It’s that time again! SHIFTER’s Canadian Music Video Roundup for May includes videos from Dax, Pressa, Mustafa, Preme, Moula 1st, Karl Wolf, Shad, Nate Husser, and more!
Check out the videos below in order of release date, then help us crown the top video in the country from May. Special shout out to our sponsor, realtor and Canadian hip-hop legend Greg Campbell.
Now, last month you voted and crowned “Life” by Unimerce x Lil Berete and “What I Like” by anders and FRVFRIDAY as your Videos of the Month with a first place tie.
Videos of the Month // “Life” by Unimerce x Lil Berete and “What I Like” by anders and FRVFRIDAY
Who will win for June?
Karl Wolf
Lonely Nights
Release date: May 4, 2021
Directed by: Alex Gayoso
Karl Wolf started off the month of May by releasing the video for “Lonely Night” off his album 2AM Vibes. It starts with a clip of Wolf showing off how he made the beat for the song, before showing him walking the empty streets of downtown Toronto like a seen out of an apocalyptic movie. There’s also some cool timelapses and effects that almost show him floating on air. Great video from director Alex Gayoso.
Shad feat. pHoenix Pagliacci
Out of Touch
Release date: May 4, 2021
Directed by: Justin Broadbent
Edited by: GARY81
It’s great to see one of Canada’s most gifted MC’s back making music again. In the month of May, Shad released two music videos, one being “Out Of Touch” featuring pHoenix Pagliacci.
This one right here is a vibe. The beat is unique and Shad is dancing and having fun shooting this one while giving us some thought provoking content.
Dax
Dear Mama
Release date: May 6, 2021
Shot by: Logan Meis
Dax went hard promoting this single and video leading up to Mother’s Day. You can tell it meant a lot to him. In the caption on YouYube he says, “Dear Moms… This is your song. Share ‘Dear Mom’ with your friends and loved ones and let’s make an impact. Thank you.”
It’s a beautiful song and video telling the story of his relationship with his mother, from his birth in St. John’s, Newfoundland in 1994 (apparently following a car accident) until today.
Cholocash
Bad News
Release date: May 6, 2021
Directed by: New Wave Visuals
A lot of small businesses have suffered during the pandemic, but Cholocash is doing his part to show love and support. His video for “Bad News” opens with a CityNews clip talking about the devastation business owners have been facing. We then see Cholocash giving small businesses some shine at Plaza Latina near Weston Road and Finch Avenue. Good look for the young rapper.
CMDWN
Hellcat
Release date: May 7, 2021
Directed and animated by: Ngenzi Ulysee
In May, we got a few animated videos, the first being CMDWN’s “Hellcat”. With police chases, gunfire, skilled assassins and fight scenes, it’s literally a movie. With the vocals and laid back production, the song is also a vibe. Great track and video from the Toronto-Atlanta duo.
Speng Squire
In The Ghetto
Release date: May 14, 2021
Shot & Directed By: MYNAMEFRENCH
Speng Squire standing and dancing on top of a school desk in the middle of a residential street. That says it all. Although he hails from Montreal, the video was shot in the GTA with Caribbean Rush on Hurontario Street in Mississauga making an appearance. When it comes to the track, from the quality of his vocals to his flow, Speng Squire has mastered the art of putting together a song. His sound is smooth and polished, and he looks like a star. Another great release from Speng Squire.
Swisha T
No Days Off
Release date: May 14, 2021
Shot and edited by: James Harkness
May also saw Ottawa rapper, Swisha T, re-emerge after a hiatus. In the visuals for “No Days Off”, he takes us around the city of Ottawa as he talks about dignity, self-pride, integrity and self-respect in his pursuit of a successful music career. The single is a lead up to his second album Road to Redemption set to be released on July 15th so stay tuned.
DillanPonders
PSILOCYBIN
Release date: May 19, 2021
Animated by: Alvaro Giraldo/Breathe Entertainment
The other animated video on our roundup comes from DillanPonders and animator, Alvaro Giraldo. The video for PSILOCYBIN is an animated trip as we see the rapper high on shrooms. This cartoon dreamscape is almost like a darker and trippier version of Looney Tunes. It’s a very unique concept from the pair.
Dax
Rap Demigod
Release date: May 20, 2021
Shot by: Damien Sandoval
We rarely include more than one video from an artist on our roundups in order to spread the love around, but Dax’s
“Rap Demigod” was so good it deserves recognition. Dax is known for movie-like videos with strong storylines and this one is no different. There’s some fire, great makeup, a police standoff, and some Minority Report type graphics. Whether it’s with his lyrics or his music videos, Dax is always committed to giving his fans his best and he strikes again with this one.
Pressa feat. Coi Leray
Attachments
Release date: May 20, 2021
Directed by: Coco
In May, Pressa re-released “Attachments” as a single and music video alongside his new girlfriend Coi Leray. With this release, Pressa is flirting even more with stardom and it’s good to see when you remember where he started from.
Eva Shaw x Boslen x Kris The $pirit
40 Bands
Release date: May 21, 2021
Directed by: Eva Shaw and Alison Beland
Edited by: Alison Beland
This right here is a very creative video, but what else would we expect from Eva Shaw? Between the wardrobe and subtle effects (like a beautiful pink sunset), this video makes a statement. The only let down is that Boslen isn’t in the video, but we’re in a pandemic so we understand.
Quake Matthews
Seeing Green
Release date: May 25, 2021
Directed by: Brendan Lyle
Since Nicki Minaj release her latest album Beam Me Up Scotty, including “Seeing Green” featuring lil Wayne and Drake, artists have been hopping on the GOVI and Kid Masterpiece produced beat to flex their lyrical muscle. Well, Halifax rapper Quake Matthews took a stab at it and murdered it. The whole video is shot in a tunnel with a lot of camera movement, but the star of the show is the bars.
Mustafa
The Hearse
Release date: May 26, 2021
Directed by: Mustafa & King Bee Productions
Edited by: Nick Yumal
There’s so much to love about Mustafa. Days before appearing on The Tonight Show starring Jimmy Fallon he released the video for “The Hearse” off his recently released album When Smoke Rises. As we’ve seen in other videos from the singer and poet, he literally has a style and lane all his own. It’s both refreshing and almost jarring to hear the stories of the streets set to folk music. The contrasts continue as we see young men from Regent Park out in nature as we listen to the beautiful and poetic writing. Mustafa is a very special talent and spokesperson for inner city life. We need more of this.
Nate Husser
Water With The Candy
Release date: May 26, 2021
Director: Nate Husser and Philip Chenard
Back to Montreal for “Water With The Candy”, the latest music video from Nate Husser. Directed by Husser and Philip Chenard, the pair call the black and white video a “film” and what we get is exactly that. Filmed in Montreal’s Little Burgundy neighbourhood, the video shows Husser stealing a woman’s purse before we’re led on a foot chase. We then see a mix of point of view and close up shots as he escapes the scene of the crime. Does he finally escape? You’ll have to watch the video to find out.
Preme
Lost Hope
Release date: May 28, 2021
Directed by: Zack Facts
This song is enough to make you want to lock yourself away and think about your life and what’s happening in the world around you. On the track, Preme shares thoughts and emotions that many of us feel about the police the killing of Black people. The video shows the police wearing clown paint and carelessly flashing their guns as Black people survive. The theme of the video is “fear” as fearful police officers lead to Black people fearing for their lives.
Moula 1st
Olympic Mike
Release date: May 31, 2021
Shot and directed by: Premi Productions
In the video for “Olympic Mike” we see Moula 1st wearing a #9 USA Basketball jersey as he channels Olympic Michael Jordan referring to his work ethics as he boasts “24 vids in a year and four months”.
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