High Level Hip Hop

A special episode for CJSR 88.5FM's 2021 Fundrive! Listen to our producers retrospectively look back on the season and revisit the exclusive tracks recorded live at the CJSR studios this past summer.

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 hi

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 buil

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

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

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 hy

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 tal

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.