Da Gryptions

{{Infobox musical artist

| name = Da Gryptions

| image =

| caption =

| image_size =

| alias =

| origin = Montreal, Quebec, Canada

| genre = Hip hop

| years_active = {{Start date|2009}}–present

| label =

| associated_acts = Stars
Young Galaxy

| website = [https://myspace.com/dagryptions Da Gryptions] on Myspace

| current_members = Patrick Guay
Evan Cranley
Trevor Barnes
Stephen Ramsay

| past_members =

}}

Da Gryptions is a Canadian hip hop band from Montreal, formed in 2009. The band consists of Future Shark (a.k.a. Trevor Barnes) (vocals), Dark Science (a.k.a. Patrick Guay) (vocals), Apsobibi (a.k.a. Evan Cranley of Stars) (R&B vocals), and Ripples (a.k.a. Stephen Ramsay of Young Galaxy{{cite news|last=Carpenter |first=Lorraine |title=Montreal's Young Galaxy reach beyond the pop stratosphere and reveal their connection to "The Bixi Anthem" |publisher=Montreal Mirror |date=2010-06-24 |url=http://www.montrealmirror.com/2010/062410/music6.html |accessdate=2010-06-24 |url-status=dead |archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20100630164617/http://www.montrealmirror.com/2010/062410/music6.html |archivedate=June 30, 2010 }} (production and hype-man) and features the studio skills of Liam O'Neil, formerly a member of The Stills.

History

The group had the idea to form the group while car pooling to ball hockey.{{cite news

|last = Dunlevy

|first = T'Cha

|title = Da Gryptions ride Bixi rap to the top

|publisher = The Montreal Gazette

|date = 2010-08-17

|url = http://www2.canada.com/montrealgazette/news/arts/story.html?id=d61e7ad6-9b92-434e-8ad2-776958ad0dac

|archive-url = https://archive.today/20130717084324/http://www2.canada.com/montrealgazette/news/arts/story.html?id=d61e7ad6-9b92-434e-8ad2-776958ad0dac

|url-status = dead

|archive-date = 2013-07-17

|accessdate = 2010-08-17

}} While initially it was just going to be a faux hip-hop act, they started doing DJ sets around Montreal, eventually putting together a live show.

After doing a few shows "freestyling" someone had videotaped one of these shows, with Apsobibi doing a chorus about Montreal's public bike system, BIXI Montréal. A producer at CJAD in Montreal came across this video and asked if the band could do a studio version that they could play on the air. After shooting a video for the track, it went viral{{cite news

| last = Davies

| first = Alex

| title = Viral Rap Video: "The Bixi Anthem" from Da Gryptions

| publisher = Treehugger.com

| date = 2010-07-10

| url = http://www.treehugger.com/files/2010/07/viral-rap-video-the-bixi-anthem-from-da-gryptions.php?campaign=th_rss

| accessdate = 2010-07-10}}

hitting 7,000 plays in two days and 38,000 to date.{{cite news

| last =

| author = Da Gryptions

| title = The Bixi Anthem

| publisher = YouTube

| date = 2011-01-12

| url = https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gGzBOmOD_Tw

| accessdate = 2011-01-12}}

The song was seen as a local hit{{cite news

|last = Rodgers

|first = Caroline

|title = Un petit rap pour le Bixi

|publisher = La PResse

|date = 2010-07-05

|url = http://blogues.cyberpresse.ca/velo/tag/da-gryptions/

|accessdate = 2010-07-05

|archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20100711080601/http://blogues.cyberpresse.ca/velo/tag/da-gryptions/

|archive-date = 2010-07-11

|url-status = dead

}}{{cite news

| last =

| first =

| title = Arts + Culture - Da Gryptions Ride Da Bixi

| publisher = EnRoute

| date = 2010-07-10

| url = http://enroute.aircanada.com/en/articles/da-gryptions-ride-da-bixi

| accessdate = 2010-07-10}}

and was recognized nationally.{{cite news

| last = Harper

| first = Kate

| title = Da Gryptions — "The Bixi Anthem"

| publisher = CHARTattack

| date = 2010-06-14

| url = http://www.chartattack.com/news/2010/06/14/da-gryptions-the-bixi-anthem/

| archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20160304201922/http://www.chartattack.com/news/2010/06/14/da-gryptions-the-bixi-anthem/

| url-status = usurped

| archive-date = March 4, 2016

| accessdate = 2010-06-14}}

The band played the Osheaga Festival that summer{{cite news

|last = Pellerin

|first = Marie-France

|title = OSHEAGA 2010 Arcade Fire, Weezer et autres incontournables

|publisher = Canoe.com

|date = 2010-07-27

|url = http://www.canoe.com/divertissement/musique/dossiers/2010/07/27/14841426-qmi.html

|archive-url = https://archive.today/20130118164027/http://www.canoe.com/divertissement/musique/dossiers/2010/07/27/14841426-qmi.html

|url-status = dead

|archive-date = 2013-01-18

|accessdate = 2010-07-27

}}{{cite news

|last = Lozoff

|first = Greg

|title = Guide to Osheaga 2010: Day 2

|publisher = Meetyouattheshow.com.com

|date = 2010-07-25

|url = http://meetyouattheshow.com/main/2010/07/guide-to-osheaga-2010-day-2/

|accessdate = 2010-07-25

|archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20120305180054/http://meetyouattheshow.com/main/2010/07/guide-to-osheaga-2010-day-2/

|archive-date = 2012-03-05

|url-status = dead

}} and were played on CBC Radio{{cite news

| last = Hallam

| first = Bryna

| title = Da Gryptions Ride Bixi Rap Into Summer

| publisher = Momentum Magazine

| date = 2010-06-23

| url = http://momentumplanet.com/articles/da-gryptions-ride-bixi-rap-into-summer

| accessdate = 2010-06-23

| url-status = dead

| archiveurl = https://web.archive.org/web/20101231130120/http://momentumplanet.com/articles/da-gryptions-ride-bixi-rap-into-summer

| archivedate = 2010-12-31

}}

and MusiquePlus as well. It was touted as Montreal's "Song of the summer"{{cite news

| last =

| first =

| title = Montreal's song of the summer: The Bixi Anthem

| publisher = Canada.com

| date = 2010-09-09

| url = http://blogs.montrealgazette.com/2010/06/09/montreals-song-of-the-summer-the-bixi-anthem/

| accessdate = 2010-09-09}}

as well.

"The Bixi Anthem" was named the number 4 song of the year by the Montreal Gazette in their year-end wrapup.{{cite news

| last = Dunlevy

| first = T'Cha

| title = Best (and worst) albums, songs and Montreal shows

| publisher = Montreal Gazette

| date = 2011-01-12

| url = https://montrealgazette.com/entertainment/Dunlevy+year+music+Best+worst+albums+songs+Montreal+shows/4038280/story.html

| archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20101231225857/http://www.montrealgazette.com/entertainment/Dunlevy+year+music+Best+worst+albums+songs+Montreal+shows/4038280/story.html

| url-status = dead

| archive-date = 2010-12-31

| accessdate = 2010-11-29

}}

The band have made mention of recording new Montreal themed songs. "We have a song called 'J'imagine,' about the golden era, if you will, of Montreal, from '67 to '76." Future Shark said to the Montreal Mirror "You know, Nadja Comaneci scoring seven perfect 10s, the metro system, the Expos."{{cite news

|last = MacDonald

|first = Darcy

|title = Bixi boosters Da Gryptions know the molehill from the Mountain

|publisher = Montreal Mirror

|date = 2010-07-29

|url = http://www.montrealmirror.com/2010/072910/music2.html

|accessdate = 2010-07-29

|archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20120618145233/http://www.montrealmirror.com/2010/072910/music2.html

|archive-date = 2012-06-18

|url-status = dead

}}

The group made "It's BBQ Time" its next single, releasing it just in time for Saint-Jean-Baptiste on June 24, 2011.{{cite news

| first =

| title = Da Gryptions Are Back With "It's BBQ Time"

| publisher = CHARTattack

| date = 2011-06-29

| url = http://www.chartattack.com/news/2011/06/29/da-gryptions-are-back-with-its-bbq-time/

| archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20121012235245/http://www.chartattack.com/news/2011/06/29/da-gryptions-are-back-with-its-bbq-time/

| url-status = usurped

| archive-date = October 12, 2012

| accessdate = 2011-06-29}}

In June 2012, there was mention[https://twitter.com/freeMurphy/status/227802146563846144 Twitter / freeMurphy: Got a sneak ear peak at the] of J'Imagine possibly being released. On July 28 the video, filmed once again by Who is KK Downey? director Darren Curtis, was uploaded to YouTube, in time for the start of the 2012 Summer Olympics.{{cite news

| author = T'Cha Dunlevy

| title = Rap pranksters Da Gryptions drop ode to Montreal

| publisher = Montreal Gazette

| date = 2012-08-02

| url = http://blogs.montrealgazette.com/2012/08/02/rap-pranksters-da-gryptions-drop-ode-to-montreal/

| accessdate = 2012-08-02}}

It was praised for its use of "Montrealisims". According to the Montreal Gazette, "references include the Big O, Youppi, Jean Leloup, Mitsou, Jacques Villeneuve, Nick Auf der Maur, Mordecai Richler, the Expos, July 1, the Oka Crisis, the Ice Storm, the Referendum, poutine, balconville, 5-à-7s, Drinking In L.A., Expo 67 and the Alouettes. As usual, the boys have a mad-styling video to go with the dope jam".

Because of Apsobibi's commitment to Stars the band will not be able to tour this release.{{citation needed|date=June 2013}}

Members

Dark Science – Vocals
Future Shark – Vocals
Apsobibi - R&B Vocals
Ripples - Production & Hype-Man

Discography

=Singles=

The Bixi Anthem (April 30, 2010)[https://web.archive.org/web/20120807031243/http://itunes.apple.com/ca/album/the-bixi-anthem/id370929113 iTunes - Music - The Bixi Anthem by Da Gryptions]
It's BBQ Time (June 24, 2011)[https://web.archive.org/web/20121113221345/https://itunes.apple.com/ca/album/its-b.b.q.-time-single/id446236787 iTunes - Music - It’s B.B.Q. Time - Single by Da Gryptions]
J'Imagine (July 28, 2012)[https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FSrT2Wy-6Mk Da Gryptions - J'Imagine - YouTube]