August 1, 2006
Who is DJ Cyber-Rap?
Who Is DJ Cyber-Rap?
Depending what circles you run with, this question may have been nagging you for quite some time.
If you’re a member of Stillepost, the message board that plays hosts to almost all of Toronto’s scenesters, you’ve known about DJ Cyber-Rap since 2005. That’s when the 59 year-old widower (born Robert “Ronald” Marie MacDougall) first started posting in the Toronto forum of Stillepost from internet cafes, using painfully effortful internet jargon in an attempt to make new friends. Thought at first to be an “alter”- slang for a fake persona belonging to another, slightly more real but still contrived member of a message board- he was ignored and then banned altogether.
Then after re-registering on the board and pleading with the Toronto community for forgiveness, a unexpected twist occurred: DJ Cyber-Rap posted an mp3 of him rapping on his myspace site. And then three more. Using instrumentals by mainstream artists such as Gwen Stefani and Eminem, Cyber-Rap discarded the songs’ existing lyrics in place of his own: his stories about being a widower, raising his teenage son, and living in the Annex were suddenly being expressed through hip-hop.
Then on June 11, another twist occurred: “Funeral”, a full-length LP, was released in stores: Soundscapes and Moog Audio both carry copies. What’s more, the CD features less ambiguously real artists- ones who have graced the cover of NOW and eye magazine no less. Laura Barrett, Ninja High School, Pyramid Culture, and DJ Wes Allen all contribute to tracks on the LP. And judging by the press releases on the website for RHEA Music Entertainment Group (Cyber-Rap’s own newly-founded label), it would appear that isn’t the last we’ve heard of the artist.
But still, Toronto’s curious to know more about its indie music Keiser Soze.
(The residents of the Annex sure seem confused.)
“Someone asked me the other day if I was DJ Cyber-Rap,” exclaims Trevor Coleman, booker for The Boat in Kensington Market. (Coleman denies the possibility that he is the rapper.)
Whoever can take claim for Cyber-Rap- even Mr. Ronald MacDougall- would do well to step forward and receive praise, according to Chart Attack and eye weekly.
For now, we have precious insight into the potential ruse… outside of some interesting entries on wikipedia (see: DJ Cyber-Rap, Funeral, Rhea Perlman, and- best of all- Danny Devito). In the meantime we’ll have to pray that unlikely music video and be thankful to Cyber-Rap for throwing a bone to anyone jonesing for some Lost.
Update: In the three weeks since this article was first posted, more publications have explored the mystery of DJ Cyber-Rap. First, Funeral received a review in The Toronto Star. Not long after, Carl Wilson, writer at The Globe and Mail, posted on the subject, first discussing Funeral musically (and suggesting that Tragically Hip frontman Gord Downie is in fact behind the project) before including a Cyber-Rap music video in a subsequent post. The music video, for the song Stylin' '06 (Profile of a Mac) has reached over 1000 hits since its appearence online around the time of the Zoilus articles. Within a matter of days, Wilson also featured another song in his Essential Tracks column in The Globe and Mail, alongside tracks from members of Wolf Parade and Björk-collaborators.
(The entries on Zoilus provoked notable debate on the site's feedback section, wherein readers quoted rumours and hypothosized as to Cyber-Rap's "true" identity. Amongst these suggestions were Tom Green, Kim Mitchell, Joel Gibb, and Chris Mills from Kids on TV / Just Like The Movies.)
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more stillepost "news"... and about a 2-year-old joke, no less.
Album of the summer.
*yawn*
2 year old joke? "Funeral" was released like last week! More than stillepost "news", this may well be the years best rap album.
I didn't know about it but then again I don't waste my time at Stillepost wanking off about the next best band ever.
Your scene will eat you.
I hate to say it, but if I wanted to catch up on the goings-on of the stillepost crowd(FYI: I don't), I would read Stillepost.
"this may well be the year's best rap album"
If you really believe that, I don't think you've been listening to nearly enough Toronto rap.
"If you really believe that, I don't think you've been listening to nearly enough Toronto rap."
I think you just haven't been listening to enough DJ Cyber Rap.
christ. is dj cyber rap better than the albums by t.i., ghostface, dmx, field mob, more or les, b.g., ray cash, busta rhymes, rhymefest, pharrell, jurassic 5, shawnna, remy ma, the roots, yo gotti, or rick ross?
oh what's that, you haven't heard any other rap albums this year? then why don't you eat a bag of SHUT THE CUFF UP
i don't know those artists, but i'm sure dj cyber rap does.
Um, I think they were talking about Toronto rap, dave m.! (And those guys you listed ain't from T.O.- at least last time I checked!!)
More Or Les is most certainly from Toronto.
And dmx, busta rhymes, pharrell, jurassic 5, and the roots are most certainly not!!
Dave. Two big things separate dj cyber rap from your list of rappers. First, he doesn't have the production OR advertising budget compared to that list of artists and still released a really solid album. Second, as far as the internet's concerned he's 50+ years old, and i think this is refreshing given how much the industry panders to youth.
As for your list, why do people still even consider DMX a rapper? Doesn't he just act in terrible movies and when that doesn't work out, release some more shouting over cheesy synth and whistles? And is anyone else sick of Pharrell's slick, minimal (ie LAZY) production? Or how about the new J5 being sort of weak without cut chemist? The 'best album' comment was bold, but CHRIST, "Funeral" is a lot less boring than some releases that get way more attention.
Yeah Tom Originally I was talking just Toronto... But I took the challenge. It was more fun than debating Cyber Rap VS Choclair. Someone feel free to take that one on though?
DJ Cyber-Rap is best!
Hmm tough question. Cyber Rap is WAY more interesting. But... No one can make a grown woman melt like Choclair's smoove floetry and sparkling japanese motorbikes can. Straight Outta Scarbarough y'all.
Choclair?
This is the best example we can come up with for debating about currently relevant quality Toronto rap?
Many underground Toronto rappers release solid albums every year with production and promo budgets of $0.
I guess the real difference is that they're not aimed at Stillepost indie rockers, which is perhaps something for Toronto's hip-hop scene to think about, at least promo-wise.
Here's a short and loose list of underground toronto rappers, representing a broad range of styles and many levels of talent and exposure:
Abdominal, Anonymous Twist, Arcee, Belladonna, Bishop, Brassmunk, Citizen Kane, Collizhun, Cryogenics, Dope Poet Society, Double Soul, Enlight, Eternia, Fat Ski, 4th Pyramid, Frankenstein, G-Knight, G-Stokes, Ghetto Concept, Ill Seer, Junia-T, Kamau, Kool Hand Luke, Latte D. Kyd, Masia One, Mathematik, Mindbender, Miss Butter, Modulok, Monolith, Mr. Roam, Neural Chaos, Nyce One, Phatt Al, Rhythmicru, Shankhini, SJ The Wordburglar, Skitz, Smokestack, Sunny D, Tara Chase, Theology 3, Thrust, Vandal
Can we lend some consideration to them before suggesting that all of Toronto hip-hop can be embodied by one performer and his uneven track record for commercial success? (and if we must go commercial, why not at least expand the list to include Kardinal and Saukrates?)
I was joking, Jill! Of course it's stupid to think that Choclair's the only toronto rapper, I think the joke was acting like theirs only ever been one. I definitely appreciate your list though, minus the hostility.
Hey Chloe,
No hostility here. My post took so long to upload that your post landed in the thread first. I hadn't read what you wrote and was actually responding to Brian's original question.
I'm serious about other TO rappers looking more closely at this indie-appreciation thing. I think there really is a lack of awareness on both sides, of both the depth of talent this city has, and the depth of audience available for hip hop if rappers look beyond the usual targets. None of that was meant as a snipe either.
I'm glad you like the list. Really, I was just trying to expand the discussion to include the existing underground scene that many potentially interested people don't necessarily seem to be aware of.
I was also kidding! But I'm actually pleased your take was serious because of what it produced. I agree completely with both of your posts and liked the list, and more awareness on both sides would be great. I think CYBER RAP's independant/DIY take on the release can be appreciated by both underground scenes. More importantly he offers a sense of humour that's too sparse in a lot of underground music.
Brian, I couldn't possibly be any more biased when I tell you this, but if it's humour, quality and minimal budgeting you want:
www.moreorles.ca
And one lingering question haunts me:
Is DJ Cyber-Rap a DJ? Does he deejay even in a ficticious sense? Of all the things that are unclear from his profile, this one is most unaddressed. And yet, if he is not a DJ, that inconsistency would seem to be rather fitting with his schtick.
Jill, I'll totally excuse your accomplice because this is really good.
Sorry for coming off like I have no sense of humour. I hate it when that happens. [shakes fist at internet]
Jill, as your posts exemplify, the rest of the TO rap AND indie scenes don't have the sense of humour to do anything close to what DJ Cyber-Rap is doing. I mean, listen to the god damn album already- does it sound like he's DJ'ing? And yet, if you haven't already listened to the album but are arguing against it anyway, that would seem rather fitting with your schtick.
Dude, I'm not arguing against anything. I'm arguing for greater understanding and appreciation, overall.
Naturally, since he calls himself DJ, I'm curious to know if he's a DJ. If he is a DJ, then it's funny that he doesn't mention it. If he's not a DJ, then it's just funny-- funnier still if that's intentional.
No need to swear at me.
Also, I don't think it's true that no one else has a sense of humour. Check out SJ The Wordburglar for one example.
show me where the phrase "this may well be the year's best rap album" includes the word Toronto.
and while you're at it, mcbrain, explain to me how albums having promo budgets has anything to do with your flagrant display of ignorance about rap music. re: dmx, i prefer indie rock to most mainstream rock but i still know when coldplay has a cuffing album out.
What the fuck does "cuff" and "cuffing" mean?!
"Cuff"?
Are we pretending some pre-teen might stumble across this thread, ignorant of perhaps the most common spoken word in the English language, in serious need of protection from "swears"? Fuck that.
I think it has something to do with tailoring. A profession too gentlemanly for swears.
i figured maybe since you don't listen to rap, and since you don't read, you might not know what the words mean.
actually, you only get half a bar: fuck y'all.
Wow, did you just tell all of Torontoist they "don't listen to rap" in that last comment? Assuming I know nothing about rap is presumptuous, but telling the whole board they know nothing, that's just stupid. Picking Cyber Rap as amongst the year's best is a really informed decision actually and I stand by it. MEANIE.
MoreorLes is delightful.
Let's not mince any more words and just get down to what this is really all about.
DON'T YOU HATE STILLEPOST??!11?!
DJ Cyber-Rap's response to this article
there's a lot of hostility on this comment board. i thought dj cyber rap was all about the love. have we lost his message? c'mon folks.
i wonder if dj cyber rap travels on the ttc....
Looks like his reponse to the coverage is nothing but love despite the "h8terz"! This is a man who's not afraid to speak his mind and open his heart to the world... "Funeral" is quite a feat considering his dead wife and unloving son. I think he really just needs our love. Let's end the hate and embrace a new shining star!
haters are good for business
Gang, I cuddent be more biazed when I tell u thiz, but if it'z kewl rap that u seek, clikk 2 my weblinkz:
http://www.djcyberrap.com
http://www.myspace.com/cyberrap
Az 4 all u haterz, I'm tired of prying u off my sack. U all kno how I feel, and 2 be honezt I'm 2 much of a gentel-man 2 express myself the way u ppl tryin to undermine me dezerve.
In other, more x-citing newz, I'm involved in an auction. Pleeze bid - kurrently I'm @ $10, thanx 2 a certain 4ward-minded Dylan (thankx bro). Click it:
http://www.stillepost.ca/boards/index.php?topic=54923.0
There's Chunky and sum pretty gudd storiez in it 4 any1 whu winz!
I luv my fanz, everyone elze, pleeze buzz off (and also, try not 2 be jelluz just cuz an old pooper's getting some limelite over here!!! it's not gudd 4 any1's helth, k?)
Yourz,
Ronald "Robert" Marie MacDougall
aka
DJ Cyber-Rap
Hahah whoa...
Reactions: Stylin' 06 is a sweet song! Awesome picture on 'what's SO in'... in toronto... as told by an old guy... And an Ace of Base cover? And it's good? Fun article. I really wanna hear more.
ehhh, the record is OK. i'm not hating on cyber-rap. but if all the stillepost douchewhistles were simultaneously wiped out in a giant power surge, you would not hear me complain.
(on sober reflection, i disavow that last comment. how come to-ist doesn't let you edit your posts?)
... Maybe someone can shed some light on this. I really like the album and character - but why are people so hung up on this stillepost association? I mean sure he posts there, evidently, but he also seems to have recorded a commendable album here... isn't that a bit 'bigger' than some community message board?
Is it true he's really one of the guys from that band Tangiers?
Holy, this album is SERIOUS. People who haven't heard it should really take a listen.
Don't let the haterz bring u down, Ronny!
Jesus! This IS way bigger than some message board. Zoilus and then this video up on YouTube. The video is fantastic.