Citizen Kane - The Epic EP - 1997

EP - 1997 - Treehouse Records 

For those who don't know that 12", It's a must have !!! The Epic EP is the second record released by the legendary Canadian group Citizen Kane (Jeff Duke a.k.a. Swinger Spade a.k.a J-Spade, Rob Paris a.k.a. Blye and manager Adrian Perry a.k.a. Aje.) from the Scarborough projects, Toronto.

 In 1996, they dropped their debut singles "Structure / Foundation (What's the Plan)" which also featured on the classic various artists compilation "BeatFactory's Rap Essentials Volume 1" released the same year. One year later, the group will be back with the Epic EP, a 6-Track EP (5 songs + 1 instrumental) on Treehouse Records, an independent record label owned and managed by Nick Holder.

In the Back : Citizen Kane & Nick Holder - Photo courtesy of Behind The Music Tales

The productions were handled by K-Cut of Main Source for the tracks "Raisin' Kane" and "Lost Angels", and by ERF Productions (Wall & Steel a.k.a The Twins) for the tracks "Elements Of Mind" (Black Rain Remix), "The Gambler" and "Reality N' Facts". Here is what was written on the official promo sheet at the time :

CITIZEN KANE

A citizen is an individual who strives to live a meaningful, and honest life in society. The name Kane is taken from the biblical name Caine, the son of Adam, the first child of sin. Citizen Kane symbolizes the constant struggle that exists within each one of us.

The three elements that comprise Citizen Kane; Spade, "the method", Blye, "the madness", and Aje, "the reality", are all old school students with a new school philosophy. "We bring a knowledge of self while maintaining a level of realness in our music", Aje says.

The trio have been members of the Toronto hip-hop scene over the last ten years, and have quickly emerged as one of the leading rap groups in Canada. Since 1995, with the release of "Soul Survivor" on the Zulu Nation compilation, It's All Good, Citizen Kane continue to solidify their foundation.

Whether it be their 1996 release, "Structure / Foundation", featured on Beatfactory's RapEssentials Volume 1, or their indie single, "Black Rain", which was released earlier in '97. Citizen Kane consistently enlighten, motivate and inspire through their unrivaled, underground sound.

Now, Citizen Kane is poised to release their EP, The Epic. Five new joints displaying their, growth, maturity and insightful musical approach. From ill scenarios like " The Gambler", or trials and tribulations on tracks like "Lost Angels", to the bangin' underground joint "Reality and Facts", the Epic gives a well rounded perspective into their hip-hop world.

Much like the film "Citizen Kane", which was deemed a movie well ahead of it's time, and still revered as an epic to this day, Citizen Kane plan to leave a similar impression on the rap world as well. 

Treehouse Records 

113 Ponymeadow Terrace, Scarborough , Ontario, Canada

tel : (416) 287 3073

After the EP was dropped, the group was nominated for a Juno Award for Rap Recording of the Year. Nowadays, a physical copy of this EP stays very hard to find, and if you're enough lucky to find it for sale it will cost you an arm and a leg ... but keep on diggin' !!!

Main Source - The Science - 2023

LP + 7" - 2023 - P-Vine Records  

 "Formed by Toronto DJ/ producers K.Cut, Sir Scratch, and Brooklyn MC/producer Large Professor, Main Source was one of the seminal groups of the East Coast’s hip-hop scene in 90’s. The original trio’s first and only album Breaking Atoms, was released in 1991 to critical and commercial acclaim, before Large Professor left the group. They recorded a second album, The Science, and even ran ads for it in The Source, before the group’s breakup led to its indefinite shelving. Until now!

P-VINE RECORDS is proud to announce that we’re giving The Science its long deserved official release, almost three decades after it was initially set for release. This gem among gems of 90’s hip-hop, which had never seen so much as a bootleg release, is going to be released on CD(7/5), Analog vinyl (1xLP and 1xLP+7 Inch)(11/15, and cassette tape(7/5).

With tracks such as “Bootleg”, “Raise Up, “Time (Alternate Mix)”, and “Hella Vision”, taken from master tapes owned by the three original members, as well as well-loved classics like “Fakin’ The Funk” and “How My Man Went Down In The Game”, this record is sure to be killer. Large Professor’s flows are as smooth and lyrical as ever, and the sample-heavy beats that the producers lay down are supreme. Trust me when I say, that this is one record you’re not going to want to miss." - courtesy of P-Vine Records 

A1. Time Pt. 2

A2. Interlude one

A3. How My Man Went Down In The Game

A4. Interlude two

A5. Hellavision

A6. Interlude three

A7. Raise Up

A8. Interlude four

B1. Looking At The Front Door [Uncut]

B2. Interlude five

B3. Fakin' The Funk [Unreleased]

B4. Interlude six

B5. Bootlegging

B6. Time

B7. Outro Interlude

B8. Fakin' The Funk [Sound Track Version]

7-inch 

A1. Fakin' The Funk [Unreleased]

B1. Timez

Release Date : November 2023

More info on Get On Down... Stay Tuned !

If you want to grab your copy directly from Japan now, you can pre-order it HERE. The album is also available on CD & Cassette. 

MAIN SOURCE - P-Vine Japan Picture Vinyl - 2023

Japan's P-Vine present a batch of Main Source's picture vinyl for your record collection... The first "Breaking Atoms" still considered one of the greatest 90's Hip-Hop albums, has been reissued in analog form on 2-disc picture vinyl. Four 7" titles including "Live At The Barbeque" and "Looking At The Front Door" are also available.  

Order : P-Vine / Juno Records 

Main Source - Breaking Atoms 2xLP - 2021

2xLP - 2021- 90's Tapes / HHV

90's Tapes are back once again with Main Source's classic debut "Breaking Atoms" from 1991. It comes with additional "Records Revisited" inlay sheet.

A1 - Snake Eyes

A2 - Just Hangin’ Out

A3 - Looking At The Front door

A4 - Large Professor

B1 - Just A friendly Game Of Baseball

B2 - Scratch & Kut

B3 - Peace Is Not The Word To Play

B4 - Vamos A Rapiar

C1 - He Got So Much Cool (He Don’t Need No Music)

C2 - Live At the Barbeque Feat Nas , Joe Fatal & Akinyele

C3 - Watch Roger Do His Thang

D1 - Just A Friendly Game Of Baseball (Remix For Our Friends In A Tribe Called Quest)

D2 - Time

D3 - Fakin’ The Funk

D4 - Peace Is Not The Word To Play (Remix)

"With "Breaking Atoms", the trio comprised of K-Cut, Sir Scratch and Large Professor delivered a timeless classic in Hip Hop history. The album features cameos by a young Nasty Nas, Joe Fatal and Akinyele as well as a co-production by Pete Rock. Setting standards with its »crunchy digitized drums, choppy segmented samples, and murky filtered basslines«, as Ben Detrick wrote in the Village Voice, the album received 4.5 mics in the Source that later on in 2002 were revised to 5 mics." - courtesy of 90's Tapes

From The Source - May 1991 - Scan courtesy of Slurgd

Order your copy :  2xLP / CD / Cassette

Godd Boddies - Ill Visions - 2021

LP - 2021 - Item Records / Taha Records 

Godd Boddies was a Canadian crew composed of Knowledge Power and Igodevine from Scarborough, Eastern part of the city of Toronto (Ontario). The album "Ill Vision" came out in 1997 on Def Beat Records, and was produced by Godd Boddies and K-Cut (Main Source). 2 versions of this album already exist : The original version was released on Def Beat Records with 19 tracks only available on CD format and the second version from Koch International was released on CD & Tape in 1998 with 22 tracks. The album is now available for the first time on vinyl with the help of Taha & Item Records.

Order (First Drop) : Red Vinyl / Black Vinyl 

Gee Bag x Illinformed - American Dreams + Remixes - 2020

Citizen Kane - Soul Survivor / Raisin Kane 7" - 2018

7" - 2018 - Treehouse Records 

The Scarborough based trio Citizen Kane is back with 2 brand new  7-Inches : the first 7" (Green vinyl) features the groups first single "Soul Survivor" produced by Down To Erf. The second 7" (Blue vinyl) features "Raisin Kane", a track produced by K-Cut from Main Source and originally released on the rare "The Epic" EP in 1997. Both records will be available for sale soon via Discogs only, ... stay tuned fellas !!

Album Review : Main Source - Breaking Atoms - 1991

LP - 1991 - Wild Pitch Records

From The Source - May 1991 - Scan courtesy of Slurgd

From Hip Hop Connection - March 1991 - Scan courtesy of Underground United  

Atomic Funk - Main Source

From Hip-Hop Connection - April 1991

Mass Appeal Presents Main Source: 25 Years of "Breaking Atoms"

Rap City - 1993 : Main Source Intoducing Mikey D

New Rap City video from 1993 uploaded by Hias74 , K-Cut and Sir Scratch of Main Source introduce the group's newest MC,  Mikey D. 

Album Review : Main Source ‎- Fuck What You Think - 1994

LP - 1994 (officially released in 1998) - Wild Pitch Records 

From Hip-Hop Connection - April 1994