Single: CMDWN – “Strong”

06.6.2018

Critical Praise for CMDWN:

“You best believe CMDWN are coming up…If you’ve always dreamed of a NAV-cum-Lil Uzi Vert-cum-SAFE vision, CMDWN are here to satisfy all your needs. The sound of the Toronto dream duo, comprised of rapper Castro Guapo and vocalist Fiji, bridges almost every genre. On each track expect a melting pot of hip hop, and pop/RnB with a sprinkle of synth-y electronic — every one a surefire banger in its own right. It’s an exciting amalgam coming from an exciting place at a truly exciting time for hip hop, and believe me CMDWN is a group it’s time to get excited about. ” – PAPER

“Produced by Toronto grime artist Tre Mission, [“What’s Her Name?”] makes the most of the hit-making skills that Ca$tro picked up during his time living in Atlanta by combining them with FIJI’s memorable punchlines” – Noisey

“CMDWN feel like perfect avatars of Toronto’s fashion-obsessed nightlife culture: their music is rowdy and packed with references to brands like Ksubi and Alexander McQueen. Their songs avoid pathos and navel-gazing, instead offering something close to the platonic ideal of late-night hedonism in the city.” – NOW Toronto

The Song:

Showing off their melodic skills over a sparse backing track, CMDWN makes an impression with “Strong,” their latest single. Strutting their stuff over echoing bass and skeletal snares, the two vocalists ably work within the song’s negative space, as rapper Ca$tro Guapo rhythmically connects clever boasts and singer FIJI crafts a sing-song melody worthy of a nursery rhyme. “Strong” is CMDWN’s latest release since this February’s “Sidebag,” a violent and hedonistic portrait of a late Toronto night.

Formed in 2014 after a store-closing party in Toronto, CMDWN makes music for the club and the delirious hours after the drugs wear off. Comprised of singer FIJI and rapper Ca$tro Guapo, CMDWN made inroads in the Canadian rap scene with their memorable melodies and southern rap influences. Last year, CMDWN released Castro vs. FIJI EP, which emphasized the different, yet complementary styles of the collective’s two artists. In the past year, the duo struck gold with collaborations, earning a guest spot from Nessly on their single “Die In Supreme,” and teaming with Lil Yachty for the party jam “The Way She Move.” Praised by Highsnobiety, PAPER Mag, Toronto NOW, and Noisey, among others, CMDWN Collective are an excellent bet to break out stateside. Look out for much more music from the crew in 2018.

Listen to “Strong”: https://soundcloud.com/cmdwncollective/strong-cmdwn-prod-by-villabeatz

https://open.spotify.com/track/17ci7XDdbUwR609MXg3wdJ?si=AuyRWoLQSKOv4JckHxThlg

Please contact Michelle or Scott if interested in talking with CMDWN.

CMDWN Background:

The CMDWN Collective was founded by rapper Ca$tro Guapo & vocalist FIJI. They’re joined by producer and creative director Teo Nio. Recognized as an emerging industry force to be reckoned with, they are part of a new collaborative group of acts and producers that are blending their talent for music, design, and production into an immersive brand experience. Ca$tro Guapo has been changing Toronto’s hip-hop sound since moving to Canada in 2010. With his inimitable flow, Ca$tro marries elements of his Atlanta roots with Toronto hip-hop flair to create something that is truly original. Fijiis a perfect example of the vibrant and raw hip-hop coming out of the Canadian scene. With memorable smile-inducing punch lines and catchy hooks, Fiji’s unmistakable brand of Toronto vocalized rap fits perfectly into The CMDWN Collective. After establishing a reputation for delivering buzzworthy singles and engaging performances, CMDWN are on deck to be Canada’s next major international hip-hop stars

Links:

official site | twitter | instagram | youtube | soundcloud

“Strong”: https://open.spotify.com/track/17ci7XDdbUwR609MXg3wdJ?si=AuyRWoLQSKOv4JckHxThlg // https://soundcloud.com/cmdwncollective/strong-cmdwn-prod-by-villabeatz

“Sidebag” ft. Boogz: http://smarturl.it/sidebag || https://soundcloud.com/cmdwncollective/sidebag-cmdwn-ft-booggz

“Wrist”: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xMyyLplzGmU

“Die In Supreme” ft. Nessly: https://soundcloud.com/cmdwncollective/dieinsupreme // https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zyPTAbrqBJg

“The Way She Move” ft. Lil Yachty: https://soundcloud.com/cmdwncollective/fijiyachty // https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=agg63z3r1rs

Castro vs. FIJI EP: https://soundcloud.com/cmdwncollective/sets/cvf