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City Something: Monday's Top Picks for Arts and Entertainment for May 9-15

Ill Tone brings the hope back to Incite Screen printing and Darrin Rose chases manhood
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Host of the Comedy Network's Match Game

Still Chasing Manhood with Darrin Rose

Four-time Canadian Comedy Award nominee Darrin Rose is making his way to the Victoria Event Centre (1415 Broad) with his Still Chasing Manhood stand-up comedy tour. Rose is host of the Comedy Network’s Match Game, plays Bill the bartender on CBC’s Mr. D and is a regular on MuchMusic’s Video on Trial. Still Chasing Manhood includes all-new material about sibling rivalry, dating and struggling to live up to the ideal of manhood.

Fri., May 10 at 7:30pm. $20. M

 

Hip hop head brings hope back to Victoria

Vancouver emcee rhymes about struggle with addiction

Although he's been through the ringer fighting a battle with “poly addiction,” Vancouver emcee Ill Tone is Bringin’ the Hope Back with his debut album of the same name, released Feb. 26 on Urbnet Records.

Written at the height of his addiction, the album offers both hard-hitting beats and hard-hitting truths, often contrasting heavy lyrics with mellow beats, and vice versa.

“In some cases that’s done on purpose, like ‘Charlene’ for example,” says Ill Tone.  I’ve never used this word, but it’s almost jaunty, while the topic value is pretty heavy.”

“Charlene” laments the pressures young women face today. The fictitious character “Charlene” flirts with boys and ultimately with disaster, prostituting herself for crack.

“I’ve met a thousand Charlenes in my life,” says Ill Tone. “There’s way more pressure on young girls to live up the image of the sex icon, and I just felt compelled to write about it … when I was in school I knew girls like that, and even now, I know girls whose life didn’t end up so well. I’m not the first person to write a song along those lines, and I hope I’m not the last. It needs to be said.”

Ill Tone recorded the album while a student at Pacific Audio Visual Institute of Vancouver, where he became a certified audio engineer. He also produced and engineered the album himself.

Fresh off a tour opening for Masta Ace, Ill Tone is Bringin’ the Hope Back to Victoria, when Battle of the Bridge hosts the emcee for an all ages CD release party Sat., May 11 at Incite Screen Printing (2514 Douglas), featuring Nox, Skulastic, DJ M-Traxx, K-Y, S.I.Q (South Island Queenz) and Vibestreet Dance. Doors at 7pm. Tickets $15 at the door. Stream the album here: http://urbnet.bandcamp.com/album/bringin-the-hope-back. M