http://ugsmag.com/interviews/chadio/

So, introduce yourself and crew affiliations.

Chadio of the almighty Imaginations Treetrunk, The Quoted Motives, This Dance Dance Revolution Will Not Be Televised, & Ephin–all from Van city…and the 50 fingers (Side Road Records) project which consists of: Kaboom, Azrael, The Gumshoe Strut, Factor G on the beats, and myself.

For people who've never heard of Chadio or Imaginations Treetrunk, what can we expect?

Good question. Well the name leads most to believe we are a very down to earth crew with great ideas, which is totally true. The beauty of Treetrunk is that everybody has their own individual style, we all sound different. We don't rap about things most people don't have. If you are looking to get into some shit where they know exactly how you feel…buying our music will be money well spent.

Your main crew is Imaginations Treetrunk, who's in that and how did you guys develop?

Yeah, Imaginations Treetrunk is the main crew/label, starting out with our producer, Aalo Guha and 2 rappers, Azrael & Cle. Those guys were a group called "CastHeadWork" and they put out a disc in 2002 called natural patterns. Cle moved to Toronto and sort of fell off from rapping and those guys still wanted to make music so the 3 of us knew each other mutually as well as some other people Guha was working with at the time: Kaboom (Ink Operated, Low Pressure), Aspire (Main Offenders, Shay Faded, Dance Dance Revolution), Mike Murder and Guha's brother Mars. Basically, Guha, Aspire and Kaboom were all living together at the time, we were making Tapwater and we were all working on different projects with Guha and just decided to do it as one unit.

Why Imaginations Treetrunk? Is it because B.C. has mad trees?

Hahaha no, but it should be…I just like the way those two words sounded together…I had a whole list of shit I thought was dope: Underwater Farmers, Roller Hockey Helmet, Channel Surfers, Short Skirt Perverts, etc.

Listening to your music and you guys sound like you're from Vancouver and when I think Vancouver, I think rainforest, ocean and marijuana…

Well we are all born and bred here, Aspire is from Brockville, Ontario and he moved here in 2000-2001 I believe. We all smoke weed lots, so naturally I think people would make that relation.

Does weed hinder your creativity? Can you only write when you're blunted?

Music and weed have always been big things for me. I'm actually puffing a pancake blunt while we do this! I can always get the writing done, that's the easy part…weed definitely helps the creative process for me. I like to go through a blunt or 3 when I'm writing. It keeps my thinking free and willing to try new things.

What about the bottle? The sauce? The brew?

I don't drink. Azrael is fond of Crown Royal. Drinking makes me feel like an idiot, and I talk way too much.

Are there any straightedge people in the group?

No, everyone smokes weed. Guha used to be super-straight edge except for smokes, but we all have our vices. We got him smoking weed again a few years ago. Put it up there with the rest of my crowning achievements.

Haha! So Branching Out was your first album by Imaginations Treetrunk? Did you guys structure it? Or was it just a mash of different shit?

Officially yes. There is more structure on Branching Further because it's all produced by Guha. Branching Out is more a showcase of the individual artists and songs we made together at the time whereas Branching Further actually showcases more of the fluidity between the labels mainstays and the diversity of Guha's intricate instrumentals. Kids all over Canada today still say that Branching Further is one of the best albums to skateboard to. Branching Out and Branching Further were both released in 2005.

What would you say about the state of Vancouver rap?

Vancouver rap is just like the rest of Canadian rap: it had a stronger following 5 years ago. A lot of people across Canada have paved the way for groups and artists like myself, but one thing that Vancouver has always had a problem with is having support. You don't see the big crowds at every rap show because it's usually that rapper or group's friends coming to watch them and then when their set is done, those people leave. Vancouver has a real tough time getting behind something that could potentially be big, mostly because its rainy 80% of the year and everyone smokes pot which makes them lazy. And there's a thousand–if not more–rappers in Van.

Are any of them tight?

No, most are terrible, but they think they are the next innovation in Rap and its just discouraging really. But there's an audience for every genre and there's a sucker born every minute.

Who has your endorsement?

The only crews in Vancouver that matter and that actually strive for bigger things: Camobear Records, Low Pressure Records, Freshcoast and Ephin. Word to Killing Time & HouseHold too. Throw POS crew in there too.

So is Vancouver developed enough to have it's own sound? It seems that a group like the Rascalz tried to sound east coast.

It's personal perception really. I'm sure people that hear our music associate us with Vancity whereas other people may think a completely different thing. Personally, I think the Rascalz may have portrayed the Vancouver sound, but their albums were so inconsistent that they just became almost obscure for lack of a better word.

Did they play a part in your rap development?

Somewhat, but not really. I went to the same high school as Red-1 and I had his locker in grade 11. He etched "Ragga Muffin Rascalz" on the front of that shit. Kilocee & The Incredible Ease's "Krispy Biskut," J Swing & Flipout's "The Show & Digestive Trax," and Ebony & Kemo's "No Mercy On The Groove," radio shows played a huge role for me in wanting to be a rapper. Big shouts to Lauren Burrows from "Insomnitrax."

Are you into Peanuts and Corn?

Funny you ask, not only were they the first thing I got into with Canadian hip hop, I probably have more of their cds than any of the other labels. My favorite song ever is "Thin Line" by Fermented Reptile. I never knew who the song was by 'cause I dubbed it off a radio show and bought the cd months later. The best part ever was discovering the song while fucking my girlfriend at the time.

Haha, dirty. What about Birdapres?

I went to school with Bird's brother in grade 7, he would bring by flyers of shows Bird was doing with Moka and Sichuan and that's what pretty much what got me into him. Birdapres has been holding down East Vancouver longer than anyone and it's a shame he lives so far away now. We got a bunch of Treetrunk/Birdapres songs he's supposed to finish, if he ever gets around to it…

Birdapres is one of my favorite underground Canadian rappers.

Me too.

What do you think of the prairie scene?

The prairies are dope! I love to come out there whenever possible even though traveling to and from can be quite strenuous at times. People there know how to have a good time at the shows and I think you see a bit more support for rap there opposed to other places in Canada.

I was a little unclear about that blunt story…

Basically I had just finished my set that night and went outside to puff a blunt, came back inside and Touch was rapping! He was supposed to rap at another show that night, but rolled through to do a song. I went up to say peace and he spotted my blunt roach and asked for a pull. I gave it to him and he sparked right in there! I said 'what up?' to Nato and he handed it back to me and left. I went over to the merch table when the bartender started shitting on the Intelligentlemen for smoking in the venue!

Do you think that Canadian thug rap is relevant?

All forms of rap have their place. I think Canadian thug rap is what it is, I don't knock stuff just because I don't listen to it, and I respect every body's hustle.

Good answer, you passed the test! How much has your style developed since you started rapping?

I think my style is always improving. I like the fact that music is something you can always get better at. I find with every verse/album we grow as far as topical things and style and delivery. We all keep each other on our toes.

Tell the people about the new album.

We have a brand new album out at the moment called This Dance Dance Revolution Will Not Be Televised. All production by these two really dope guys who go by Killing Time. Raps provided by: Azrael, Shay Faded, Cons, and me. We are also in the middle of getting on board with a digital distribution deal with Camobear Records.

Right, you guys just signed to Camobear Records, which is Josh Martinez's imprint. That means more distribution, more shows and more bitches?

Everything is in the works right now, nothing is finalized quite yet. We think it'll be a good way to go, all three of those things would be exactly correct in a perfect world, but most of the details still need to be finalized.

Do you want to tell the people something?

Nothing that they don't already know. I feel like a pissed off spouse or something, but there's so much dope shit out there that's slept on, it doesn't make sense to me (but then again nothing really has since I was 14). I think Kanye West used to be good but now he's horrible. Kay The Aquanaut's new album is great. Lots of great rap in Vancouver is moving away. I am the illegitimate son of Ira Lee. Big shouts go out to the Treetrunk, Camobear, Rhek One, Fatt Matt, Sueme, Side Road Records, Decline, all the homies in Edmonton, Maple Syrup Kingpins and Ugsmag for putting a cracker on.

For more on Chadio, check out:
www.myspace.com/chadiotreetrunk or www.myspace.com/imaginationstreetrunkmus for Imaginations Treetrunk.

http://radio3.cbc.ca/blogs/2007/10/New-Music-Canada-Track-of-the-Day-for-October-30-2007-This-Dance-Dance-Revolution-Will-Not-Be-Televised-Whos-Gonna-Dance

 

New Music Canada Track of the Day for October 30, 2007: This Dance Dance Revolution Will Not Be Televised "Who's Gonna Dance?"

Posted by LB at 12:00 AM

YUP THIS WEEKS PODCAST CALLED "OGOPOGO" GOT A SONG FROM "UNDERESTIMATED RAINDROPS" ON IT!

Podcast 118 – "Ogopogo"

"The latest from the New Pornographers, Stars, Tokyo Police Club and Spesh K, plus, Jon-Rae and the River provide a Canadian Dictionary definition for Canada's own Loch Ness."

DOWLOAD IT HERE!

MP3: http://www.cbc.ca/radio3/podcasts/radio3/CBCR3_2007-08-24.mp3

M4A: http://www.cbc.ca/radio3/podcasts/radio3/CBCR3_2007-08-24.m4a

OGG: http://www.cbc.ca/radio3/podcasts/radio3/CBCR3_2007-08-24.ogg

CBC Radio 3 is:

"Canada's most important podcast!" - Exclaim! Magazine

"The top podcast in Canada" - Spin Magazine

http://www.moregoatthangoose.com/cds/cds.php?cd=00561.xml

Chadio and Aalo Guha
Underestimated Raindrops
Imaginations Treetrunk

"Underestimated Raindrops" is the debut solo release from Chadio and Aalo Guha, two members of the Vancouver hip hop collective known as Imaginations Treetrunk. For the past couple years Imaginations Treetrunk's rappers have managed to fly under the radar, but "Underestimated Raindrops" or any other release by these guys for that matter is well worth seeking out.

The album is divided into four parts and features guest appearances from the likes of Kaboom, Josh Martinez, and Moves. Chadio's talent as a rhyme writer is showcased throughout the album and he brings his skills to the mic with rapid fire raps that are often delivered in a tongue and cheek manner. "Underestimated Raindrops" appeals to a diverse audience with lyrics that are intellectual without coming across as pretentious.

Aalo Guha ties the four movements of the release together with seamless production. Each of the album's four section, Optimism, Anger, Confusion, and Confidence are distinctively different, but incorporate elements that allow the pieces to flow into each other. Somehow Guha managed to only sample four records on the entire release adding to the cohesive nature of the album. Guha's production, instrumentation, and beats are decidedly lo-fi but quality is definitely not sacrificed.

"Underestimated Raindrops" is highly recommended for underground hip hop enthusiasts or listeners looking for an alternative to stale mainstream rap. Check it out.

Paul Borchert - 4.25/5 stars

http://www.brockwayent.com/reviews/2007/05/chadio-aalo-guha-underestimated.html

Chadio & Aalo Guha - Underestimated Raindrops by Troy Neilsen

This CD appeared unexpectedly in my mailbox. I was pleasantly surprised by the quality of the beats, catering to the underground with a nice organic sound highlighed by the intro 'Gone Fishing.'

The flow of Chadio & Aalo is well refined, quick and impressive, especially on tracks like 'Pancakes,' but unfortunately that often comes at the expensive of the message. The content seems more artsy than my liking, as I often found myself struggling to figure out what it was they were trying to say with their raps, but that could due to their rapid-fire style of delivery.

'Solitude Song' is probably my favorite track as it incorporates a nice sample into the chorus. And the final track 'End of the Beginning' is a seemingly nice ode to The Doors.

http://btr.michaelkwan.com/2007/06/13/chadio-and-aalo-guha-underestimated-raindrops.aspx

Chadio & Aalo Guha - Underestimated Raindrops by Michael Kwan

The world works in mysterious ways. Since signing up with Facebook, the (not so) little social networking website, I've managed to reconnect with many people with whom I had lost contact over the years. I found co-workers from my Enterprise Rent-A-Car days. I chatted with some old team members from the UBC Arts Co-op Students Association. But the real blast from the past is when you find no fewer than forty classmates that you haven't talked to since high school. High school!

One of these guys is Chad Washburn, known better in the semi-underground hip hop world as Chadio, a member of Imaginations Treetrunk. I had the chance to meet up with Chadio a couple of weeks ago and he gave me a copy of his solo debut CD, Underestimated Raindrops. It was professionally recorded at a local studio, and it came with all the usual stuff you'd expect from a commercial production. He really was the real deal, but were his rhymes up to snuff? Would they be enough to get those records sold and take Chadio out of East Vancouver and into the world of superstardom?

Well, a few days prior to actually receiving the CD, I went to his MySpace page where he has a few songs hosted. I was particularly impressed with Gone Fishin', the first track off of Underestimated Raindrops. It was sick. The beat, produced by Aalo Guha, worked very well with Chadio's voice as he busted out those rhymes. Something that completely threw me off guard was that they decided to sample a sound byte from Animal Crossing. Yes, the video game that graced the Gamecube and Nintendo DS. The song is called Gone Fishin and they pulled the sound byte where your character, well, goes fishing.

The album is broken up into four parts, as shown below in the track listing. Each of these sections has a distinctly different feel to it, so it's almost like getting four shorter albums all shoved into one. I'll be honest with you: the rap songs that you find on Underestimated Raindrops are far from what you hear in the mainstream. Most of the songs don't have traditional "hooks" and Chadio doesn't encourage you to "get crunk with it." His style may have been inspired by several artists, but it's hard to say that Chadio sounds like anyone in particular. He has a style all his own and that's what makes this album so interesting.

Some people may like it, other people may not. You'll find that with most of the tracks, there is a strong sense of separation between the more musical, slower beats provided by Aalo Guha, and the speedy, harder-hitting words of Chadio. This dissonance is clearly intentional and it provides for a welcome break from what we hear on the radio each day. It's also interesting to note that there are no breaks between individual tracks as they are blended right into one another, much like how a mixtape might be. This adds to the "underground" flavour. It's also admirable that the rhymes aren't about busting caps and pimping hoes. I thought "Racists", despite its somewhat Eminem-feeling sound, was particularly profound.

Other songs that I enjoyed on the album were Big in Japan, Pancakes, Sickest Nikes, and End of the Beginning.

Underestimated Raindrops by Chadio and Aalo Guha is available now for $14.99 from Phonographique.com.

http://www.exclaim.ca/musicreviews/generalreview.aspx?csid1=111&csid2=865&fid1=25617

Chadio & Aalo Guha
Underestimated Raindrops
By Thomas Quinlan

The latest collaboration from the Imaginations Treetrunk collective teams MC Chadio with their primary producer, Aalo Guha, who presents a darker, harder soundscape than usual for the middle two quarters of this four-piece concept album. Chadio has grouped the 16 songs into four different categories — optimism, anger, confusion and confidence — blending and giving each part a title. The album starts on a positive note with four pretty much upbeat songs for "Part I: Underestimated Raindrops" (optimism), especially attention-grabbing opener "Gone Fishin." The samples and subject matter become darker for "Part II: Staggered Elation" (anger) and "Part III: Confusual Mysconceptions" (confusion), and sometimes even pick up the pace, like with "Overshine." "Part III" also contains show stealing guest appearances from Cee!!!!!!!!, one of the most unique voices in Canadian hip-hop, on "Being Blind (Seeing Everything)" and DJ Moves, with his intimidating but funny don't-give-a-fuck raps, on "Racists." Things smooth out on "Part IV: Anticorp" (confidence), where Chadio is joined by two of the West Coast's most singing-ish rappers: Josh Martinez on "The Life & Times (Time of my Life)" and Kaboom on "End of the Beginning." "Part IV" is comfortable territory for Imaginations Treetrunk but it's the former three parts that make this album so enjoyable. (Imaginations Treetrunk)

Why would you oppose to create, and act so fake.......
frontin when ya know i can see ya soul, thru ya face.....
dancin all around the place until im told the only escapes....
a grate on the floor in the room with the safe.......
so i sat down for a bit and watched some common, cable.....
knowin soon i would not be able......
to complete any type, of task, so i just had to laugh.....
'cause it was of my past, i need a Coke and a bath....
call me the sould controller, searchin thru an open folder.....
front and me an Peak'll roll you over....
so much for covert, we turned him to yogurt....
RHS crew gon' be blowin smoke till they throat hurts....
and eyes are bleeding, we know what you guys are needing....
malnutrition cause the lies are feeding you.....
into believing that this is everything you achieve.......
in the short lifetime ya breathe? no thanks.....
middle finger the banks i need a Coke and a skank.....
and devise a device to demolish corporate rank.....
any oppose then they walkin' the plank, full of hard rocks.....
heres a door to safety give it two hard knocks sucka,
now im tuckered out like chris listen close flows ridiculous motherfucker....
pucker up yer lips, turn it up and drift......
and after this we gonna hit ya wit another 46....
with Aalo recording the hits, we shoot the gift....
and our fans do what we say so they be jumping off of cliffs....
watch our status catapult from young adults to cult leaders.....
Peon and Peak'r heat on result meters.....
i need me a litre-a-cola,
and try to re-establish a friendship, with motorola
(RHS baby)
fuck it this verse is over

If your styles to be whiny like childish infants.......
my enterprise'll detonize yer futile resistance.......
eye-witness what ya can at a mile-a-minute.......
a sea of adversity im diving right in it.

Seconds are precious, takin yer time is best if.....
yer lazy and dont posess an objective, so fuck yer methods.....
im extra-perceptive not like those cloaking themselves in questions....
im holding myself and locally only, boasting my clothing...
and quoting the motive openly homie, we dont do shows for free....
mic that im throwing down after downing a case of kokanee....
okey-dokey im reppin it peace to my peeps at Ephin if.....
people were catching on to my music I might just sell a bit.....
'course ive gotten my options, brought'n up from the bottom......
its awkwardness awsome on it my job the next stop is Boston.
Clockin' the cockiness mockin you when yer talking shit,
how can you hate it when half of your homies on our dicks?.
Mellow no drama no melodrama'd imaginary....
cant compare to people i left 'em alone and standing there....
activated at last and the crowds are all captivated.....
passed the grade and now my ass is in shade so ill catch ya later.

Form an opinion, vocals over your system.....
man on a mission task it be eatin', pieces of chicken.....
confined to a way of thinking, subtlety, slowly sinking,
mother-fucking what i tuck beneath the cover sheets,
i live in places where nothing is ever dated....
we just sit around and party to songs that the boy created.....
some weight he's accumulated and gainin' claimin' a payment....
if ya ever gotta hate on him homie try to relate....
yer taking a break and thats yo ill never make a mistake....
and ill never have an approach thats all lazily, ya crazily......
eyeing me down and clowning although your squad is all paisley.....
and if i have a daughter im never naming her hailey for,
obvious reasons right the songs the move with seasons this,
noggin is logical, all of your options meaningless.....
what im meaning is this, dont be a bitch, you yourself retreat.....
or stick around with us the good guys, and you can help defeat.

Places i came to stay when im famous, try and relate....
while ya riding beside the flying 8 driving towards a higher state,
Time to escape and take hold of personal freedom.....
what we need is some belief in the stuff we think we're believing.

For those who talking fake get crumbled like some coffee cake....
ive walked away from spots ive claimed and nameless try to follow fame....
its all the same, constantly wrestle with contigents....
what im given as a person from the roomates that i leave with...
while im peddlin' my bicycle towards the supermarket....
when i come up to the bikerack then i lock my shit and park it....
for the step-inside, blunted to my head im extra high......
and neverminding nonsense when im moving with a featherglide....
in weather-dry, musics composition life's a competition.....
hardly lived in proper conditions its all yer gettin'.....
with the target missed, pieces and shapes that hardly fit....
just a germ whose come to terms yer involved in some gnarly shit.
But you paraded your prowess proudly and loudly....
no Summa Cum Laude wonderin how the fuck that you found me....
no never proud of me seeing the pieces that you believe in....
and making you leave when none of these motherfuckers were doubting me.

But it was, never the memory places i sent you mentally....
thats if its meant to be now the tools i use exponentially,
allow myself to better breathe and yes my head and knees....
are achin carried on my many feet just like a centipede.....
dressin in red & green, x-mas in your arrangements....
no complimentary statements or comments that i can make....
you're a person pursued and that i can handle, vandal convicted....
how can you forgive it? trust I its something that we can live with its,
part of a process questions/answers are no/yes....
meanin' it when i say it direct to you from the bone flesh....
only stress that you havin's intangible, can not grab it....
yer hyphy over a jacket i rap all over the planet....
and so in demand its sickening, wish you the best an bigger things.....
its been a week and in my bedsheets her scent is still lingering.
Licking and fingering fucking, touching her softly......
for an afternoon until she be pulling her body offa me.
Regardless how you gon' put it shorties a handfull....
and i can try and say as nice as i can but im still an asshole.