High Level Hip Hop

CJSR 88.5 FM

Music

Music Interviews

Arts

Your introduction to Edmonton's local hip hop scene. Produced by CJSR 88.5 FM.

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Episodes

High Level Hip Hop Fundrive Special

Listen in on our special episode where we revisit the tracks released this season. Hear from High Level Hip Hop producers Vanessa Vivieros and Tristan Cruz, as well as High Level Hip Hop designer, Esther Dimalanta on their thoughts for the season. Songs in the order they are played: "Can't Believe I Found You" by PLEASEBENiCE To hear more music from PLEASEBENiCE, please visit their Bandcamp and Spotify . "Kind Regards" by Arlo Maverick To hear more from Arlo Maverick, as well as his latest album...

Nov 06, 2021•47 min•Ep. 8

Thug Shells

That’s a wrap on our inaugural season! What a ride it’s been. Much love to all those who have been tuning in and listening with us along the way. There is no set recipe for how to become a hip hop artist. The path is defined by our own experiences and develops as an extension of our true personality. Such is the case with this week’s artist, Thug Shells , a local Edmonton hip hop artist, freestyler, community builder, and Twitch streamer. High Level Hip Hop producer, Tristan Cruz, catches up wit...

Sep 07, 2021•32 min•Ep. 6

Kaz Mega

How many of you have pondered where hip hop began? Maybe you learned of its rise in America with shows like ‘Hip Hop evolution” on Netflix, but have you ever considered Edmonton as being one of the hubs for this rich cultural phenomenon? High Level Hip Hop Producer, Vanessa Viveiros, catches up with Kaz Mega to uncover some answers. KazMega, a multi-dimensional community builder and creative. As admirably described on his LinkedIn profile, “he is a journeyman welder of artistic expression, train...

Aug 31, 2021•38 min•Ep. 5

Cxtotheworld

Being an emerging artist is a constant struggle between you and your inner critic, and before you can have run-ins with corrupt managers, feuding bandmates, or obsessive fans, the first hurdle you have to overcome is yourself. On this week's episode of High Level Hip Hop, producer Tom Ndekezi talks to Cxtotheworld about encounters with self-doubt, his own journey of discovery as an artist, and why hip hop is such a uniquely competitive genre. This episode also features the exclusive debut of "Le...

Aug 24, 2021•39 min•Ep. 4

Selassie Drah

There’s a beauty in juxtaposition - in holding on to seemingly opposite ideas at the same time. On this week’s episode, High Level Hip Hop host, Biboye Onanuga, speaks with local artist Selassie Drah about the conflicting truths that motivate his work and make up the unique artist he is. The Ghanaian-Canadian is both a rapper and recluse ; striving to be authentic, but mindful of the vulnerability in living as your true self; and creating art for himself, but releasing it so as not to deprive ot...

Aug 17, 2021•38 min•Ep. 3

PLEASEBENiCE

How many of you out there have ever felt alone and under-represented? Or felt the need to express yourself on your own terms and control how you define yourself? On this episode, High Level Hip Hop producer Tristan Cruz caught up with Alberta-based artist, PLEASEBENiCE, to discuss her experience fitting into the local music scene and how she creates her own brand of hip hop and hyper pop. Exclusive to this episode, we take a listen to “Can’t Believe I Found You”, a track which demonstrates PLEAS...

Aug 10, 2021•33 min•Ep. 2

Arlo Maverick

Picking up the mic is hard enough, but building a decades-long hip hop career afterwards? Nearly impossible. On our debut episode of High Level Hip Hop, we spoke with Arlo Maverick, a rapper, filmmaker, and radio host who did exactly that, first as a member of legendary rap group Politic Live, and then with a successful solo career. High Level Hip Hop producer Tom Ndekezi also talked to Arlo Maverick about his beginnings as an artist, how to mature in hip hop and Arlo's always provocative Instag...

Aug 10, 2021•42 min•Ep. 1

Coming Soon

High Level Hip Hop drops on August 10, 2021 with two episodes for your ears. Follow now on Apple Podcasts and Spotify or listen live on CJSR 88.5 FM, Tuesdays at 9 PM.

Jul 28, 2021•1 min•Ep. 1

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