Jon B

My name is Jonathan “Jonb” Balazs a writer, photographer and filmmaker here at ugsmag. Originally a long-time forum poster and terribly naive rap head, I first visited the site in 2001, but didn’t start speaking my piece until 2006 with a “gizmo review” on Lomography’s Fisheye camera. Since then, I’ve tried to interview only the dopest rappers, producers, DJs and hip hop icons throughout Canada and the United States – or at the very least, shining a light on those artists who have made a significant mark in their respective territories. Hailing from Ugsmag’s original prairie home of Edmonton, these days Toronto is where I lay my head at. I am always curious about new music and I encourage legitimate rap folks to email me the new sounds, but there is a very good chance I will not get back to you – I’m terribly grumpy and have very little patience for biters, whiners, posers, toys…as well as overt displays of sexism, homophobia and bigotry. But I love damn good hip hop!

Video Feature

Muneshine

Video feature of us catching up with clandestinely prolific producer/rapper Rob “Muneshine” Bakker.

Truth Universal
Interview

Truth Universal

We hook up with New Orleans rapper Diego “Truth Universal” Martin who took a jaunt to the T.Dot for the North By Northeast music festival.

Daedelus
Interview

Daedelus

Daedelus chats about his open-source instrument of choice, the Monome, and other finer points of sampling and contemporary music production.

Dibiase
Interview

Dibiase

We speak with the Los Angeles based producer about his upbringing in Watts, early rap career and his latest projects.

Video Feature

Thrust

Catching up and talking Canadian rap history in this video feature with veteran Toronto emcee Thrust.

Copywrite
Interview

Copywrite

Copywrite speaks on battles, MHz (RJD2, Jakki, Tage and Camu Tao) and his latest album ‘The Life and Times of Peter Nelson.’

Factor
Interview

Factor

The Saskatoon based producer/DJ extraordinaire speaks on labels (Side Road Records / Fake Four Inc.), working with West coast legends like Myka 9 and Awol One, plus much more!

Interview

Ras G

Introducing Ras G and the African Space Program. We caught up with the Los Angeles based beat maker after his first trip up to Canada.

Jaykin
Interview

Jaykin

Vancouver emcee Jaykin speaks on living in Tokyo and his new free album ‘Sneakers and Videogames.’

MF Grimm
Interview

MF Grimm

MF Grimm speaks about getting shot/paralysed and his rap rehabilitation. The new album ‘You Only Live Twice: The Audio Graphic Novel’ is out now on his label, Day by Day Ent.

Advokit
Interview

Advokit

Edmonton’s Advokit, of the group Non Status, speaks on returning to the rap grind as he preps for his upcoming album, ‘Destroy and Rebuild.’