the urbanguy chronicles

Episode #5 “Ian Kamau”
Raised in Toronto to filmmaker parents who came from Trinidad in 1970, multidisciplinary artist Ian Kamau creates art with community building in mind. Kamau delves into musical and philosophical influences behind his latest hip-hop/soul album “One Day Soon” (8min.)

More about Ian Kamau:
http://iankamau.bandcamp.com/

Episode #4 ” a.k.a Subliminal”

Toronto-based actor/artist/producer Sean Mauricette (a.k.a Subliminal) talks about his “soul-hop” music, his acting career and his passion for making a difference in the community. (10min.)

More about Sean Mauricette: akasubliminal.com/

When in his rap alter-ego Childish Gambino, actor-writer-comedian-musician Donald Glover dismisses the thought of being perceived as an actor with a side hobby. Still shooting episodes for NBC’s cult sitcom Community (currently on midseason hiatus), Glover is looking at doing a feature film while also prepping to go on a North American “Camp Gambino Tour” this spring.

The fact that Childish Gambino is a name he found using an online Wu-Tang Clan name generator notwithstanding, Glover handles acting and music with equal measures of passion and determinism. Since releasing his first studio album Camp last November, the response has been upbeat. Mostly.

“I think that all the feedback and sales is good but also a lot of it has been troubling. Sometimes I’m like, ‘What have I gotten myself into?’” says Glover while doing a promotional stop in Toronto. And if some are trying to define his music or acting “nerd/geek” persona to mean he’s some standard for an “alternative blackness” he’s not sure that he’s the one. “It’s this kind of thing where it’s okay if that’s what you guys want from me. But I’m going to keep being myself. And you’re probably going to disagree with some of my stuff.”

Glover is definitely on the rise (and a cool chap to rap with to boot). Check out the full interview in the February 2012 Exclaim! Magazine.

Even during an 8 a.m. call, Richard Yearwood’s energy seems boundless as he cracks jokes and generally exhibits the warm, charismatic personality that’s carried him as a successful Black actor in Canada.

It’s a verve that’s working for Yearwood (currently seen as the “Ligerian” spy Benjamin N’udu on CBC’s InSecurity  tv sitcom)and stoked an enduring career spanning more than three decades of film, television, theatre and voice-over work.

“When I first started out, there were hardly any leading roles for people of colour in Canada,” he says. “You almost had to resign yourself to guest spots or playing the best friend of the main character. Flash forward to today and there’s so many opportunities for people of colour in series’ leads. It’s amazing, and night and day from when I started.”

Check out my full article on actor/producer Richard Yearwood (CBC’s InSecurity) over at Sway Magazine.

“the urbanguy chronicles”

One videographer, many fascinating people. Join Ryan B. Patrick (aka The UrbanGuy) as he conducts one-on-one interviews with many of Toronto’s most eclectic personalities — profiling the best in art, film, music, culture and more.

Episode #3 “Candy Coated Killahz”

Toronto-based Candy Coated Killahz (Tasha “Dash” Schumann and Michael “Icon the Anomali” Akinlabi) talk about the latest album “Neon Black” and their brand of hip-hop, R&B and electronic music. (6min.)

More about Candy Coated Killahz: candycoatedkillahz.com
Photo Credit: mishelsky.com
Special thanks to Aki Abe/Cosmos Records (652 Queen Street West)

Film & Edit: Ryan B. Patrick
urbanguy.net

“Being a writer isn’t just about selling your product, it’s about selling yourself.”

Quoted for truth. Pitching my ideas is something that I need to get better at. Like yesterday.

As for this:

Crazy but increasingly true.

“Up All Night” – Life is all about balance. So what happens when you throw a new baby into it? Reagan and her husband, Chris, are the proud new parents of baby Amy. She may have been unexpected, but life’s curve balls can be a godsend, literally. Unless you have a career that needs attention, which is exactly what Reagan has. So, bucking tradition, they decide Reagan’s the one going back to work while Chris is going to be the stay-at-home dad. Easy, right? Well, not quite.

Will Arnett can never catch a break huh? Funny and talented dude but can’t seem to find a starring vehicle that hits the mark. “Up All Night” is the latest effort.

QT’s:

• Maya Rudolph throws down as an Ellen/Oprah analogue.
• Would this have worked better as a multi-cam w/laugh track? Hmmmm….
• Nick Cannon! Who asked for Nick Cannon?
• Sad to say but I think Arnett works best in a wacky neighbour capacity.
• Applegate can do sitcom acting in her sleep. Effortless.
• Tone, structure solid.
• Jokes are here and there but the stakes miss with me. Swinger parents now raising a kid? Meh. Screams “mundane First World problems!”
• Okay pilot…look to see where this goes…

Keep it moving. Ass in chair and all that.

Watch it.

Trust me.

You already know that Andre Braugher is the man.

Romano and Bakula aren’t slouches either.

Episode #1 “More or Les”

Neither a novelty act or your average rapper, Toronto’s More or Les (real name Les Seaforth) is a passionate hip hop aficionado whose quirky style and deadpan delivery challenge conventional thinking about hip hop.

film/edits: Ryan B. Patrick