Joseph Rose

'True Colors' (EP stream)

BY Sarah MurphyPublished Aug 26, 2016

Following an appearance on Madchild's "Little Things," Canadian hip-hop upstart Joseph Rose is ready to let his own True Colors show on his debut solo EP — and Exclaim! is bringing you the official album premiere right now.
 
The record was produced by OVO affiliate Pro Logic, who has previously worked with Drake and Lil Bibby. As for contributions in front of the mic, Rose roped in guests like P. Reign, Swollen Members' Rob the Viking and Raeliss.
 
From the destiny fulfilling opener "Become What You Are" to "Know Which Way to Go" to "Only Way Is Up," Rose establishes himself as a fresh, confident voice in Canadian hip-hop.
 
More big things are on the way for Rose, as he's expected to drop a full-length album produced by Rob the Viking sometime next year. But first, you can get acquainted with his slick beats and smooth rhymes by listening to the eight-song True Colors EP below.

In a statement to Exclaim!, here's what Rose had to say about the EP:

I created my debut EP True Colors to take the next step and show the world who Joseph Rose really is. For the last 10 years I've been releasing music with groups, under my former alias "Ascend." I was really trying to push a dream that I have wanted to make reality since I was a young kid. After years of carrying the weight and struggling to keep the groups inspired, I woke up and realized that the vision of that dream was solely mine, and that I needed to chase it alone. I decided to shed all of my previous solo projects as well as my alias and step into the world representing myself as I am, showing my "True Colors." Now I can be myself and execute those ideas my way, and push my brand and my message.

Working with producers like Pro Logic and Rob the Viking has changed everything for me as a recording artist. My original intention in working with them was really just to take my production quality to the top level and learn as much as I can about recording. I've been working around Rob the Viking and Madchild for the last few years as we both had a private studio suite beside each other at Blue Light Studio in Vancouver. It was an easy place to get inspired with all of Swollen Members gold and platinum plaques hanging in the studio hallway. Eventually I got the chance to collaborate with Rob and Madchild, which for me changed the name of the game for me.

Working with Madchild has helped me see things from a whole new perspective and has helped learn a lot about writing lyrics and plotting rhyme schemes. Working with Rob the Viking has taken my recording techniques to a new place, learning new patterns and hitting higher octaves and notes. I am very grateful that I am fortunate enough to work so closely with artists of their stature, they are worldwide legends and icons to me. The fact that I get the chance to turn my idols into my teachers is priceless.

Everyone I worked with on this record is amazing. P Reign, Rob Carrell and Raeliss are all artist to watch out for in the future, there is a lot of talent coming out their corners! The
True Colors EP is the beginning of Joseph Rose, the only was is up from here.

True Colors is out now through Aileron Music. You can see all Rose's upcoming tour dates below.

Tour dates:

09/24 Winnipeg, MB - Pyramid Cabaret
09/27 Calgary, AB - Distortion
09/28 Red Deer, AB - Wild Bill's Sports Bar
09/29 Edmonton, AB - Mercury Room
09/30 Vancouver, BC - Alexander Gastown
11/02 Sauget, IL - Pop's
11/03 Valparaiso, IN - Big Shots
11/04 Indianapolis, IN - The Emerson Theater
11/05 Crest Hill, IL - Bada Brew Bar & Grill
11/06 Minneapolis, MN - Fine Line Music
11//08 Detroit, MI - The Shelter
11/09 Cleveland, OH - Grog Shop
11/10 Toledo, OH - Frankies Inner City
11/11 Toronto, ON - The Rock Pile
11/12 Sarnia, ON - The Station Music Hall
11/15 Cambridge, MA - Middle East
11/16 Brooklyn, NY - Knitting Factory
11/17 Philadelphia, PA - Voltage Lounge
11/18 Boonsboro, MD - Boonsboro Event Center
11/19 Virgina Beach, VA - Shaka's Live
11/20 Atlanta, GA - TBD
11/25 Tampa, FL - TBD
11/26 -Miami, FL - TBD

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