August 14, 2020
Hydrophonik Records
After unveiling his most recent EP 'YFW' in February, Ahuntsic-based rapper Miles Barnes grabs the mic again, on a production by MrBrock, to assert his point of view on the #BlackLivesMatter movement and the history of Hip-Hop culture, with which he identifies. This track is the result of an examination of conscience in front of this cause which is very close to my heart; Black Lives Matter. I had to share my feelings in order to externalize what I feel as a white rapper. I learned everything in Ahuntsic. My first human relationships flourished in this neighborhood and my career allowed me to be who I am today. Hip-hop lover since elementary school, I have always known that my place was among this movement filled with beautiful priceless values. The values stemming from the black culture that I quickly adopted and shared, are those which allowed me to lead this lifestyle and this career plan. I considered myself from the start and still consider myself "the guest" in this house of Hip-Hop. So grateful, day after day, to benefit from all the beautiful things that this culture brings to me. My privileges are many and one of them is to speak openly about how I feel in my heart as a young white Montreal rapper. - Miles Barnes Miles Barnes is a Montreal born and raised rapper who grew up in Ahuntsic, north of the island. Miles leaves nothing to chance: his word flow is carefully crafted, every sound is chosen, his communications strategy well thought through... he makes sure to pay attention to every single detail. More than just a rapper, he mixes-in his love of dance and theater to give originality to his performances, which makes each one of them a unique experience. His energy, his charisma and his stage presence are simply his trademark. On stage, the young rapper feeds off of the crowd to draw his uplifting and colorful energy and to fire up the show. Barnes developed his style starting in 2014 by attending open-mics and freestyle sessions, as well as competitions for aspiring artists. His music gained momentum after the release of music videos online and then through multiple collaborations. With Maestro Omayela's help, Miles released his first mixtape in 2014: Miles Away. With twelve original tracks, this project soon caught the eye of established and emerging French-Canadian rappers. Around the same era, Miles met Jah Maaz, current member of LaF, a group with which he collaborated to create a purely Montrealer EP: Jah-Miles - Ville Marie. This genuine and prominent album was released in August 2015. After a long period of incubation, Miles then released a surprise EP in 2017, Air Miles, assembling 5 tracks. Within a few months, the artist kept releasing different singles, including collaborations with Kevin Na$h & FouKi as well as Quiet Mike. 2019 started even stronger with Miles participating in the Francouverte's 23rd edition, which allowed him to further his network and, especially, meet David Campana and Shotto Guapo. It was also on this occasion that he caught the attention of Montreal label Hydrophonik, with whom he signed up in October. He also started dabbling in show production, organizing CED, an evening dedicated to his best friend, who tragically died of substance abuse. This non-profit event allowed him to raise funds for the GRIP (Groupe de Recherche et d'Intervention Psychosociale). Indeed, with the help of his fellow-administrator-founders, he founded at the beginning of July 2020 a non-profit organization: the Communaute de l'Education sur les Dependances (Community for Education on Addictions). CED's mission is to support young people struggling with addiction problems while enhancing Quebec's cultural offerings. After many performances, a writing trip to Europe and a year of professional training with the Carrefour des Arts de la Scene et de l'Entreprenariat), Miles is now back at it, more inspired than ever, with a new EP: YFW (Y FAUT WORK), produced by Clement Langlois-Legare and Adel Kazi (Pops and Poolboy) from Clay and Friends; Noe Carillo from the French collective Novengitum and the Montreal-based producer MrBrock. Miles Barnes is taking more and more place in the Montreal scene and media. During the confinement, he participates in the freestyle contest "Rentre dans le live" organized by the media OnzMtl, opposing 16 participants live on Instagram. Miles makes it to the semifinals of the contest and narrowly loses against whoever will ultimately win the contest. Miles is an evolving artist and is slowly becoming a staple in the Montreal Hip-Hop scene. Now supported by Hydrophonik Records, Miles is already busy planning the next steps.