Northern Touch Gets A Raptors Remix
The link between hip-hop and basketball is strong, and in Toronto, it just got a little stronger with an update of a 20-year old classic.
In 1998,Ā Rascalz, Kardinal Offishall, Choclair, CheckMate, and Thrust came together to record and release Northern Touch. The track is arguably one of the most important hip-hop tracks in Canadian history. You could look back at the last two decades of rappers from north of the border and question how receptive the charts and mainstream audiences would be for any of them without this landmark song.
Since winning the Juno for Best Rap Single of the Year, Northern Touch has lived many lives. Generations of music fans that were there for the original release have never forgotten or stopped loving it, and new generations of Canadian hip-hop fans have found it. We can all only hope that this new remix, a nifty tie-in to the 20th anniversary of the song, acts as an introduction to even more fans.
Note: On June 24, 1998, Vince āAir Canadaā Carter became a Raptor in a draft-day trade for Antawn Jamison. So if youāre looking for a Raptors 20th anniversary to celebrate alongside Northern Touch, there it is.
And now, as the Toronto Raptors get started on their 2018 NBA playoff run, Kardi is back with an updated version of the song dedicated to the team and designed to help up the hype for a country of basketball fans.
Teasers for the track have been seen for weeks on TV as Sportsnet has pushed the NBA playoffs, and in just 20 seconds of the song, Raptors fans and hip-hop fans were hooked and begging for the whole thing.
In those teasers, we heard name drops for DeMar DeRozan, Kyle Lowry, and Jonas Valanciunas. We heard the familiar beat and cadence that took us back to 1998. And we were ready to hear more.
Note: Because of Drakeās involvement with the Toronto Raptors as the Global Ambassador, some may say that he should be releasing a playoff hype track for the team. But letās all be honest with ourselves, when it comes to Northern Touch, its 20th anniversary, the nostalgia, and the love that comes with it, Drake is better off singing along from his courtside seat this spring.
The Northern Touch Raptors Remix officially debuted before Torontoās first game of the playoffs (round one versus the Washington Wizards), and it was probably the most anticipated moment of the pre-game festivities.
After the teasing and the hype (for a hype song, a little ironic) there was a chance for a letdown.
That didnāt happen.
The video brings us a mix of Kardinal reworking the original chorus of Northern Touch, and some well-positioned hype talk that focuses on the past and present of the Raptors’ playoff narratives. In the end, with all of the pieces put together, the remix does its job.
Note: I LOVE the shot at Paul Pierce. As a Raptors fan, I HATED him as a player.
Related: Q&A: Kardinal Offishall on his new āNorthern Touchā Raptors remix
Because weāre talking about music, somebody out in the world is going to be of the opinion that the remix shouldnāt have been done, or that it takes away from the legacy of the original track or some other argument that I havenāt predictedā¦ but I donāt care.
Kardinal Offishall has delivered the right song and the right emotional lift for the right time with the right fit!
Check out the full version of the Northern Touch Toronto Raptors 2018 Playoff Remix, and then hit play on the 20th anniversary Juno weekend performance of Northern Touch AND the original music video that we all remember from the glory days of Much Music.
Enjoy! Letās Go Raptors!
Northern Touch Raptors Remix
Rascalz + Kardinal Offishall, Checkmate, Thrust, Choclair | Northern Touch
Northern Touch – Official Music Video
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Northern Touch Gets A Raptors Remix
By Joshua Murray
The link between hip-hop and basketball is strong, and in Toronto, it just got a little stronger with an update of a 20-year old classic.
In 1998,Ā Rascalz, Kardinal Offishall, Choclair, CheckMate, and Thrust came together to record and release Northern Touch. The track is arguably one of the most important hip-hop tracks in Canadian history. You could look back at the last two decades of rappers from north of the border and question how receptive the charts and mainstream audiences would be for any of them without this landmark song.
Since winning the Juno for Best Rap Single of the Year, Northern Touch has lived many lives. Generations of music fans that were there for the original release have never forgotten or stopped loving it, and new generations of Canadian hip-hop fans have found it. We can all only hope that this new remix, a nifty tie-in to the 20th anniversary of the song, acts as an introduction to even more fans.
Note: On June 24, 1998, Vince āAir Canadaā Carter became a Raptor in a draft-day trade for Antawn Jamison. So if youāre looking for a Raptors 20th anniversary to celebrate alongside Northern Touch, there it is.
And now, as the Toronto Raptors get started on their 2018 NBA playoff run, Kardi is back with an updated version of the song dedicated to the team and designed to help up the hype for a country of basketball fans.
Teasers for the track have been seen for weeks on TV as Sportsnet has pushed the NBA playoffs, and in just 20 seconds of the song, Raptors fans and hip-hop fans were hooked and begging for the whole thing.
In those teasers, we heard name drops for DeMar DeRozan, Kyle Lowry, and Jonas Valanciunas. We heard the familiar beat and cadence that took us back to 1998. And we were ready to hear more.
Note: Because of Drakeās involvement with the Toronto Raptors as the Global Ambassador, some may say that he should be releasing a playoff hype track for the team. But letās all be honest with ourselves, when it comes to Northern Touch, its 20th anniversary, the nostalgia, and the love that comes with it, Drake is better off singing along from his courtside seat this spring.
The Northern Touch Raptors Remix officially debuted before Torontoās first game of the playoffs (round one versus the Washington Wizards), and it was probably the most anticipated moment of the pre-game festivities.
After the teasing and the hype (for a hype song, a little ironic) there was a chance for a letdown.
That didnāt happen.
The video brings us a mix of Kardinal reworking the original chorus of Northern Touch, and some well-positioned hype talk that focuses on the past and present of the Raptors’ playoff narratives. In the end, with all of the pieces put together, the remix does its job.
Note: I LOVE the shot at Paul Pierce. As a Raptors fan, I HATED him as a player.
Related: Q&A: Kardinal Offishall on his new āNorthern Touchā Raptors remix
Because weāre talking about music, somebody out in the world is going to be of the opinion that the remix shouldnāt have been done, or that it takes away from the legacy of the original track or some other argument that I havenāt predictedā¦ but I donāt care.
Kardinal Offishall has delivered the right song and the right emotional lift for the right time with the right fit!
Check out the full version of the Northern Touch Toronto Raptors 2018 Playoff Remix, and then hit play on the 20th anniversary Juno weekend performance of Northern Touch AND the original music video that we all remember from the glory days of Much Music.
Enjoy! Letās Go Raptors!
Northern Touch Raptors Remix
Rascalz + Kardinal Offishall, Checkmate, Thrust, Choclair | Northern Touch
Northern Touch – Official Music Video
Author profile
creator of content, daddy blogger, writer, coffee drinker, fan of the Batman. proud mo bro. prouder dad.
One of the most important hip-hop tracks in Canadian history? More than that, sir – one of the most important songs in Canadian history, period.
This is beautiful. Almost makes me want to watch basketball. Almost.