Chris McKee
There is a saying that is being thrown around in Canada that “Hip Hop Aint Dead…..It Lives In The North.” That statement is no longer being said by a bunch of Canadians with inferiority complexes hoping to seek the attention of their American counterparts. Because the truth is….. that statement is now a matter of FACT. With Toronto’s own Drake now dominating the radio & video airwaves across the United States (and soon to be Soundscan charts) and the recent international success of Toronto’s other top dog Kardinal Offishall, the eyes & ears of the hip hop world are now focused north of the border to find out just exactly how these “nice, friendly & passive Canadians” are dominating the American born & bred craft of Hip Hop.
Based on his recent buzz, it seems the next batter on deck out of Toronto is 24 year-old Peter Jackson, who has come out of nowhere in the past year to establish himself as Canada’s next slugger out of the box. Peter Jackson’s debut CD “In My Life” is set to be released July 6 through Richmond Street Records/Fontana/Universal. His CD has an eclectic mix of guest appearances including Royce da 5’9, Naughty By Nature, Sizzla, Crooked I, Joell Ortiz and (Warner Music) hard rock band Die Mannequin as well as Toronto based heavy weight producers Boi 1 Da & T-Minus who have recently laid down beats for the A-List of hip hop (Drake, Dr.Dre, Ludacris etc). Peter’s lead single off his album “Ma Ma” featuring Die Mannequin (think Eminem & Dido style collab) was just released to radio & video across Canada and his recent internet leak of his album track “Do That Boy” featuring half of Slaughterhouse (Royce da 5’9 & Crooked I) has the internet blazing and asking “who the f**k is the is white boy from Canada?” “Do That Boy” has people questioning why cats like Royce da 5’9 keep messing with another white boy….this time from Canada? Peter explains “I’ve toured Canada coast to coast twice in the past year with Royce, so we have started to build together from just being on the road. On our last tour in April (where Peter opened up 14 dates across Canada for Slaugterhouse & Pharoahe Monch) I was able to travel on the tour bus with Slaugterhouse for 3 weeks & we had a studio on the bus & in our hotels, so we got a lot of music done including “Do That Boy” which I managed to squeeze onto my album last minute. As well as a track with Joell Ortiz & Showtyme (Pharoahe’s singer).”
Peter’s approach to success is moulded after the success of punk or rock bands by simply touring non stop and building his fan base one person at a time at his concerts. In just over one year, Peter has played almost 100 shows across Canada from small to clubs to arena shows touring with some of hip-hop and R&B’s biggest names. His recent tours include the 14 cities in April with Slaughterhouse & Pharoahe Monch, a 15 city tour in March with Tech N9ne, 9 dates last August with Busta Rhymes, 12 dates in March of 2009 with Naughty By Nature & 15 dates in November of 2008 with D12, Royce da 5’9 & Joe Budden as well as various spot dates opening up for Akon, KRS-One, Raekwon & now an upcoming July tour with Joe Budden. Surely an exhausting schedule for an MC that hasn’t even put an album out yet!
Peter explains how some of the relationships he has built on the road have really helped make his career vision much clearer. “That tour with Naughty By Nature really changed my focus. Treach kind of took me under his wing and he sat me down and just explained the business of hip hop to me. When a guy who has been in the game as long as he has speaks….you listen & take it in. Treach still stays in touch & keeps encouraging me in my career. It’s a blessing.” Treach makes an appearance on Jackson’s album on the track “Certified” which was produced by another Canadian heavyweight Classified (from Halifax).
Peter went on to explain how his focus right now is to “simply establish himself in Canada” first before he starts to really focus on furthering his career south of the border. Based on his current buzz, Jackson is definitely in his way to be the next MC who’s “style is off the thermostat, plus I’m coming from the cold.”
Find Peter Jackson Online
www.myspace.com/peterjackson905
www.youtube.com/user/PeterJacksonTV
Sound Pollution 2010
