Baby Blue Soundcrew
{{Short description|Canadian DJ group}}
{{Infobox musical artist
| name = Baby Blue Soundcrew
| image =
| caption =
| image_size =
| origin = Toronto, Ontario, Canada
| genre = Canadian hip hop, R&B
| years_active = 1995–2002
| label = Universal Music Canada
| occupation = Disc jockeys
| associated_acts =
| website =
| current_members = Kid Kut
KLC
C-Boogie
Singlefoot
| past_members =
}}
Baby Blue Soundcrew was a Canadian DJ group from Toronto, Ontario, specializing in hip-hop and R&B music. The group was composed of Kid Kut, KLC, C-Boogie, and Singlefoot. They are notable for releasing two commercially successful compilation albums in 2000 and 2001.[http://www.maplemusic.com/artists/bab/bio.asp Baby Blue Soundcrew] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180708015455/http://www.maplemusic.com/artists/bab/bio.asp |date=2018-07-08 }} MapleMusic. Accessed on July 2, 2009.
History
Kid Kut (Kevin Keith) and KLC became friends when they were kids, growing up in Toronto's west end. After high school, KLC attended the University of Windsor, and Kid Kut went to York University. Both had radio shows at their respective campus radio stations, and eventually decided to join forces.[http://www.hiphopdx.com/index/features/id.43/title.the-baby-blue-soundcrew The Baby Blue Soundcrew] HipHopDX. Accessed on July 2, 2009 In 1993, Kid Kut joined Fresh Arts, a program that was run by the Toronto Arts Council. Many of Baby Blue Soundcrew's original members also joined the program, which was attended by future collaborators Kardinal Offishall and Jully Black, among others.[http://www.redbullmusicacademy.com/video-archive/transcript/kardinal_offishall__its_official/transcript Kardinal Offishall - Session Transcript] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20081216034504/http://www.redbullmusicacademy.com/video-archive/transcript/kardinal_offishall__its_official/transcript |date=2008-12-16 }} Red Bull Music Academy. Accessed on July 2, 2009. In the 1990s, the group became well known in Toronto for their parties and mixtapes; they also performed at school dances. In 2000, the group were the official sound crew for the Toronto Raptors.{{cite news|url=https://findingaids.library.dal.ca/uploads/r/dalhousie-university-archives/8/0/7/80752483587ad9b435ab41772fd4b48b6bbb2c805afb5a5c298490ca8bfeb1ca/dalhousiegazette_volume133_issue8_november_2_2000.pdf|title=Baby Blue and his Crew|page=16|accessdate=September 3, 2020}}
In 2000, the group released their first single, "Money Jane", which featured Kardinal Offishall, Jully Black, and Sean Paul. The single became popular in Canada, and won the 2001 MuchMusic Video Award for Best Rap Video. In December 2000, the group released their debut album Private Party Collectors Edition,{{cite web |title=Baby Blue Soundcrew – Private Party Collectors Edition Mixed CD |url=https://www.discogs.com/release/5014252-Baby-Blue-Soundcrew-Private-Party-Collectors-Edition-Mixed-CD |website=discogs.com |publisher=Discogs |access-date=12 March 2022}} which featured 25 popular urban songs of 2000, including five original songs by Baby Blue Soundcrew. The album nearly went platinum in Canada.
In 2001, the group received two Juno Award nominations for "Money Jane" and "Only Be in Love" (a collaboration with Glenn Lewis).{{cite web |title=Past Nominees & Winners |url=https://junoawards.ca/awards/past-winners-nominees/?search_year_val1=1970&search_year_val2=2022&search_category_val=&search_wins_val=no&tag_search_val=Baby+Blue+Soundcrew&submit=submit |website=junoawards.ca |publisher=Juno Awards |access-date=12 March 2022}}
On June 26, 2001, Baby Blue Soundcrew released their second album, Private Party Collectors Edition Vol. 2.{{cite web |title=Baby Blue Soundcrew – Private Party Collectors Edition Mixed CD Vol. 2 |url=https://www.discogs.com/release/3007800-Baby-Blue-Soundcrew-Private-Party-Collectors-Edition-Mixed-CD-Vol-2 |website=discogs.com |publisher=Discogs |access-date=12 March 2022}} As with their debut album, this album featured popular urban songs of 2001, including four original songs. The album's lead single "Love 'Em All", featuring Choclair and Mr. Mims, was nominated for a MuchMusic Video Award for Best Video in 2001. The second single "The Day Before", featuring Jully Black and Baby Cham, was nominated for a Juno the following year.{{cite web |title=Past Nominees & Winners |url=https://junoawards.ca/awards/past-winners-nominees/?search_year_val1=1970&search_year_val2=2022&search_category_val=&search_wins_val=no&tag_search_val=Baby+Blue+Soundcrew&submit=submit |website=junoawards.ca |publisher=Juno Awards |access-date=12 March 2022}} The album reached #11 on the Canadian Albums Chart and was certified gold by the CRIA in October 2001.{{cite web |url=http://www.cria.ca/gold/1001_g.php |title=Gold & Platinum Certification – October 2001 |publisher=Canadian Recording Industry Association |accessdate=2010-08-17 |archive-date=2010-10-19 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20101019175054/http://cria.ca/gold/1001_g.php |url-status=dead }} That year, the group also released Baby Blue Soundcrew Presents: Urban Nostalgia, a compilation of classic hit songs.{{cite web |title=Baby Blue Soundcrew – Presents Urban Nostalgia Vol.1 |url=https://www.discogs.com/release/9869500-Baby-Blue-Soundcrew-Presents-Urban-Nostalgia-Vol1 |website=discogs.com |publisher=Discogs |access-date=12 March 2022}}
Discography
- Private Party Collectors Edition (2000)
- Private Party Collectors Edition Vol. 2 (2001)
- Baby Blue Soundcrew Presents: Urban Nostalgia (2001)
Awards and nominations
2001
- Juno Award for Best Rap Recording – "Money Jane" (Nominated)
- Juno Award for Best R&B/Soul Recording – "Only Be in Love" (Nominated)
- MuchMusic Video Award for Best Rap Video and Best Video – "Money Jane" (Won; Best Rap Video)
- MuchMusic Video Award for Best Rap Video and Best Video – "Love 'Em All" (Nominated)
2002
- Juno Award for Best R&B/Soul Recording – "The Day Before" (Nominated)