Matt Brotzel, better known as RationaL, is a Canadian hip-hop artist from Saskatoon, Saskatchewan. On March 30, 2010, RationaL released his debut single "Cocaine Cowboy" off of his upcoming debut album, The BirthWrite LP. The song garnered a 2010 Sphere of Hip-Hop
[1] award for "Song of the Year", co-winning the honor alongside 2011 Juno Award winner and fellow Canadian rapper, Shad ("Rose Garden"). July 17, 2012 the rapper released The BirthWrite LP under his own independent imprint, Ear RationaL Music.
[2]
[3]
[4] The album featured guest appearances from Quannum Projects recording artist Pigeon John, former Rawkus Records artist and member of The Procussions, Mr. J. Medeiros, Relic, Theory Hazit and Ohmega Watts.[5]
2007 - 2012
| The BirthWrite LP |
|---|
| Studio album by RationaL |
|---|
| Released |
2012 |
|---|
| Genre |
Canadian Hip-Hop |
|---|
| Length |
47:50 |
|---|
| Label |
Ear RationaL Music |
|---|
| Producer |
Relic, Factor, Vintage, Blaise |
|---|
| RationaL chronology |
|---|
The BirthWrite LP
(2012) |
Hell or High Water
(T.B.A. 2015) |
Losing My Religion EP
(2016) |
|
In the fall of 2007, RationaL began the writing and recording process for his debut album, The BirthWrite LP. The album charted as high as #2 on the !earshot hip-hop charts. Although The BirthWrite LP is officially considered RationaL's debut album, there was a free promotional album released on July 20, 2010 entitled Hard Labor: The BirthWrite Prequel that circulated locally and was made available online. The BirthWrite LP is most notable for the award-winning lead single "Cocaine Cowboy", a song about RationaL's observations watching his sister date a cocaine addict.
2013–present
On July 23, 2013, RationaL reached an exclusive agreement with Toronto Blue Jays and Major League Baseball to release his new single, "A Swing and a Belt", dedicated to the late Hall of Fame voice of the Blue Jays, Tom Cheek. Cheek called a Major League record 4,306 consecutive games for 28 straight seasons on the Toronto Blue Jays Radio Network from April 7, 1977 to June 2, 2004. Produced by Imperial, "A Swing and a Belt" received high-praise from former World Series hero Joe Carter. Former Jays manager and current Sportsnet play-by-play man Buck Martinez also raved about the song. Martinez stated, "RationaL has captured everything that Tom Cheek was in regards to baseball. He had his passion, he understood his love of the game, he understood all the great moments in Tom Cheek's broadcasting career. He weaves them into "A Swing and a Belt" in such a way that it brings back so many memories for fans, baseball people and media people that really captures the essence of Tom Cheek's career with the Blue Jays. I don't think it could have been done any better." In addition, Sportsnet aired the song during the Blue Jays game versus the Houston Astros on July 27, 2013. "A Swing and a Belt" is also the lead single from RationaL's upcoming album entitled Hell or High Water, scheduled for release soon on Ear RationaL Music. Confirmed collaborators for the record thus far include Mr. J. Medeiros, Factor, Imperial, Josh Palmer and Juno Award-winning producer and emcee, Relic.
Music Videos
Two videos were filmed for The BirthWrite LP. "Cocaine Cowboy" was filmed in downtown Saskatoon and released on March 30, 2010.
Hell or High Water track listing
| # |
Title |
Producer |
Featured guest(s) |
Time |
| 1 |
"A Word from Eddie Drummond" |
Imperial |
Eddie Drummond |
1:08 |
| 2 |
"Hell or High Water" |
Imperial |
Mr. J. Medeiros |
3:03 |
| 3 |
"Counting Time" |
Relic |
Relic |
3:47 |
| 4 |
"Gotchu" |
Factor |
Relic |
3:22 |
| 5 |
"From Scratch" |
Relic |
|
3:41 |
| 6 |
"Window Seat" |
Relic |
|
3:53 |
| 7 |
"A Swing and a Belt" |
Imperial |
|
5:03 |
| 8 |
"Beautiful Mess (Remix)" |
Astatic |
|
3:24 |
The BirthWrite LP track listing
| # |
Title |
Producer |
Featured guest(s) |
Time |
| 1 |
"The BirthWrite" |
Vintage |
|
3:38 |
| 2 |
"High-Rise" |
Blaise |
|
3:25 |
| 3 |
"Cocaine Cowboy" |
Vintage |
Relic |
4:22 |
| 4 |
"Go Getter" |
Relic |
|
4:26 |
| 5 |
"Dream On" |
Vintage |
Pigeon John & Mr. J. Medeiros |
3:27 |
| 6 |
"Maybe Tomorrow" |
Factor |
|
4:18 |
| 7 |
"Think-terlude" |
Shortop |
|
1:07 |
| 8 |
"Great North" |
Blaise |
Relic |
3:33 |
| 9 |
"3000 Miles to Graceland" |
Relic |
|
3:32 |
| 10 |
"Love & Hate" |
Relic |
Relic |
4:33 |
| 11 |
"Think 101" |
Relic |
Ohmega Watts & Theory Hazit |
3:50 |
| 12 |
"Beautiful Mess" |
Relic |
|
4:23 |
| 13 |
"What Remains" |
Relic |
|
3:23 |
Guest Appearances
| Artist |
Title |
Album |
Year |
| The Battery (Jurny Big & Peace 586) |
"Cuddit" (feat. Sev Statik, RationaL & DJ Kair One) |
Two EP |
2013 |
| Cas Metah |
"Truly Cinematic" (feat. MotionPlus, Mouf Warren & RationaL) |
Old Fashioned |
2015 |
| Dirt |
"Nerve Center" (feat. Sam Ox, RationaL & Codak) |
A Mighty Army Cometh |
2015 |
| Fab da Eclectic |
"3000 Miles to Graceland" (feat. RationaL & Shortop) |
Last Call |
2008 |
| Kaboose |
"Can't Call It" (Remix) (feat. RationaL & The Gaff) |
Bits & Pieces |
2009 |
| Kwest |
"El Dorado" (feat. RationaL) |
Metropolitan Monastery |
2010 |
| Mr. J. Medeiros |
"Tri Cycle" (feat. Relic & RationaL) |
Digital Single |
2013 |
| Parab & Hesam-I-Am |
"Meant to Fly" (feat. RationaL) |
Digital Single |
2013 |
| Relic |
"Family Man" (feat. RationaL, Fresco P, Sean Prominent & New Breed MC) |
Miles to Go |
2012 |
| Skizza |
"Stage Lights" (feat. RationaL) |
Clark Kent Glasses |
2013 |
| Terrain |
"Cliché" (feat. RationaL & Relic) |
Connected |
2013 |
| Terrain |
"Ascension" (feat. RationaL) |
Ignition |
2014 |
|
References
- ↑ "2010 Sphere of Hip-Hop Awards – Song of the Year", The Sphere of Hip Hop, February 28, 2011. Retrieved August 26, 2012.
- ↑ Mckay, Stephanie "Rational releases thought-provoking debut album", "The Star Phoenix", Saskatoon, July 19, 2012. Retrieved August 26, 2012.
- ↑ Silliphant, Craig "Local Rapper Aims for Authenticity", "Planet S Magazine", Saskatoon, July 12, 2012. Retrieved August 26, 2012.
- ↑ "RationaL Bio" Retrieved August 26, 2012.
- ↑ "RationaL Announces The Birthwrite LP”, Retrieved August 26, 2012.
External links
link