In December 2020, Connaisseur Ticaso told us that he had finally decided to be an artist. To give up the criminal world to devote himself entirely to music. Nearly four years later, he launched Rap Life. So how does he find this life?
“In my lifestyle before, rap was just a hobby. Now, my days revolve around rap: writing, finding new beats, promotion, shows. Getting paid to do something you love is what the rap life is all about. It’s fun. I don’t regret my decision,” assures Steve Casimir, his real name.
Since the release of his first official album, Eastern Normalthe 1er January 2021, Connaisseur Ticaso has regained its place in the pantheon of Quebec hip-hop. From the turn of the 2000s until his incarceration towards the end of the decade, the rapper made a name for himself with catchy songs – On the corner, In Montreal – and of mixtapes striking.
This disc was very well received by old and new fans, in addition to being crowned with a Félix. ” With Eastern NormalI wanted to prove that I had not lost my skills. The most important thing was to satisfy my fans who had never received a real official album,” explains Ticaso.
Qu’en est-il de Rap Life ?
Le but de celui-là était de prouver que je pouvais jouer avec la nouvelle génération. Je voulais montrer que « oui, ça fait longtemps, je suis revenu, mais là, je suis dans le rap game avec vous ».
Connaisseur Ticaso
Ainsi, le MC a invité des complices plus jeunes pour construire cet album. On retrouve Fléau Dicaprio sur la pièce Fresh. « Il est assez nouveau, mais tu vois que c’est un vrai gars de rap. On s’est rencontrés et après, en entrevue, on lui a demandé avec qui il voulait collaborer et il m’a nommé. Je l’ai tout de suite contacté », raconte Connaisseur. « J’ai aussi Le Ice [sur Pasta]because I wanted the Canicule flavor. There is also Bouldat and JuicemanSF [sur Brigands] with whom I had done Bar 4 Barand I wanted them on my album. »
Brigandsproduced by Ruffsound, also allows Connaisseur Ticaso to explore drill, a genre that comes from Chicago with a fast tempo and heavy bass. “It was a challenge as a rapper to look good in another style,” he admits. Four years ago I thought I was going to experiment a lot more on my second album, but what was new at the time has been heard so much since then that there was no point in me trying to do it. At one point I was going to be more commercial. Then I said to myself: “I’m thinking too much, I have to do what I love”. I decided to make an album Skillz & Reality in the sense that it will not be cohesive like Eastern Normalbut it offers different vibes. »
Support from veterans
Rap Life is actually more varied than its predecessor. So is its list of producers: Duff, Freakey!, Danny Ill, Forgs, Nicholas Craven, Jo Milz and Mike Shabb, among others. Ruffsound, a long-time collaborator, co-wrote several pieces, in addition to having worked on the arrangements for the majority.
Other old friends were invited to the microphone. Imposs delivers a fierce verse on Without pity. “We are on the same label, we have always respected each other, we come from the same era. It was natural to collaborate. I’m happy to have a beat from El Cotola too,” Connaisseur points out.
Excerpt from Without pityby Connaisseur Ticaso (with Imposs)
As soon as I started the album, one of the first feats I wanted was Yvon Krevé [sur Gun et Bitch]. I thought it was time to give this to the old fans, because we had never done any songs together.
Ticaso Connoisseur
Who are the other artists he would like to record with? “Manu [Militari] absolutely, Souldia, Loud and Rymz. » We suggest RVLR Magz. “I was just talking about it yesterday! That, too, has to happen. If all goes well, they would be the only collaborations on my next album. »
Until then, Rap Life should cement Connaisseur Ticaso’s status as a Quebec hip-hop legend. A legend whose chapters have not finished being written, to the great delight of his fans, old and new.
The meaning of the words
Rap Life
“Compared to the street game, the rap game here is no risk / To disarm the crowd, you just need classics and my charisma”
“I talk about the life that I left for that of rap. Disarming the crowd in my old life would have been much more tragic. Now I just need my artistic skills, which is much better. »
Kess Pass
“The weak get devoured, the traitors get decorated, it’s serious / When you’re in the process of unblocking those who want to see you fail, they’re wrecks”
“In almost any environment, you can use the metaphor that you’re going to get eaten by sharks if you don’t give your best. Then, those who succeed, even if they have done wrong things, will be acclaimed. In Creole, “wreck” means “old vagabonds”, but I knew that people would understand that I was also referring to haters. »
The sky is not the limit
Excerpt from The sky is not the limit
“The more it goes on, I just wait until we all realize / That the sky is not the limit / All in this shit because of the elite / Little by little the middle class, it’s ‘done delete’
“Times are tough, but the rich world continues to get richer and doesn’t seem to be too worried about what’s happening to the common people. If big companies wanted everyone to be well, a lot of business could change. The gap between classes is only increasing. »
Rap
Rap Life
Ticaso Connoisseur
Joy Ride Records