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Sometimes the greatest talents are right in front of your face and you don't even know it. I attended the Over The Top Festival, here in Toronto a couple of weeks ago and was introduced to a local hip-hop act wordPeople. Melissa Cameron (aka Missy Cam) caught my ear right away and reminded me of a younger, far less weathered Fergie. As the vocalist in this indie rock rap band, Cameron steals the show with her heavy vocals and natural range. Emcee ape.X certainly holds his own while Cameron weaves in and out of his rhymes like a pro. If you're looking to hear some cool Canadian music, bubbling under the radar this summer, try out their debut album People's Eatery and let me know what you think. Missy Cam is undoubtedly on her way to killin' it.
LARISSA PRIMEAU - Elle Canada
It no small feat producing a debut full-length album, and celebrating that milestone usually draws friends and fans of the band that they've made along the way, which explains why the hip-hop/funk/rock group wordPEOPLE played to a jam-packed house for the release of their new album People's Eatery.
The band had the stage designed for this special show, with a white screen in back to display projected video, and mock bar and sign setup in the corner for the turntables. In addition to the six band members, two special guests were brought up to help out on two separate songs. One of them was Nate Kreiswirth from Cancel Winter who joined in the vocals for Just Don't Know. With the crowd right up at the stage from start to finish, there was dancing and cheering throughout the concert. For the second last song, the band presented a huge "gold chain" to singer Missy Cam and passed her a wad of [fake] bills... the perfect lead in to Money Hungry, the song that appeared to garner the most respect.
PETE NEMA
- Pete Nema
Holy shit.
Those were the first two words that went through my head as I listened to the first track on this bands Myspace page, "Money Hungry." It's not often you hear a rock-rap track with banjo in it.
What's even more rare is an indie album that sounds this good. The production is incredible, Vocalist Missy Cam and emcee ape.X weave in and out with each other perfectly, and the instrumental tracks that support them are, well, killer. There's a LOT of musical maturity here... the track "Just Don't Know" has a subtlely perfect and perfectly subtle trumpet line that adds so much, you almost don't notice it (the mark of a great 'color' element, in my opinion).
This is a truly, truly talented band. Their complex mix of sounds is impressive, but what's even more impressive is how they're able to pack so much stuff into tracks that flow so damn well. Funky, fun, danceable and remarkably mature, this bands' music should impress any listener who gives a damn.
POSTED BY OLS
- Canadian Band Reviews
Saturday: The Budos Band, wordPEOPLE, DJ John Kong @ Polish Combatants Hall, May 23
After some always-masterful spinning by Do Right! label head John Kong, Toronto’s own wordPEOPLE took to the stage with a sack of tunes from their People’s Eatery disc and a boho vibe in full effect. Apparently pop-hop can be competently performed, full of crowd interaction and sound generally alright, and still have the rancid whiff of college-party-band Black Eyed Peas–style goofiness.
DAVE MORRIS
- EYE WEEKLY
I’m definitely digging the poetic lyrical stylings of wordPEOPLE. Lead singer Missy C passed over their newest album ‘The Peoples Eatery’ for me to check out and I am impressed. I have a love for well written lyrics and lust for beats with rhyme and style. There’s a common sound between older Black Eyed Peas or Roots albums that is positive & uplifting, makes you bob your head while you listen. Missy C has a soothing voice that makes me wish I knew the lyrics so I could sing along. I also know that she has wicked style, looking forward to seeing her on stage! The emcee ape.X can rhyme the way I like, quick but clear. Makes you want to listen to it over and over. My favorite tracks are ‘Just Don’t Know, ‘People’ cause of the fat fast pace and the album title track ‘The Peoples Eatery’. The track ‘Swinga Things’ has a really light beat that’s super catchy; reminds me a bit of Lilly Allen. I love it.The sound of this entire album is kinda R&B, funk, rock, with some old school flava; an eclectic mix of music to my ears. I can see myself dancing at their next show or on a sunny summer afternoon with pints and friends (same thing). I’m looking forward to their next show. They just played in Guelph last week. I’m keen to check out the live performance for stage presence, seems like they have a lot of energy, and well, that is exactly what I like.
CASIE STEWART - Casie Stewart
Guelph-based group, wordPEOPLE provide a refreshing and innovative mix of funk, hip-hop, R&B and rock on their album People's Eatery. This 13-track album is full of great party songs with rocking lyrics. People's Eatery features many guest volcalists including PHATT al, Moka Only, The Good Lovelies and Louwop the Dirty General.
Their songs speak to the world as we experience it today including songs like 'Keep Up' which illustrates a battle with money troubles, a problem which many are experiencing due to the recent economic crisis. I also loved 'Summer in the City'. I listened to this song while getting ready to go to the bar, my friends loved the beat! 'Serious' is a great anthem for empowered singles who don't want to take any crap from ex-lovers.
In short, I love this album! The band is talented and these tunes are fun and funky, what more could you ask for? Pop this album in on your way to school for a pick me up or with friends at a party.
4/5
NATALIE MALTZ
- The Ontarion
Final act of the evening was wordPeople. a six-piece from Toronto. Hip hop with a live band is always more appealing, in my opinion. They’ve got a really catchy sound, and it’s hard not to move along to the beat. Vocalist Missy Cam has a fantastic voice that complements MC Ape X beautifully. I think we’ll be seeing more of them.
MELISSA GIRIMONTE
- Toonage-Toronto's Music Magazine
wordPEOPLE ***
The People’s Eatery
Independent
On their MySpace, wordPEOPLE describe their tunes as “Bump bump in the trunk funk” and this assortment of swinging beats, old-school funk and tight raps creates an ideal bump ‘n’ grind party atmosphere — provided you’ve got a short memory. The album’s cover and concept (featuring an actual restaurant called People’s Eatery) refers a little too obviously to another rap album depicting a storefront, but recollections of Paul’s Boutique and its retro-raiding innovations are also prompted by the blend of funky sampling styles found inside. Tracks like “Aint What You Seem” even ape the age-old rhythms of Sly and the Family Stone, yet, despite these entrenched mores, this debut gallops along with joyful exuberance.
CHRISTIAN MARTIUS - EYE WEEKLY
When you hear the term Canadian hip-hop these days, it's most
likely that you'd hear the name K-OS soon after. If you're from the
K–W and Guelph area you may also (or at least you soon will) hear
the name Word People. With half the band stationed in Guelph
and the other half in Toronto, Word People have become
somewhat of a local sensation.
Winning the Rhythm of the Future contest, hosted by
Kitchener's own 91.5fm the Beat, the band has proved itself to
have a serious fan base in this region. Coming in first place for
best band they were given $17,500 to put towards the production
of their first album, Vol.1: PLAYONWORDS, which is scheduled to
be the first in a series of collectable eps. They have recorded a
radio edition of their first single “Off the Hook” to go on rotation
here in Kitchener, and another Can West Global subsidiary in
British Columbia. Once the band is well received Canada will have
another name synonymous with hip-hop.
Vol.1: PLAYONWORDS hosts the sounds of emcee Johann
People, vocalist Lisa People, guitarist Ben People, bassist Dave
People, drummer Noel People, saxophonist Nick People and
keyboardist Sean People, as well as the turntable styles of DMS
People. An amalgamation of eight individuals with like minds.
Their positive vibe and hip-hop-soul beats keep the dance floor
packed and energy high. "If you can walk you can dance, if you
can talk then you can sing. It's all beautiful if it comes from
within" flies out of the speakers in the song "Foolin' Yourself."
Singing praise to the beauty inside, and pass on the lifestyles of
the rich and famous–"We're not about money and women, you
know what I mean?" states Noel People. So what are they about?
Working man's simple pleasures: Love of family, community,
healthy food, music, dance, expression and soul. In "Soul Up" they
describe themselves as "advocates of peace" and "avid mad pacifists." In "Off the Hook" they explain that they're "tryin' to
weave and thread some happiness back into malaise," bringing
hip-hop back to the foundation from which it came.
Be sure to catch Word People at Club Vinyl March 24th as
they release their first ep to the public. A somewhat regular at the
Reverb in Toronto, should you miss their show here, you can see
them open for legendary Ike Turner April 16th (That's right, I said
Ike Turner) and, according to Noel, it's an honour but "it's funny." - ECHO WEEKLY
Discography
"Run For Your Life" - Single (Digital single on iTunes, November 2010)
"People's Eatery" - LP (Digital and physical LP on iTunes and Maple Music, Sept 2009)
***Album charted in the top ten (Ear Shot/Chart Attack) on college radio for 13 weeks, reaching as high as #2
***"Keep Up" from wordPEOPLE's debut LP was featured on Global/ABC's TV series "Rookie Blue" (July 2010)
"PLAYONWORDS VOL. 1" - EP (Maple Music, 2005)
Photos
Bio
Anything worth doing should be done right the first time. While we’ve all heard the adage a million times, how many of us have actually applied it to our lives? Unleashing Toronto’s most intense fusion of hip-hop, funk, rock and R&B, wordPEOPLE have done just that. However, as the tale behind their debut independent full-length People’s Eatery proves, it took a while to get this collection of 13 tracks done right.
wordPEOPLE came together in 2003 and quickly garnered praise for their original style and crowd moving performances, winning talent shows and releasing their PLAYONWORDS EP in 2005. The first single, “Foolin Yourself” reached Number Two on the request-based “Top 9 at 9 Countdown” on 91.5fm The Beat in the South Western Ontario region. Pleased with the reception and success of PLAYONWORDS, wordPEOPLE set their sights on a full-length. Teaming with producer Adam King (Cancel Winter, The Good Lovelies, Run With The Kittens), the group quickly realized that despite the initial strength of the songs, they wanted something more for People’s Eatery. Restructuring People’s Eatery extended beyond the music. While not a conceptual effort, apeX relates that the album is tied together by the common theme of people watching, a bird’s eye view of the everyday.
“We imagined just sitting and watching what people do. What’s happening in their lives? Naturally, the observations are diverse: that guy over there is “sitting on the fringe of a binge like Sin City citizens, where moves are calculated by the neighbour’s dividends,” he’s stressed about money (‘Keep Up’); the woman over there is in love but is too shy to speak to the object of her affection (‘Just Don’t Know’); the group of folks over there left work early because they really need to decompress through dance (‘People’). Musically and lyrically, it’s a mix of the “physical and digital, the sensible and whimsical,” he states.
The end result? wordPEOPLE offers 13 tracks of poetic honesty, musical prowess and spotless production. Expanding their vision to incorporate guest musicians, wordPEOPLE not only restructured internally but also unwittingly redefined the parameters of what constitutes a band. To explain, People’s Eatery features guest appearances by independent luminaries such as God Made Me Funky’s PHATT al, Moka Only, The Good Lovelies AND Louwop the Dirty General.
“I like the idea of making records with other people,” apeX smiles. “We go through the writing process ourselves and then it’s fun to see how someone else interprets what we’ve done. I don’t think it sounds like a typical guest-spot record though. Everywhere people guest, it fits and the album becomes really diverse. Bringing our friends into People’s Eatery is the perfect way to augment the base we’ve set. We care about the songs enough to let others in on what we’re crafting instead of limiting ourselves to the confines of our members.”
Moreover, by including such a diverse group of musicians and lyricists on People’s Eatery, wordPEOPLE ensure that their music truly does defy classification. While many bands and artists are quick to hide behind definition, wordPEOPLE embrace all aspects, confident that their ability to span musical gaps obliterates constriction and guarantees appeal to all walks of life.
As apeX declares, “eclectic may be a sub genre these days but that’s what we are.”
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