By Imani Odongo
Students and members of the local community celebrated Black artistry with a dance and rap battle at Algonquin College on Feb. 21. The organizers, Adam and Imarni, intended to use school audiences to establish a platform for Ottawa’s unique artists. The inaugural “Mic’s & Moves” event provided an appreciated break from the chilly and snowy weather.
The Benin-born MANAR opened the night’s event with a smooth cover of “Memory Lane” by the Notorious B.I.G. Seated comfortably on the stool, MANAR nodded to the beat, captivating the public with his stillness. In approval of this ode, the audience clapped along as the song ended.
The Ottawa rap scene is on the cusp of a revival, and five amazing artists are ready to show what the city has bred. The lineup was engaging. MjtheScientist opened the rap battle segment with his latest single, “GO!” The crowd felt the song—some mindlessly bopping their heads, others feeding into his performance, eager to see what the rest of the night had to offer.
Swiftly after the three-song set, the battle rappers took the floor, bringing their swag and talent. In true hip-hop fashion, the crowd formed a circle around them, inclined to see the talent.
Hosted by Algonquin College’s notable Enoch, the battle rappers went head-to-head with their sickest flow, criticized by the judges and, indirectly, the crowd.
Photo provided by Malik Ogoussan.
The evening continued with the trap-influenced song “UP!” performed by YNG. It seemed to be recognizable—having opened for the likes of YBN Nahmir, some knew the words to the song, invoking others to dance to the up-tempo.
Following up was ENERGY, vested in long leather pants paired with a plethora of silver jewelry and crowned with his signature locs. ENERGY is a rising force within Ottawa, a face familiar to many. Contrary to the rest of the lineup’s up-tempo tracks, his songs had a dark ambient progression, showcasing the city’s diverse musical palette.
As the rap battle reached its climax, it was a close tie between GaamB, a crowd favourite, who continued to surprise many people with his flow switches and cadence, and Eliza Mia, the only woman on the scene, ready to show off her skills. Ending the battle event with the judges’ choice of an early 2000s hip-hop backing track, familiar to the crowd’s reaction, GaamB took the win as the night’s best Battle Rapper.
This allowed for the event co-organizer PrettyBoyWHO and opener MjtheScientist to close the night with their unreleased single “Sasay-kana,” an Afrobeat, Filipino-infused track representative of Ottawa’s music scene: young, diverse, and limitless. An immediate hit for the crowd, their bodies couldn’t resist the five-beat drum, “Shazaming” the track beyond their knowledge of its unreleased status and ending the night on a high, leaving some wanting more.
Keep an eye out on the Algonquin College African Student Society and the For The Culture (Afro-Caribbean) Dance Club for a look into future events.
