly does "DO".This community organizer, emcee, songwriter, producer, show promoter,and member of the Temple of Hip Hop (True HipHoppa): iD is a man wearing many different belts! As an emcee that plays the harmonica on stage, iD shocks the people and upstarts the audeince to something not seen very often in the Hip Hop world. Bearded and sporting pretty lengthy dreadlocks rooting from out the back of of his banadana, I find talking with iD he has a confiednce well deserved and yet an air about himself that he just might not be comfortible with the leadership role that has found his presence in the community of Hip Hop. Climbing the large mountain since 2003, iD has already made influintial steps.He released his debut album the winter of 2007 entitled "Watch the Real Die" hitting top 10 and top 5 on college charts throughout numerous cities in Canada and peaking as high as #20 in the Country. Focusing hard in 2008 iD put together and is the chairperson of the now annual "Hip Hop in the Park." This event Celebrates Hip Hop Kulture in the last week of May which showcases some of western Canada's best .He was also host of "Wildstyle Wednesdays: ("the longest running Hip Hop oriented weekly night") a weekly event showcasing Canadian and local talent. He also heads a record label alongside Khiry Tafari as well as running workshops (youth centers, schools, festivals) dealing with Hip Hop and its positive effects on/off stage in life. Where this young man is headed is entirely up to him, but I tell you iD will end up in a position that when he looks back he will have cemented himself as a force in Canandian Hip Hop. iD has opened for the likes of Abstract Rude, Well Put, Aceyalone, and Ira Lee. Clicking away on his computer, iD has sent off the last email, shut down and closed his laptop. Getting up he asks me if I want to have some tea and time travel. As I smile and say sure to both, iD comes back hands me a cup and Dr.Who appears on the tv in which the theme song starts, WWWWOOOO OOOOOO OOOO OOOOOOOOOOOOOO... As a producer iD's work can be heard on: -Brothers Grim (Grim Reefer, 2009) -Khiry Tafari (Movements of Luv, 2009) -Hip Hop in the Park Mixtape (2009, 2008) -iD (Watch the Real Die 2007) "iD your voice is killer, I love your beats and def your sound" -Nikita Kiceluk (Canada's Next Top Model) "iD proves he's no longer a Hip Hop caveman, but one of Canada's best new rappers and producers" -Sandra Sperounes, (Edmonton Journal) "iD's voice echoes with crystal clarity, lyrics which express profound wisdoms in an effortless authenticity.His words are drenched in a desire to inspire but are counterbalanced by his often melancholy tone which establishes his spectrum, and showcases his talent as an artist. The fluency and speed that his gritty voice keeps steady pace with alongside the emanating beats will find the listener catching intellectualism's in a net of paused reflection. iD's rhymes are atypically strange while simultaneously being legendary and alluring." -Melissa Bishop(Freelance Writer,L+P Productions,Promoter) "Before I heard iD's music, I had a completely different idea on what local music was supposed to sound like.iD made me realize that local music doesn't have to sound like it was made locally." -Stef Torres (Founder & Owner of "In 3's Tees") "iD sounds like a prairie version of Buck 65- it's Hip Hop for sure, but alot more experimental and has a lazy folk vibe." -Bryan Birtles, (Vueweekly) "iD has come to Saskatoon numerous times, and has destroyed the stage every time." -DJ Heywood (DJ &Promoter Winnepeg)
|
|||||||||||||
