Here is a video for Epic and mine’s new single “Sad Rapper Jack,” from the upcoming album Nassau Manor.
The video was filmed in Edmonton and features local rap legends Max Prime and Touch.
In January, I moved across the western part of the country to settle in Vancouver for a new job. I was driving a U-Haul from Winnipeg, and took the opportunity to spend a couple of days in Edmonton to break up the drive and to hang out with Epic. I brought along a shitty digital camera that I’ve had in my possession for a couple of years, but had yet to use. My iphone was smashed up and the camera had bits of plastic obscuring its view. The camera was a slightly better option and gave the video that homemade, DIY feel that I think suits the music.
I originally had more of a concept for the video, but given our tight timeline, the difficulty of corralling volunteers and the frigid weather, we basically just went around town and shot everything.
I haven’t spent a lot of time in Edmonton before. I played a show there once, and had a stop over there another time on tour where I ended up eating strawberries all night in some professional skateboarders garage in the suburbs with Def 3. I remember it being the only city I’d ever been to that felt as cold as Winnipeg. But I also remember it being slightly more happening than Winnipeg. After this trip, I’m not so sure. Edmonton is pretty fucked. A lot of weird Shambala vibes. White rap hippies freestyle rapping over djembe’s and listening to Donuts coming down after a mushroom trip. Blonde dreadlocks. That shit don’t fly in Winnipeg.
I like this video. It’s got a similar vibe to the videos I made with Sam for the songs “Hey!Hey!” and “The Jets Song.” A real slice of life in the cold, barren prairies.