In five short years and not much more than one EP worth of music, Montreal-based rap trio The Posterz have staked their claim in hip-hop both locally and globally with their refreshing, raw and innovative sound. They seemingly emerged fully formed, making their first splash with October 2013’s “The Bass Song”, a defiant anthem that came with an equally vibrant, self-directed video. The Starships and Dark Tints EP followed, as did love from the press: the trio were named in Huffington Post’s “Top 10 Artists to Follow” in 2014, and featured in numerous publications such as Noisey US/UK/France/Canada, Complex, Red Bull Music, Les InRocks, the Montreal Gazette, and more.
In an era when rappers put out dozens of songs a year, it’s important to note that the group’s minimal output is a reflection of their high standards, not their work ethic. Rather than developing their sound only in the studio, the trio road test their music...
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In five short years and not much more than one EP worth of music, Montreal-based rap trio The Posterz have staked their claim in hip-hop both locally and globally with their refreshing, raw and innovative sound. They seemingly emerged fully formed, making their first splash with October 2013’s “The Bass Song”, a defiant anthem that came with an equally vibrant, self-directed video. The Starships and Dark Tints EP followed, as did love from the press: the trio were named in Huffington Post’s “Top 10 Artists to Follow” in 2014, and featured in numerous publications such as Noisey US/UK/France/Canada, Complex, Red Bull Music, Les InRocks, the Montreal Gazette, and more.
In an era when rappers put out dozens of songs a year, it’s important to note that the group’s minimal output is a reflection of their high standards, not their work ethic. Rather than developing their sound only in the studio, the trio road test their music with their well-honed, high-energy live show. They have performed at Canadian music festivals such as NXNE, Festival d’Éte du Quebec, M Pour Montreal, and Toronto’s Manifesto, and closed out 2014 with a two-week European tour. By playing countless clubs and parties, they developed their fanbase and sharpened their songs at the same time; it’s no surprise the trio hit the ground running.
The group linked up in 2010, in a community center studio in Little Burgundy, a downtown Montreal neighborhood which birthed the city’s internationally renowned jazz scene a couple of generations earlier. Rappers Husser and Kris the $pirit stumbled on what Husser called “the best beat we ever heard in our lives” on the studio computer. They tracked down its creator; in producer Joey Sherrett, they found the third member of the group.
The Posterz cite Kanye West, Andre 3000, Future and The Beatles among other influences, but are adamant about creating a sound that is all their own. Even in Montreal, they say their biggest inspirations are less musical and more aspirational; Montreal-born acts like Arcade Fire and Kaytranada made them realize they could blow up too. Huss and Kris temper their deft lyricism with a sense of humor. Sherrett’s beats mix adventurous, hard-knocking drums with masterful of low-end leads and expert synth work.
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