Vice Island was the most turnt place to ever exist. Maybe it was the party ferry that scooped up wristband holders from the Toronto docks giving them a 45-minute pre-party. Maybe it was the free alcohol. Maybe it was the vibe that thumps through Toronto during NXNE. Maybe it was hundreds of hipsters secluded on an island with music pulsating through the trees. Maybe it was the fresh air and open space. Regardless, the epic concoction made for one of the most legendary nights in Toronto history. Vice and NXNE got it right.

But all of the dirty details will be silenced with the simple phrase, “What happens on Vice Island, stays on Vice Island.” Unless you were arrested or hospitalized, of course. Which happened. To many.

Even though there were several perks, it was Pusha T that everyone came to see. After all, not many things are better than turning up to “Blocka” on an island.

This slideshow requires JavaScript.

There had never been a drunker crowd when King Push emerged on stage in the dark to perform a short set. After hours of partying on the little private world away from the city, “Millions” “Sweet Serenade” and “Numbers On The Boards” was the soundtrack to liberation. People leaned, danced and drunkenly swayed to My Name Is My Name live in the flesh.

The sound quality was horrible and there were barely any lights on the small stage, but it didn’t matter. Nothing mattered. Not in the intimate presence of King Push greatness.

This slideshow requires JavaScript.

Show-wise, the performance was probably better in theory than in actuality as the bush is not a typical spot for a hip-hop show and the turn out was less than expected, but the release of all things generic was just what Toronto needed in a 10-day festival of show after show.

Words By. Samantha O’Connor + Photos By. Candace Nyaomi

By taking in her nickname, One Woman Army, it’s easy to understand the grind of Urbanology Magazine's Samantha O’Connor. Over the past two years with the magazine, she has positioned herself in the heart of Toronto’s urban music scene. She has interviewed the likes of Kendrick Lamar, Pusha T, DJ Drama, Ciara, Tech N9ne, Machine Gun Kelly and Melanie Fiona, and reviewed live shows from artists such as Jay Z, Kanye West, Lauryn Hill, Juicy J, Wiz Khalifa and Action Bronson, to name a few. With a passion for the culture and helping build the future of the Toronto hip-hop community, she is the visionary behind Samantics, one of the original columns featured on UrbanologyMag.com.

Comments are closed.