M. Phasis & Factor - Another 3 Days

 

Hello folks - Trylemma here with a special "guest" post for the end of this December week! Today's fossil is the highly obscure "Another 3 Days" EP from Canadian super-producer Factor Chandelier and Saskatoon OG M.Phasis!

Dimxsk and I recently had the chance to cop this jewel, something that we both knew about but had never heard or come across. The EP is a collaboration between Factor (who both produces and raps on the project) and M.Phasis, and is a follow up to their initial 2002 EP outing, "3 Days Later." It was one of the earliest outputs from Factor's Off Beat Productions label, which later transformed into Side Road Records (which later melded into Fake Four.) This EP was only available on small amounts of homemade CDRs at Saskatoon shows, so the rarity is real.

As a Factor stan, I was hyped just to have this thing finally. I'll admit, however, I wasn't expecting much based on the "3 Days Later" EP, which was a bit of a disjointed effort in my opinion. The songs sounded more like studio rough drafts and the samples didn't really work for me - though the entire project was created from scratch to finish in, as the title hints, 3 days. To my surprise, however, this follow up, which dropped less than a year after the original and followed the same 3 day scratch to finish format, greatly greatly improved on its predecessor. 

The songs on "Another 3 Days" sound very clean, the production is crisp, and Factor and M.Phasis really seem in pocket with both the beat selections and the instrumentals (all things that were sort of missing from the original EP.) There's some great bouncy tracks like "Better Days" (which sounds like it could have been the single off the project) and "Another Outro" that come across as joints that could have worked for Factor's collabo with Akuma, "Dawn of a New Era." There's also some really good more mellow tracks like "Doin' It" and "MF Anthem Remix" (which features one of two Kay the Aquanaut appearances on this EP and which is a much improved remix of a track from "3 Days Later") that are definitely building blocks in the staple Factor prairie sound. 

Clocking in at about 24 minutes, "Another 3 Days" is a really must listen for fans of Factor. There was actually meant to be a third installment in the 3 Days trilogy, but that unfortunately never came to be :(. Peep below for the DL! 

(BTW, I'm hoping to return to UGF in some capacity in the New Year!) 

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Factor, Factor, and Factor Oh My!

 

2020 hasn't brought us much good (good job last Tuesday tho folks,) but one small solace can be found in the great Factor Chandelier (the best producer OAT imo) seemingly channeling his 2010 self and dropping numerous gems on us throughout the year. For those at home keeping score, here's what he's given us thus far:

Factor started things off with his solo release "First Storm," which featured some great tracks from Onry Ozzborn, Mestizo, and Cadence Weapon among others. From there, he switched things up and gave us a super solid boom bappy EP with Dope KNife in "Kill Factory." He then gave us an EP with Crabstyle MC LOGS, "Voyager," and an EP with Cali legend Myka 9, "People Into Making Progress," which coincided with a vinyl release of the duo's 2009 album, "1969" via Fake Four. Most recently, he collaborated with Oldominion rapper Diveyede on the EP "Goldbloom," a dark gothicy soundscape. And if all that wasn't enough, he's got a new instrumental album dropping later this month, available for pre-order now, called "Eastlake" (I was lucky enough to hear this and it's crazy!) And of course, there's singles in the mix too, my favorites being "DRKWLKR" from Ceschi + Siul Hughes and "Purple Bruise" from Dex Riley. 

So if your backlog is long, thanks in no small part to all these Bandcamp Fridays, and you haven't gotten around to all these releases yet - make sure to make them a priority! 

Prairie Rap Ultimate Box Set (+ Help Out Factor!)

Today I'd like to share a list/playlist made by an RYM buddy of mine, BrothermanTrill. The list tracks the history and current state of so-called Canadian "Prairie Rap," a movement best known for giving us the likes of Side Road Records, Peanuts and Corn Records, and Clothes Horse Records. BrothermanTrill identifies key releases, provides historical context via interviews and reviews, and provides a Youtube playlist consisting of songs from the projects he covers (the playlist includes some rare tracks!) If you're at all interested in the sub-genre, be sure to give it a peep HERE.

In related Prairie Rap news, the great Factor Chandelier recently had his basement flood, causing him to lose a portion of his equipment. Consider helping him out by copping some of his music on the Fake Four or Factor Chandelier Bandcamp pages. Fake Four put together a great package bundle consisting of, at least, 12 Factor-produced CDs for only 50 bucks. Check it HERE. 

Come back Friday for a Prairie Rap upload too! 

Rasx - 5 Flowers (Prod. by Factor Chandelier) (2012)

It's still Factor week up here, and today we're hooking you up with the 2012 EP from Rasx, produced by Factor, "5 Flowers!"

I don't know much about Rasx at all other than the fact that he's Canadian and the fact that he's a very good rapper. On "5 Flowers," Factor hooks Rasx up with 5 incredible instrumentals (not a dud in the group) and Rasx makes great songs out of all five of them. The guy has a very unique voice (think a mini Cam the Wiz?,) has great song concepts, solid rhymes, and, most impressive, very strong hooks. The Factor production obviously elevates the project to a new level, but, even on his own, Rasx is dope.

Rasx had this up on his Bandcamp at one point, but it has since disappeared and, to my knowledge, has not been made available elsewhere. Peep it below.

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New Music: Factor Chandelier - First Storm Review

It's little surprise that Factor is my favorite producer and Hip Hop artist in general. Over on my Instagram, I've been posting and doing mini-reviews of some of my favorite Factor physical media in preparation for this new solo album, "First Storm." A track by track review is obviously required, so here we go! [Feel free to listen and follow along, the album is currently streaming HERE.] 

1. Four Fifteen: I've described this album as "fireworky" and, if that's the case, this intro is the spark. The track is jittery, colorful, and a great little build up to what is to come. 

2. New View: I love that the project opens with two instrumental tracks. Factor is the clear star of the show here, and his instrumentals should be put on front display. The melody and progressive drums here are great. This entire album reminds me of a night out in the nostalgia city, and this one definitely conveys that feeling of pulling up.

3. Die Tonight Feat. Nomad: Last time we heard Nomad, of Cavemen Speak, collab with Factor, he was taking on the role of a snake oil mage promising resurrection on 2013's track "Alive Tomorrow." This time, he returns singing from the position of a man who refuses to let time get the best of him in the appropriately titled "Die Tonight." Factor's version of a slow yet triumphant ballad fits Nomad perfectly here. One of my favorite tracks on the project - video coming soon too! 

4. Better Way Feat. Ceschi: Factor has played such a large role in the recent Ceschi explosion, so it's only right that the two continue their partnership here. Lyrically, the track feels like a proper addition to the themes explored in "Sad, Fat Luck" and "Sans Soleil," with Ceschi reminiscing on the trials of life and the rap game, while also pondering an alternative path. Does anyone else catch a bit of melodic call back to "Old Graves"? Musically, the lush and full track definitely fits best here, however, as opposed to one of Ceschi's projects. Another favorite off the album for sure. 

5. Lord Taketh Feat. Mestizo: Mestizo!! Mestizo's most recent collabo album with Controller 7, "Couch," is basically Mestizo just rapping his ass off for 10 songs. On "Lord Taketh," we get the more atmospheric Mestizo, whose vocals really blend in nicely with Factor's airy, riffy instrumental. The content of reflecting on loss while just trying to get by of course fits in with the song's predecessors very well. 

6. Underground Feat. Cadence Weapon: The tempo speeds up a bit for this one. The subject matter is underground lifestyle but the track is paired with one of the most infectious earwormy melodies on the album and one of the catchiest hooks thanks to Cadence. Very solid addition. 

7. ZaapZ: I noted my "night out in the nostalgia city" metaphor earlier. The album feels like driving down a bright light city mainstreet and catching colorful glimpses of the past via the people you see. This headbobber instrumental feels like a slow drive intermission on the journey. 

8. Black NASA Feat. Onry Ozzborn: From here, the tracks (specifically the vocal ones,) get a bit grimier - and what better way to do that than with Onry Ozz! With an eerily relevant opener line, "Tell everyone to stay indoors for the time being," Onry delivers an ominous track relating to the various traps and pitfalls in life. The keys that Factor puts behind him are awesome, giving off a back alley type of feel. 

9. Long Game Feat. Dope KNife: This one might be the only slight misstep on the album imo. Dope KNife, a great rapper, crafts some good verses in tribute to lost friends, but the minimalistic drums sort of take me out of both the song and album in general. The hook also leaves a bit to be desired. Not a bad track by any means, but likely the one I'm most likely to skip over as time goes on. 

10. Lawnchair Feat. Taylor Jade: Going back to my metaphor, this slower instrumental, with some great background vocalizing from Taylor Jade, feels like an intersection U-turn to me, which itself serves as some metaphor of the reflective theme of the project. The horns near the end are top notch as well. 

11. Hurricane Ex Feat. Kay The Aquanaut: Another contender for best song on the album. Factor's synths on this are strong and mesmerizing, and really tell a story on their own. Kay's additions are equally impressive, giving us a harsh "tribute" to an ex, which may be an actual ex-partner and/or a placeholder for something greater (e.g. the scene.) This also has the strongest hook on the album. 

12. First Storm Feat. Myka 9: We first got to hear this title track as part of last year's "Years" compilation, which collected all three albums from Myka 9 and Factor in addition to loosie tracks they worked on together. At first, I wasn't a huge fan of the song, but re-visiting it here within this context makes me enjoy it much more. As the last vocal track on the album, we're given the juxtaposition of a forbidding, slightly jittery, instrumental and Myka's calm attention-demanding voice. The song follows the attempt to maintain sanity amidst the storm. As a wrap-up to the album, this works very well. 

13. Ocean Steps: A quiet melodic instrumental, and easily my favorite instrumental track off the album. The song feels like a sunrise after a long night (or storm.) If anything, I just wish we got a slightly extended version. Vintage Factor. 

14. Verbeke '91: The official closer is a 30 second track comprised mainly of some vocal recording or sample. I'm not sure the history or meaning behind this one, but I'm intrigued to find out.


Overall, "First Storm" is another strong entry into the Factor catalogue. If I had to compare it to a past work, it'd be 2008's "Chandelier." Lyrically, this album is a bit darker, but musically, "First Storm" shares, and builds upon, the explosive colorful sounds of "Chandelier." Stream, download, and buy merch (vinyl, cds, cassettes, shirts, hats) from the album HERE!