As we gear up to say goodbye to 2016, we've taken a moment to look back on everything that happened in music in our year-end issue, which is on stands now. Reflect on and celebrate the year in music that was by reading our Best of 2016 section, but first, check out the details below for a complete look at what you'll find in Exclaim!'s December/January issue.
Chance the Rapper took this issue's cover, and for good reason; the 23-year-old rapper blazed his own trail to the top of 2016 with Coloring Book, which found him embracing his vulnerability and weaving together gospel, trap, jazz and Chicago house into a triumphant mixtape that shone a bright light into the doom and gloom that defined this year.
In our Best of 2016 section, we revealed our Top 10 Underrated Records, took a look at this year's trends in music and movies and delved into the year in hip-hop with features addressing mental health awareness in rap and the younger generation of rappers turning their backs on hip-hop's Golden Age. Smaller features about the return of nü metal, the swathes of new bands that American Football inspired, the Black Lives Matter movement in music and more fill the rest of the section.
In addition to our in-depth year-end coverage, we have interviews with even more artists: Toronto '80s-pop outfit DIANA talk their second album, Familiar Touch, and collaborating with vocalist Gary Beals, while French Touch duo Justice spoke about their creative process and why they care about making cohesive albums.
This month's Questionnaire is with comedian W. Kamau Bell, who explains how performing his one-man show, The W. Kamau Bell Curve: Ending Racism in About an Hour, has changed, why everyone needs to shut up about their favourite TV show and his love of watching videos of people — ugh — popping pimples. Our monthly Music School feature puts a spotlight on Toronto-based band Ice Cream. The duo speak about being a "work-with-what-we-have" band, and not being anchored to any instrument in particular.
But to ensure you don't miss out on any of our year-end coverage, grab a copy of the latest issue at one of the concert venues, record stores, coffee shops or street boxes across the country. Then, get more here at Exclaim.ca, including web exclusive interviews with A$AP Ferg, D.R.A.M., Romare, Letherette, Mac Miller, the xx and the Jerry Cans, as well as our annual Best of 2016 Top 10 lists by genre.
Chance the Rapper took this issue's cover, and for good reason; the 23-year-old rapper blazed his own trail to the top of 2016 with Coloring Book, which found him embracing his vulnerability and weaving together gospel, trap, jazz and Chicago house into a triumphant mixtape that shone a bright light into the doom and gloom that defined this year.
In our Best of 2016 section, we revealed our Top 10 Underrated Records, took a look at this year's trends in music and movies and delved into the year in hip-hop with features addressing mental health awareness in rap and the younger generation of rappers turning their backs on hip-hop's Golden Age. Smaller features about the return of nü metal, the swathes of new bands that American Football inspired, the Black Lives Matter movement in music and more fill the rest of the section.
In addition to our in-depth year-end coverage, we have interviews with even more artists: Toronto '80s-pop outfit DIANA talk their second album, Familiar Touch, and collaborating with vocalist Gary Beals, while French Touch duo Justice spoke about their creative process and why they care about making cohesive albums.
This month's Questionnaire is with comedian W. Kamau Bell, who explains how performing his one-man show, The W. Kamau Bell Curve: Ending Racism in About an Hour, has changed, why everyone needs to shut up about their favourite TV show and his love of watching videos of people — ugh — popping pimples. Our monthly Music School feature puts a spotlight on Toronto-based band Ice Cream. The duo speak about being a "work-with-what-we-have" band, and not being anchored to any instrument in particular.
But to ensure you don't miss out on any of our year-end coverage, grab a copy of the latest issue at one of the concert venues, record stores, coffee shops or street boxes across the country. Then, get more here at Exclaim.ca, including web exclusive interviews with A$AP Ferg, D.R.A.M., Romare, Letherette, Mac Miller, the xx and the Jerry Cans, as well as our annual Best of 2016 Top 10 lists by genre.
