Why Toronto is taking over U.S. music scene

Long a staple on mainstream radio, Canadian music artists, mostly from Toronto, are taking over the air waves across the United States.
Newcomer Melanie Fiona's "It Kills Me" is the No. 1 song this winter, knocking Mr. "sex inventor" Trey Songz from the top perch (even with a hot remix out) that he's held down for a month now.
But even before Fiona's meteoric rise on the charts, Young Money rapper Drake, who also hails from the T.O. had the summer's only true anthem, "Best I Ever Had," which was also a No. 1 single. (And dude didn't even have an album.)
Is T.O. taking over?
Another Toronto artist Keisha Chante, a decent singer and artist in her own right, landed the coveted role of Aaliyah for the "Rock the Boat" singer's biopic, which is due in late 2010.
If Chante can pull it off, then it will catapult her to instant stardom across the world, easily making her the world's No. 1 female star.
When did this seismic shift take place? T.O. used to be a sleepy little city that deferred to New York City for coolness. What's up?
Well, folks, while New York music scene has been in flux, T.O. has been on the grind. And it's show time.

Barbie-Q: Nicki Minaj puts on pounds as album awaits

When Nicki Minaj first hit the scene a couple of years ago, the hip-hop community was beside themselves at how this "model chick" who looked like she belonged on the cover of a magazine or a video vixen could have rap skills lethal as swords.
While the male-dominated music industry sneered at her she continued to hone her craft, and in August of this year was finally inducted into Young Money, the hottest rap outfit since the 1990s power trio of Bad Boy, Death Row and Suave House.
With the ascension of label mate Drake , Nicki Minaj has seen the pressure rise as her album approaches. What has also risen is her waistline.
Nicki is getting thicki.
Of course, we could say the New York-born rapper is not the size she was when she started, but who is? (Seen E-40 lately?) But it may explain why Nicki has calmed down the sex appeal talk recently in interviews and even, in her latest ryhmes. Don't get me wrong, she's still "Barbie" or whatever she calls herself. But it's just that we now know that she likes her Barbie-Q.

Masia One: Not your average lady mic killa

With the state of female emceeing at an all-time low these days, Masia One, hailing from T.O., hopes to bring a little light to the situation. The Filipino rapper wants the U.S. to take her seriously, and she's doing it without showing her flesh or rapping about how ill the nana.
Masia, who has a flow similar to sLadybug Mecca from Digable Planet, is youth-oriented though. She and rapper Eternia are on an Ontario tour to reach 10,000 girls. The "Because I Am A Girl" tour will be televised -- think "Sesame Street" meets "MTV Raps" - the women will be able to reach a wider audience.
Maybe Chi-town, New York, ATL could ask for a visit from the duo? Lord knows, the youngens -- from the little girls that stuff tissue in their shirts to make them look more mature, to the boys who use pencil mascara to draw hair on their lips -- need all the help they can get.
Masia One is the illest. And you can put that on your "sideburns".

Check out Masia One's flow

Mariko and Tommi 'HoustonLantaVegas' (Drake)

Why Music Catering to Women Wins

A few years ago, rapper Nas released an album titled "Hip Hop is Dead." What it really should have been called is "Gangsta Rap is Dead".
While the chauvinism, and degradation may have died down just a bit, truthfully, it's just gotten a lot smoooover. It doesn't take a rocket scientist, or Don Cornelius for that matter, to realize that women prefer softer music with less harsh lyrics than their male counterparts.
Think about it: The hottest rapper in the game right now is a sing-songy dude from Canada that raps about relationships and the stressfulness of being a young icon.
The days of directly sexual lyrics - aside from Ying Yang Twins and Akon -- may be largely behind us.

RnBCristo 'Bria's Interlude' (Drake)

ItsMsSherbie: 'Brand New' (Drake)