MASIA ONE: Mississauga

Masia One

Mississauga

© 2003 M1 Group (625989386220)

CD permanently out of stock. Sorry!

(About MP3 downloads at CD Baby)

Hip hop from an non-conformist point of view. A female emcee not afraid to incorporate facets of jazz, rock, soul, electronica, and even punk into her diverse platter.

tracks

1 Halfway Through The City
2 Milk Truck Man
3 Sugar
4 The Oceanarium
5 Nightime, Summertime
6 Split Second Time
7 Mobile to Mobile
8 Street Fashion
9 The Hazing
10 Diz Knee Land
11 Natural Progression

notes

While many children in North America were captivated by such imagery as the Cabbage Patch Kids and Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles, a young Singaporean girl became enthralled with a comedic looking character on the cover of a cassette she stumbled upon. The cassette was none other than a Bootleg version of the historic It Takes A Nation Of Millions To Hold Us Back from Public Enemy, and the cartoon like character, Flavor Flav.

A move from Singapore to Canada, with her high school years spent on Canada's west coast in Vancouver, allowed this artistic individual to familiarize herself with not only hip hop music, but also the culture that stood behind this still marginalized genre.

The year 1996 marked an educational step forward, departing from Van City to Toronto to attend U of T in what was first an aim for a Law degree, but soon switched gears towards the more art oriented architecture program. Becoming a fan of the burgeoning Toronto hip hop scene, she attended many local showcases and events, as well as dabbling in a little b-girl breaker action. Favourite artists fell among the likes of Company Flow, Black Star and Lootpack, while also having a strong appreciation for jazz greats like Miles and Coltrane, as well as the dub influenced Jackie Mittoo.

The year 2001 marked an artistic step forward, as a brand new artist was born to the stage at TheCyberKrib.com's "I Still Love H.E.R." all-female urban showcase, opening for Bay Area emcee Mystic. Masia One hit the stage with much curiosity in the crowd, and exited with applause and admiration.

With her education now positioned toward her music, and a completed Honours BA in architecture from the University of Toronto in hand, Masia took on her next challenge in life: to be a recognized artist in not only the hip hop world, but in the overall spectrum of music.

Late 2002 and early 2003 has been dedicated to completing her debut album which will be released Canada wide in August 2003 (Indiepool Canada.) The release will be a true 100% independent venture, with everything from design and art direction, to marketing, promotion and publicity executed through Masia's owned and operated M1 Group and her co-management team. The 12 track debut will feature a majority of production handled by Yoroku


Saki, with other collaborations including little clever and Jesse Keeler of punk-influenced outfit Femme Fatale and Death From Above. Live shows will be executed in many cases with live instrumentation, from the acoustic simplicity of Yoroku Saki on guitar, to a full backing band including members of UltraMagnus, a Toronto based Afro beat (Afro steady) ensemble which will be emerging this summer to bless Torontonians with their mixture of world beat and funk.

A unique aspect of this record is embraced in the album title Mississauga, where literally all of the contributors involved hail from the Toronto suburb of Mississauga. Masia comments: "This record is named after musicians I'm working with from Mississauga to express thanks for how much they have all inspired me, and the very unique sound coming out of the area." Even down to the finer details of the record, with project sound engineer APZ (Al Puodziukas of Girls Are Short) calling Mississauga home, a great impact has been projected on Masia through her cast members. The influence has been broken down to a single statement through which the collective encourages music lovers and consumers to return to becoming "lovers of life and purveyors of art" (as stated in Night Time Summer Time.)

Mississauga spans styles and tempos tailored to exhibit the intricacies of Masia's lyrical versatility and diverse subject matter. With a final clocking of 40 min, the album can be digested pleasantly in one complete hearing.
In addition to the underlying desire to share the DIY approach to releasing ones art form, Masia also strives to represent Asian Females in a more positive light in an industry quick to play into stereotypes. Down to even the project artwork, the company logo is a reflection of her Singaporean heritage.

MASIAONE: snatching the crown from all weak emcees.

reviews

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  • Needs more tracks like the single.
    author: B. Thompson

    For those who know Masia One only from her video, like me, this album will be a surprise...the other tracks are also very good, but the rhythms are much mellower than "Split Second Time". I still agree that Masia is an excellent MC, no "female" qualifier needed. Also, did anyone notice her on a CBC short commercial for some program they've got going? I did.

  • ghetto
    author: jen

    first thing i have to say is this cd is freaking awesome and totally ghetto the lyrics, her flow is dope shes got everything. if you love female rappers like missy or kashmir you will totally love masia. shes the most awesome female emcee on the planet...keep building masia uno!! damn hope she gets another record out i cant get enuf of this one

  • awesome...shes got it.
    author: markay

    all the songs are amazing. I love her work on split second time and would say that any1 whos a fan of missy elliot would like this a LOT more!!!! :D

  • seriously dope flow
    author: ferday

    can't get enough of masia one, this MC has her shite together and her beats smooooth....finally something innovative out of the T.O

  • masia one has phat beats and stuff ull never get tired of!
    author: jtanyarachelle

    masia one has the voice, the talent, the cool look and the way she sets herself up in everything she does...its totally amazing. the amazing thing is that she raps and sounds so good and confident at what she does. her best song for me right now is probably split second time, its really great, the video is very upbeat and different from anything ive ever seen. she is unique and a really great coming up artist for today. all i can say is WOW...!

  • masia one has phat beats and stuff ull never get tired of!
    author: jtanyarachelle

    masia one has the voice, the talent, the cool look and the way she sets herself up in everything she does...its totally amazing. the amazing thing is that she raps and sounds so good and confident at what she does. her best song for me right now is probably split second time, its really great, the video is very upbeat and different from anything ive ever seen. she is unique and a really great coming up artist for today. all i can say is WOW...!

  • Funky beats, sexy vocals, intelligent lyrics
    author: Adam

    Funky beats, sexy vocals, intelligent lyrics--Masia One. Great CD! Masia is what hip hop is supposed to be. No matter how many times you listen, you'll never get tired of it.

  • Innovative music & Inspiring
    author: Alan

    Gave it 4 stars not 5 as nothing is perfect, theres always room for improvement but satisfying album nonetheless. Wide range of repetoire displayed from story telling, battle rhymin or str8 opinions. Flow of delivery varies depending on beat given showing her versatility & succeeds. Beats majority have nice jazzy feel, smooth more laid back but the odd few up-beat.

  • gets you movin' , great beat
    author: emily

    the songs , you won't get sick of.no matter how many times you hear them! the beat draws you in . split second time - best song ever

  • Converting Experience
    author: DW

    I was not a huge fan of this genre. Bought the CD on a friends recommendation - am now a fan of this genre. Best CD I have bought in a long time!

  • Hottest joint I've heard north of the border...
    author: J. Brandon

    Masia is the truth. Complex lyrical style over melodic jazz influenced beats? It's crazy hot. I can't ever begin to tell you how good it is to hear a female artist refuse to hide behind her femininity and sexuality but still retain both qualities as she expresses her lyrical talent. I was beginning to think this kind of MC was dying out (or already dead.) Whatever this girl drops next is DEFNITELY going in my CD (or MP3) player. Has American game stagnated so much that we have to go to CANADA to get what we need? Either way, I'm glad Masia is there to give it.

  • author: EQ

    Jazzy beats with old school flavour. Too bad it was only 11 songs! The only dissapointment is when the CD is over.

  • Don't sleep!
    author: Ark One

    Unique and captivating. Don't get caught sleeping. You won't regret purchasing this album.

  • something different and flowing
    author: Alan

    its a great cd from a up and coming canadian artist with a big future ahead of her.

  • Funky female MC has an old-school flavor
    author: Kara in Buffalo

    The CD is serious ear-candy. Don't expect to skip any tracks here. I really appreciate Masia One's skill to return hip-hop to its roots while adding her own flavor. Jazzy beats make the CD all the more original. Masia One has combines intelligent, tight lyrics with an easy (and sometimes intense) flow. She's like the daughter of those lost Tribe Called Quest days...she definitely takes you back.

  • one of the better albums you haven't heard
    author: micah 1000

    mississauga is real funky; masia one rhymes tight and the production on the album is doper than most.

  • author: Kaya Hoodlum

    Some ill beats. Masia One's voice is dope too. don't sleep.

  • love the cd too much
    author: jackie.. aka: miz.Lopez

    MASIAONE: snatching the crown from all weak emcees. tru say dis cd is off da hook.. ever since i had it never have i taken it out of my cd player.. love the songs.. and it makes u want to listen to it over and over and over again=)... keep doin ur thin masia

  • VERY INNOVATIVE.
    author: Swayze

    Smooth, original, jazzy, soulful, MC skills, professional product Masia... ONE. ~SwAyZe

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