k-os booked for Arts County Fair 2005

k-os is probably one of my artists right now, Arts County Fair has been one of my Favourite concerts for quite some time.. Mix the two and what do you get? One Happy Camper.. thats what!!

Thats right on April 8, 2005 Arts County Fair is back and badder than ever.. showcasing an insane lineup fearuring none other that k-os!!!

k-os socially aware raps and heartfelt melodies captured the imagination of the widest range of music fans and critics on his debut Exit. So what does he do for an encore? On Joyful Rebellion, the much anticipated follow-up, k-os elevates his clever rhyme skills and keen sense of musicianship, concocting an even more unique brew of protest music that simultaneously appeals to crossover and rap purist audiences.

This Toronto-bred emcee/vocalist is taking the rap world by storm. Even with his first album, k-os was fielding personal invites to tour in North America and Europe with Grammy winners such as India.Arie, The Roots and Nelly Furtado, as well as rap luminaries De La Soul. He also collaborated with The Chemical Brothers on their "Get Yourself High" hit, while his video for "Superstarr Pt. Zero" was rated Next and Buzz-worthy by both BET and MTV. Even more impressive was k-os snagging "International Album of the Year" honors at The 2003 Source Awards, even though he was considered a new artist to American audiences. This marked a watershed moment for contemporary hip hop. For once, music mattered more than where an emcee hailed from, and it proved that consumers hadnt lost their ability to discern real talent from media hype.

While commercial rap has pushed some of the musics brightest lights into flight or fight mode, its clear that on Joyful Rebellion, k-os intentionally chose the latter. "Hip hop is an abandoned ship, and its vanguards are moving on to other things," admits k-os. "Everyone wants to be a rock star, because they dont know how to take hip hop to the next level."

k-os is at the forefront of the generation of rap artists who are pushing the limits of hip hop culture (i.e. Andre 3000 of Outkast, Missy Elliot). He has even added to his musical repertoire by playing guitar and piano on a few of the new songs. Much like Lauryn Hill, the artist hes often compared to, this album is a testament to his rare ability to harmonize and emcee, ignoring any creative straitjackets imposed on him by narrow rap or R&B categorizations. Though k-os may be compared to many great artists, his versatility makes it almost impossible to truly compare him to any.

Arts County Fair is the largest student-run event in Canada.

It combines five amazing bands, 500 kegs of beer, 6000 litres of cider and 15,000 people to produce what the organizers call "an experiment in crowd control."

Sounds Good to me..