TRURO – Two Truro musicians are keeping rap and hip hop music alive locally
Grant Johnston and Chad Kelly make up the rap/hip hop duo Xplizit Entertainment.The longtime friends have been entertaining for about 10 years and will perform at the Marigold Cultural Centre in Truro on Oct. 30.
"Hop is alive in these small towns as well as the big cities," said Johnston, also known as Riff Lyricist."We are just faced with more closed doors. Misconceptions of this genre creates booking challenges."
Kelly said there is an audience for this genre of music in the Truro area.
"There is talent in our community and we need to start opening doors ... everyone deserves a chance and we want to make this town better for youth," said Kelly, otherwise known as Lefty 2 Micz.
Their music is mostly geared toward ages 11 to 35 and covers a number of themes including love, dance, optimism and life's obstacles.
Xplizit's creation dates back to 2001.
It was founded by Johnston who initially performed with a few groups including Hip Club Groove and Chaos Theorey before branching out to do his own thing. He then joined efforts with Kelly and in 2004 Xplizit exploded in the rap scene with phat rhymes, harmonious choruses, ominous G-funk, and gangsta attitude. They have opened for Classified, Masta Killa, Jay Brew, J-Bizzy and for countless independent shows.
In 2008 they released The Mix Up and will have a new CD next year called The Veteran Affair.
Next week's Marigold show will begin at 7:30 p.m. and Johnston said he has a very specific goal.
"I would like people to walk away from this show feeling a little more at ease with this type of music," Johnston said. "Hip hop is everywhere - commercials, movies, TV shows. We just want people to know it's more than curse words, tattoos and baggy pants. It's modern poetry."
Tickets for the Truro show are $15 and can be purchased at the Marigold and MacQuarries Pharmasave.
