Photos by Joshua Chia
With the nights getting longer and colder, its safe to say that the last days of summer are just ahead. The last few outdoor shows are coming and going before it’s time to wait in the cold outside packed venues. But if summer could last one more day, one more show it would be embodied in the second annual Keys N Krates Birthday party. Held at Sunnyside Pavilion, this intimate atmosphere that was more of a party than your average shows complete with dancing Disney characters, carnival games free snacks and KNK branded temporary tattoos, balloons and birthday hats. So with the cold drinks, good times and big tunes played by some of hip hop’s heavy hitters, we can suspend disbelief of the inevitable cool weather and enjoy the perfect capsulation of summer for one more day.
The party was well underway when I had arrived to the party. A giant balloon with the iconic Keys n Krates logo was floating high overhead and something of a bouncy house was situated out in the front entrance. Coming into the botanical venue, I was immediately greeted by two lovely ladies who were giving out temporary tattoos and party hats next to someone handing out ice cream bars. The inexplicably infectious sounds of AraabMuzik filled the space with original hip hop beats ranging from soulful to trunk rattling trap and everything in between. With the wizardry that the Diplomat associated producer was making through the speakers created an uncanny daytime summer soundtrack against the beautiful party atmosphere.
The sun was setting when producer and DJ Lunice took to the stage to turn up the party with his selection of hype trap, hip hop and Jersey Club sounds. From the selection of his tracks to his impeccable dance moves, the local half of TNGHT was just as hyped as the crowd if not even more so. Everyone, from front to back was feeding off of Lunice’s obvious energy and bouncing & dancing along with the charismatic DJ, playing tunes like Desiigner’s Timmy Turner, Hudson Mowhawke’s Chimes and NGUZNGUZU’s Skycell.
The sun was setting when producer and DJ Lunice took to the stage to turn up the party with his selection of hype trap, hip hop and Jersey Club sounds. From the selection of his tracks to his impeccable dance moves, the local half of TNGHT was just as hyped as the crowd if not even more so. Everyone, from front to back was feeding off of Lunice’s obvious energy and bouncing & dancing along with the charismatic DJ, playing tunes like Desiigner’s Timmy Turner, Hudson Mowhawke’s Chimes and NGUZNGUZU’s Skycell.
From the new school to old school, Big Tymers and overall hip hop legend DJ Mannie Fresh took to the ones and twos to throw down a little classic early 2000s hip hop. Mannie Fresh played classic bangers like Baby’s What Happened to The Boy, Big Tymers anthem Real Big, and Lil Wayne’s Go DJ that had the crowd undoubtedly excited off the hype of his presence alone, but took it to another level with people singing along to these essential tracks. Mannie Fresh kept his set strictly hip hop with the likes of Fatman Scoop’s Be faithful, Black Sheep’s Engine No.9 intro to The Choice is Yours into Biggie’s Mo Money Mo Problems, a medley of classic West Coast hip hop from the likes of Snoop Dogg, Dr.Dre, Tupac and NWA. It was unreal seeing such a more recent hip hop icon come through Toronto for such a local show.
To end off an already unimaginably unbelievable evening, the birthday boys of Keys N Krates went to work showcasing their world-renowned talents to the overly eager home crowd. With a stage set-up reminiscent of their Midnite Mass Tour, the trio was backed by an ominous foggy white light for their Midnite Mass and U Already Know intro. With every note, beat, and chord, the crowd was completely ecstatic to see the aficionados of hip hop play some of their most notable tracks including Are We Faded, Hypnotik and Understand Why. As per any Keys N Krates set, the boys would steer from playing a few of their songs traditionally and venture off into an enticing jam session, with tonight being no exception. Tracks such as their iconic Trove Lo flip of Habits, TNGHT’s Higher Ground and always impeccable Dum Dee Dum. Keys N Krates lit up the night to as sea of lighters and cell phone lights waved in unison to the melodically mellow Nothing but Space. The hometown boys ended with an equally melodic and beautiful remix of CHVRCHES’ Bury It.
For the second year, Keys N Krates’ threw the biggest birthday bash/ love letter to the city with a humbly intimate party that any hip hop fan would appreciate. And for the second year and for every year Keys N Krates decided to throw one of these outstanding little shindigs, the Keys n Krates Birthday Party will always be synonymous to capturing the epitome of summer before it’s fleeting days.
