UGSMAG Year in Review: 2007

Although UGSMAG is quite old now, at least in internet years, we are more alive than ever as 2007 has been one of our most productive years to date. Does anybody remember our former incarnation of undergroundsound.cjb.net from around 10 years ago, back in 1998/99? This past year, aside from dozens of interviews, we’ve also completed a major site re-design to provide you with more up-to-date content. Below is a brief month-to-month overview of some of our highlights from 2007.

January – April

We were still stuck in our previous “issue” based format, so things were slow. All of our old interviews are on the current version of the site, but if you feel like flipping through the old stuff anyways, you can find numbers 001-013 like this: http://ugsmag.com/013/ etc.

May

UGSMAG gets a much-needed re-design. Gone is “Underground Sound Magazine” or “Un-Godly Sinners Mad At God” or whatever we were called, its just UGSMAG now. Also gone are the months of waiting for new content, updates now can’t stop, won’t stop. This month also saw the first interview by Jon B, UGSMAG’s newest and most productive contributor, talking to one of the SBU twin brothers Mindbender. Chicago emcee Serengeti was interviewed. Todd Gronsdahl was our first artist feature of the year (we’re hoping to build on this in 2008). Our forum was also wiped clean for a fresh start.

June

Interview with veteran Edmonton rapper Touch, who along with Nato released one of the best hip hop albums to ever come out of Edmonton. The new “events” calendar section was added to the site, for all your info on Canadian hip hop shows.

July

Our first ever video feature as Jon B hooks up with Side Road Records + Friends. Mindbender’s twin bro Conspiracy is interviewed, one of our most popular interviews ever, a must read. There’s rumored to be a possible film in development as well. July also contained an interview with Canadian rap legend Fritz Tha Cat, who’s In Search of Divine Styler book should be a must buy for everyone.

August

Low Budget Affiliates interview, a follow up of sorts to some controversy surrounding the Conspiracy interview. A great read about a group of dudes who made another one of the best rap albums to come out of Edmonton. Montreal’s Rugged Intellect was also interviewed.

September

Cadence Weapon interview; one of Canada’s most talented rappers, I wish he was bar age before I moved out of Edmonton. September also had Birdapres interviewing Winnipeg emcee Nestor Wynrush, the latest addition to the Clothes Horse Records family.

October

Another video feature by Jon B, this time with Scribble Jam 2007 Beatbox Battle champ Poizunus. Interviews with Ira Lee and Kay the Aquanaut; two features in a row of rappers wearing Side Road Records hoodies (aka Bunny Hugs, for our confused Saskatchewan friends). We also relaunched our review section in October, look for this to be built on in 2008.

November

A very big month. Chadio talks about the This Dance Dance Revolution Will Not Be Televised release. P&C mastermind mcenroe lets us know what he’s been up to as Peanuts & Corn’s thirteen year streak of releases comes to an end. Wordburglar burgles words. Tinfoil on the Windows is one of the best albums to drop this year, soso gives us a breakdown. Another album of year candidate, Sole & the Skyrider band, Epic interviews Sole.

December

Modulok interview; if you do not own the Red Ants album, go buy it now, his 7” is also super dope. Chaps talks with Ghettosocks, one of the newer names in Halifax hip hop, as well as up and coming Saskatoon rappers The Intelligentlemen.

2008 will be good

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