CANADIAN MUSIC VIDEO ROUNDUP | FEBRUARY

All good things must come to an end. Over the past few months we’ve decided to do away with our music video roundups for individual cities, first Toronto and then Ottawa, and have decided to replace it with one Canadian Music Video Roundup. Our national roundup for February includes videos from Tory Lanez, Haviah Mighty, Mischa, KAYTRANADA, Yung Tory, and Pressa.

We ask you, the fans, to 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 February. Special shout out to our sponsor Greg Campbell – Blue Panda Realty.

Last month you voted for “Roads” by Frank Blak as your video of the month (Ottawa).

Video of the Month (February) – Frank Blak – “Roads”

Who will win for March?

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Kaytranada feat. Kali Uchis
10%
Release date: February 3, 2020
Directed by: Stephen Isaac-Wilson

Kaytranada kicked off February with the video for his latest single “10%” featuring singer-songwriter Kali Uchis. The video opens with some beautiful people lining up to get into the party. Inside we see Kaytranada spinning and channeling some old school vibes, rocking a Kangol hat. Everything about this video is retro from the old DJing equipment to the soul train line and 70’s inspired wardrobe. Together, director Stephen Isaac-Wilson and Kaytranada transport us back to a carefree time when people took themselves a lot less seriously. We need a little more of this right now.

A.L x FTG Santiago
Fly High (Metro Tribute)
Release date: February 4, 2020
Directed, filmed, and edited by: Malik (StainVisualz)

On January 8th, Ottawa hip-hop artist FTG Metro was killed making the national news. In February, A.L and FTG Santiago released a tribute to their fallen friend called Fly High.  The video starts with the menacing audio from the CBC broadcast announcing FTG Metro’s death and shows clips of Metro dancing and joking around with his friends. The song tackles the envy and fake love happening in the streets of Ottawa―a different side of the capital you don’t see in marketing campaigns. All proceeds made from this song went to the family of FTG Metro.

Raz Fresco
Vancouver
Release date: February 4, 2020
Shot and edited by: Forbez

Right off the bat we see the contrast of Raz Fresco, who looks like he should be in the streets, in the serene landscape of British Columbia. We also get a few shots of Fresco in the barbershop and doing his thing on stage. The song itself is a refreshing throwback to the Golden Era of hip-hop. With the sampling and the bars, it reminds you of why you first fell in love with hip-hop.

Lil Berete x Anders
Ride or Die
Release date: February 6, 2020
Directed by: King Bee
Edited by: Nick Yumul

In Ride or Die we get a collab from two of Toronto’s dopest young artists, Lil Berete and Anders. The King Bee-directed video is pretty simple. We see a nice car, beautiful women and of course Lil Berete dancing. Overall, it’s good to see Toronto’s next crop of artists jumping on tracks together. The more collabs the better.

Tory Lanez
Broke In a Minute
Release date: February 7, 2020
Directed and edited by: Tory Lanez
Shot by: Mid Jordan

Money, cars, jewellery, and designer clothing―what else would you expect with a title like, “Broke In A Minute”? In these visuals we see Tory smiling and dancing and enjoying his success. Why not? He earned it. He’s come a long way from Brampton. Keep dancing.

Pressa
O.T.M (Out The Mud)
Release date: February 8, 2020
Directed by: The Shooters

In the visuals for O.T.M we see Pressa on the set of a photo shoot and in the studio, along with the occasional video effects and transitions. The star of the show is Pressa’s dance moves. Leave him alone. He’s having fun.

OTG Rhys feat. Arty Warhol
21
Release date: February 11, 2020
Directed by: Moshi (Goat Vision)

Rhys, one half of the ski mask wearing duo OTG, is back with a video for “21”, directed by Moshi from Goat Vision Studios. The song and video feature Arty Warhol with some smooth vocals. In this video we see shots of OTG Rhys and Warhol in the neighbourhood, as well as Warhol in the studio.

Classified feat. Dax and Snak the Ripper
Rap Sh*t
Release date: February 12, 2020
Directed by: Mike Boyd

In February, Classified premiered the video for “Rap Sh*t” off his upcoming EP Pick Your Poison set to be released on April 10th. The song and video features Ottawa-native Dax and British Columbia rapper Snak the Ripper for a rare coast to coast Canadian collab.

Directed by Classified’s brother Mike Boyd, the video features each rapper in their natural habitat―Classified in Enfield, Nova Scotia, Dax in his new home of Los Angeles, and Snak the Ripper in “the dirt”. This is a great moment for Canada. More of this please.

Anders 
On Me
Release date: February 12, 2020
Directed by: Marcus Letts

In the first of our two Marcus Letts directed videos we see Toronto artist Anders living the good life―palm trees, beaches, a mansion and a four wheeler. Every once in a while we’re treated to some cool yet subtle effects and transitions.

Natra
My Way
Release date:February 13, 2020
Directed by: IcedOutVisuals

Before we get to the video, the vocals and production on this track are clean. Natra just gives off that star potential, from his look and dancing to his singing. Although this video is pretty simple and we see the expensive car and nice house we’ve seen in other videos, what stands out is how well shot it is. 

dvsn
A Muse
Release date:February 14, 2020
Directed by: Andrew Hamilton

In the first of our two Valentine’s Day videos we have OVO’s dvsn with “A Muse”. The first thing we need to talk about is the sample from Jay-Z’s “Dead Presidents”. Who knew we needed this sample in an R&B song?

Starring dvsn’s Daniel Daley and Canadian singer Kreesha Turner, this video walks that fine line between beautiful and sexy as hell. The video opens with Daley romancing his blindfolded love interest, but we later get a good dose of legs and hips. If you forgot how fine Kreesha Turner is, this video is a good reminder.

Tasha the Amazon
Forever Ting
Release date: February 14, 2020

“Forever Ting”, the second of our Valentine’s Day videos, features a blue-skinned mutant looking woman engaging in some self-love. No, not that kind. We see her appreciating her body in the mirror, putting on some lingerie, laying out some rose petals, and drinking champagne by herself. We also see shots of Tasha the Amazon out in the sunshine, wearing a tie dye shirt, and looking happy. As winter comes to a close, this song and video are guaranteed to make you feel good.

Haviah Mighty feat. Clairmont the Second
Smoke
Release date: February 18, 2020
Director of photography: Liam Higgins

The day before making noise on Sway in the Morning, Haviah Mighty released the visuals for “Smoke” off her Polaris Prize winning album “13th Floor”. Featuring Clairmont the Second, the video is mostly in black and white, reminiscent of her visuals for “In Women Colour”, but with the occasional pop of colour. It’s a very artistic video with an aesthetic you don’t see often in music videos.

Mischa
Set It Off
Release date: February 21, 2020
Filmed by: Quest
Edited by: John Henley

Ottawa’s Mischa has been having a big year after being nominated for three Capital Music Awards and getting a spot at RBC Bluesfest, one of the biggest music festivals in Canada. Shot and edited by the Quebec duo of Quest and John Henley, the video for “Set It Off” includes some cool lighting. Great offering from one of the hardest working artists in the capital.

BLikeBrett
Big Dutch
Release date: February 21, 2020
Shot and edited by: Flee Normality

BLikeBrett keeps the laid back vibes coming with his latest single “Big Dutch”. Shot and edited by Flee Normality, the video features BLikeBrett in front of a pink background with a lot of special effects. It’s a very trippy video. You may or may not want to watch this while drunk or high.

Keesh
Black On Black
Release date: February 22, 2020
Directed by: Azeez

To close out Black History Month, Toronto artist Keesh released the video for “Black On Black” where she addresses black on black crime. The video depicts a young father talking to his son on a park bench before he’s shot. It’s refreshing to hear music with message in 2020.

Yung Tory x Jaaycee
Ouu
Release date: February 25, 2020
Filmed by: Marcus Letts

Honest confession: this is probably my favourite song on this month’s roundup. The laid back vibe and melodies on the this song have me playing it on repeat. The video, the second one on our list from director Marcus Letts, includes some cool dance moves as we’ve come to expect from Yung Tory.

Dax
Book of Revelations
Release date: February 27, 2020
Shot by: Moses Isreal

Dax had a busy month releasing the visuals for “Book of Revelations” and “Godzilla Remix” while featuring in the video for Classified’s “Rap Sh*t”. In “Book of Revelations” Dax gets Biblical and post-apocalyptic asking, “Where will you spend eternity?” from the opening frame. The scenes of the end of the world give way to Dax and others going to heaven. Dax asks a lot of good questions in the lyrics for this song. Perhaps he’s on a journey of his own. Thanks for bringing us along.

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