CANADIAN MUSIC VIDEO ROUNDUP | AUGUST 2020

It’s that time again! SHIFTER’s Canadian Music Video Roundup for August includes videos from Drake, TOBi, Maurice Moore, Savannah Ré, Nate Husser, Classified, Roy Woods, JAIoftheRise, Hueso, and more!

As usual, we ask you (the fans) to once again vote for our Video of the Month. Check out the videos below in order of release date, then help us crown the top video in the country for August. Special shout out to our sponsor, realtor and Canadian hip-hop legend Greg Campbell.

Last month you voted and crowned Calgary’s Drezus and his “Out West Freestyle” as your Video of the Month.

Video of the Month //  Drezus – Out West Freestyle

Who will win for August?

---

---

Ja¥en x District
nightfall
Release date: August 3, 2020
Shot and directed by: NBRHD STUDIO

Ja¥en x District released the lyric video for “nightfall” after releasing a live session video featuring Andrew Waines back in March. It features blue and red lighting, as well as some slow motion shots, for a very “dreamy” aesthetic. The single features some very solid songwriting from the Ottawa-based, pre-COVID mask-wearing duo.

Savannah Ré
Where You Are
Release date: August 6, 2020
Directed by: Brilliant Garcia

Savannah Ré is a breath of fresh air. She has one of the most clear and controlled voices we’ve heard in a long time, and her sound is so polished.  She reminds of you of the good old days of R&B while still sounding very current.

In August, she released the Brilliant Garcia-directed visuals for “Where You Are”, her latest single. Shot in Jamaica, we’re treated to familiar sights of the island. Fans of Savannah Ré don’t have to wait much longer for new music. She has some new music on the way.

Classified
Pick Your Poison
Release date: August 6, 2020
Directed by: Mike Boyd and Luke Boyd

Canadian hip-hop legend, Classified, continues to be one of the most productive and hardworking artists in Canada. He has released visuals consistently in 2020 and August was no different with the release of the video for “Pick Your Poison”.  This is some deep and thoughtful content with a strong story. We also get to see Classified walk on water. Another great song and video from the Nova Scotia native.

JAIoftheRise feat. The LJ
Filthy
Release date: August 7, 2020
Shot by: Goatvision Studios
Edited by: Darioc Productions

Shot in New York City, “Filthy”, featuring The LJ, is the latest offering from Ottawa’s JAIoftheRise. With over 127,000 views so far on this video, he continues to be one of the most promising artists out of the capital. The video features some footage of the late Pop Smoke who he had the privilege of opening for earlier this year in Connecticut. A good tribute to the fallen rapper.

Thrust feat. Whitey Don
Skaylarkin’
Release date: August 7, 2020

Our roundup includes another Canadian hip-hop legend―Northern Touch alumn, Thrust―with the visuals for “Skylarkin'”. Featuring Whitey Don, this is a throwback to the Reggae inspired hip-hop sound of 90’s Toronto (with references to the legendary posse cut “Still Too Much”) while still sounding current. The video features shots of Eglinton West, also known as Little Jamaica.

Jessie Reyez
Before Love Came To Kill Us
Release date: August 7, 2020
Directed by: Claire Edmondson

Jessie Reyez continues to flex her songwriting and storytelling muscles on “Before Love Came To Kill Us”. Toronto is the backdrop and co-star as this story of love and angst plays out. The many shots of downtown Toronto may remind you of the visuals for Choclair’s legendary track “Let’s Ride”. Another great video from the Canadian R&B/Soul princess.

Fame Holiday
Gotta Believe
Release date: August 12, 2020
Directed by: Trey Timeless

Mississauga’s Fame Holiday keeps the positive vibes flowing with “Gotta Believe”. Directed by Trey Timeless, it’s a simple, feel good video. This is the kind of song and video you need to play when you need some motivation to keep going. This is a timely video and song for what’s happening in the world. We need more of this in 2020.

Dax feat. Tech N9ne
Faster
Release date: August 12, 2020
Shot and edited by: Cameron Logan Cox

In August, we got the visuals for the long-awaited collaboration between Dax and Tech N9ne. With guns and choreographed fight scenes, this video is literally a movie.  

Drake feat. Lil Durk
Laugh Now Cry Later
Release date: August 13, 2020
Directed by: Dave Meyers
Edited by: Greg Scruton at Cabin Edit

Come December, Drake and Lil Durk’s “Laugh Now Cry Later” has to be a strong candidate for Video of the Year. Shot at the Nike complex, the star studded video features lots of comedy and some epic scenes of an elevated Drake hitting baseballs off a platform on the side of a building and the duo seadooing in the pond on the Nike compound. This video is an instant classic and will be remembered for years to come.

King J feat. F$4D
1885
Release date: August 14, 2020
Directed by: Abubakar Eniola Nureni Yussuff

Back to the capital for “1885”, the latest release from King J. There’s been a few Nigerian artists coming out of Ottawa in recent years and King J is the latest musical ambassador for the African nation in the capital. If you like artists like Burna Boy you’ll love this single from King J and F$4D. This is a very high quality production, but beware…these visuals may not be for everyone. If you’re into booty and beautiful women, this video is for you. If you’re trying to be celibate or give up the fapp, this one might have you falling off the wagon. Don’t say I didn’t warn you.

King Tragedy
I Am The One Nobody
Release date: August 14, 2020
Directed by: Roberto Gomez

In August, we got some representation from Central Canada with Winnipeg’s King Tragedy. The visuals for “I Am The One Nobody” features skateboarding, a lot of effects and scenes of downtown Winnipeg. Tragedy is refreshing and unpretentious in a culture that leans towards flexing, whether in videos and on the Gram. He just likes to rap and it shows.

BLikeBrett
Ten Toes
Release date: August 14, 2020
Directed by: Palmer Media Co.

Directed by Palmer Media, the concept for BLikeBrett’s “Ten Toes” is simple. Earlier this month, Brett broke down the visuals to SHIFTER explaining, “The concept for the music video was to keep it simple. The song starts with the line ‘Give me a minute, imma tell you how I live’ and how I live is exactly as shown in the video; locked in the studio doing what I love to do most”. Mission accomplished.

Ramriddlz
Skittlz
Release date: August 17, 2020
Directed by: Tunnel Vision

Now we head back to Mississauga for “Skittlz”, the latest video from Ramriddlz. Everything about this release is odd, but in a good way. The video itself almost square; dimensions I’ve personally never seen before on a music video. Musically, it’s hard to figure out what genre it is. It isn’t hip-hop or R&B, but all I know is it sounds good. Sonically, it has a bit of a tropical undertone, reinforced by the visuals. Style wise, Ramriddlz bucks all the trends when it comes to hip-hop and R&B. He’s not wearing any chains, has a odd hairstyle, and his shirt looks like it’s tucked in. He’s comfortable in his own skin in a world that wants you to follow trends.  I have a lot of respect for artists who are unique and carve out their own lane, and Ramriddlz is definitely one of those artists.

Harm Franklin
Wops
Release date: August 17, 2020
Directed by: Adam Sousa and Harm Franklin
Edited by: Adam Sousa

I love this offering from Calgary native Harm Franklin. This song should be playing on the radio everywhere. His tone and falsetto are so clean. Although the video is pretty simple, the editing along with Franklin’s onscreen charisma make for a video with good replay value. This is an artist to keep an eye on.

Roy Woods
Like Pascal
Release date: August 17, 2020
Directed and edited by: L.A. Rubio

Roy Woods’ talents are in full display on “Like Pascal”. We get the clean and soft melodies we know him for, mixed with some aggressive and unorthodox flows.

The video opens with some skyline shots of downtown Toronto and the CN Tower. True to the song’s name, Toronto Raptors star Pascal Siakam makes an appearance. Another good video from one of Toronto’s hungriest and hardest working artists.

TOBi
Dollas and Cents
Release date: August 19, 2020
Directed by: C.S.

Set in Toronto and Lagos, Nigeria, the visuals of “Dollas and Cents” tells the story of some long distance Black love. Between the love story and the beat, this is a song and video designed to make you feel good. With the blend of bars, beat selection, and storytelling, there’s also something a little Q-Tip/Tribe Called Quest-esque about this song and video from TOBi and Juls.

Nate Husser
JELLY
Release date: August 25, 2020
Directed by: Nate Husser and Daniel Chenard

Considered by many to be the top hip-hop artist coming out of Montreal, our September artist of the month, Nate Husser, released the visuals for his latest single, JELLY. The video combines two of Hussers passions―hip-hop and basketball. He also flexes his fashion chops with outfits ranging from the early 2000’s inspired basketball jersey and white kicks to modern day trap rockstar. Overall, this is a high quality video and shows a side of Montreal many of us have never seen before.

Maurice Moore
You’re Mine
Release date: August 25, 2020
Shot by: Brian Tong
Edited by: Spaced Visuals

Back to Ottawa for some quarantine love with the visuals for Maurice Moore’s “You’re Mine”. Featuring that old school kind of love, this right here is some serious relationship goals―running through an open field, sitting together at the piano, and some passionate kissing up against the kitchen counter. Ottawa’s Rideau Canal makes a few appearances and what’s more romantic than a walk by one of Canada’s most recognizable landmarks?

Hueso
Highway
Release date: August 27, 2020
Shot by: EK Visions
Directed by: EK Visions/ Hueso

Prior to its release, Hueso hyped up the video for “Highway” and he delivered. With nighttime shots of Parliament Hill and Ottawa’s business district, including some amazing drone shots, this is a side of the capital we don’t usually see in music videos. You’d swear he was in downtown Toronto, but don’t make the mistake of just getting caught up in all the flash. We also have to commend Hueso for the songwriting, and the equally good editing from EK Visions, that makes this one of my favourite videos to come out of the capital in recent months.

Cartel Madras
WORKING
Release date: August 28, 2020
Directed by: Cartel Madras & Gabriela Osio Vanden
Shot by: thotnation
Editor by: Oliver Whitfield-Smith

These girls are so raw; they don’t hold back at all. When it comes to the video, aside from the great lighting, you also have the love the 1980’s throwback camera quality. These ladies are in a lane all by themselves.

Marty Party
Outta The Way
Release date: August 28, 2020
Directed and edited by: 3FIFTYCO

We haven’t had Marty Party on our roundup in a while and it’s a great return with “Outta The Way”. First, we have to say Marty Party is one of the happiest artists we’ve ever met. He’s the definition of “good vibes” and “positive vibes” and he brings that to this video. Directed and edited by 3FIFTYCO, the lighting and editing are on point as we’ve come to expect from them. If you have sharp eyes you’ll notice Marty’s partner in crime NTHN also makes an appearance.

Léon ‘fa du Fond
J’Men Caliss
Release date: August 31, 2020
Directed and edited by: 3FIFTYCO

You don’t have to speak French to know Léon ‘fa du Fond makes bangers and “J’Men Caliss” continues that trend. These visuals were once again from 3FIFTYCO, who obviously had a busy summer. Shot on the Quebec side of the capital region, this video is simple but has a lot of energy.

Inquire about sponsoring next month’s roundup at [email protected].

---

Related article:

PROTEST MUSIC: 8 BLACK LIVES MATTER INSPIRED SONGS TO GET YOU THROUGH