Luxe

Burlington, ON – Originally published January 9, 2015 – HipHopCanada has teamed up with MC Luxe Taylor (formerly known as Luc Toews) to premiere the first single, “On,” off of Luxe’s forthcoming Pipedream EP.

Luxe is entering 2015 with a new stage name, an upcoming new EP release, and a bit of a different sound. While Luxe has proven to be a master of replay value and catchy hooks, he uses this song to introduce a different side of himself: a hungry trappy side of himself. “On” is a banger of serious status; instead of turning up, Luxe is turning on. Check out the track premiere below.



Luxe Taylor - On [Audio] #Premiere - HipHopCanada.com


Luxe hits the ground running over top of a RadioActive beat and let’s us know – exactly – where he stands in the game right now: “The boy is the man now.” For the record, I think that Luxe is referring to more than just age, there. I’m getting the sense that he feels like he’s matured from a “boy” in the rap game, to a “man” in the rap game.

He spent a lot of last year experimenting with his sound and learning how the rap game works. Now it’s 2015 and he’s like 854,234,654 more confident in his sound. This song boasts mad flex. Usually too much unwarranted flex on a track gets me salty. But Luxe has every right to flex right now.

I’m a huge fan of the new Luxe Taylor name, by the way. It’s the name that this young up-and-comer was producing under. And it’s not too far off from his previous “Luc Toews” name. But I like it because of that whole “Luxe” thing (that, and my computer used to always autocorrect “Luc Toews” to either “Luc Tower” or “Luc Toes”). Luxe things are nice. We all want luxe things. Luxe things are synonymous with polish and richness. I feel that. That’s “On.” - HipHop Canada

Luxe Taylor drops his first single, “On,” off of Luxe’s forthcoming Pipedream EP. Premiering on Hip Hop Canada, Luxe is looking to start off the 2015 season with a bang. Running with Drizzy’s “The boy is the man now” philosophy,”ON,” lets us know exactly what he has planned for the hip hop game. Luxe is currently doing his rounds around the radio circuit, pushing his latest single and letting the people know what’s good. Be sure to check this track out, and leave your comments below. - The Come Up Show

Sporting his blonde hair tucked in to a backward cap, old-school wayfarers and a vast arm tattoo, Luc Toews is the picture of laidback cool as he steps into my office to talk about his latest hip-hop album Life Under Construction — a play on his first name.

A third-year Western student in Urban Development originally from the Greater Toronto Area, Toews’ upbringing bears little in common with stereotypical up-and-coming hip-hop artists. Yet, despite this, Toews says the style of his new album channels an older kind of rap.

“It’s a bunch of tracks I’ve been sitting on for the summer. It’s really influenced by old-school hip-hop like old Kanye West and J-Dilla. Except for four tracks, I produced it all myself,” he explains.

Further rejecting convention, Toews also notes his album is quite personal and lyrically driven — a far cry from other contemporary artists. The jazz flute and intricate instrumentals that appear on the album further distinguish his sound.

“It’s very personal. I’ve always been making music, so it’s kind of like a story about where I started to where I am now,” he says. “I try to avoid doing just party tracks — I feel like every white rapper is doing that right now like Macklemore and Mac Miller. I’ve got nothing against those guys, I listen to them too sometimes. But I try to do more intricate lyricism, not just rapping about partying and drinking.”

Toews notes that a lot of his inspiration comes from his family, and reminiscing about growing up in the lower-middle class. He is quick to add Life Under Construction is not all seriousness and introspection — the album will contain a few party tracks for those who like to dance.

Another unique aspect about Toews’ music is his live performance. Working with band members from an older side project, all the music performed behind his rapping is done live.

“When I play shows, it’s always with the band, I never use a DJ or anything like that […] it’s very jazz infused. It’s different, but it’s still upbeat and interesting. It’s very organic and fun,” he explains.

Despite being the frontman, Toews remains extremely modest, giving credit to the band providing the music for his lyrics.

“It’s truly humbling to work with these guys. They’re at another level than me. I’m just the white kid rapping. These guys are going to school, playing jazz drums.”

Despite attending university and intending to finish his degree, music is the driving passion for Toews — something more than a hobby.

“Really, school is just plan B at the moment,” he says. “I’ve always been doing music and I definitely want to pursue it as a career.” - Western Gazette