Classified (rapper)

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Classified
Luke Boyd, better known as Classified, performing in concert (2018).
Luke Boyd, better known as Classified, performing in concert (2018).
Background information
Birth nameLucas Boyd
Born (1977-12-13) December 13, 1977 (age 44)
Enfield, Nova Scotia, Canada
OriginEnfield, Nova Scotia, Canada
GenresHip hop, Canadian hip hop, East Coast hip hop
Occupation(s)Rapper, record producer, songwriter
Years active1995–present
LabelsAtlantic, Half Life Records, Urbnet, TM3, Sony BMG Canada, UMG Universal Music Canada, Black Box Recordings
Associated actsAlyson Barnhart, B.o.B, Brother Ali, Buck 65, Chad Hatcher, Choclair, DJ IV, DL Incognito, Eternia, Jay-Bizzy, Jordan Croucher, Mad Child, Maestro Fresh-Wes, Moka Only, Ria Mae, Royce da 5'9", Dave Mac, Snoop Dogg, Sound Improvement
Websitewww.classifiedofficial.com

Luke Boyd (born December 13, 1977), better known by his stage name Classified, is a Canadian rapper and record producer from Enfield, Nova Scotia.

Musical career[]

1995–2004: Early beginnings, Trial & Error and URBNET Records[]

Classified attended Hants East Rural High School in Milford Station, Nova Scotia. He started his own production label, Half Life Records, and released his first full-length LP called Time's Up, Kid in 1995.[1]

After years of working on music, specifically eight studio albums, and sorting through label contracts, Classified produced, recorded and released his ninth album, Trial & Error, and signed a nationwide distribution deal with Toronto-based URBNET Records in 2003. Containing collaborations with up-and-coming Canadian artists like Eternia and DL Incognito, as well as Canadian rap veteran Maestro, the album was one of the highest selling independent rap albums in Canada in 2004.

In addition to the release of Trial & Error, 2003 and 2004 were busy years for Classified. With the continuous support of VideoFACT, he was able to release two additional music videos for the singles "Just the Way It Is" and "Unexpected". Classified also continued to master his production skills and joined forces with some of Canada's most prominent emcees, including Choclair and Maestro Fresh Wes.[2] He also teamed up with Shady Records recording artist Royce da 5'9"[2] and opened for Ludacris, Snoop Dogg, Busta Rhymes, The Game, Nelly, MC Grizzly, Captain Capota, Nas, The Black Eyed Peas and Black Moon.

2005–2007: Boy-Cott-In the Industry and Hitch Hikin' Music[]

Classified's tenth album, Boy-Cott-In the Industry, marked a significant turning point is his career. The 2005 album includes guest appearances by Trent James, Royce Da 5'9", Jay Bizzy, J-Bru, A-Wall, Spesh K, and Mike Boyd (Classified's younger brother and fellow MC). He has said he enjoys doing music with other people: "It keeps things exciting and there are tons of talented people in Halifax so you make connections 'cause it's not a huge scene."[3] The album reached #46 on SoundScan's Canadian R&B/Hip-Hop albums chart. The singles "The Maritimes", "5th Element", "No Mistakes", and "Find Out", which is the lead single of his 11th studio album, Hitch Hikin' Music, were all Top 20 hits on MuchMusic and MTV Canada that year. The music video for "No Mistakes" won him an MMVA for MuchVibe Best Rap Video. Boy-Cott-In the Industry also earned a Juno Award nomination for Rap Recording of the Year in 2006.[4]

Following Boy-Cott-In the Industry, Classified released his eleventh album Hitch Hikin' Music. Like previous works, the album was self-produced, and it is arguably some of his finest work. On "Fall From Paradise", Classified reflects on the difficulty of staying fresh and on top. In the hip-hop meets classic rock song "All About U", featuring singer Chad Hatcher, Classified shows the extent of his growth from his early releases. In "Hip Hop Star", he eschews the current bling-bling culture of popular hip hop to remind people that life is not about trying to impress others. The rest of the album includes guest appearances by Jay Bizzy, Mic Boyd, Jordan Croucher, Preacher K, White Mic and more. Four singles have been released off the album: "Find Out" (which won the 2007 East Coast Music Award for Best Rap/Hip-Hop Single),[5] "Feelin' Fine Remix", "All About U", and "Hard to Be Hip Hop". Hitch Hikin' Music also received a Juno Award nomination for Rap Recording of the Year in 2007.

2008–2014: Self Explanatory, Handshakes and Middle Fingers, and self titled album[]

In 2008, Classified signed his first major label deal with Sony Music and released his twelfth studio album, Self Explanatory,[6] in 2009, which received highly positive reviews from the critics, debuting on the Canadian Albums Chart at #25 making it Classified's first album on that chart. The hit single "Anybody Listening" brought Classified to mainstream success as it peaked at #52 on the Canadian Hot 100. The accompanying music video also received heavy rotation on MuchMusic. At the 2009 MuchMusic Video Awards on May 21, 2009, Classified won the MuchVibe "Best Hip-Hop Video of the Year" award for "Anybody Listening" directed by Harv Glazer and produced by Robert Wilson of TwoThreeFiveFilms.[7] He would also receive three Juno Award nominations in 2010, for Rap Recording of the Year, Single of the Year, and Video of the Year respectively.[8] Classified would enjoy more mainstream success in with another hit single, "Oh...Canada" peaking at #14 on the Canadian Hot 100 and was certified platinum in digital downloads by the Music Canada.[9] In early 2011, "Oh...Canada" received a Juno nomination for "Single of the Year".

On March 22, 2011, Classified released his thirteenth album, albeit only his second major studio album Handshakes and Middle Fingers. The album debuted at #7 on the Canadian Albums Chart. The first single off the album, "That Ain't Classy", reached #45 on the Canadian Hot 100. "That Ain't Classy" also featured in the hit EA football game Madden 12. In 2012, Classified signed with Universal Music.[10]

In 2013, Classified would reach the height of his music career with the release of his fourteenth album, eponymously titled Classified, which debuted at #1 on the Canadian Albums Chart, earning him his first chart-topping album and would eventually be certified Platinum by Music Canada.[11] The first single off the album, "Inner Ninja", reached #5 on the Canadian Hot 100, earning Classified his first top ten hit and highest charting song. The song has been certified 5x Platinum in digital downloads by Music Canada.

In March 2013, it was announced that Classified signed a deal with Atlantic Records.[12] In April 2013, Classified won an award at the 2013 Juno Awards for "Rap Recording of the Year" for his song "Inner Ninja".[13] A remix of the song featuring guest vocals from Olly Murs was released on November 10, 2013.

In March 2014, Classified co-hosted the 2014 Juno Awards along with Serena Ryder and Johnny Reid,[14] and released a new single "Higher" featuring B.o.B.[15]

2015–17: Greatful[]

On January 15, 2016, Classified released his fifteenth album Greatful. Three singles were released: "Filthy" which features DJ Premier, "No Pressure" which features Snoop Dogg (which reached #65 on the Canadian Hot 100) and "Noah's Arch" which features Saukrates. The album debuted #6 on the Canadian Albums Chart. Classified announced he will be touring across Canada from February to March in support of the album.[16]

Classified co-wrote and produced Ria Mae's hit song Thoughts On Fire[17] and raps on the Thoughts on Fire (feat. Classified) version which is on heavy rotation in early 2017 on the CBC Radio 2 network.

2018–present: Tomorrow Could Be the Day Things Change[]

On February 9, 2018, Classified filmed a music video for "Powerless" in Nova Scotia, featuring native dancers and musicians and bringing to light the issues surrounding missing and murdered indigenous women and girls.[18] On May 8, 2018, Classified released another new single called "Changes" featuring Anjulie.[19] On May 25, 2018, Classified released another single "She Ain't Gotta Do Much".[20] Later that month, Classified announced his new EP Tomorrow Could Be....[21] The EP was released on June 29, 2018.[22] On September 14, 2018, Classified announced that his new album Tomorrow Could Be the Day Things Change would be released on October 12. The first single off the album "Cold Love" featuring Tory Lanez was released the same day.[23]

On September 20, 2020, Classified released 'Time'. The EP features "Good News" which features Breagh Isabel. The song was certified Gold in Canada,[24] and appeared on John Krasinski’s ‘Some Good News’.[7]

Personal life[]

Classified is married to Kim Boyd, and together, they have three children. He has a song named "Having Kids Is Easy" on his 2016 album Greatful, dedicated to his daughters.[25] He has two brothers, Mike and Jake Boyd and one sister, Leah Boyd .[26] His brother, Mike Boyd, is a frequent collaborator of Classified, with Classified producing multiple albums of Mike's.[27]

Discography[]

Albums[]

EPs[]

Compilations[]

Mixtapes[]

  • The Joint Effort (2012)

Awards and Nominations[]

Year Nominated work Award Result
2006 "Boy-Cott-In the Industry" Juno Rap Recording of the Year Nominated
"No Mistakes" MuchMusic Video Awards MuchVibe Best Rap Video Won
2007 "Hitch Hikin' Music" Juno Rap Recording of the Year Nominated
"Find Out" MuchMusic Video Awards MuchVibe Best Rap Video Nominated
MuchMusic Video Awards Best Independent Video Nominated
2008 "Hard To Be Hip Hop" MuchMusic Video Awards Best Post-Production Nominated
MuchMusic Video Awards MuchVibe Best Rap Video Nominated
2009 "Anybody Listening" MuchMusic Video Awards Best Post Production Nominated
MuchMusic Video Awards Best Director Nominated
MuchMusic Video Awards MuchVibe Best Hip Hop Video Won
2010 Juno Single of the Year Nominated
Juno Video of the Year Nominated
"Self Explanatory" Juno Rap Recording of the Year Nominated
"Quit While You're Ahead" MuchMusic Video Awards Post Production of the Year Nominated
"Oh...Canada" MuchMusic Video Awards Director of the Year Nominated
MuchMusic Video Awards MuchVibe Hip Hop Video of the Year Nominated
2011 Juno Single of the Year Nominated
"That Ain't Classy" MuchMusic Video Awards MuchVibe Hip Hop Video of the Year Won
2012 "Handshakes and Middle Fingers" Juno Rap Recording of the Year Nominated
"The Hangover" MuchMusic Video Awards MuchVibe Hip Hop Video of the Year Nominated
2013 "Inner Ninja" Juno Rap Recording of the Year Won
MuchMusic Video Awards Video of the Year Won
MuchMusic Video Awards Hip Hop Video of the Year Nominated
MuchMusic Video Awards MuchFACT Video of the Year Won
MuchMusic Video Awards Your Fave Video Nominated
2014 "Inner Ninja" East Coast Music Awards Fans choice Video of the Year Nominated
East Coast Music Awards Rap/Hip-Hop Recording of the Year Nominated
East Coast Music Awards Song of the Year (Inner Ninja) Nominated
"Classified" East Coast Music Awards Album of the Year Nominated
East Coast Music Awards Songwriter of the Year (David Myles ft. Classified - So Blind) Nominated
2017 Greatful East Coast Music Awards Album of the Year Nominated
"No Pressure" East Coast Music Awards Song of the Year Won
Greatful East Coast Music Awards Rap/Hip-Hop Recording of the Year Won
East Coast Music Awards Solo Recording of the Year Nominated
Classified East Coast Music Awards Fan's Choice Entertainer of the Year Nominated
"Work Away" (ft. David Myles) East Coast Music Awards Fan's Choice Video of the Year Nominated
East Coast Music Awards Video of the Year Won
Classified East Coast Music Awards Producer of the Year Nominated
East Coast Music Awards Studio Engineer of the Year Nominated
2019 "Powerless" Juno Video of the Year Nominated
Tomorrow Could Be The Day Things Change East Coast Music Awards Album of the Year Won
"Powerless" East Coast Music Awards Fans' Choice Video of the Year Nominated
Tomorrow Could Be The Day Things Change East Coast Music Awards Rap/Hip-Hop Recording of the Year Won
2020 Tomorrow Could Be The Day Things Change Juno Rap Recording of the Year Nominated
2021 "Good News" f. Breagh Isabel East Coast Music Awards Fans' Choice Video of the Year Nominated
Classified East Coast Music Awards Fans' Choice Entertainer of the Year Nominated
Time EP East Coast Music Awards Album of the Year Nominated
Classified East Coast Music Awards Songwriter of the Year Nominated
"Good News" f. Breagh Isabel East Coast Music Awards Song of the Year Nominated
Time EP East Coast Music Awards Solo Recording of the Year Nominated
Time EP East Coast Music Awards Rap/Hip-Hop Recording of the Year Nominated
Classified East Coast Music Awards Producer of the Year Nominated

Books[]

  • Cover of Classified's book, "Off the Beat 'N Path"
    Cover of Classified's book, "Off the Beat 'N Path"
    Classified: Off the Beat 'N Path (2021) - #1 Best Seller on Amazon Pop Music Books[28]

See also[]

References[]

  1. ^ [1] Archived October 6, 2008, at the Wayback Machine
  2. ^ a b Bliss, Karen (July–August 2005). "Classified", Canadian Musician, 27 (4): 78.
  3. ^ [2][dead link]
  4. ^ "Nova Scotia rapper stays true to his roots". Canada.com. 2006-10-13. Archived from the original on 2015-06-07. Retrieved 2015-02-19.
  5. ^ [3] Archived August 11, 2007, at the Wayback Machine
  6. ^ Woo, Andrea (2009-03-26). "Classified Is Satisfied". Exclaim.ca. Retrieved 2017-11-06.
  7. ^ [4] Archived May 30, 2009, at the Wayback Machine
  8. ^ [5] Archived March 7, 2010, at the Wayback Machine
  9. ^ [6] Archived November 2, 2013, at the Wayback Machine
  10. ^ Hudson, Alex (2012-09-21). "Classified Signs to Universal for 2013 Album". Exclaim.ca. Retrieved 2016-04-05.
  11. ^ "Gold/Platinum". Music Canada. Archived from the original on 2014-07-26. Retrieved 2015-02-19.
  12. ^ "Classified Signs With Atlantic Records; Award-Winning Canadian Hip-Hop Artist Set to Unleash Acclaimed #1 Album; "Inner Ninja (Feat. David Myles)" to Impact Multi-Format Radio Outlets Nationwide; Single Already a Top 10 Canadian Smash, Earning 2x Platinum Certification; "CLASSIFIED" Arrives in the U.S. This Summer". Marketwire.com. 2013-03-20. Retrieved 2015-02-19.
  13. ^ "2014 Nominees & Winners - The JUNO Awards". Junoawards.ca. Archived from the original on 2013-02-20. Retrieved 2015-02-19.
  14. ^ "Serena Ryder, Johnny Reid, Classified to co-host Juno Awards March 30 in Winnipeg | Entertainment & Showbiz from CTV News". Ctvnews.ca. 2014-03-04. Retrieved 2015-02-19.
  15. ^ "Premiere: Classified and B.o.B Get "Higher" | NOISEY". Noisey.vice.com. 2014-03-07. Retrieved 2015-02-19.
  16. ^ Hudson, Alex. "Classified Announces 'Greatful' Album, Plots Canadian Tour". Exclaim.ca. Retrieved 2016-04-05.
  17. ^ Doole, Kerry (13 January 2017). "Ria Mae: Thoughts on Fire". fyimusicnews.ca. Retrieved 30 January 2017.
  18. ^ Chandler, Justin (April 4, 2018). "Premiere: Classified's 'Powerless' music video is an incredible ode to missing and murdered Indigenous women". CBC. Archived from the original on 2020-06-27.
  19. ^ Veteran rapper Classified gets reflective on new single “Changes”
  20. ^ She Ain't Gotta Do Much - Single
  21. ^ Canadian Rapper Classified Announces New EP, Unveils Two New Music Videos For ‘Changes’
  22. ^ Tomorrow Could Be - iTunes
  23. ^ Classified Announces New Single "Cold Love" Featuring Tory Lanez, Available Today his new album "The Bells are Ringing" is also available. 9/14
  24. ^ "Gold/Platinum". Music Canada. Retrieved 2021-05-12.
  25. ^ "Classified- Having Kids Is Easy". TorontoRappers.com. 2016-04-07. Retrieved 2017-03-07.
  26. ^ "Classified Bio | Classified Career". MTV. Retrieved 2016-04-05.
  27. ^ "Mike Boyd - ...Note the Sarcasm | Stream | Hip Hop Albums - DJBooth". DJBooth. Archived from the original on 2017-03-07. Retrieved 2017-03-07.
  28. ^ "Login • Instagram". www.instagram.com. Retrieved 2021-12-02. {{cite web}}: Cite uses generic title (help)

External links[]

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