FYI.

This story is over 5 years old.

Music

Faiza's "Bands" Is What Happens When the True North Meets the Dirty South

The Toronto rapper was inspired by Atlanta and Young Dolph for this hard-as-bricks single.

Atlanta is the centre of rap, even though Drake is ostensibly the biggest rapper out right now. Both Canada and the American South united on What a Time to Be Alive, but perhaps the new single from Toronto's Faiza is the next phase in this fusion. "Bands" finds the West End rapper on a level of aggression that's enhanced by her constant switchups, veering from ominous sing-song to burbling Auto-Tune fissures. It's Atlanta-inspired but as tough and minimal as the best Toronto rap.

Advertisement

"Bands was made when we were in ATL. Giangelo and I moved down there for a few months to try to make some things happen with music," says Faiza. "I think one morning I woke up and heard this beat that G was working on, it was so nasty I was like 'damn I need to get on this.' I had been practicing freestyling a lot when I was down there—just trying to sharpen my bars. We had been listening to a lot of Young Dolph too and just a lot of trap music in general. We caught a vibe and 'Bands' was made." Watch the video for "Bands" above.

Phil is on Twitter.