SMASH BROVAZ
Crook n Junia-T
by m.orrison.
“let the truth be told, by young souls who grow old”
-common.
As hope rises from street level like the morning of a brand new day, the air is heavy here, with that feeling. That feeling that penetrates everything. Alleys and corners reverberate with the echo of the boom-bap, the call of fresh sneakers hitting concrete, and the hiss of the spray can.
In the west end, obscured by the cloud that tells of our young heroes’ location, an anthem bares down triumphant on the ears of the moment. “we’ve only just begun”.
Smash Brovaz, have returned.
Wiser. Still young but grown. Still striving. Still trying to make the best of the situation, and thus still smoking. still trying to make moves. And still leading the way with that good good music.
SMASH BROVAS “THE EP”
Junia t and Crook present their long awaited return to the legion of Smash. Aided by Toronto heavyweights Zaki Ibrahim, Tanika Charles, Rich Kidd, and Big Pops, “the ep” reverberates with a nostalgic ear tipped towards the early to mid-nineties.
You remember don’t you? Back when it felt like what an emcee said was true, and when you sang it came straight from the heart? Back when you spent hours trying to figure out how that producer had chopped that sample?
This is a return to hip hop fundamentals, led by two cats that just might have been in middle school when their favourite records taught them the template of truly good music.
The best lessons never turn false, but rather, more true. You come to understand them better. The ideas maturing with the man.
Maturity is a process.
You might find it leaves you with a clearer mind yet more questions.
Tighter bonds and fewer friends.
Less becoming more.
And so it is, this time we find the Brovaz deeper in the cut. Wrapped in heavier bass and propelled by stronger drums, arrangements flush with horns and strings.
Where 2005’s “the album” found our hero’s living out their last days in high school, we are now cleaning up after the graduation party. the questions whose seeds were planted in the first are now in clear focus.
Where the first led us to celebrate the dopeness that is collected in the westend, the sequel shows our young hero’s in closer frame.
Things have changed in the Westend. Things have changed in the world, but more pertinently, things have changed for crook and junia t.
Allow me to add one more “still” to the line of thought in the intro,
still changing
the backstory
The year was 2005.
The young sons of ‘Sauga City, the embodiment of backpack-roll it up-grind it out hip hop, could be found on street corners everywhere working on their abc’s (as in Any Body Can get it), repping 35 Playa and pitching cds to you, your sister, your aunts and uncles and your mom and dad.
With the release of the Brovaz “the album”, a 23 song classic featuring 14 guest artists, Junia t and Crook emerged as the little brothers every head always wished they had. At a time when cats where talking about “hip hop is dead”, here were two artists just leaving their teens who understood and espoused everything good that the art was supposed to be about. Beats. Rhymes. Real life. Good times.
Before long the Smash were the smash of Toronto’s underground, becoming fan favourites at iconic events like Mindbender’s In Divine Style night at hooch and the roaming Gain Status series.
(for more information, see gavin sheppard bio 2005)
Who are
THE BROVAZ?
Junia t, aka smash brova number two, can be found by the trail of sore necks and smiling faces. Wherever the crowd has been rendered powerless to a primal head nod, you’ll probably find junia, centre stage radiating with that cartoon grin as he conducts the unleashing of wave after wave of dopeness.
Since following up “the album” with his first solo offering, 2006’s“sample surgery”, junia t has been everywhere, collaborating with anyone willing, emerging as one of Toronto’s most skilled emcee/producers. All the while, he has become a regular on countless college radio shows, a sought after engineer, a staple at honour rebel’s “goodpeople party”, a host for the“good music party” by ear 2 much , and a ring leader for the burgeoning boombox saints series now running three years strong and packing rooms across the city.
(see www.myspace.com/juniatof35 )
For crook, formerly killa crook, the path forward required a detour.
after the release of the second installment of “CROOK ‘n CYPHA” (with western union deejay cypha), smash brova number one packed his bags and exiled to Australia seeking growth and knowledge amidst sand and sun. A year would pass before his return to the land of ‘saug’. With rhyme books tucked in the luggage, and a renewed hunger for the boom-bap burning in his chest, crook came home a changed man and has set about defining that new perspective while the button is set on record.
(see www.myspace.com/killacrook)
HEAR AND NOW
2007 brought the Brovaz back together again.
The merging of the western union (insert link), an “all-star” convergence of artists from several aligned crews in the west end of Mississauga (including 35playa and hustle and flip); saw the two back in action trading verses amongst the best from the city.
And while projects piled up awaiting release, the calls of the crowd for more Smash Brovaz, made it became clear what the next step had to be.
And so it is we find ourselves here, the air heavy with the promise of a brand new day. The air thick with the smoke that leads us to the location of our young heroes. Amidst the echo of the boombap, the smell of fresh aerosol on brick, and the sound of fresh new kicks on the pavement; you are in the company of the Smash Brovaz. And...
“We’ve only just begun”.
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