Northern Exposure is Spinner Canada's weekly MP3 column highlighting the best in new Canadian music. This week we go daily to feature the finest acts at Toronto's North by Northeast festival (June 17-21).

After garnering buzz in the early part of the decade, Toronto MC D-Sisive all but fell off the map before storming back with a flurry of morose, introspective releases over the past year, including two mixtapes and his first full-length, 'Let The Children Die' (Urbnet).

Though it took the rapper, born Derek Christoff, nearly ten years to drop his debut album, it was for good reason -- he was dealing with the death of both his parents during that time, struggling with depression and losing his inspiration to write rhymes. But D-Sisive, who got his start at 15 on the local open-mic circuit as a battle freestyler, managed to channel his demons into song, releasing the highly personal, bleak EP 'The Book' last year, which nabbed a Juno nomination for best rap recording.

'Let the Children Die' follows in that moody vein, drawing on influences as varied as Tom Waits, Iggy Pop and Daniel Johnston. While those artists may not be the usual rap touchstones, D-Sisive also calls in favours from such Canadian hip-hop legends as Classified, Buck 65, Sweatshop Union and DJ Grouch to take guest turns on the new album.

D-Sisive's left-field take on hip-hop is akin to that of fellow indie rapper Buck 65, who drops a verse on album closer 'The Superbowl Is Over,' which features D-Sisive's wily rhymes over a brooding slow-shuffle beat that skulks along like an impending thunderstorm.

D-Sisive has noted that the track, based on gonzo journalist Hunter S. Thompson's suicide note, brings things full-circle: his first live show in 1995 was opening for Buck 65's old band, Sebutones.

While undeniably dark (like much of the material on 'Children'), 'Superbowl' also showcases D-Sisive's knack for canny wordplay and a compelling beat. Christoff has said he'd like to be known more as a songwriter than simply a rapper -- with standout tracks like 'Superbowl' punctuating 'Let the Children Die' (which was just long-listed for the Polaris Prize this week), it's clear he's well on his way to accomplishing that goal.

Download: D-Sisive, 'The Superbowl is Over (feat. Buck 65)' (MP3)

NXNE set: D-Sisive plays the Just Entertainment showcase at Bread & Circus on June 18 at 11:20 pm


Next MP3