CANADIAN MUSIC VIDEO ROUNDUP | SEPTEMBER 2020

It’s that time again! SHIFTER’s Canadian Music Video Roundup for September includes videos from Drake, Tory Lanez, Haviah Mighty, TOBi, Classified, Merkules, Ramriddlz, Zach Zoya, Mischa, Asuqomo, Y.S.R and more!

Check out the videos below in order of release date, then help us crown the top video in the country for September. Special shout out to our sponsor, realtor and Canadian hip-hop legend Greg Campbell.

Last month you voted and crowned “I Am The One Nobody” by Winnipeg’s King Tragedy as your Video of the Month.

Video of the Month //  King Tragedy – I Am The One Nobody

Who will win for September?

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Zoo Legacy
Lost On Purpose
Release date: September 1, 2020
Filmed and directed by Andrew Robillard

After a hiatus from making music, Zoo Legacy returned in September with “Lost On Purpose”. The song is about the feeling of being trapped in either a place or relationship.

“Inspired by a failed relationship, it’s our first single in many years and is a reflection on the struggles of maturing. It’s an enthusiastic, joyous cry to fight back”, says lead vocalist Nicholas Pouponneau. “The song combines elements of old school hip hop and indie rock. This is a very big release for us.”

The Andrew Robillard directed video takes us back to being a kid and times when life felt simple.

Merkules and The Game
Death Wish
Release date: September 2, 2020
Video by LyricVids.com

This is a lyric video, but it’s creative enough to get a spot on our roundup. It continues the trend of animated videos that we’ve seen over the past few months in music. Very good video from Merkules, The Game, and LyricVids.com.

DJ Khaled feat. Drake
Popstar
Release date: September 4, 2020
Directed by: Julien Christian Lutz (Director X)

This video has to be a candidate for Video of the Year. From the opening montage of DJ Khaled’s video messages to Drake’s DJ Khaled impression, the comedy is on point. Then to have Justin Bieber, the ultimate popstar, star in the video. The opening scene when you’re expecting to see Drake only to see Bieber roll over mouthing the lyrics. Gold.

Speng Squire
Feel Right
Release date: September 11, 2020
Directed by: Olly.Evergreen

In September, Speng Squire released the visuals for “Feel Right”, the first single off his upcoming album N.R.A.M. The video opens with Speng Squire at an office job before him and his co-workers start turning up in the office. It’s a good introduction to the new project. We’re definitely looking forward to this one.

Haviah Mighty
Bag Up
Release date: September 16, 2020
Directed by: Keethan Krish

Haviah Mighty is just trying to keep the bag up. In this video we see Haviah sitting on her thone, rockin’ fur and jewellery, and drinking from a gold goblet. But this song isn’t just about living well; she also spits some game with lyrics like, “They don’t wanna see us with the power / I’d be buying property / Invest them dollars properly / Then with what’s left over, I be stunting.”

This is a different Haviah Mighty, but it’s a well-needed message for right now. This is Black ownership and Black excellence wrapped in dope bars with a dope beat on top.

Zach Zoya
In Da Way
Release date: September 17, 2020
Directed by: Le Ged

Produced by DRTWRK, who has worked with the likes of Kanye West and Lil Wayne, “In Da Way” is the third single and second music video from the Montreal rapper’s upcoming EP Spectrum.

“This song is about how people treat and see you in a different way once you start gaining momentum,” Zoya says. “Some feel left out and they’re gonna want to drag you back to their level. This song is me telling these people, ‘Move over, I’m coming through! Y’all in the way.’ The video represents my climb up from rags to riches, from me being a nobody to becoming a successful figure in my field.”

Featuring some cool point of view and out of body type shots, this is one of the most visually stimulating videos we’ve seen in a long time.

Justin Bieber feat. Chance The Rapper
Holy
Release date: September 17, 2020
Directed by: Colin Tilley
Edited by: Vinnie Hobbs

Amazing storytelling from Justin Bieber and Colin Tilley. We see Justin Bieber starring as an oil rig worker who gets laid off due to the pandemic. The video highlights how COVID-19 is affecting everyday people. As a subplot, Bieber’s wife is a Black woman addressing another pressing issue in 2020 – anti-Black racism. The video ends with a random act of kindness reminding us to be good to each other in these times. Great video with a great message from Justin Bieber.

Swagger Rite
Heart Broke Rockstar Sh*t
Release date: September 18, 2020
Directed by: Troy Crossfield and Sheronna Osbourne

Swagger Rite is in the mood for love. With a hook like, “I don’t need no Xanax pills/I don’t need no Ritalin/I need you/Girl, you’re my medicine”, the song is almost counterculture to the content you hear in many hip-hop songs today.

Pivoting from his signature trap sound to more of an R&B vibe, Swagger sings about the girl that got away as the videos alludes to him losing his girl to a drug overdose. This is a more vulnerable and sensitive Swagger Rite and we’re here for it.

Ramriddlz
FYF
Release date: September 21, 2020
Directed by: Devante Mowatt

The video and premise behind this song is hilarious yet true. Many people can relate to being in a relationship and wanting your boyfriend or girlfriend’s bestfriend. What makes it even more funny and true is how happy he looks with his girlfriend, with the big smile to prove it, while letting listeners into his little secret. While traditional hip-hop heads may not see this as the kind of storytelling we’re used to, Ramriddlz paints a picture of a familiar story many can relate to.

WISE
Tricks
Release date: September 21, 2020
Directed, shot, and edited by: Androze Vision
Co-directed by: WISE

Love is still in the air as Toronto rapper WISE released the music video for his latest single “Tricks”. Produced by Cahl and directed by Androze Vision and WISE, the song and video tell the story of a man falling for a girl who isn’t ready to give up the party life.

“Tricks is a melodic love song about falling for a party girl who has no intentions of settling down. I expose the truth about what I thought to be a promising relationship, and despite the red flags continue to proclaim my love for her”, WISE says of the concept.

TOBi
Made Me Everything
Release date: September 22, 2020
Directed by: Kit Weyman
Edited by: Alim & Kit

You can always trust TOBi to bring some soul. The sampling on “Made Me Everything” sounds like something out of the mind of Kanye West. This video is a vibe. If you’re having a bad day, put this video on and you’ll feel like everything’s gonna be alright.

Mischa feat. Chris Keez and Jonny Brown
Tic-Tac Remix
Release date: September 25, 2020
Shot by: Quest and Trey Timeless
Edited by: John Henley

A lot of pink. Some candy. A pool with floaties. Yup, that sounds like a Mischa music video. Although there aren’t any flashy effects, the small details that reinforce Mischa’s brand make this pleasant to watch. It’s an experience that could’ve only come straight from the mind of the Ottawa singer and rapper.

Classified feat. Just Chase
I Love It
Release date: September 25, 2020
Directed by: Mike Boyd and Luke Boyd

Classified, one of the hardest working artists in Canada, is back with the video for “I Love It”. This song and video is about an elder statesman in hip-hop looking back at his career to where he is today, and exploring how his motivations and goals have changed with time and maturity.

“I see these other guys are racking up more views then me / I use to have the attitude like let me prove my piece / Now I’m like it’s cool with me, maybe I’m just too fatigue / There’s no debating my motivation is slowly fading, never lost the hunger, but I lost the need to show my greatness / Let me rephrase that, I lost my need to prove my greatness.”

As the video plays out, we see Classified surrounded by the things that matter, including family and friends. As with some of the other videos on our roundup, it’s a very important message for the times we’re living in.

Speng Squire
Either Way // Sooner Or Later
Release date: September 25, 2020
Shot by: MYNAMEFRENCH

This is the second video from Speng Squire on our September roundup. “Either Way // Sooner Or Later” is two videos in one with two distinct vibes. Shot on the lakeshore in Toronto with the CN Tower and downtown skyline in the background, “Either Way” is a pretty simple video featuring Squire, some luxury cars and his homies. In his bag lately with the island vibes, “Sooner Or Later” is the standout for Squire. The video was shot on the water, once again with the CN Tower peaking in the background, and features boats, beautiful women, and a little Hennessy. More Caribbean flavour Speng Squire please.

Y.S.R
Floss
Release date: September 26, 2020
Directed and co-directed by: MUNACHIMSO & 99 FILMS
Edited by: 99 FILMS & ROYALZ PRODUCTION

After wracking up over 116K views on their video for “Puff Daddy”, Calgary’s Y.S.R are back with their new single “Floss”. The video already has over 60K views in less than a month.

“The concept of the the video was quite a simple one and projects the lifestyle of young people in the west. It reflects a lifestyle we see ourselves living in for the rest of our lives”, they told SHIFTER. “It also shows that we’re better than the next guy, whether it’s how we have a way with women, how good we look, and how nice our music is. It’s a really braggadocios approach.”

Lil Dee x Eazy Finesse
Murda
Release date: September 27, 2020
Shot by: Jordentodishh/Premi Production

The camera loves Lil Dee and Eazy Finesse. They have great onscreen chemistry, play off each other well, and overall they look like they had fun shooting this video. Eazy Finesse has great energy and charisma that comes with consistency and experience.

On the production side, Premi Production killed it with the lighting, movement, and subtle effects. Great looking video.

Fame Holiday feat. Monte Biggz
My Thang
Release date: September 27, 2020
Directed and edited by: Trey Timeless

A month after dropping visuals for “Gotta Believe”, Mississauga rapper Fame Holiday is back with visuals for his latest single “My Thang”. The song, which features Brampton, Ontario native Monte Biggz.

Holiday once again teamed up with director Trey Timeless on the visuals that keep the Summer vibes going into Fall. The video shows Holiday and Biggz out on Lake Ontario with the Toronto skyline peeking in background as they enjoy the Summer breeze in the company of some beautiful women. The party continues as we see the pair live it up in the back of a limousine and then at house party. Holiday’s Reign Music label mate Romeyo Wilson also makes a cameo in the video.

“The concept of the video was to throw a party and celebrate the success of our new single ‘My Thang’ because the streams been running up consistently 5 to 10k a day”, Holiday explained.

Marty Party feat. Aiona Santana
Lemonade
Release date: September 28, 2020
Directed and edited by: 3FIFTYCO

A month after releasing the video for “Outta The Way”, Marty Party has once again teamed up with 3FIFTYCO on the visuals for “Lemonade”. Featuring Aiona Santana, Marty Party has switched it up and given us some Latin/Caribbean vibes.

In this video, we see the pair poolside with friends. We also get the occasional dance sequence and overhead shot 3FIFTYCO is known for. Marty Party’s frequent collaborator, NTHN, makes an appearance.

Tory Lanez
Most High
Release date: September 30, 2020
Directed by: Edgar Esteves
Edited by: Joan Pabon and Tory Lanez ⁣

Tory Lanez, the most controversial man in hip-hop right now (yes, even more controversial than 6ix9ine) emerged from his silence with the album DAYSTAR. One of the song off that project is “Most High” – equal parts a confession of his faith and confidence in God, a declaration of his innocence, an outing of the industry elite, and a middle finger to anyone who doubted him. The video is flossy, high energy and braggadocious, but what else would we expect from Tory Lanez?

Asuquomo
Scared
Release date: September 30, 2020
Directed by: Morris Ogbowu & Director Justjay
Edited by: Director Justjay

Fresh off being included in the SHIFTER and CBC Ottawa mini-doc series “OT Rising”, Asuquomo is back with visuals for “Don’t Be Scared” off his EP OT Riddim, one of two projects he released this year alongside his debut EP Diobu. With its haunting and menacing sound and aesthetic, the JustJay directed video reveals a darker side of Asuquomo that we’ve never seen before.

“‘Don’t Be Scared’ is an invitation into a darker side of my world, this time taking the viewer from the streets of Port Harcourt to the frozen-over suburbs of Ottawa”, the artist says of the concept. He goes on to describe the video as “an avant garde possession of shadow magic” and an “elusive dream”.

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

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