Friday Feb 15 @ Gladstone Hotel, 9:45pm

I get really excited when I hear good Canadian hip-hop. More or Les, Cadence Weapon, Shad, Socalled, K'naan, Kardinal Offishall… it seems like it's a pretty small list that's slowly growing. The next guy in line to dominate the Canrap throne is Abdominal. His song “Pedal Pusher” is a bona-fide hit, helping him snag the SOCAN Echo Songwriting prize and a CBC Radio 3 Bucky Award for Best Rap. Yeah yeah whatever, awards shows are rigged and no one gives a fuck. Just listen to this guy and your neck will be sore for days from nodding your head in agreement.— Ryan McLaren