While Drake's OVO Sound might have a stronghold on Toronto, the city's rap scene on the whole is fresher than ever. Enter CMDWN, a Toronto rap collective taking the 6 by storm. Members FIJI and Ca$tro first linked up back in 2014, and they've been cooking up bangers ever since. Following up from their 2016 EP Atlanada, their most recent EP Castro vs. FIJI that has the duo alternating between spitting over fiery, metal-influenced productions, and chilled out beats. Get acquainted with their sounds below, as you get to know the rising Canadian rap collective in our exclusive editorial and Q&A.
How did your collective originally form?
Fiji: CMDWN was originally formed back in 2014, and we all met each other on Queen and Spadina at a closing party for a store.
Ca$tro Guapo: The vibe was so authentic and natural between us, that we started boolin more often ever since.
What’s the meaning behind your name?
CG: We got the idea for the name "CMDWN" after we had spent an entire night partying on no sleep. We stopped at a 7/11 to grab drinks and Fiji ended up buying “Fiji Water.”
F: Yeah... the guys asked "why Fiji water?" and I said "I'm tryna comedown off the drugs.” Then I took a photo and captioned it "Fiji 4 the Comedown" and a couple days later changed my Instagram to "Fiji4thecmdwn."
CG: So when people started asking who we were we'd just say "Comedown", then later shortened it to just “CMDWN.”
What’s your biggest style inspiration?
F: Our biggest style inspiration would have to be Ian.
CG: And Rocky.
What would your dream brand collaboration with CMDWN be?
CG: Our dream collaboration would have to be Supreme.
F: Forever.
We’re digging the metal vibes on Ca$tro’s track “Hellaujah”. Do you listen to any metal? What are some metal bands that you’re into?
CG: Yeah actually, my favourite metal band growing up was Slipknot.
What’s the worst comedown you’ve ever experienced?
CG: The worst comedown we’ve ever experienced was when we drank 2 liters of lean and a bottle of Henny on tour. The next morning when Fiji and I got picked up, I was throwing up out the window onto cars on the highway... [laughs].
Be sure to stay up to date with CMDWN on their SoundCloud right here.
For more like this, take a look at our lush editorial with rising rapper J $tash right here.
