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East Park Productions
Record label From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
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East Park Productions is a Canadian independent record label, and production company established in Toronto Ontario in 1987. It was founded by Chris "DJ Jel" Jackson, Kory "MC Shadow" Neely, and Len "Mix-Master Len" Grant Stuart,[1] and distributed by Electric Distribution.[2][1] The label was formed to support the release of its sole act the Get Loose Crew due to the lack of major record labels in the country willing to sign local hip-hop acts at the time.[3]
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In 1988, the Get Loose Crew, with additional member Carl (MC B) Badwa, brought about the first Canadian rap group to record and release an authentic hip-hop mini-album distributed and sold internationally.[1] The label was recognized and credited as generating visibility in and beyond Canada by postdoctoral fellow, Dr. Francesca D’Amico-Cuthbert PhD.[4]
East Park Productions biggest success was the Get Loose Crew, who ranked in the 5th position in May 1988 on the CHEER Backfield in Motion music chart with the song "Wannabe".[5]
Despite success on local urban music charts, the group did not release a follow up project and would disband in 1990. The label released three singles and a video trilogy for MC Shadow in 2015: "Resurrection", "Lost", and "Lullaby of Pain". "Resurrection" was documented in the 5th spot on the Indie Music/College Radio Chart !earshot.[6]
Music journalist Nardwuar has referenced the label's contribution to Canadian hip-hop. In a 2008 interview with Maestro Fresh Wes, Nardwuar asked if their vinyl release was the first in Canada. Wes confirmed its significance and that it predated his own debut.[7] Kardinal Offishall affirmed similarly in a 2005 interview. In 2017, in NOW Magazine, he was featured holding the album, describing it as "the first Canadian rap record, produced by The Get Loose Crew in 1988."[8]
Toronto Free Gallery’s 2010 T-Dot Pioneers exhibition, which explored Toronto's hip-hop history, recognized the album in its display.[9]
Canadian Broadcasting Company's (CBC) 2011 Hip-hop Summit included a tribute to the group by summit host Buck 65[10] by featuring the record during the closing ceremony.
BlogTo’s 2014 article "10 most collectible Toronto albums of all time" included the Get Loose Crew's album with an honorable mention and reported that it was the first Canadian independent rap release to achieve international sales.[11]
An academic study undertaken by the Jackman Humanities Institute at the University of Toronto introduced a course of study called "Hip-hop Culture."[12][13] Dr. Francesca D'Amico-Cuthbert PhD identified the Get Loose Crew as "significant figures in Toronto's Hip-Hop history and Canada’s cultural industries." The award-winning historian and post doctoral researcher of American and Canadian hip-hop culture, commented, "the rise of East Park Productions was recognized and credited as generating visibility in and beyond Canada."[4]
In 2021, the Museum of Canadian Music inducted Get Loose Crew, MC Shadow and MC B (aka B Kool) independently as documented by author Adam P. Cray and published by the MOMC.[3]
In September 2023, Hart House at the University of Toronto exhibited "The First 50 - Toronto's Hip Hop Architects," honoring 50 key figures in the city's hip hop scene, including the Get Loose Crew.[14]
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