Click to view Canada's Urbanology Hip-Hop magazine cover.
A Quote To Remember.......
THE LATEST POINT BLANK VIDEO T.O.O.T
Monday, April 20, 2009
Saturday, February 14, 2009
Point Blank Nominated for a Juno (Best Rap Recording)
Proudly Present
2009 JUNO Nominees (Best Rap Recording)
POINT BLANK
From the projects to the podium: Point Blank’s journey
from adversity to accolades.
Feb 5, 2009 // TORONTO
It’s only a five minute drive or so from the posh Royal York Hotel, where the 2009 Juno Nominees were announced Tues morning, to the decidedly less lavish surroundings of Regent Park—Canada’s largest and oldest housing project and home to best rap contenders Point Blank.
Nevertheless, the road from Regent Park to Royal York for this veteran T.O. rap group has been anything but short or easy.
Although Point Blank have been performing together since they were junior high kids in the early ‘90s, it took until 2008 for them to drop their full-length, self-titled debut. The reason? Quite simply, the path to becoming full-time beat-makers and rhyme-sayers has often been bottlenecked by the harsh reality of growing up and making do in the inner city. And we’re not talking ancient history here either. Point Blank’s nomination was made all the more sweet as the whole group’s roster was able to savor success together for the first time in a long while—group member Jackal just finished a lengthy vacation courtesy of Canadian correction authorities last month.
Coming up in Regent Park, the seven members of PB—MCs Stump, Kidd, RPD, Jackal, Trouble and Imperial, and producer Pikihed—came under the tutelage of a local hip hop figurehead named Tilt Rock (who serves as both their label’s namesake and its’ CEO today), who inspired the impressionable youngsters to have a serious go at the rap game. Following Rock’s subsequent incarceration, PB received a further wake-up call to leave the drama of the street theatre behind and take their skills to legitimate stages. Following well-received demos, indie singles, and 2000’s compilation of previously released work, Point Blank Underground, saw their now-established regional cred transferred to national recognition with the release of the single/video “Thinline.”
Although PB went on the capitalize on the appeal of the track by performing live on Much Music and other TV and radio outlets, the shadows of their past proved difficult to outrun, thus seeing the groups’ trajectory sidetracked by frequent brushes with the law, which all but curtailed their creative output.
Facing these crossroads, Point Block apparently took stock of their situation and began the process of turning things around. It was a fruitful endeavor to say the least. In 2007, they flipped their experiences and existence in Regent Park from an obstacle to an inspiration, releasing the stunning track and video for “Born and Raised in the Ghetto” (the latter of which featured fascinating footage from the project’s past and present). To date, “Born in Raised in the Ghetto” has had over 400,000 views on YouTube , hit #1 on Much’s Rap City , and was nominated for 2007 MMVA Award (“Best Rap Video”), and a 2008 DJ Stylus Award (“Best Canadian Rap Single.”)
Since then, they’ve garnered even more praise and fanfare for their debut CD, which debuted at #1 on Soundscan’s Independent Chart and #6 on its Rap Album Chart , as well as earning them rave reviews Canada-wide and securing even more media attention such as a five-page spread in the National Post , the cover of Urbanology Magazine , the front page of the Toronto Star’s Entertainment section, a four-star review in Now Magazine , airtime on Global National News and CBC’s The National , plus additional ink and appearances on MuchOnDemand , MTV Live , EYE Weekly , and Pound .
Both the for single “God Only Knows” and the remix of “Born and Raised in the Ghetto” (featuring Kardinal Offishal, Vertigo and Frankie Payne) hit #1 on FLOW 93.5’s OTA Live Megacity Countdown , while the album ranked #33 in the National Post’s Top 100 of 2008 .
Oh, and let’s not forget this little thing called a JUNO nomination.
It’s been a long row for Point Blank, but thanks to their tenacity and perseverance, it looks like they’re finally ready to reap the rewards. Join us in wishing them a well-earned congratulation.
ADDITIONAL LINKS
Website - http://www.tiltrockinc.com
Myspace - http://www.myspace.com/til
Youtube Page - http://www.youtube.com/til
Itunes - http://www.itunes.com/poin
Thursday, December 25, 2008
POINT BLANK WISHES YOU ALL HAPPY HOLIDAYS!!
Saturday, December 6, 2008
VOTE FOR POINT BLANK IN THE REAL FREQUENCY AWARDS.
HERE ARE THE POINT BLANK PRODUCERS SHOWCASE IN LONDON, ONTARIO.
This event was the Halloween showcase back in October 2008. The video will be coming soon.
POINT BLANK OLDIE BUT GOODIE VIDEO: THESE CRIMINALS.
Shout out to 'Antifapride' on Youtube who created this video.This video is an oldie but a goodie from Point Blank that is still relevant today.
POINT BLANK'S NEW VIDEO T.O.O.T IS FINALLY HERE!!
The video was hot in July 2008 and we shall show you the making of the video soon.
Monday, November 3, 2008
TORONTO STAR ENTERTAINMENT COVER ARTICLE: Point Blank: 'We're putting the 'hood in HMV'
Photo Credit: Ashley Hutcheson/Toronto StarBen Rayner, Pop music Critic for the Toronto Star writes............
"The hip-hop game is pretty thankless in this country all around, but if your starting point is Regent Park you face a steeper uphill battle to be heard than most.
Ask the cats in Point Blank. They've been rolling together as a crew since junior high, for nearly 20 years now, and only this past September did they release an album with nationwide distribution.
It's a goodie, too. Point Blank (out on KOCH Records via the group's Tilt Rock Records imprint) is a record notable not just for the deft, battle-hardened rhymes kicked out with impossible ease by the group's six MCs – brothers Stump, Trouble and Kidd, slightly younger firebrand Imperial, Jackal and RPD, whose twin brother, Pikihed, serves as Point Blank's in-house beatmaker – and some soulful, hook-laden production, but also for the straight-up manner in which it addresses the poverty, marginalization, crime and violence that plagues life on some of Toronto's meaner streets."
Source: Toronto Star Nov 1st 2008
Thursday, October 30, 2008
POINT BLANK IN OCTOBER QUARTERLY ISSUE OF SWAY MAGAZINE. (TV ISSUE)
Freelance Journalist Kemi Omololu-Olunloyo of HipHossip took a funny picture of some members of Canadian top rap group POINT BLANK at their album debut appearance at Much Music on August 19th 2008. To see the picture, pick up the latest issue of SWAY magazine at your magazine boxes, subway news stands and libraries. It's on page 57.
LIVE POINT BLANK PERFORMANCE THIS WEEKEND SATURDAY NOVEMBER 1ST 2008.
Canada's biggest rap group - POINT BLANK (www.tiltrockinc.com) - will be doing a special show this Saturday at The Comedy Bar, 945A Blood Street West and look for them on the front page of the entertainment section on Saturday's Toronto Star! They had the #1 album on the Canadian Soundscan Indie Album Charts in August, and also the cover of Urbanology, The National Post and many other outlets in just a few months - now see them live...
THE COMEDY BAR
945A BLOOR STREET W
WIT MEGACITY'S FINEST "RICHIE SOSA", JANE & FINCH HOTTEST RAP GROUP "THA SMUGGLAZ", REGENT PARK'S SICKEST THUGZ "POINT BLANK" & TORONTO'S OWN JAE ONE LIVE in CONCERT
MUSIC BY: DJ LAZ VEGAZ, DJ MIKE P & JAE SUN & DJ'S KING & SHY GUY of the 5 STAR SOUNDCREW
HOSTED BY: CHAMP ONLINE RADIO'S - THE BOY "HOLLYWOOD"
9:30PM - DOORS OPEN
11:15PM - PERFORMANCES
12:30PM - AFTER PARTY....Wednesday, October 15, 2008
PLEASE CONTINUE TO VOTE FOR POINT BLANK.
Keep voting for "God Only Knows" on the Megacity Countdown currently #1 for 2 weeks in a row! http://www.hiphopcanada.com/megacitycountdown/
POINT BLANK FEATURED IN 416 INDUSTRY MAGAZINE.
Point Blank was featured in 416 Industry magazine. Read the whole piece here.
