Music Spurred by a Passion for Change

Article: Robyn Tocker – A&C Editor Follow @carillon_arts

Hip-hop artist Cale Sampson uses his songs to make a difference

Whatever anyone does in life, it should center on what they are passionate about. Cale Sampson, a hip hop artist from Toronto, has directed his long-standing music career toward his passion to see the world change for the positive.

Sampson’s career started at the age of nine when he found himself taken under the wing of a group of rappers located in the apartment complex he lived in with his mother.

“I showed interest and they took a liking to me. They gave me a bunch of tapes to listen to and I would go upstairs and memorize the lyrics. I started doing it myself and gradually wrote my own songs at a very young age.”

Hip hop culture was originally centered on social commentary and sending out a positive message that would, hopefully, inspire change. Sampson continues to hold on to the genre’s roots as he carries his music career forward.

It took off after high school when Sampson joined a group with his friends called “Rhythmicru”. Together, they put out several independent records and performed constantly in various locations around North America.

Change starts with something simple, even a song. /source: Jamie Doyle

After learning how the industry worked, in 2008 the group collectively decided to call it quits and split up to do their own work.

“Because I had been rapping since I was nine, one of my life goals was to release a solo album. It was something I had to do, not necessarily for the purpose of achieving fame, but as a personal goal. I did the first album in 2009 as a self-titled double disc and great things happened from that.”

Sampson stressed that he was not, nor has he ever been, in the music industry for money. To this artist, music is more about social commentary, world issues, and talking about subjects that are outside the box. His new album The Big Picture discusses issues that are very close to Sampson’s heart. With his music, he wants to contribute to the world in a positive way.

“I realize with great art comes the possibility for great change . . . My motivation is to spread important information through my music to hopefully get people thinking critically for themselves.”

Sampson stands by his belief that people are looking for new voices that are not afraid to talk about what is really going on in our world, and how the art that’s being pumped out to the masses is often not reflective of reality. People are looking for something new and Sampson is willing to provide it.

With his new CD released on Sep 3, Sampson and his wife are hosting a sold out release party in Toronto. At the end of September Sampson will be making a trip to Washington to perform and be interviewed on “Breaking the Set”, an alternative news television show on the internationally syndicated, “RT”, where he hopes to spread his music. In terms of long goal plans, Sampson is focused more on the message than the medium.

“People contact me and ask me to provide a voice for the voiceless. When you start getting these messages, it starts getting bigger than just yourself.”