As 2009 ends, we can’t help but reflect on what a whirlwind year it’s been for music. To say this year was full of highs and lows would be a vast understatement. While we all experienced the overwhelmingly gut-wrenching loss of the King of Pop, Michael Jackson, sharing in the grief globally, closer to home, we were shocked by the unexpected death of our own royalty, Haydain Neale of JackSoul. In fact, this year will go down in the books for marking the loss of some of music’s most creative, innovative and influential artists, including DJ AM, Roc Raida, Baatin of Slum Village and the legendary Mr. Magic.
As the world embraced a historical first, the inauguration of Barack Obama as the first African-American President of the United States, we watched with maple pride as former UMAC: Urban X-Posure performer Drake leapt from acting and being an MC heavy on the mixtape grind to becoming a Grammy nominated artist with arguably one of the MOST anticipated debut albums we’ve seen in a years! His ascent has been unprecedented & UMAC is glad to have been at the genesis of what looks to be a soon-to-be remarkable career. With Boi-1da, who participated on our Producers’ Panel at UX: Triple Threat this past summer, and Melanie Fiona also getting Grammy nods, it feels like A Change Gon’ Come. Canadian urban musicians artists from coast to coast are beginning to receive more worldwide attention & this country is now being recognized as a hotbed of urban music talent.
Grand Analog and k-os seized top selling spots on the iTunes Biggest Selling Singles Chart for 2009, K’Naan‘s song of hope, Waving Flag was named the official song for the 2010 FIFA World Cup & producers such as Rich Kidd, MoSS, Marco Polo, Tone Mason and T-Minus pushed the envelope, teaming up with some of the industry’s biggest names. All are set to take the world by storm! Are you ready?
UMAC’s added some new faces to the team, including producer/songwriter Derek Brin, as Director of Artist Relations, DJ/publicist Melissa “DJ MelBoogie” Langley comes aboard as Director of Communications and social networking whiz Peter Chiappetta, our newly appointed Coordinator, Viral Marketing and Development.
Always at the forefront of everything musically urban, the first quarter of 2010 is already shaping up to be heavy for UMAC. You’ll see The Association in deep participACTION at CMW, Canadian Music Week & the ECMAs, East Coast Music Awards in March and at the Junos in St. John’s in April. But, setting off the new year Queen Latifah-style at Toronto’s Harbourfront Centre is Urban X-Posure: SoWhatChuSayin’? on Feb. 13th, 2010. UX is is a multi platform event focused on Hip Hop and Spoken Word being actively used as art forms for social change. It’s a day where consciousness in rap music and spoken word gets rewarded! Literally!!!
Included in UX: SoWhatChuSayin’? is an artist showcase/contest that awards the most talented conscious wordsmiths and raptivist rhymers who can perform the best positive lyrical expressions with swag. A cash prize will be divided between the top 3 finalists. There will be an open infotainment forum in the round that features organizations who marry art with commerce and activism. Youth will have an opportunity to get involved with various organizations across the city. The event will broadcast live-to-air on the Mixtape Massacre Show at CKLN 88.1 FM. The entrance fee is $5 for non-UMAC members; free for current UMAC members.
Need your UMAC hook-up? Membership is easier than you think and most definitely has its privileges. Contact submissions@umacunited.com or check www.umacunited.com for more info!
On behalf of the whole team at UMAC, The Urban Music Association of Canada, we wish you a healthy and successful 2010!
UMACUnited IS The Urban Music Association of Canada 
