MC Shadow

Kory Neely, better known as MC Shadow, is a Canadian rapper, actor, music & film producer and author who achieved fame for being the first white rapper in Canadian music history (second only to the Beastie Boys internationally).[1] His group Get Loose Crew was the first Canadian rap group to produce a mini LP and the first to effect international sales.[2] Neely also had a brief solo career and worked with R&B singer Kaye Sergeant after The Get Loose Crew split ways in 1990. In 2015, he revived his music career with the release of new music and an accompanying three part video project released in both a commercial and short film version dubbed ‘the trilogy’.

MC Shadow
Background information
Birth nameKory Neely
Born1970 (age 49–50)
OriginToronto, Ontario, Canada
GenresHip Hop, R & B, Dance
Occupation(s)Rapper, Music, Video & Film Producer
Years active1984–1994
LabelsEast Park Productions (Independent), Mirgin / U.K.A Records
Associated actsGet Loose Crew, JUST Me, MC B, Carlito, Self Defence, MC Rumble (Rumble & Strong), Maestro Fresh Wes, Michie Mee, Dream Warriors, Organized Rhyme, Snow
WebsiteMC Shadow

Early Years: 1984 to 1987

In early 1984, the Def Force Sound Crew, consisting of band members Chris Jackson (Dj JEL), Len Grant-Stuart (Mix-Master Len) and Kory Neely (originally named "White Shadow"), was formed and played (DJ'd) at their local junior high school, Valley Park Junior High, and at community center dances in Flemingdon Park, Toronto. After defeating local artist MC Rumble during rap battle at an underground party, Neely decided to aim for a recording contract and international recognition.

Get Loose Crew: 1987

In 1987 both Neely and the group changed the names: the former to "MC Shadow", the latter to "Get Loose Crew". The act began self-producing demo tapes played on Ryerson University (then Ryerson College) Radio Station CKLN-FM.

With no Canadian labels showing an interest in the group, they decided to begin their own label, East Park Productions, eventually signing a global distribution agreement with Electric Distribution in Markham, Ontario.

Get Loose Crew - The Album 1988

The Crew, with Neely as the frontman, recorded the first rap album in Canadian history in 1988, though the pres was considered a "mini-LP" because it only featured four tracks with accompanying instrumentals. The single "Wannabe" reached number 5 on urban chart CHEER in May 1988.[3]

In June 1988 the group was featured in STREETSOUND magazine, a national publication. Neely commented on the early Canadian rap scene and the importance of the group's performances:

"When people come to a show, they’re critical. They come to see a performance. It’s got to be rockin’. From beginning to end. It has to be an organized performance, unlike four years ago, when everybody would just jam. No fighting, no chain snatching, no B-Boy destruction".

[4]

The record was included in a list of most collectible Toronto albums of all time.[5]

JUST Me: going solo 1991

Neely became the first Canadian rapper to be included in a multi-track CD compilation when his collaboration with Kaye Sergeant, "What I'm Sayin'", was featured on Mega Dance Volume 1 in 1991. This cut also received the FACTOR new talent demo award in May of that year.[6]

JUST Me: 1994

In 1994 a second multi-track CD compilation, America's Most Wanted - Freestyle 94, contained "Do a Little Dance" (also featuring Kaye Sergant). The duo completed several unreleased projects and after several tours with Self-Defence and former Get Loose Crew members, the duo decided to part ways.

Toronto Hip hop Exhibit 2010: T-Dot Pioneers

In March 2010, more than 20 years after the monumental release of Canada's first internationally released hip hop record, The Toronto Free Gallery held an exhibit called T-Dot Pioneers: An Exploration of Toronto Hip Hop History and Culture. The exhibit featured items from the birth of Toronto hip hop which included the Get Loose Crew Album, old photographs, posters and awards – including the Juno Award for R&B/Soul Recording of the Year won by founding Get Loose Crew member MC B in his solo career. The exhibit coincided with the launch of a new Canadian hip hop website, Northside Hip Hop, which featured the Neely (and his former band) as pioneers in Canadian Hip Hop reuniting Chris Jackson (now Chris Gotrocks) and Carl Badwa (now Don Carlito formerly MC B & B-Kool and Neely.

CBC Hip Hop Summit: 2011

On the foundation of the success of the T-Dot Pioneers Exhibit, The CBC (Canadian Broadcast Corporation) (a concept proposed by Chris Jackson) organized a live recorded show commemorating Hip Hop History hosted in the prestigious Glenn Gould Studio at CBC in Toronto.

Neely was reunited with several fellow artists and co-founders of Canadian Hip Hop Music as part of an exclusive concert. The event gleaned a summit paying respect to Canadian Hip Hop by documenting its history through performance over several days. While Neely did not reunite with former bandmates for a performance, his album was displayed on the iconic Glenn Gould Wall and showcase and recognition by summit host/artist Buck 65 during the show. The event featured a red carpet and other items such photographs, flyers, vinyl cassettes and other paraphernalia now considered artifacts.

Resurrection: 2013

Teaming with former Capitol Records artist and contributing producer for Canadian Idol Frank 'Tekniq' Morell, the duo produced 'Resurrection' the first of 3 singles and an album announced for release in 2016. Neely revived the dormant indie label East Park Productions for the launch of the project.

Manee Osman Films: 2014
Neely (Producer) On set
Scene from Resurrection
Resurrection Video Project

East Park Productions and Neely formed a partnership with Manee Osman Films in 2014. Osman, a Toronto-based film and music video director, attained notoriety for a promotional video he filmed for Ciroc vodka, owned by Sean 'Diddy' Coombs . Coombs communicated his support for the work via social media.

Osman & Neely developed a unique and original video concept for each of the music singles releases in the form of a Trilogy, featuring 'Resurrection' as the first instalment. The undertaking is a first of its kind in any music genre, with each video presenting an individual story of a group of characters along a continuous single storyline, centred around four friends, their execution of a bank heist and inevitable mystery and betrayal.[7] The project released in 2 versions; a Director's Cut or short film version and an edited version for commercial airplay.

The project features international model Melissa Night, Toronto actors Paul Lamb & Eric Parris with Miss World Canada 2014 delegate Yarine Pernia. Neely portrays a lead character and also served as Producer on the project. The first part was filmed in several locations in May & June 2015 with parts 2 and 3 scheduled for later in 2015.

Collaborations
  • After being bandmates in the Get Loose Crew he collaborated with B-Kool Juno Award winner for Best R&B Soul Recording for "Dance to the Music".[8] as the rap duo Double Trouble.
  • He has collaborated with producer and Juno Awards nominee Frank ‘Tekniq’ Morell [9] from the Bomb Shelta Association.
  • He has collaborated with artist Sarah Beatty 2012 Hamilton Music Award nominee for Roots Recording of the Year.
  • He has collaborated with Juno Awards winner, artist Nelson 'DEDOS' Garcia [10] of Nomadic Alternatives and a founding member of Canadian Rap group the RASCALZ, commissioned to do the artwork covers for singles 'Resurrection', 'Lost' and 'Lullaby of Pain'.

Television

In 1987, he was featured with his group Get Loose Crew on a CBC comedy talk show Switchback hosted by comedian Eric Tunney. He was interviewed by Tunney and performed their album's title track. The episode also featured prominent Toronto Radio personality Chris Sheppard (CFNY102.1Radio FM) serving as a co-host and DJ.[11]

Discography

Studio albums
Title Album details CHEER Music Pool
Get Loose Crew
5
MC Shadow performing in Toronto, Ontario Canada 1988

Compilations
Year Title Album Label
1994 "What I'm Sayin" Mega Dance Vol 1. Mirgin/U.K.A Records
1994 '"Do a little dance" America's Most Wanted Freestyle '94 Mirgin/U.K.A Records

Singles
Year Title Peak Album Label
CHART
1988
"Get Loose Crew" (feat. MC Shadow) uncharted Get Loose Crew East Park Productions
"Wannabe" (feat. MC Shadow and MC B) 5 Get Loose Crew East Park Productions
2015 "Resurrection" 5 Pending Release East Park Productions
2015 "Lost" Pending Pending Release East Park Productions
2015 "Lullaby of Pain" Pending Pending Release East Park Productions

Filmography
Kory Neely on location

Film
Year Production Role
2015 Resurrection – Part 1 of the trilogy James Le Font
2016 Lost – Part 2 of the trilogy James Le Font
2017 Lullaby of Pain – Part 3 of the trilogy' James Le Font

Producer
Year Production Notes
2015 Resurrection Short Film
2015 American Grace Feature Film
2015 Lost Short Film
2016 Lullaby of Pain Short Film
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See also

References
  1. ZGARKA-KAYE Distribution Ltd. Distribution Agreement. "Electric Distribution", Electric Distribution Agreement, Markham, Ontario February 1st 1988.
  2. ZGARKA-KAYE Distribution Ltd. Distribution Agreement. "Electric Distribution",Electric Distribution Agreement, Markham, Ontario February 1st 1988.
  3. "CHEER Music Pool Backfield in motion,Toronto May 1988". Archived from East Park Productions Official Website About the original Check |url= value (help) on 2015-07-03.
  4. MC Shadow. "Canadian Rap Update", p. 21, Streetsound Magazine, Toronto, June 1998.
  5. Gillespie, Colin (September 21, 2014). "The top 10 most collectable Toronto albums of all time". Freshdaily (Daily - submission by contributor). Freshdaily. Retrieved 11 January 2016.
  6. FACTOR. Sound Support Vol.III issue 5. "FACTOR new talent demo award",FACTOR, Toronto, Ontario May 1991.
  7. Stevens, Samantha (November 2, 2015). "Music Review". 24 (01). The Voice Magazine. Retrieved 11 January 2016.
  8. 1991 Juno Awards at JunoAwards.ca
  9. Morrel, Frank. "1992 Juno Rap Recording of the Year". Awards and Winners 1992. awardsandwinners.com. Retrieved February 27, 2017.
  10. Yuen, Mark (2012-08-12). "Portrait of a hip-hop innovator". Vancouver Sun. Vancouver Sun. Retrieved February 27, 2017.
  11. Eric, Tunney (host) (21 March 1987). "Switchback". Talk show. Season 7. Episode 2. CBC.
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