Da Grassroots Explained

Da Grassroots
Alias:	Da Grass Roots Music
Origin:	Toronto, Ontario, Canada
Genre:	Canadian hip hop
Years Active:	1989–present
Occupation:	Record producers
Label:	Black Employed Records, Conception Records
Instrument:	Sampler, keyboard, turntable
Associated Acts:	Ghetto Concept, Choclair, Saukrates
Current Members:	Mr. Attic Mr. Murray
Past Members:	Swiff (deceased)

Da Grassroots is a Canadian hip-hop production team from Toronto, Ontario, composed of Mr. Attic, Mr. Murray, and Swiff. The Juno Award-winning group contributed to the development of Toronto hip-hop throughout the 1990s, highlighted by the release of their debut album Passage Through Time in 1999.^[1]

In 1994 they were featured in Andrew Munger's documentary film Make Some Noise.^[2]

After the underground success of their album, each member began working on various solo projects. Mr. Attic co-founded Choice Cut Records, Mr. Murray produced for LAL, and Swiff produced for artists on the group's Black Employed Records label.^[3]

On July 31, 2018, Swiff died of cancer at the age of 47.^[4]

Discography

Albums

• Passage Through Time (1999)

Singles

• "Drama" (featuring Elemental) (1995)
• "Price of Livin'" (featuring Mr. Roam) (1999)
• "Thematics" (featuring Arcee) (1999)
• "Body Language" (featuring Choclair and Saukrates) (2000)

Production credits

(Not including songs from Passage Through Time or Mr. Attic's solo production credits.)

1993

• "Certified", "Certified (Remix)", "Dungeon", "Mista Crack Ed" – Ghetto Concept

1994

• "Deifitrec", "Certified (808)" – Ghetto Concept
• "No Dingbats Allowed" – Dream Warriors

1995

• "E-Z on tha Motion" – Ghetto Concept

1996

• "Ninty Sixness" – Diemen X (produced by Swiff)
• "Who's Talking Weight (Remix)" – Red Life (produced by Swiff)

1998

• "Ya Done Know" – Red Life (produced by Swiff)

1999

• "Ice Cold" – Choclair

2000

• "Ever Since (Da Grassroots Remix)" – Maestro (produced by Swiff)
• "Ripped Mee Off" (produced by Swiff), "Lady Luck (The Darkside)" (produced by Mr. Murray) – Michie Mee
• "Let's Make a Record Deal Episode 1" – Mastermind feat. D-Sisive (produced by Swiff)
• "Bump!" – Mastermind feat. Choclair and Mr. Roam (produced by Swiff)
• "Let's Make a Record Deal Episode 3" – Mastermind feat. Citizen Kane (produced by Mr. Murray)
• "Marvel Interlude", "Arcee Interlude" – Mastermind (produced by Swiff)

Awards and nominations

• 1995 Juno Awards
  • Best Rap Recording for "Certified" (Won)
• 1996 Juno Awards
  • Best Rap Recording for "E-Z on tha Motion" (Won)
  • Best Rap Recording for "Drama" (Nominated)

External links

• [{{Allmusic|class=artist|id=p370007|pure_url=yes}} Da Grassroots] at AllMusic
• Da Grassroots at Discogs

Notes and References

1. http://www.exclaim.ca/articles/multiarticlesub.aspx?csid1=1&csid2=4&fid1=43 Canadian Hip Hop: Choclair - Eyes On the Prize: Turning Northern Touch Into Midas Touch
2. Craig MacInnis, "Hip-hop culture makes some noise". Toronto Star, April 22, 1995.
3. http://www.choicecutrecords.com/discography/sunnykiss.html Choice Cut Records
4. News: In memoriam: Swiff LaRoc, 1970-2018. Now. August 6, 2018. Cowie. Del F..