Speak Out On Violence Project

A mutlimedia project created by young people from Toronto's east and west ends to address issues of violence in their communities. Presented by Urbanology Magazine & Funded By Art Reach Toronto.

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Very glad that I received some pointers on my delivery from Rich Kidd. I have a lot of respect for him as an artist so that was cool. - Mapela

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Beat selection with She Da God. I enjoyed this session because of how open and willing SDG was. She took the time to tell her story and us some tips on Fruity Loops, which is super helpful for a fellow user like me. - Mapela

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Premiering on UrbanologyMag.com "The Reason" Ft: Lasasha Nesbeth (@LuridPoisxn), Justo (@PabloStvccz), Antwan Miller (@Dready416), King of Heartz (@OnlyHeartz), Adria Kain (@AdriaKainMusic), Mapela (@MAP_ELA)

Song Produced By: She Da God

Song Recorded & Arranged By: Maajinn Bluu

Song Recorded At: Sandbox Studios

Song Mixed & Mastered By: PMck Studios

Video Produced & Directed By: Fitzroy Facey

Video Edited By: Fitzroy Facey & Kimberly Miller-Pryce

Photographer: Janelle Scott-Johnson

Film Assistant: Devante Thomas

Graphic Designer: Adrian McKenzie

Project Coordinator: Priya Ramanujam

Special Thanks To Industry Mentors & Partners: Jaydahmann, Rich Kidd, Kim Davis, Shane Stirling, Kiana “Rookz” Eastmond, Arts For Children & Youth

Made Possible By ArtReach Toronto

An Urbanology Magazine Production

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“The Reason” Ft: Lasasha Nesbeth (@LuridPoisxn), Justo (@PabloStvccz), Antwan Miller (@Dready416), King of Heartz (@OnlyHeartz), Adria Kain (@AdriaKainMusic), Mapela (@MAP_ELA)

Song Produced By: She Da God

Song Recorded & Arranged By: Maajinn Bluu

Song Recorded At: Sandbox Studios

Song Mixed & Mastered By: PMck Studios

Video Produced & Directed By: Fitzroy Facey

Video Edited By: Fitzroy Facey & Kimberly Miller-Pryce

Photographer: Janelle Scott-Johnson

Film Assistant: Devante Thomas

Graphic Designer: Adrian McKenzie

Project Coordinator: Priya Ramanujam

Special Thanks To Industry Mentors & Partners: Jaydahmann, Rich Kidd, Kim Davis, Shane Stirling, Kiana “Rookz” Eastmond, Arts For Children & Youth

Made Possible By ArtReach Toronto

An Urbanology Magazine Production

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A short little behind the scenes look at the project. 

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Gotta act like a man, so the hurt is in hiding.

Mapela

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Introducing Mapela

IG: Mapelaaa / SoundCloud: Mapela Music

Mapela is a  21-year-old alternative hip-hop artist. Her music travels through moods, thoughts and feelings on alternative vibes. A speaker of truth, genuinely devoted to the real. Her music is old school and new school all in one.

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Killin' for them Jordans, killin' for drugs, killin' for sales, tell me is it worth the pain if you end up killin' yourselves?

Adria Kain

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Introducing Adria Kain

IG: AdriaKain T: AdriaKainMusic Blog: AdriaKain.Tumblr.com

In my mind, there is no competition. There is no reward that waits at the end of the road. Just  a door, and behind lay's a world full of opportunities, all in which I intend to take. I've been doing this thing called music for 10 years now. Twenty-four years I've lived and breathed a dream that I always believed had to come true, and although at times I feel like maybe this just isn't for me, I'm reminded of a past that led me to similar thoughts and the promises I made for my future. Giving up is no longer an option in my life. Ever since I managed to fully comprehend that I've managed to break down walls that seemed impossible at first and now here I am standing on the edge with an album in my hand and a wide name of supporters below just waiting for me to jump. I've waited so long for this moment. I'll admit I'm scared, but I've seen and been through every possible thing that could occur, to a point where nothing is really a challenge anymore. This is still just the beginning though, and I'm ready to start.

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"Strange ain't it? How it's serve and protect, but we seem to forget that they did it. Flood the hood with the drugs and the glocks."

King of Heartz

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Introducing King of Heartz

IG: OnlyHeartz FB: King of Heartz // Soundcloud: Music Fit For A King

Brandon Roberts, aka “King of Heartz”, is a 21-year-old singer, songwriter, rapper, actor, dancer and poet, residing in the Scarborough area. King of Heartz starting singing at the young age of five with his older brother in church. Heartz started taking his craft of singing seriously when he was in his second last year of high school and joined the choir at West Hill C.I. and helped his choir win first place at its competition. After he graduated high school he joined an arts program called Suite Life in (2011-14). He’s performed at places such as RISE Poetry, Start Festival and had paid performances at Mammalian: Awks party. He later than joined a program called A.F.R.O (Artist for Recreating Opportunity). He is now currently a part of their team and helps out with events and facilitating programs. Outside of his life of arts he always thinks of different ways to better his community and youth growing up. He is also a young entrepreneur who is currently enrolled in a program to develop his photography business. He is actively working on an untitled R&B album that he plans on releasing summer of 2015.

Altogether King of Heartz is an all around artist and works hard and stays on the grind to make sure he becomes successful in his craft he believes that if you really want to be happy in life, you need to pursue what makes you happy and to do so with purpose.

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"Cops killin' us. Hands up, let us see them. All you hear is pop, pop, pop, pop, pop. Bleed red, three dead, I can say I'm one of them, the streets fed."

Antwan Miller

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Introducing Antwan Miller

IG: Dready416 

A young entrepreneur, father and a hip-hop musician from the west end of the city, Antwan Miller fell in love with music at a young age and since then has tried to tap into many different facets of the industry such as branding/promotion, business management and film and photography. 

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I remember being broke, moms working days and nights. Pay attention in this game, or you gonna pay the price.

Justo

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Introducing Justo

T/IG/FB: Pablo Stvccz // Soundcloud: Justo Scarborough

I'm a 21-year-old entrepreneur/artist from Galloway, Scarborough and I am the founder and CEO of #MoneyMindState, which is my company/record label/squad and most importantly Family. I make a wide range of music from trap music, club music, gangster rap, hip-hop and R&B for the ladies. #MoneyMindState

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She caters to a man, but she's not his wife, and each one gives her a bit of sugar and spice, and everything nice."

Lasasha Nesbeth

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Introducing Lasasha Nesbeth

T: LuridPoisxn FB: Lasasha Nesbeth IG: Kamekazia

My name is Lasasha Nesbeth. I am a 17-year-old Toronto artist in the making. Ever since I was 5, I wanted to create something that I could share with the world. At the age of 14, I started writing songs. I would write anything from poetry to rap, to love songs, and songs about world issues. When I was younger, I faced a lot of difficult challenges in terms of fitting in. People always thought I was weird because I didn't want to throw a basketball or kick a soccer ball; instead, I would sit in the corner and write what was on my mind. When I was younger, I was always in a different school, living in a different house forced to make new friends each and every time. My family finally decided to move somewhere we could stay. And it was in Jane and Finch. I still live here, and there are plenty of days I’m faced with things I don't want to be exposed to. I've lost a couple of friends due to violence, kids I went to school with and kids I would play with outside. It shattered my heart to know that someone that you were just smiling and laughing with could be gone the next day. For me music is the way I express myself. I started separating myself from a lot of people and started exploring music more. I grew up thinking music was only a dream, but as I progress, I can slowly see it turning into my reality.