Cartel Madras

Cartel Madras is a Canadian hip hop duo from Calgary, Alberta, consisting of sisters Eboshi and Contra.[1][2] The duo released their debut mixtape, Project Goonda Part 1: Trapistan, in 2018.[3][4][5] In 2019, they signed to Sub Pop and Royal Mountain Records and their EP, Age of the Goonda, was released on November 1.[6][7]

Cartel Madras
OriginCalgary, AB
GenresHip Hop
Years active2018-present
LabelsSub Pop, Royal Mountain Records
Websitecartelmadras.com
MembersEboshi
  • Contra

Formation

Both sisters emigrated from Chennai, India and identify as queer.[2] They classify their music as "Goonda Rap”, a play on a term used in South Asian circles to describe a "thug".[1][2] The duo cite M.I.A., Scarface, and Freddie Gibbs as influences.[8]

Career

Cartel Madras began by releasing songs on their Soundcloud.[4] Their debut mixtape Project Goonda Part 1: Trapistan was released in 2018 and was self produced. The duo helped develop a collective known as THOTNATION which consists of close collaborators like Jae Sterling, yungkamaji, and Jide.[2][9] The lead single for the mixtape was titled "Pork and Leek".[3] Later that year, Cartel Madras played at Pop Montreal, opening for Cupcakke.[3]

In 2019, Sub Pop announced they had signed Cartel Madras and that new music was being worked on.[6] The duo announced an EP, Age of the Goonda, to be released on November 1, 2019.[7] Two singles were released in the lead up to the EP release, "Lil Pump Type Beat" and "Goonda Gold".[10] After the EP release, the duo announced a series of Canadian tour dates, opening for Hollerado, Fetty Wap, and Clipping.[11] "Goonda Gold" was covered by publications around the world including Rolling Stone India, [12] NME, [13] and Stereogum.[14] Eventually the song was announced as a part of the EA UFC4 official game soundtrack.[15] They were included on Vogue India's list of artists set to breakthrough in 2020.[16]

In 2020, Cartel Madras began their first international tour opening for Sudan Archives in North America.[17] Following this tour, it was announced that they would also join Clipping on tour across the United States in May 2020 in support of Clipping’s acclaimed album, There Existed an Addiction to Blood.[18][19] This tour would later be postponed due to COVID.[20]

In 2020, Cartel Madras released two singles, "Working" and "Stay Up All Night", the latter a collaboration with GWS.[21] "Working" was later named one of the "The most underrated Canadian songs of 2020", by CBC Music.[22]

In 2021, the duo released their first single of the year, "DRIFT", alongside the announcement that it is from a forthcoming project; The Serpent and The Tiger. [23] The release will mark the third instalment of the duo's Project Goonda trilogy, which includes 2018's Trapistan and 2019's Age of the Goonda. [23]

Discography

Mixtapes

Project Goonda Part 1: Trapistan (2018)

EPs

Age of the Goonda (2019)

Singles

"Pork and Leek" (2018)

"Lil Pump Type Beat" (2019)

"Goonda Gold" (2019)

"Working" (2020)

"Stay Up All Night" (2020)

"DRIFT" (2021)

References
  1. "Calgary-based hip-hop group redefines 'coolness' by simply existing | The Star". thestar.com. Retrieved 2019-06-17.
  2. "Calgary-based hip-hop duo Cartel Madras draws attention — and music video cameos — from some big names". CBC Music. Feb 20, 2019.
  3. "Get Familiar with Cartel Madras: Watch the Video for "Pork and Leek" Now". Complex. Retrieved 2019-06-17.
  4. "Chennai Meets Calgary: Cartel Madras Put Trap on the Map -". Rolling Stone India. 2018-11-05. Retrieved 2019-06-17.
  5. Barutowicz, Aldona (2019-04-02). "Indo-Calgarian Rappers Cartel Madras are a Study in Juxtaposition and Harmony". Avenue Calgary. Retrieved 2019-06-17.
  6. "Calgary-Based Rap Duo Cartel Madras Sign to Sub Pop". exclaim.ca. Retrieved 2019-06-17.
  7. "Fall 2019 guide: 17 albums you need to hear". CBC Music.
  8. "Cartel Madras Pave a New Path of Visibility with 'Age of the Goonda'". exclaim.ca. Retrieved 2019-12-15.
  9. "Cartel Madras Drop "WORKING" Video". exclaim.ca. Retrieved 2021-02-02.
  10. "Cartel Madras Share "Goonda Gold" Video". exclaim.ca. Retrieved 2019-10-11.
  11. "Watch: Cartel Madras' Explosive New Single 'Goonda Gold' -". 2019-10-08. Retrieved 2019-12-15.
  12. "Watch: Cartel Madras' Explosive New Single 'Goonda Gold' -". 2019-10-08. Retrieved 2021-02-02.
  13. "Cartel Madras are creating "Goonda Rap", their very own rap genre". NME | Music, Film, TV, Gaming & Pop Culture News. 2019-11-12. Retrieved 2021-02-02.
  14. "Cartel Madras Share "Goonda Gold" Video: Watch". Stereogum. 2019-10-07. Retrieved 2021-02-02.
  15. Mazique, Brian. "EA UFC 4 Soundtrack Revealed With Tracks From Eminem, J. Cole, Stormzy, And More". Forbes. Retrieved 2021-02-02.
  16. "12 new musicians set to breakthrough in 2020". Vogue India. Retrieved 2021-02-02.
  17. "Sudan Archives Plays Canada on North American Tour". exclaim.ca. Retrieved 2021-02-02.
  18. "POSTPONED: CLIPPING with Cartel Madras NEW DATE TBA!". Star Theater Portland. Retrieved 2021-02-02.
  19. "Clipping, Cartel Madras". The Stranger. Retrieved 2021-02-02.
  20. "POSTPONED: CLIPPING with Cartel Madras NEW DATE TBA!". Star Theater Portland. Retrieved 2021-02-02.
  21. "Premiere: Cartel Madras and GWS Team Up to 'Stay Up All Night' -". 2020-09-25. Retrieved 2020-12-28.
  22. "The most underrated Canadian songs of 2020". CBC Music.
  23. "Cartel Madras Centre Women, Work and Weed in Their "DRIFT" Video". exclaim.ca. Retrieved 2021-02-02.
This article is issued from Wikipedia. The text is licensed under Creative Commons - Attribution - Sharealike. Additional terms may apply for the media files.