Over the past few years, there has been a lot of attention around the Toronto music scene. With the success of Drake, The Weeknd and Tory Lanez, all eyes began to turn to Toronto for the next big act. In 2015, the city was shaken up with the rise of Halal Gang; a collective of rappers based mainly out of the city’s downtown core. After the release of Still by one of the teams frontrunners; Smokedawg, people couldn’t wait to hear what else they had in store. They had taken the city by storm, and had shown people that they weren’t just a group of kids hangin’ by the Rabba (supermarket). Following the great reception from Still, Safe released his single Hang featuring Smokedawg. It was on this song , due to the amount of conviction he had when he rapped “Safe on yo ass so you know I pop that wig”, that I was eager to hear more music from him.
Safe is a rapper/singer/songwriter, and has to be one of my favourite artists of the moment, one who I feel I’m watching develop into a star. Every release is effortlessly smooth but my personal favourite is a song called Eternity from his latest EP Stay Down. The song describes his struggle as a youth growing up in Toronto, trying to find his own way. The visuals really capture the dark, twisted essence of the song, that is appropriately dedicated to the youth of Toronto that have been affected by incarceration and gang violence. Making it clear that’s he’s aiming to be the voice of his generation with his music.
However, since the release of his breakthrough single, Feel, many people have wondered, “who is this kid from Toronto?” I believe it’s that same mystery that keeps people following and interested in what his next move will be. Now, I can sit here and tell you how well that single did, how he has a major online presence, and that his co-signs are unmatched. Or that he comes from a musical household, and has collaborated with the likes of Dave East, G Herbo, Murda Beatz, and Wondagurl, and opened for Nipsey Hussle at the tender age of 18. Or that he signed a deal with Epic Records before the end of 2016. However, growing up in downtown Toronto’s The Esplanade neighbourhood, Safe was always recognizable, but moved in silence. With that being said, press play because I think it’s only right we let his music speak for itself.
Check his Soundcloud here
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