This section of the Gates will dig deep for substance within the artform that has gripped me since its conception. From this a culture has emerged and progressed, and had overcome any and all obstacles. I will bring to you hiphop, uncut raw and everything else that has come with it and a little extra, extra curricular activity in between as this form of expression has grown. I myself have developed into a product of hiphop and will lead you into this world through the thick and thin, the good, the bad, plus the ugly shit that goes on. This rating system will be based on an unbiased and sometime very biased opinion from yours truly. If anyone has any feedback...sign the guestbook. Stay up.

RATING SYSTEM

From books to hooks, videos, flix to the illest kix.

BOOKS

Monster - The Autobiography Of An L.A. Gang Member
Author - Sanyika Shakur
Rating - ****
Price - $13.99 (CDN) / $10.95 (US)

Companero - The Life And Death Of Che Guevara
Author - Jorge G. Castaneda
Rating - *****
Price - $21.95 (CDN) / $16.00 (US)

Kahlil Gibran - Vision Of The Prophet
Author - Kahlil Gibran
Rating - ***
Price - $15.99 (CDN) / $12.00 (US)

Siddhartha - Siddhartha
Author - Herman Hesse
Rating - ***
Price - $4.99 (CDN) / Free (US)

Get a library card and you won't have to buy these books.

ARTISTS

This section will concentrate soley on independent local Toronto area emcess and crews that I feel are making moves and setting the pace for all artists across the map. Progression and lyrical skills along with dope productions will be exposed and never exploited as I tread through the cold waters of the north in search of unseen and unheard of talent that will definitely turn some heads and snap some neck braces. I will be incorporating some RealAudio clips of the artists and their music in the very near future, so stay tuned and check this spot for the dopest real hiphop out of Canada. Stay up.

This month we will be featuring my own crew.

Trauma Unit

A Toronto based collective made up of four emcees and one DJ who have joined forces to blend energetic and creative rhyme schemes over tight production that can only be described as truly Canadian in an industry where novelty acts dominate the charts and video channels across the globe. This group consists of individuals who have combined for over 40 years of experience within the hiphop community in Toronto and have had recent exposure in the December 1999 issue of "It's Your Time T.O" magazine and contributions to the "Beat Factory" and "Invading The Megacity" compilations and have had numerous live sessions throughout the 416/905 area over the last few years. Diversity and their powerful stage presence will definitely open the eyes and ears of all who witness this crew in action and they are here to set a new and unparalleled standard in the hiphop scene across Canada and beyond for the next millennium.

Look out for an appearance by Trauma Unit in early March for the Canadian Music Week Festival that attracts people and record execs from across the globe and the new single "Live 2 Rhyme" on 12" and hopefully if all falls into place in 2000, you will be able to see us on your TV with a blazed out video.

Clockwise from top - Salazar, Triggi and Asia

VIDEOS

Coming soon.

SNEAKERS

Since the days of parkjams, profilin' and Puma suits to name plate belt buckles and rope chains, gold fronts to last years iced out Jesus pieces, appearance and style have played a major role in hiphop. Trends and flavors of the month have come and gone and keep on coming and going but sneakers have struck a vital organ in all people who love hiphop and the fashion that has evolved right along with it. Nothing stood out more than a fresh pair of kix on someone, whether at a jam or at school you could either get props and pounds or you could get beat for your new kix, nonetheless sneakers were the item that keep people on top and beyond any trend of flavor that was hittin' during any era of hiphop and that fact still holds true to this day. So take a look at some of my first and all-time favorite kix down below and if you can remember the days when a fight meant somebody was gonna loose teeth and not their life then maybe you'll catch a flashback or memory like I did when I put this page together. Stay up.

	Nike Bruin 1980-1982 Rating - ***** My older cousin Ricardo had a pair of these sneakers back in the day and they looked tight on him so I knew what I wanted and like the born hustler I was meant to be, I got my hustle on...I begged my moms until she was fed up and couldn't hear me kick and scream no more. Next day I was the freshest short on my block and I was just flossin my new kix and I went out and played some jailbreak with some friends and after four hours of jailbreak and causing shit with my little click around our block I was walking home and I noticed that my new sneakers were all black and scuffed up with dirt and whatnot. I screamed and stomped all the way home hoping I could wash them up before mom could see them, that never happened. I was late for dinner and mom was waiting at the door and noticed the sneakers, I was whooped old school style.
	Nike Cortez 1983-1985 Rating - ***** These sneakers set me apart from most of the kids at my high school, me and some friends from the block all wore these and not too many people at my school were down with the same music and style. My little click all dressed and spoke the same slang and by this time I was already down with breaking and the graffiti thing so when I was sent to a school on the other side of the city, it was culture shock. I was the outkast, I would tag every spot and wall in that school, bathrooms, desks, lockers, you name it I marked it and some kids started to clue in to my extra curricular activities and the art teacher figured it out when he caught a glimpse of some sketches I used to work on in class. That year I was finally cuaght by the school's security team (football players) and I was suspended and eventually expelled from that school.
	Adidas Shelltop 1986-1988 Rating - ***** Black Levis and a pair of Shells were the only thing that I had in my wardrobe, Gazelles and Run DMC kept me alive and well, the kings of rock were doing a concert at Varsity Arena and it was raining but I was getting freshly dipped and I was going to my first big outdoor concert. Our click arrived and the line up was massive and the rain was hitting us like sharp needles but everybody knew the deal and this was one concert that could not be missed, the place was packed and Run DMC rocked shit for a good 45 minutes until someone caused a power shortage and the place went pitch black. All was cool for about 10 minutes then kaos ensued and everything from umbrellas to chairs were being thrown and people were wildin', hiphop was real and I was a true believer.
	Air Jordan III 1989-1991 Rating - ***** By far the most innovative and stylish sneaker to hit the street to date and it even had everybodies favorite air traveller Michael Jordan. I was already keeping my kix as fresh and clean as humanly possible so I would be very cautious when it came to kids brushin up or getting to close to my Jordans. People were getting rushed and people were getting shot for their sneakers. This new urban phenomenom would sweep the world and every large city in due time. Kids that couldn't afford these kix or just straight wanted them could easily find them in any inner city school on some unsuspecting kid that wasn't aware of this trend. Hiphop was Public Enemy and Jordans and I was neckdeep in it.