Roy Wood$ has been sort of an enigma to me the past year. I enjoyed a couple of tracks off of his Exis EP. More specifically I enjoyed Roy’s single “Drama” that featured his mentor Drake. That track easily showcased the reason why he has been pegged to open for Drizzy and Future during the upcoming “Summer Sixteen” tour.

In preparation for the road, Wood$ releases his debut album, Waking at Dawn . This album would be the first time most people will even hear one of Roy’s songs. So this debut had to make a statement while continuing to develop as an artist.

For the most part, Roy Wood$ delivers with this record. With only ten tracks on the album its self, there was a very small margin of error for the Toronto native. Roy opens the LP with “Sonicboom.”

This track only contains one verse but it really opens up on the themes of the album. Wood$ explains the state of mind he has been in lately:

“I could pop another pill tonight/Even though I don’t really want one/The Xanax got me on a flight/I don’t need much
I just want to get a buzz from the blunt/Sipping beverage here on my own/I just want to wyle with you”

These lines set the tone for the record, in my opinion, dealing with issues of love and drug use.

Next, on the tracklist is “You Love It.” This song is one of the highlights of the whole album. Yes, Wood$ is channeling the same flow from “Drama,” however, it shows just how much more refined his sound has gotten. Roy even references that track in “You Love it.” This record really gives the album some momentum going into the other tracks on the album. Which are the two singles “Gwan Big Up Urself” and “How I Feel.”

Both of these songs are full of Roy Wood$ island roots. From the bouncing beats to the accent that he pushes on  both of these songs you can easily see how Drake got influenced to make the highly acclaimed tracks “Controlla” and “One Dance” of his recent chart-topping project Views.

After these two high energy tracks, Roy switches it up with a slow jam called “Down Girl” that houses one of my favorite hooks of the year.

“All that I see in the jawn/Is the girl that every other ni**a wants/Clique turnt up, all burnt up/After this girl, I’mma take you where they won’t”

Wood$ really steps up his songwriting game on this track as well as the following one “Switch,” which really marks a change in the sound on the album as a whole.

From track seven on, the album goes in a new direction. On songs “Got Me” “Why,” “Menace” and “She knows Me,” It really feels like Roy turns into an impersonation of The Weekend.

Not saying that I don’t like any of the remaining songs on the album. Personally, I think “Menace” is brilliant. However, it is a sound that has been done before especially at such high level with Abel’s latest release of Beauty Behind The Madness.

This is a problem because the majority album just feels so original. I understand the need to explore different sounds but when it isn’t broke yet don’t fix it.

All in All, Roy Wood$ debut Waking At Dawn is extremely solid and should be in your rotation this summer and beyond. It isn’t perfect but so far it is my favorite release of the OVO Sound label, next to the DVSN album that dropped in March.

You can stream Waking At Dawn, on Apple Music, here.

For more coverage on Roy Wood$ and all of the OVO crew, keep it locked on RESPECT.

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Following the release of their debut album, Sept. 5th and their remix to Aaliyah’s “One in a Million”, new OVO signees , dvsn, have dropped yet another remix , this time to Marvin Gaye’s classic, “Let’s Get It On”.

The Canadian duo’s— Daniel Daley and Nineteen85 — spin on “Let’s Get It On” originally debuted over the weekend on OVO Sound Radio takeover of Beats 1, which can be streamed here.

Sept 5th is currently available for purchase on iTunes. Take a listen to dvsn’s remix of “Let’s Get It On” below:

The post dvsn Remixes Marvin Gaye Classic “Let’s Get It On” appeared first on RESPECT. | The Photo Journal of Hip-Hop Culture.

The first Canadian signed to BBK. Big up my brudda @skeptagram for life yeah. And my section gunners too. ??

A photo posted by champagnepapi (@champagnepapi) on Feb 24, 2016 at 3:41pm PST

The post Drake Signs To Skepta’s ‘Boy Better Know’ Label appeared first on RESPECT. | The Photo Journal of Hip-Hop Culture.

Majid Jordan has released a suave new video for their vibrant single ‘Learn From Each Other.’ Their  self-titled debut album ‘Majid Jordan‘ was released nearly two weeks ago on OVO Sound records and is being received very well. While their lane is still being carved out in the R&B/Pop world, the Canadian duo’s fan-base is rapidly growing (a Drake co-sign will do that).

This visual shows Majid in a velvety lounge gazing upon a young lady in a cocktail dress as she nervously performs. That is until Majid’s girlfriend comes and kisses him on the cheek, then he is reminded he is already spoken for. Majid looks ashamed and when the young lady is finished with her performance, he refuses to give her a round of applause out of embarrassment. If you’re wondering why group-mate Jordan isn’t in this video, he actually makes a quick cameo at 0:24 if you look closely. (Directed by: Ben Strebel Produced by: Mad Ruk Entertainment/ Caviar Content)

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https://soundcloud.com/roywoodsofficial/roy-woods-skrt-remix/

The post Roy Woods remixes Kodak Black’s “SKRT” appeared first on RESPECT. | The Photo Journal of Hip-Hop Culture.

Drake has been on a roll this week, dropping tracks and dope visuals left and right. This time he teams up with fellow Toronto rep, Roy Wood$ for the soulful and introspective “Drama.” The track, which recently dropped on the OVO Sound radio show via Apple Music’s Beats 1 Radio is a slow burner that keeps with the sophisticated OVO Sound aesthetic. Check it out below and definitely tune into Beats 1 Radio at least once during this lifetime.

The post New Music: Roy Wood$ feat. Drake – “Drama” appeared first on RESPECT. | The Photo Journal of Hip-Hop Culture.

Last night, OVO Sound’s own Majid Jordan dropped 20 minutes of pure bliss. Today, Zane Lowe premiered a new collaboration with Drake entitled “My Love” on Beats 1 radio. It’s what we come to expect from MJ, and we get to hear some R&B crooning from Drizzy. If this means that we’re going to hear much more material from the duo, we’re all here for it. You can listen to the track below as well as cop the single here.

The post New Music: Majid Jordan ft. Drake- “My Love” appeared first on RESPECT. | The Photo Journal of Hip-Hop Culture.