Radio Radio Want To "Tymer"

04/30/08 4:30pm

by Erik Leijon (CHARTattack)

Moncton, N.B.-based rappers Radio Radio are part of a growing francophone hip-hop movement that combines more traditional rap with grimy electronic beats. The musical sub-genre is especially gaining steam in Quebec, where Montreal's Omnikrom and France's TTC have found unexpected success meshing the two styles.

Radio Radio's Cliche Hot debut — which hits streets nationwide on May 13 through Bonsound — is more varied than that of their peers, though. While their lyrics may sound predominantly French, with a few English words tossed in, the group also rap in Chiac, an unwritten Acadian dialect that combines old French with English and slang influenced by Bostonians and Caribbean immigrants. For instance, the band frequently use the word "tymer," which means "having a good time." It's a term that describes their sound well.

"It's hard to teach it because it changes from day-to-day," says producer Lekx. "Even my friends from Moncton who live in Montreal for a while go back to Moncton and they don't understand the kids.

"We're the ones pushing [Chiac] forward into a contemporary setting right now, so a lot of people are taking notice because of our music with a language they usually think is spoken by fishermen. The contrast between electronic music culture and this old history-based language interests people."

Radio Radio also include MCs Jacobus and Timo as well as DJ Tekstyle. They first turned heads in Montreal after performing a raucous show at last year's Pop Montreal festival. The group only formed in 2007, but their dirty synth beats and rhythmic rapping style have already earned them a positive reputation among Montreal music fans who dig their improvised live beats and woodsmen appeal. Lekx theorizes his adopted city is the ideal place for this new hip-hop style to take off.

"To me, it's obvious. Techno is dead and hip-hop is dead. It's like the post-Cold War for these kinds of music, and people are getting together to do something new. Everybody here parties together. Most of the good after-parties here will be a mix of hip-hop people with techno people, drug dealers with philosophers. It doesn't discriminate. Just by hanging together, that's where the sound comes from."

Lekx also thinks Moncton's music scene was conducive to this sort of genre-splicing because "there was only one hip-hop group and one jazz group, so everyone had to party together, forcing us to mix it up."

Radio Radio recently unveiled their first music video for the album's title track. The intense pastel-colour clip was filmed in Toronto at Honest Ed's, Captain John's Harbour Boat Restaurant and a taxidermy studio. The group connected with the kitschy looks of these locations because they reminded them of their sound.

"There's a lot of character and depth to every sound and word we use," says Lekx. "The sound is old and warm, but there's a rhythmic, dance-oriented aspect, too."

Radio Radio are planning a cross-Canada summer tour in conjunction with the 400th anniversary of the founding of Quebec City. Here are their spring dates:

April 30 Montreal, QC @ Cafe Campus
May 2 Joliette, QC @ L'Azile
May 3 Trois-Rivieres, QC @ L'Embuscade
May 7 Alma, QC @ La Boite A Bleuets
May 8 Chicoutimi, QC @ Le Bunker
May 9 Quebec City, QC @ Le Scanner
May 16 Moncton, NB @ Artsy Et Vintage
May 17 Cap-Pele, NB @ Club 15
June 13-14 Tadoussac, QC @ Cafe Du Fjord