Best Of 2007 (Page 4)

Music

Band/Artist of the Year
Classified
This rapper from Halifax has come into his own since his days spitting as a teen in the early 90s. He put out a retrospective CD/DVD combination in 2007 (While You Were Sleeping) that made our top ten list for the year. His sampling is top-notch and his lyrics are centered on the love of Hip Hop. The DVD is chalk full of videos for his best songs. Some are live, others are animated, all are a blast to watch. Listen to songs like, "The Maritimes," "Can't Stop," "It's Sickening" and "It's Hard to Be Hip Hop" and you'll know why he gained this distinction.

Hear his music at: www.halfliferecords.ca

Band/Artist on the Brink
Trevor Alguire
Alguire may not be a household name outside of Ottawa but he and his band's Blue Rodeo-ish output is making him known in Europe. He recently signed with Blue Rose Records out of Germany and has toured across the pond to some much deserved success. If others such as Feist and Buck 65 can gain international fame by relocating to Europe, perhaps Alguire, Tom Thompson, Simon Wright and Peter Von Althen will hit it big soon too.

Hear his music at: www.bluerose-records.de