20 Odd Years

Buck 65 from Mount Uniacke Nova Scotia - population 3,500 - combines elements of hip-hop, blues, roots, rock, country and folk music to become one of the most enduring artists on the international hip-hop scene. His 'career in a nutshell' doesn't exactly read like the how-to handbook for elementary hip-hop artists. Not surprising, really, given that for the last 20 years he has built a reputation on breaking the mould. Throughout his career, this small-town Canadian emcee and turntablist has pushed all sorts of boundaries on his way to create a sound that is truly Buck 65. While many of his cotemporaries faded away, Buck 65's avant-garde approach kept him at the edge of the music scene, and won him countless dedicated fans around the world. Buck 65's 20- year career alone is testament to how much appeal his music has. Throw in 3 Juno award wins and 5 nominations, and live collaborations with artists like PJ Harvey and Moby, and you've got the portrait of an artist who is clearly as respected by his contemporaries as he is loved by his audiences.