Classified (rapper)
Encyclopedia
Luke Boyd professionally known as Classified, is a Canadian rapper and producer
Record producer
A record producer is an individual working within the music industry, whose job is to oversee and manage the recording of an artist's music...

 from Enfield, Nova Scotia
Enfield, Nova Scotia
Enfield, , is a Canadian exurban community located in the Shubenacadie Valley on the border of Hants and Halifax counties. Specifically, Enfield exists in both the East Hants Municipal District and the Halifax Regional Municipality and is divided by the Shubenacadie River.The history of European...

.

Career

Classified attended Hants East Rural High in Milford, Nova Scotia. He started his own production label, Half Life Records, and released his first full length LP called Time's Up, Kid in 1995. After years of working on music and sorting through label contracts, Classified produced, recorded and released his ninth album, Trial & Error, and signed a nationwide distribution deal with Toronto-based, URBNET Records
URBNET Records
URBNET Records is an independent record label based in Toronto, Ontario, Canada. URBNET was formed by Darryl Rodway and Janusz Jarosinski in 1999 to provide distribution, marketing and promotional services to Hip Hop artists throughout Canada...

. Containing collaborations with up-and-coming Canadian artists like Eternia
Eternia (rapper)
Eternia is a Canadian rapper.-Biography:Born in Ottawa, Ontario, Eternia released her first full-length album, It's Called Life in 2005. It was subsequently nominated for Rap Recording of the Year at the 2006 Juno Awards...

 and DL Incognito
DL Incognito
Oliver Nestor, better known as DL Incognito is an underground Canadian hip hop producer and rapper from Ottawa, Ontario who started his career in 1998. The name 'DL Incognito' means Deliverying Lyrics on the Low. His 2004 album, Life's a Collection of Experiences, received a 2005 Juno nomination...

, as well as Canadian rap veteran, Maestro
Maestro (rapper)
Wesley Williams , better known as Maestro and formerly Maestro Fresh-Wes, is a Canadian rapper, record producer, and actor. His pioneering status and outstanding achievements have led to him being referred to as the "Godfather of Canadian hip hop".In 1989 he became the first Canadian rapper to have...

, the album was one of the highest selling independent rap albums in Canada in 2004.

In addition to the release of Trial & Error, 2003 and 2004 were busy and evolutionary years for Classified. With the continuous support of VideoFACT
VideoFACT
MuchFACT is a Canadian fund that provides grants to Canadian recording artists to help them produce music videos. FACT stands for Foundation To Assist Canadian Talent...

, he was able to release two additional music videos for the singles "Just the Way It Is" and "Unexpected". Classified also continued to master his production skills and joined forces with some of Canada's most prominent emcees, including Choclair
Choclair
Kareem Blake, better known by his stage name Choclair, is a Canadian rapper. He helped develop Canadian hip hop in the 1990s, as a member of the Circle.-Career:...

 and Maestro Fresh Wes. He also teamed up with Shady Records
Shady Records
Shady Records is an American record label specializing in hip hop music. Eminem and his manager Paul Rosenberg founded the label in 1999 after the release of The Slim Shady LP.Since the formation, the label has signed nine acts...

 recording artist, Royce Da 5'9" and opened for Ludacris
Ludacris
Christopher Brian Bridges , better known by his stage name Ludacris, is an American rapper and actor. Along with his manager, Chaka Zulu, Ludacris is the co-founder of Disturbing tha Peace, an imprint distributed by Def Jam Recordings...

, Snoop dogg
Snoop Dogg
Calvin Cordozar Broadus, Jr. , better known by his stage name Snoop Dogg, is an American rapper, record producer, and actor. Snoop is best known as a rapper in the West Coast hip hop scene, and for being one of Dr. Dre's most notable protégés. Snoop Dogg was a Crip gang member while in high school...

, Busta Rhymes
Busta Rhymes
Trevor Tahiem Smith, Jr., better known by his stage name Busta Rhymes ,Smith is an American rapper, producer and actor. Chuck D of Public Enemy gave him the alias Busta Rhymes after NFL wide receiver George "Buster" Rhymes...

, The Game
The Game (rapper)
Jayceon Terrell Taylor , better known by his stage name Game, formerly The Game, is an American rapper and actor. As a member of G-Unit, he rose to fame in 2005 with the success of his debut album, The Documentary, which earned him two Grammy Award nominations...

, Nelly, MC Grizzly, Captain Capota, Nas, The Black Eyed Peas
The Black Eyed Peas
The Black Eyed Peas are an American pop group , formed in Los Angeles, California, in 1995. The group includes rappers will.i.am, apl.de.ap, and Taboo, and singer Fergie. Since the release of their third album Elephunk in 2003, the group has sold an estimated 56 million records worldwide...

 and Black Moon
Black Moon (band)
Black Moon is an American hip hop group, consisting of members Buckshot, 5 ft and DJ Evil Dee . The group were most notable for their debut album Enta da Stage, and their affiliation with the Boot Camp Clik.-Biography:...

.

Classified's tenth album, Boy-Cott-In the Industry, was a high point in his career. The album includes guest appearances by Choclair, Royce Da 5'9", Jay Bizzy, J-Bru, A-Wall, Spesh K, and Mic Boyd (Classified's younger brother and fellow MC). He has said he enjoys doing music with other people: "It keeps things exciting and there are tons of talented people in Halifax so you make connections 'cause it's not a huge scene." The album reached #46 on SoundScan's Canadian R&B/Hip-Hop albums chart. The singles "The Maritimes", "5th Element", "No Mistakes", and "Find Out", which is the lead single of his 11th studio album, Hitch Hikin' Music, were all Top 20 hits on MuchMusic
MuchMusic
MuchMusic is a Canadian English language Category A specialty channel owned by Bell Media. MuchMusic is dedicated to music-related programs, pop and youth culture.-History:...

 and MTV Canada
MTV Canada
MTV is a Canadian English language Category A specialty channel devoted to talk, lifestyle and documentary programming.MTV is owned by Bell Media, with its name licensed from the American channel of the same name, which is owned by MTV Networks, a division of Viacom.The channel launched as talktv...

 that year. The music video for "No Mistakes" won him an MMVA for MuchVibe Best Rap Video. Boy-Cott-In the Industry also earned Classified a Juno Award
Juno Award
The Juno Awards are presented annually to Canadian musical artists and bands to acknowledge their artistic and technical achievements in all aspects of music...

 nomination for Rap Recording of the Year
Juno Award for Rap Recording of the Year
The Juno Award for Rap Recording of the Year has been awarded since 1991, and is awarded for the best rap album in Canada. It was awarded under the title Best Rap Recording from 1993 to 2002....

 in 2006.

Riding high off of Boy-Cott-In the Industry, Classified released his eleventh album Hitch Hikin' Music. Produced like previous albums by Classified himself, it is arguably some of Classified's finest work. On "Fall From Paradise", Classified reflects on the difficulty of staying fresh and on top. In the hip-hop meets classic rock song "All About U", featuring singer Chad Hatcher, Classified shows the extent of his growth from his early releases. In "Hip Hop Star", he eschews the current bling-bling culture of popular hip hop to remind people that life is not about trying to impress others. The rest of the album includes guest appearances by Jay Bizzy, Mic Boyd, Jordan Croucher, Preacher K, White Mic and more. Four singles have been released off the album: "Find Out" (which won the 2007 East Coast Music Award for Best Rap/Hip-Hop Single), "Feelin' Fine Remix", "All About U", and "Hard to Be Hip Hop". Hitch Hikin' Music also received a Juno Award
Juno Award
The Juno Awards are presented annually to Canadian musical artists and bands to acknowledge their artistic and technical achievements in all aspects of music...

 nomination for Rap Recording of the Year in 2007.

Classified enlisted the help of fellow Nova Scotia
Nova Scotia
Nova Scotia is one of Canada's three Maritime provinces and is the most populous province in Atlantic Canada. The name of the province is Latin for "New Scotland," but "Nova Scotia" is the recognized, English-language name of the province. The provincial capital is Halifax. Nova Scotia is the...

 native Joel Roy to beatbox during some of his songs. The actual singles that Roy beatboxed for are unknown but it is believed that he can be heard in the single "The Maritimes".

In early 2009, the hit single "Anybody Listening" brought Classified to mainstream success as it peaked at #52 on the Canadian Hot 100
Canadian Hot 100
The Canadian Hot 100 is a music singles popularity chart issued weekly by Billboard magazine which ranks songs in Canada. The chart debuted in the Billboard issue dated June 16, 2007 and was made available for the first time via their online services on June 7, 2007...

 and the music video received heavy rotation on MuchMusic
MuchMusic
MuchMusic is a Canadian English language Category A specialty channel owned by Bell Media. MuchMusic is dedicated to music-related programs, pop and youth culture.-History:...

. Classified's thirteenth studio album, Self Explanatory received highly positive reviews from the critics and debuted on the Canadian Albums Chart
Canadian Albums Chart
The Canadian Albums Chart is the official album sales chart in Canada. It is compiled every Wednesday by U.S.-based music sales tracking company Nielsen Soundscan, and published every Thursday by Jam! Canoe and Billboard, along with its sister charts the Canadian Singles Chart and the Canadian BDS...

 at #25 making it Classified's first album on that chart. At the 2009 MuchMusic Video Awards
2009 MuchMusic Video Awards
The 2009 MuchMusic Video Awards were held in Toronto, Ontario at MuchMusic's headquarters on June 21, 2009. Along with the MuchMusic VJ's, on April 16, 2009, it was confirmed on the MuchMusic website that the Jonas Brothers would co-host the show. The show featured performances by The Black Eyed...

 on May 21, 2009, Classified won the MuchVibe
MuchVibe
MuchVibe is a Canadian English language Category B specialty channel owned by Bell Media. The channel broadcasts urban music programming such as rap, hip hop, r&b, and reggae. Programming is primarily in the form of music videos with other programming including concerts, interviews, and more...

 "Best Hip-Hop Video of the Year" award for "Anybody Listening" directed by Harv Glazer and produced by Robert Wilson of TwoThreeFiveFilms. Off Self Explanatory, Classified would enjoy more mainstream success in early 2010 with another hit single, "Oh...Canada" peaking at #14 on the Canadian Hot 100 and was certified platinum in digital downloads by the CRIA
Cria
A cria is the name for a baby camelid such as a llama, alpaca, vicuña, or guanaco. It comes from the Spanish word cría, meaning "baby". Its false cognate in English, crya , was coined by British sailors who explored Chile in the 18th century and were quick to describe the camelids onomatopoeically...

. Also in early 2010, Classified received three Juno Award nominations, which was for Rap Recording of the Year, Single of the Year
Juno Award for Single of the Year
The Juno Award for Single of the Year has been awarded since 1974 for the best single in Canada. It has also been known as Best Single and Best Selling Single.-Best Single :...

, and Video of the Year
Juno Award for Video of the Year
The Juno Award for "Video of the Year" has been awarded since 1984, as recognition each year for the best music video in Canada. The award was previously called the "Best Video".-Best Video :...

. In early 2011, "Oh...Canada" received a Juno nomination for "Single of the Year".

On March 22, 2011, Classified released his fourteenth album, though it was only his second major studio album, Handshakes and Middle Fingers
Handshakes and Middle Fingers
Tracklist:#"Intro - Ups And Downs"#"That Ain’t Classy"#"High Maintenance"#"Unusual" #"Danger Bay"#"Stay Cool"#"Passion"#"Maybe It's Just Me" #"Young Soul"#"Run With Me"#"The Day Doesn’t Die"...

. The first single off the album, "That Ain't Classy" reached #45 on the Canadian Hot 100. The album debuted at #7 on the Canadian Albums Chart, making it his highest charting album to date.

Discography

  • Time's Up, Kid – 1995
  • One Shot – 1996
  • What Happened – 1996
  • Information
    Information (Classified album)
    Information is the fourth album by Classified.-Track listing:#"Hold Your Own" – 3:36#"Getting Live" – 3:11#"Game Tight " – 3:13#"The Stranger" – 3:09#"Information" – 3:38...

    – 1997
  • Now Whut!
    Now Whut!
    Now Whut! is an EP by Classified.-Track listing:#"Now Whut" – 3:29#"It Ain't Over" – 3:02#"To Who It May Concern" – 3:18#"Common Trends" – 4:11...

    – 1998
  • Touch of Class – 1999
  • Unpredictable
    Unpredictable (Classified album)
    Unpredictable is an album by Classified.-Track listing:#"Intro" - 0:32#"Unpredictable" - 3:46#"We'll Never Fall" - 3:43#"Classic" - 3:01#"Sound Off" - 3:33#"Juno Massacre" - 2:57#"My Life" - 2:47#"Break And Enter" - 0:49#"One Day" - 3:34...

    – 2000
  • Union Dues
    Union Dues
    Union Dues is the eighth album by Classified.-Track listing:#"Intro" - 1:02#"Crossing Lines" - 3:44#"Politics" - 3:05#"Yuh Ded Now" - 3:49#"Questions" - 4:04#"A Martin Finch Moment" - 0:49#"Talking Sh*t" - 3:15...

    – 2001
  • Trial & Error
    Trial & Error (album)
    -Track listing:#"Intro" – 1:03#"Gossip" – 3:48#"Heavy Artillery" – 3:51#"On tha Brink" – 2:18#"Unexpected" – 3:48#"Just the Way It Is" – 4:13#"Got Luv" – 3:16#"Interlude" – 0:13#"Trial & Error" – 3:39...

    – 2003
  • Boy-Cott-In the Industry
    Boy-Cott-In the Industry
    Boy-Cott-In the Industry is the tenth album by Classified, released in 2005. The album reached #46 on Soundscan's Canadian R&B/Hip-Hop albums chart. It contains the singles, "5th Element", "The Maritimes", "No Mistakes", and "Unexplainable Hunger". "5th Element", "The Maritimes", and "No Mistakes"...

    – 2005
  • Hitch Hikin' Music
    Hitch Hikin' Music
    Hitch Hikin' Music is the eleventh album by Classified, released in September 2006. "Find Out", "Feelin' Fine ", "All About U" and most recently, "Hard to Be Hip-Hop" were released as singles. Also notable is that Jordan Croucher's single "Feelin Fine" is also on the album...

    – 2006
  • While You Were Sleeping
    While You Were Sleeping (album)
    -Track listing:#"This Is For" – 3:21#"Love the One You're With" – 3:47#"Hold Your Own" – 3:17#"Fall From Paradise" – 4:14#"Unpredictable" – 3:48#"Flash Backs" – 2:59#"Ain't Hard to Find" – 3:46...

    – 2007
  • Self Explanatory
    Self Explanatory (Classified album)
    -Track listing:#"Self Explanatory" – 3:05#"Get Out the Way" – 3:23#"Choose Your Own Adventure 1" – 3:09#"Up All Night" – 4:12#"Quit While You're Ahead" – 4:34#"Inspiration" – 2:08...

    – 2009
  • Handshakes and Middle Fingers
    Handshakes and Middle Fingers
    Tracklist:#"Intro - Ups And Downs"#"That Ain’t Classy"#"High Maintenance"#"Unusual" #"Danger Bay"#"Stay Cool"#"Passion"#"Maybe It's Just Me" #"Young Soul"#"Run With Me"#"The Day Doesn’t Die"...

    – 2011

Singles

Year Song Chart peak Certifications Album
CAN
Canadian Hot 100
The Canadian Hot 100 is a music singles popularity chart issued weekly by Billboard magazine which ranks songs in Canada. The chart debuted in the Billboard issue dated June 16, 2007 and was made available for the first time via their online services on June 7, 2007...


2000 "Unpredictable" Unpredictable
2001 "Yuh Died Now"
(featuring Dan-e-o
Dan-e-o
Daniel Faraldo , professionally known as Dan-e-o, is a Canadian hip hop artist of Jamaican and Spanish descent, from Toronto, Ontario...

 & D-Sisive
D-Sisive
D-Sisive is the stage name of Derek Christoff, a prolific Canadian rapper, best known for his Juno Award-nominated EP The Book, his hit single "Nobody With A Notepad" and his 2009 Polaris Music Prize-nominated album Let the Children Die D-Sisive is the stage name of Derek Christoff, a prolific...

)
Union Dues
2003 "Gossip/This Is For" Trial & Error
"Heavy Artillery"
(featuring Rocky Ninja)
2004 "Unexpected"
"Just the Way It Is"
(featuring Eternia
Eternia (rapper)
Eternia is a Canadian rapper.-Biography:Born in Ottawa, Ontario, Eternia released her first full-length album, It's Called Life in 2005. It was subsequently nominated for Rap Recording of the Year at the 2006 Juno Awards...

, DL Incognito
DL Incognito
Oliver Nestor, better known as DL Incognito is an underground Canadian hip hop producer and rapper from Ottawa, Ontario who started his career in 1998. The name 'DL Incognito' means Deliverying Lyrics on the Low. His 2004 album, Life's a Collection of Experiences, received a 2005 Juno nomination...

 & Maestro Fresh Wes)
2005 "5th Element" Boy-Cott-In the Industry
"Unexplainable Hunger"
(featuring Royce Da 5'9" & Choclair
Choclair
Kareem Blake, better known by his stage name Choclair, is a Canadian rapper. He helped develop Canadian hip hop in the 1990s, as a member of the Circle.-Career:...

)
"The Maritimes"
2006 "No Mistakes"
"Find Out" Hitch Hikin' Music
"Feelin Fine (Remix)"
(featuring Jordan Croucher
JRDN
Ralph Jordan Croucher better known by his stage name JRDN is a Canadian recording artist. Croucher’s upbringing was split between Halifax, Nova Scotia and Toronto, Ontario, Canada...

 & Jay-Bizzy)
2007 "All About U"
(featuring Chad Hatcher)
"Hard To Be Hip Hop"
(featuring Maestro Fresh Wes & DJ IV)
"Fall From Paradise"
2008 "Trouble" Self Explanatory
2009 "Anybody Listening" 52
"Oh...Canada" 14
  • CAN
    Canadian Recording Industry Association
    Music Canada is a Toronto-based, non-profit trade organization that was founded 9 April 1963 to represent the interests of companies that record, artists, manufacture, production, promotion and distribution of music in Canada...

    : Platinum
"Up All Night"
"Quit While You're Ahead"
(featuring Choclair
Choclair
Kareem Blake, better known by his stage name Choclair, is a Canadian rapper. He helped develop Canadian hip hop in the 1990s, as a member of the Circle.-Career:...

, Maestro Fresh Wes & Moka Only
Moka Only
Daniel Denton , known professionally as Moka Only, is a Canadian hip hop artist. Originally from Langford, British Columbia, near Victoria, he is now based in Vancouver. He was previously part of the hip hop group Swollen Members, and briefly a part of Len. His albums are released by Legendary...

)
2010 "They Call This (Hip Hop)"
(featuring Royce Da 5'9" & B.o.B
B.o.B
Bobby Ray Simmons, Jr. , better known by his stage name B.o.B, is an American rapper, singer-songwriter and record producer. He is currently signed under the labels of Grand Hustle Records, Rebel Rock Entertainment, and Atlantic Records. His debut single "Nothin' on You" reached number one in both...

)
2011 "That Ain't Classy" 45
  • CAN: Gold
  • Handshakes and Middle Fingers
    "The Day Doesn't Die" 83
    "Maybe It's Just Me"
    (featuring Brother Ali
    Brother Ali
    Ali Newman , better known by the stage name Brother Ali, is an American hip hop artist signed to Rhymesayers Entertainment.-Personal life:...

    )
    "—" denotes a release that did not chart.

    Music video chart positions

    Year Single Chart Position
    2006 "Find Out" MuchMusic
    MuchMusic
    MuchMusic is a Canadian English language Category A specialty channel owned by Bell Media. MuchMusic is dedicated to music-related programs, pop and youth culture.-History:...

     Countdown
    17
    2007 "All About U" MuchMusic
    MuchMusic
    MuchMusic is a Canadian English language Category A specialty channel owned by Bell Media. MuchMusic is dedicated to music-related programs, pop and youth culture.-History:...

     Countdown
    20
    2009 "Anybody Listening" MuchMusic
    MuchMusic
    MuchMusic is a Canadian English language Category A specialty channel owned by Bell Media. MuchMusic is dedicated to music-related programs, pop and youth culture.-History:...

     Countdown
    3
    2009 "Quit While You're Ahead" MuchMusic
    MuchMusic
    MuchMusic is a Canadian English language Category A specialty channel owned by Bell Media. MuchMusic is dedicated to music-related programs, pop and youth culture.-History:...

     Countdown
    22
    2009 "Oh...Canada" MuchMusic
    MuchMusic
    MuchMusic is a Canadian English language Category A specialty channel owned by Bell Media. MuchMusic is dedicated to music-related programs, pop and youth culture.-History:...

     Countdown
    5
    2011 "That Ain't Classy" MuchMusic
    MuchMusic
    MuchMusic is a Canadian English language Category A specialty channel owned by Bell Media. MuchMusic is dedicated to music-related programs, pop and youth culture.-History:...

     Countdown
    3

    See also

    • Canadian hip hop
      Canadian hip hop
      The Canadian hip hop scene was first established in the 1980s. Through a variety of factors, it developed much more slowly than Canada's popular rock music scene, and apart from a short-lived burst of mainstream popularity from 1989 to 1991, it remained largely an underground phenomenon until the...

    • Music of Canada
      Music of Canada
      The music of Canada has influences that have shaped the country. Aboriginals, the British, and the French have all made unique contributions to the musical heritage of Canada. The music has subsequently been heavily influenced by American culture because of its proximity and migration between...



    External links

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