Because of the Manafest moniker, many people still book Chris Greenwood, aka Manafest, thinking that it’s a band. And indeed for many concerts in Canada and USA a full band is what you get. As Chris explained, “I’ve had to learn to rock it solo because you know it’s tough for bands, so many bands run into so much debt. Because it’s so hard to tour and pay expenses and stuff. So I do other gigs where I rock to my Ipod.”

Chris got into rapping in an unusual way. At the age of 17 he was an established skateboarder in the Toronto area with sponsorships left and right. In fact, his success locally was significant enough that he decided that it was time to move on to bigger things - namely Los Angeles to take his skating to the professional arena. Yet just as all was falling into place, tragedy struck. Shortly before leaving for LA, Chris fell while attempting a trick and suffered a debilitating injury to his foot, one that would force him to give up skating for months. Having always been interested in hip-hop culture, Chris spent a good deal of his time away from skating with some local MCs. These informal hangouts transformed his casual interest in hip-hop into a serious love for the music that began his budding career. Said Manafest, “I remember my very first gig, that was in my home church, so it must have been in 1999 or 2000. There were maybe 20 people there, and it was really horrible. We have it on tape and no one will ever see it!”

From such a humble beginning the rapper’s progress was pretty steady and by 2001 he had released his first EP, ‘Misled Youth’ (”A harmony of true hip-hop culture and alternative styles,” enthused Feed magazine). Remembered Manafest, “Two of my favourite songs on that are ‘Session’, that’s more of a hip-hop song about skate boarding, and ‘Freedom’.”

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As 2008 crawls to a close, some of the year’s best efforts come into finer focus. And when it comes to hybrid hip-hop, against all odds, remote Saskatchewan DJ Factor’s early release Chandelier keeps inexorably rising into Listening Post’s top 10.

Maybe it’s the Mercury Rev-like poptronica of “Home Again” or the orchestral raunch of “More Handsome Than Rude,” or the stable of well-regarded rappers who make cameos. But whatever it is, it’s hard to shake Chandelier once you chill long enough to listen to it all the way through. Factor’s multifaceted production is impressive, more so once you consider that he’s barely through his twenties and grew up in a region known more for its prairies and bridges than its street-smart hip-hop or pop music.

But that may soon change. From Factor to K’Naan to K-Os and beyond, Canada’s hip-hop scene is thriving nicely, thanks. Listening Post caught up with the young DJ to talk about that expansion, as well as turntablism, gear and why the internet is a double-edged sword.

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Reigning world hip-hop champions from Metro Vancouver are heading to Las Vegas this week to defend their title against top young dancers from around the world.

Freshh, along with other dance crews from Richmond’s Fresh Groove Productions, will be in Nevada to compete in the 2008 World International Hip Hop Championship from July 30 to Aug. 3.

Organized by Hip Hop International, the event is expected to attract about 1,500 dancers from 30 countries. The preliminaries at the Loews Lake Las Vegas Resort are followed by the finals at the Planet Hollywood Theater

In the past two years, interest in hip-hop dancing has exploded — due to the popularity of television dance shows such as America’s Best Dance Crew on MTV.

Dinah Emnacen, Fresh Groove’s marketing manager, said she expects the competition to be even fiercer this year. More dancers meant shifting the event from Redondo Beach, Calif., to a larger venue in Las Vegas.

“The interest has just grown with the influence of all the dance crews competing on TV,” she said.

“The bar has been raised. They have really stepped it up. We’ll be seeing a lot more incredible dancers in this competition.”

Last year, Freshh finished first in the Junior Division, ages nine to 13, beating out 17 other crews.

The age divisions have been changed this year. Freshh will be competing in the youngest category of age seven years to 12. Other Fresh Groove crews are XSS Xtreme Soul Style and Illist Vibe crews in the varsity category 12 to 18 and XSS Xtreme Soul Style in the adult category, 18 and older.

All crews or teams perform a two-minute routine. They’re judged according to criteria that include choreography, the variety of hip-hop styles performed, musicality, coordination and showmanship.

Event organizers say that there is no agreed-upon definition of hip-hop dance. Instead, it is described as a fusion of street dance and cultural interpretations from around the world that can include salsa and capoeira. There are numerous hip-hop movements such as locking, popping, breaking, vogueing and punking. Michael Jackson’s famous moonwalk, for example, was a kind of popping called the backslide.

kevingriffin@vancouversun.com

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The sun blazed down over a handful of hip hop hardcores, and one guy looked red enough to faint after pounding through eight minutes of heavy verse. Toddlers ran around the field as their dads Fugee’d it up, and a few seniors watched from a shady picnic bench, bemused and confused, as they tried to decipher the whole spectacle.

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The Cape Breton Post

GLACE BAY — Malcolm MacLeod says Cape Breton music history will be made tonight at the Savoy Theatre.
MacLeod, aka Mr. Mack, is one of several hip hop artists in the local area organizing a show being held tonight at 8 p.m. at the downtown Glace Bay venue.
“It should be a great time. It’s going to be a one of a kind thing … something new and hopefully this is not going to be the last one. It’s a hip hop show but it’s not a typical hip hop show. It’s all local (artists) and it’s called the Cape Breton Summer Rhyme Review and that’s sort of paying homage to the Cape Breton Summertime Revue,” said MacLeod, in reference to the popular music and comedy stage show produced annually out of Cape Breton from 1986-1995.
Performers set to take the stage tonight include Mr. Mack, Mischief, Sick Kookies, Initial and DJ Method.
“Not everyone is going one after another like a typical concert,” explained MacLeod. “Everyone is going to be on stage together performing together and there’s going to be videos and skits and stuff like that.”
MacLeod said the show, which will focus mainly on music, should be really entertaining and they’re hoping there will be lots of seats filled at the theatre.
“I’m hoping that we get a good crowd there. Last time we played the Savoy … we got about 300 kids and this time we’re hoping for more since it’s on Grading Day.”
Admission is $10 at the door.