Wassup with Jay Bizzy? Shelburne hip-hopper to release CD at Sea Dog JAY BIZZY - The Ghost of Jacob Marley [URBNET Records] posted by: Timothy Gillespie When someone told me some years ago that the scene at Fleming's Ice Cream shop on Shelburne's waterfront was going to be buzzing with hip hop beat and local rappers, I thought 'In Shelburne - no way!' But, not wanting to be left out, I sauntered by and, yes, Jay Bizzy (known to some hereabouts as Jake Fleming), surrounded by his local crew, was launching his solo CD, Hard Times in the Maritimes. Now, several years later, Jay Bizzy returns to the heartland on Saturday, Dec. 23 at the Sea Dog Saloon at 11:30 p.m. to launch his newest CD, The Ghost of Jacob Marley. Jake's interest in hip-hop began in Shelburne at age 10 and his musical career evolved from the back of the ice cream shop, where, in 1999, he wrote and recorded U R Shelburne When. The "funny cause they're true" lyrics, inspired from the many stereotypes of growing up in Shelburne were easily relatable to hip-hop and non hip-hop listeners and, thanks in part to Napster, the popularity of the song grew, and soon became the "Nova Scotia, small-town anthem." Since then, he has gone off to university and, except for sharing the stage at the Legion here with Buck 65, Caleb Simmonds and local Jon Hartley in the ArtsAlive hip-hop show in 2001, he has been out-of-sight and out-of-mind for most of us. Apparently though, a university degree is simply part of Jake's grand plan, as he has been steadily racking up "creds" in the regional and national hip-hop scenes. Hard Times was nominated for a 2002 East Coast Music Award for best urban recording. Over the past four years, Jake/Bizzy has hooked up with fellow artist and producer Classified and has shared gigs with the likes of The Game, Busta Rhymes, Kardinal Offishall, The Rascalz, Kaleb Simmonds, Backburner Crew, Jorun, Skratch Bastid, Buck 65, Universal Soul, Spesh K, and Styles Of Beyond. Recently, he joined Classified on a national tour. He is, in a word, happening. Bizzy's passion for hip-hop can be heard in his aggressive lyrics and he is known for his "crazed multi-syllable flows." His focus, he says, "has always been on making classical, quality hip-hop music, but from a Maritimes perspective." The Ghost Of Jacob Marley was just released on Urbnet Records, Bizzy's new label and a growing force in the Canadian urban music industry. Bizzy is featured in the music video, East Coast Warriors, directed by Blink Pictures' Marc Andre Debruyne. The video is set for rotation in late December on MuchMusic. Jay Bizzy is an ironic mix of rural, middle class, young Canadian, following the joint unpredictable paths of university degree and national urban music phenomenon. If the paths of Buck 65 and other hip hop artists are any indication, this might be the last best chance for us to see this "local boy makes good" up close and personal. Jay Bizzy"s CD release party at The Sea Dog will also feature local acts Big J and JestBen with guests. The party starts at 11:30 p.m. and admission is $5. Timothy Gillespie is a Shelburne-based freelance writer.