Toronto’s Lan’Do Fuses Grime And Caribbean Influences On Experimental Single “16 Bit”
Canadian-Jamaican experimental rap artist LAN’DO returns for the summer with a captivating and hard-hitting new single titled “16 Bit.” He excellently fuses sounds and cultures that have heavily influenced his music – grime and dancehall – with his Caribbean heritage shining through his flow and cadence all over the song.
“16 Bit” sees Lan’do collaborating with in-house No Tourists producer universes, who offers Lan’do the perfect soundscape for the Toronto-based artist to flex his lyrical muscles, clever wordplay, and immaculate multi-layered flow, as he unloads on the track in braggadocious fashion, exploring themes
such as loyalty, friendship, and relationships, while staking his claim for being best-in-class. For the accompanying music video, Lan’do has linked up with long-time collaborator and video maker Kevin Kudu for a dark, gritty, and layered visual that was shot in his homecity Toronto.
Speaking about how “16 Bit” came about, Lan’do says, “I’m just excited to finally get this one out. The pandemic had just started, and I was crashing at my homie’s place. With all the free time we suddenly had we just started cooking up tracks and this was the best one to come out of the sessions. It felt like the words just flowed out of my head, and every line was automatic. Despite all that happened during the lockdown, I’m glad for all the time I was given to explore more unconventional approaches. I feel that this song is the culmination of all of that.”
Discussing the inspiration behind ‘16 Bit’, Lan’do adds that, “This song is like a soundclash from beginning to end. From the constant flow switches to the changes in vocal pitch, its straight attack mode. Nobody really knows who I am, and I have to put my best foot forward. A lot of the inspiration,
in terms of the delivery, came from the Jamaican artists I grew up listening to like Capleton, Bounty Killa and Elephant Man, to name a few. As for the music video, the director and I really just wanted to
make it as visually stunning as possible, referencing some of my favourite films and visuals.”
Born in Canada and raised in Jamaica, Lan’do’s introduction to music came through his family – from his grandmother singing in the choir, to falling in love with his mother’s R&B collection, to creating his own sounds with his brother in the group Deadverysoon. He has since come together with fellow likeminded Toronto artists to form No Tourists, who have been garnering worldwide acclaim for their experimental rap fusion sounds. With his new solo music, Lan’do continues to push the envelope even further, and showcase just why he is becoming one to watch out of Toronto’s thriving rap scene.
