Toronto has been on the map ever since Drake came up and The Weeknd became one of the biggest pop stars in the entire world. In recent times, a young cat by the name of Jazz Cartier has come up to gain a portion of the Toronto hip hop scene's spotlight. With a following that seems to grow each day, Cartier is poised to have a huge year. His latest track, "Opera," is a monstrous rap track that expands on the modern rap sound spearheaded by the likes of Travi$ Scott and Future.
About nine months ago, Jazz Cartier released his debut album Marauding In Paradise. You can stream the full release on Soundcloud, but if you want a better screenshot of the best Cartier work to date, follow along as we list his ten essential tracks.
"New Religion"
If you like auto-tuned staccato flows, Jazz Cartier could just be your favorite new rapper. As Jazz proclaims on this track, "I'm Kanye with shrugs / Hard to be sane on these drugs." The moody track has a huge beat produced by Lantz, and our subject blesses it properly.
"Switch / The Downtown Cliche"
So technically this is two tracks, but he released them in the music video like that, and we ain't mad at it. The low-budget visuals keep it real on a high school football field and around the neighborhood.
"Switch" is a big track, but "The Downtown Cliche" really kicks the intensity up a few notches. Not unlike "U Guessed It," the slow beat garners vocals that wouldn't be out of place on a hardcore track.
"Set Fire"
There's a little bit of "Send It Up" on this one. The hyphy track, again produced by Lantz, is a good snapshot of Jazz's style: energetic, cocky and quite in line with the modern aesthetic.
"Wake Me Up When It's Over"
Cartier uses music videos to the fullest, which is clutch in the modern age. Crispy visuals accompany "Wake Me Up When It's Over," including sites of fencing, piano-playing, and life on the estate.
"Always Up To Something"
If you want to feel the depths of winter in a music video, look no further. Director Jon Riera puts visuals to one of Cartier's softer tracks in "Always Up To Something."
Item #6
"The Valley / Dead Or Alive"
Another two-part music video from Cartier, and another opportunity to put two songs in a place that only one word normally work. "The Valley" is a short appetizer before "Dead Or Alive" comes in with all its hyphy glory.
"Feel Something"
This one gets deep. The introduction is a tear-jerking sample from the movie Rachel Getting Married, where the character depicts her loss of religion and struggle to stay sober. Cartier elaborates on the sample by spitting these bars:
"I've been trying to take control of what I'm doing, but I lost it
Lately I don't know what I've been doing, have I lost it?
The high is almost over, just relax and keep composure
Add some liquor to your liver, smoke a cigarette for closure"
"I Know"
We love Jazz over hyphy trap bangers, but he's also able to do something really special over moody, slow jams. If "I Know" is a taste of things to come, we're hungry for more.
"Stick & Move"
Here's some recent Jazz Cartier for your pallet. He came up with the release of Marauding In Paradise, and hasn't really slowed down since. Here's to 2016, Jazz, we can't wait to see what you do with it.
"Opera"
The latest Jazz Cartier offering definitely sounds at least a little bit like Travi$ Scott. The auto-tuned vocals pair well with the monstrous beat, and it seems clear that Jazz is tapped into the sound of today.