The classic definition of the term MC is one that has
the ability to grip a mic and control the crowd, and Kyprios has more
than earned this title. He is a commanding presence on stage – able to
hold the crowd in silent rapture as he drops an introspective piece that
draws heavily from spoken word, only to suddenly flip it and incite a
sea of thrusting hands with a rapid fire set of punchline-laden lyrical
flows. Able to deliver a seamless blend of rapping, singing and
harmonizing, the North Vancouver, BC native’s larynx is a potent stash
of varied lyrical weapons.
On a roadtrip to New York City with Prevail from Swollen Members,
the aspiring MC/actor/poet was compelled to lengthen his stay in hip
hop’s Mecca. Studying theatre at HB Studios in Greenwich Village,
hitting monthly rap battles anywhere in NYC and participating in poetry
slams at the Nuyorican Poetry Cafe, the young artist was learning
amongst the most reputed craftsman and developing his trade amongst
them. Winning a poetry slam with a controversial spoken word piece
“Hate,” Kyprios headed back to his hometown of North Vancouver to
transfer his education into practice. Kyprios released the independent
EP “Mic Tease” that would be the catalyst to get him performing
numerous club shows and begin to host a weekly open mic poetry series
dubbed “Come With It” in Vancouver.
During this period, Kyprios was also a founding member of the two
time Juno-nominated Sweatshop Union. While working within the group, Kyp
maintained his solo identity and continued to write and record his own
material. This output included three tracks featured on the Local 604
album, which was released by BattleAxe Records. BattleAxe also selected
Kyp’s song “Master” for inclusion on their Lyrics Of Fury compilation.
Kyprios’ solo work caught the attention of Sony Music Canada when he
sent the company a package containing some tracks and a video of the
slam winning, spoken word piece “Hate.” Kyp signed with the label and
began a tumultuous period trying to make do impossible: make
commercially viable underground music satisfying a record label and his
core fans. He also offered outside help on Sweatshop Union’s juno
nominated “Natural Progression” from Toronto at this time. His solo
effort resulted in the two time, Juno nominated “Say Something,”
featuring production from Saukrates (Kardinal Offishall, Method Man),
Billy Mann (Pink, Kelly Rowland), Rob The Viking (Swollen Members) and
good friend Tawgs (Lights, K’Naan). With the unfortunate timing of the
industry’s changing climate, Sony Canada was merged into BMG and
Kyprios’ solo record was shelved but his career was not.
Kyprios moved back to Vancouver, re-joined Sweatshop Union to begin a
rigorous touring schedule and put out the Juno nominated “United We
Fall,” and the critically acclaimed “Water Street” albums. He recently
released a new solo offering entitled “12:12″ which has propelled him
into a radio competition for one hundred thousand dollars in Vancouver,
through the Peak radio station called the Peak Performance Project.
Kyprios has toured all over North America solo and as part of
Sweatshop Union with the likes of The Black Eyed Peas, Busta Rhymes,
Wyclef Jean, The Roots, Rakim, Living Legends, Swollen Members and
Jurassic Five to name a few. He has made numerous appearances in
television and film and is one of the voices for Michael Jordan’s
website jumpman23.com. Kyp has won a Jesse for his musical work in a
play called “Cranked”, has licensed music to likes of MTV’s “The Buried
Life” and continues to write for/with many artists. He still writes
poetry and is eagerly anticipating the release of his next major project
“The Midnight Sun.”