Smoke Dawg

Jahvante Smart ((1996-11-18)November 18, 1996 – (2018-06-30)June 30, 2018), known professionally as Smoke Dawg, was a Canadian rapper, singer and songwriter. Smoke Dawg was a part of hip hop collective Halal Gang alongside Puffy L'z, Safe and Mo-G who come together with the Prime Boys to make the supergroup Full Circle. His debut and only studio album Struggle Before Glory was released posthumously on November 29, 2018 and was rated 8/10 by Exclaim!.

Smoke Dawg
Birth nameJahvante Smart
Born(1996-11-18)November 18, 1996
Toronto, Ontario, Canada
DiedJune 30, 2018(2018-06-30) (aged 21)
Toronto, Ontario, Canada
Genres
Occupation(s)
  • Rapper
  • singer
  • songwriter
InstrumentsVocals
Years active2013–2018
Associated acts

The deluxe edition of Struggle Before Glory was released on June 19, 2020, a year and a half after its initial release.[1]

Career

Beginnings: 2013–2014

Smart began rapping at the age of 16 in 2013. He uploaded many freestyles on to YouTube including the song "U Ain't about That" with DGC Roney and YH.[2] Smoke Dawg gained recognition in 2014 with the release of "Rabba" featuring Halal Hang member Mo, released on October 4, 2014. It gained over 1 million views within a month of release.[3] This was two days before close friend Ano died. Mo-G and Smoke Dawg uploaded the song "Still" to YouTube in January 2015. In it, the two rappers and their friends rap, dance, and laugh in shadowy parking lots, fluorescent-lit apartment corridors, and an empty studio. Although the initial upload was deleted, its re-upload amassed over 4 million views within a year of being online.[4][5]

Rise to Fame: 2015–2016

Smart rose to fame with his 2015 single "Trap House" released on July 31.[6] The single went viral for introducing a dance move known as "flippin'" and gained the attention of numerous notable artists including French Montana, who jumped on the official remix of the single[7][8] and Toronto artist Drake. Drake went on to include Smart in many of his worldwide tours and he also headlined alongside ASAP Ferg.[9] Safe released the single "Hang" in 2015 which saw a feature from Smoke Dawg.[10] Smart subsequently went on to release the single "Overseas" alongside Skepta in October 2016.[11] This was Skepta's second work with a Canadian artist, the first being Tre Mission.[12] The single was produced by Toronto native Murda Beatz.[13] Smart also performed at Toronto's first independent hip-hop festival outside of OVO's own offering, 6 Fest. The two-day festival saw Smoke Dawg performing alongside his Halal Gang as well as Pusha T, French Montana and Roy Woods.[14]

Struggle Before Glory: 2017–2020

Smart was placed on Now's list of Toronto musicians to watch for in 2017.[15] In February 2017, Smart released the song "Count it Up" where he went to London, UK to shoot the music video.[16] He also headlined in London with supporting acts from Nafe Smallz, Drake and Splurgeboys.[17][18] Whilst in the UK, Smoke Dawg and Halal Gang affiliate Puffy L'z dropped a "Fire in the Booth" freestyle with Charlie Sloth in March 2017.[19] He was also on the Boy Meets World Tour touring with Drake. [20][21] During this month Smart also featured on Jimmy Prime's single "Humana" alongside Donnie.[22] Toronto's most notorious music festival, uTOpia, was held during June 2017 and premiered showcase for the new generation of artists in the General Toronto Area. Smoke Dawg who was one of the main performers of the festival brought out Puffy L'z and Mo-G. The event was rated 7 by Exclaim!, who described Prime Boys and Halal Gang's performance as playing off of each other's energy, which ultimately brought the night together.[23] In September 2017, Smart was featured in the documentary "Northside" which highlighted Toronto's fledgling rap scene.[24] Noisey released a short documentary titled "Noisey Meets Smoke Dawg" in December 2017. The behind the scenes documentary caught up with Smoke Dawg in Toronto where he talked about his rise, the passing of his best friend, and how to break out of Toronto's glass ceiling. [25]

Smart announced that he was working on his debut studio album Struggle Before Glory in early 2018. However, before the album was officially released, he was shot and killed on June 30, 2018 in front of a nightclub in downtown Toronto.[26] The lead single of the album "No Discussion" featured AJ Tracey and was produced by Murda Beatz. It was released a month after his death on August 13, 2018.[27] Smoke Dawg's posthumous debut and only studio album Struggle Before Glory was released on November 29, 2018.[28] The album was rated 8/10 by Exclaim!.[29] The album features from the likes of Toronto artists Puffy L'z, Jimmy Prime, Jay Whiss and Safe, as well as UK artists Fredo, AJ Tracey and Giggs.[30] The album was described as a "sum up of the late rapper's legacy".[31][32][33] Smoke Dawg's younger brother, Young Smoke, provided a tribute on the outro of the album.[34]

The deluxe edition of Struggle Before Glory was released on June 19, 2020, a year and a half after its initial release.[1]

Death

Smart was killed in a shooting in broad daylight on June 30, 2018. The shooting took place in front of a downtown nightclub in the Toronto Entertainment District near the corner of Queen Street West and Spadina Avenue.[26] The perpetrators allegedly shot multiple times and fled in a black SUV with tinted windows. Three victims, including Smoke Dawg, were injured. Two were later pronounced dead in hospital.[35] Affiliates of Smoke Dawg posted on social media that Smoke Dawg and 28-year-old Prime Boys manager Koba Prime (birth name Ernest "Kosi" Modekwe) were killed in the shooting,[36] with the Toronto Police Service confirming this as a fact the following day.[37][38][39] Mayor John Tory blamed the shooting on gun violence and as a result met with the 6ixBuzz team and Director X to meet with members of the hip-hop community to talk gun violence solutions and raise awareness on the issue.[40][41][42]

Posthumous appearances and tributes

Halal Gang affiliate Mustafa the Poet released a short film titled Remember Me, Toronto.[43] The film aims to discuss the systemic structure working against the lower economies of Toronto and wanted to give these artists the opportunity to "rewrite their memories and the memories of those they lost". Smart was featured at the start of the clip in an archive footage of his speech on how he wishes to be remembered.[44] Smart appeared on Puffy L'z debut album Take No L'z released on July 19, 2019 on the single "Boring" alongside Jay Whiss.[45] He was also featured on Donnie's debut album From the Beginning to End released on November 22, 2019 on the track "Good as it Gets" alongside Jimmy Prime.[46] Jay Whiss released the single "Mind in a Maze", the lead single for his debut album Peace of Mind.[47][48] The song was a tribute to Smoke Dawg and has stated that it was his favorite song ever recorded.[49] Smart was known for his adlib "Awhooley", in an interview with Now newspaper, Puffy L'z stated he uses the adlib to keep Smart's name alive.[50]

Discography

Studio albums
  • Struggle Before Glory

Songs

As lead artist

List of singles as lead artist
Title Year Album
"Still" (with Mo-G) 2015 non-album singles
"Trap House"
"Flippin'"
"OT and Back" (featuring Ruck) 2016
"Overseas" (featuring Skepta)[51]
"Count It Up" 2017
"Pop A Perc"
"No Discussion" (featuring AJ Tracey) Struggle Before Glory
"Happen" (featuring Pressa) non-album singles
"Snow"
"Fountain Freestyle"[52] 2018

As featured artist

List of singles as featured artist
Title Year Album
"Income" (with Full Circle) 2016 non-album singles
"El Chapo" (with Full Circle)
"Full Circle" (with Full Circle)
"Time Flies" (Jay Whiss featuring Jimmy Prime & Smoke Dawg)
"Hunnids" (Murda Beatz featuring Smoke Dawg) Keep God First[53]
"Humana" (Jimmy Prime featuring Donnie & Smoke Dawg)[54] 2017 non-album single

Filmography
Film and Television
Year Title Role Notes
2019Remember Me, Toronto[55]HimselfArchive footage. Short film by Mustafa the Poet which pays a special tribute to Smoke Dawg
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gollark: There was an [EXPUNGED] critical loss of apiobot development subsystems?
gollark: oh bees oh bees this error makes no sense.
gollark: ++choose 1000 "lyricly sleeping" "no sleep, ever"
gollark: Initiating contingency initiation. Please hold.

References
  1. "Struggle Before Glory (Deluxe) by Smoke Dawg". Apple Music.
  2. ""U Ain't about That" - Smoke Dawg, DGC Roney and YH" – via www.youtube.com.
  3. Shikhan, Amani Bin (July 9, 2018). "Halal Gang Set the Record Straight".
  4. "Mo G x Smoke Dawg - Still" – via www.youtube.com.
  5. "Watch Puffy L'z New Video For "Riri" And Get To Know Toronto's Halal Gang". The Fader.
  6. EDT, Kelly Wynne On 7/2/18 at 11:16 AM (July 2, 2018). "Drake mourns Smoke Dawg on Instagram after rapper and his friend were fatally shot in Toronto". Newsweek.
  7. "Smoke Dawg - Trap House (Remix) Feat. French Montana". HotNewHipHop.
  8. "Will Smoke Dawg's "Flippin'" Be Responsible for the Next Big Dance Move? - Noisey".
  9. "Toronto Rapper Smoke Dawg Killed In Downtown Shooting". HuffPost Canada. July 1, 2018.
  10. "Safe featuring Smoke Dawg - Hang". HYPEBEAST.
  11. "Listen To Skepta's New Collaboration With Toronto's Smoke Dawg". The FADER.
  12. "Listen to Skepta's collaboration with Toronto's Smoke Dawg, 'Overseas'". October 17, 2016.
  13. "Smoke Dawg & Skepta Link up for "Overseas" Video". HYPEBEAST.
  14. Kivanc, Jake (October 13, 2016). "Even Without Drake, Toronto's 6 Fest Got the Showcase It Deserved".
  15. Ritchie, Kevin (January 31, 2017). "Toronto musicians to watch in 2017: hip-hop edition". NOW Magazine.
  16. "Smoke Dawg Dead: Rapper Shot, Killed in Toronto". Billboard. July 1, 2018.
  17. "Smoke Dawg brings out Nafe Smallz and Drake at his headline Show in London". GRM Daily - Grime, Rap music and Culture.
  18. "XOYO Presents: Smoke Dawg + Guests, Splurgeboys x PAP, Nafe Smallz + More Tickets | XOYO, London". www.ticketarena.co.uk.
  19. "BBC Radio 1 - 1Xtra's Rap Show with Charlie Sloth, Fire from Smoke Dawg and Puffy, Fire in the Booth – Smoke Dawg and Puffy L'z (Halal Gang)". BBC.
  20. https://hiphopdx.com, HipHopDX- (February 17, 2017). "Drake Surprises Audience At Club Show In London". HipHopDX.
  21. "Noisey Meets: Smoke Dawg". Noisey. VICE.
  22. "Premiere: Jimmy Prime Turns Up With Smoke Dawg and Donnie in "Humana" Video". Complex.
  23. "UTOpia Music Festival featuring Jimmy Prime, Ramriddlz, Smoke Dawg, Drew Howard and more Mod Club, Toronto ON, June 1".
  24. ""NORTHSIDE" Is a Must-Watch Documentary on Toronto's Fledging Rap Scene". Complex.
  25. Staff, Noisey (December 22, 2017). "Noisey Meets: Smoke Dawg".
  26. The Canadian Press (3 July 2018). "Toronto police identify rapper Smoke Dawg as one of two killed in shooting". National Observer. Retrieved 11 July 2018.
  27. "Smoke Dawg Releases Posthumous Single "No Discussion" Video Featuring AJ Tracey". HYPEBEAST.
  28. "Stream Smoke Dawg's Posthumous Project "Struggle Before Glory" Ft. Giggs, Jay Critch & More". HotNewHipHop.
  29. "Smoke Dawg Struggle Before Glory". exclaim.ca.
  30. "Hear Smoke Dawg's Posthumous 'Struggle Before Glory' LP".
  31. "Smoke Dawg Struggle Before Glory".
  32. "Music News Digest, Aug. 20, 2018". FYIMusicNews. August 20, 2018.
  33. Taylor, Sharine (December 3, 2018). "Listen to Smoke Dawg's Posthumous Album 'Struggle Before Glory'".
  34. "Young Smoke Proves It's "Smokey World" in New Video". Complex.
  35. Yazdani, Tina. "Friends remember victims of deadly Queen West shooting". CityNews. Retrieved 2 July 2018.
  36. Ritchie, Kevin. "Smoke Dawg reportedly killed in shooting on Queen West". NOW Magazine. Now. Retrieved 1 July 2018.
  37. "Two men killed in Queen Street shooting identified as members of Toronto music scene". CP24. Retrieved 2 July 2018.
  38. Friend, David (7 July 2018). "Toronto mayor meets members of hip-hop community to talk gun violence solutions". National Observer. Retrieved 11 July 2018.
  39. "Gangs, guns and Toronto: A primer on this summer's shootings and the stories behind them". The Globe and Mail. 5 July 2018. Retrieved 11 July 2018.
  40. https://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/toronto/john-tory-kardinal-offishall-hip-hop-gun-violence-1.4737713
  41. https://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/toronto/smoke-dawg-shooting-1.4730746
  42. "Smoke Dawg Dead: Rapper Shot, Killed in Toronto". Billboard. 2018-07-01. Retrieved 2020-03-03.
  43. "Drake Features in 'Remember Me, Toronto' Short Film: Watch Here". Highsnobiety. March 18, 2019.
  44. "Drake Featured In Mustafa The Poet's Short Film 'Remember Me, Toronto' | 97.7 WRBJ". Thebeatofthecapital.com. Retrieved 2020-03-22.
  45. "Puffy L'z Take No L'z". exclaim.ca.
  46. "Donnie Comes Correct With Solo Album "From the Beginning To End"". Sidedoor Magazine.
  47. "Jay Whiss Unleashes His Debut Album "Peace Of Mind"". HotNewHipHop.
  48. News, Breaking (March 4, 2020). "Jay Whiss dévoile son premier album "Peace Of Mind"". Vivez l'actualité Avec Breakingnews.fr.
  49. "Jay Whiss Pops Some Bubbly to Discuss His Major Label Debut". Complex.
  50. McNeilly, Claudia (July 24, 2019). "Puffy L'z knows his mission is bigger than music". NOW Magazine.
  51. Renshaw, David. "Listen To Skepta's New Collaboration With Toronto's Smoke Dawg". The Fader. Retrieved 1 July 2018.
  52. Cruz, Josephine. "Smoke Dawg Is Back with "Fountain Freestyle"". Complex. Retrieved 1 July 2018.
  53. Espinoza, Joshua. "Stream Murda Beatz' 'Keep God First' Mixtape That Premiered on OVO Sound Radio". Complex. Retrieved 1 July 2018.
  54. Witmer, Phil. "You Should Definitely Watch Jimmy Prime, Donnie, and Smoke Dawg's Team-Building Video for "Humana"". Noisey. VICE. Retrieved 1 July 2018.
  55. "Drake, BAKA NOT NICE & More Speak About Toronto's Gun Violence in Mustafa the Poet's 'Remember Me, Toronto'". HYPEBEAST.
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