artist 84.85

Good Problems EP

With their release Good Problems, 84.85’s latest is triggered by the percussive breaks of Hip Hop, the reverberant sub-frequencies of Dubstep and the melodic curves of Deep House.

DJ/Producer Jay curates a sleek, spectral sound, re-imagining production cues from the emerging sounds of Detroit and London. The sometimes haunting backdrop paves way for MC Cass’ rolling rhyme delivery, which fuses the hubris to the dispirited; a deftly constructed testimonial of personal day-to-day toils with dignity, regret and authenticity.

The instantly, undeniable hook of the track Weekend Money is steered by the dulcet bounce of a Rhodes and slippery high-hat, that may (or may not) be a salute to Aloe Blacc’s I Need A Dollar. In its entirety, Good Problems feels a little like those hazy, aching epiphanies that arise once your dopamine drops from a New Year’s hangover.

History

84.85 spent the greater part of the last 2 years busting into Toronto’s live urban music scene, fueled by audience demands that only the contagion of word of mouth can inspire. They have shared stages with Egyptrixx, Ed Lover, Skratch Bastid, Team Canada and Ninjasonik among others. This quick climb up the underground ladder had them headlining NOW Magazine’s 2009 NXNE Showcase, the legendary Under Pressure parties at the Drake Hotel and being selected out of more than 500 acts as one of the top fifteen at last years NXNE.

And now, with Good Problems, 84.85 displays some impressive growth since their 2010 single “Breakin’ My Back” (Intellegenix Records), a track that peaked at number three on the Juno Download’s UK/Garage charts.

The Good Problems EP is available for free download at www.84-85.com