Breakdancing debuted as an Olympic sport at the 2024 Olympics in Paris — and a Canadian competitor gained a gold medal in its first yr.

The Vancouver-based Phil Wizard, born Philip Kim, took residence the gold in breaking, beating France’s personal Dany Dann within the remaining.

Breaking gained’t be at the 2028 Olympics in Los Angeles, however the artwork kind that started on the streets of the Bronx as one of many 4 pillars of hip-hop was nicely represented at this yr’s occasion. The males’s match, which occurred on Saturday (Aug. 10), was stuffed with spectacular strikes as dancers battled one another one-on-one.

Unlike different music-based occasions like rhythmic gymnastics or synchronized swimming, the breakers didn’t know which songs they’d be dancing to, which meant there was a heavy dose of improv. The DJ performed loads of hip-hop classics, from A Tribe Called Quest‘s “Scenario” to Method Man‘s “Judgement Day” to “Live at the Barbeque” by New York/Toronto group Main Source.

Wizard and his rivals busted out some head-spinning strikes, displaying off the artwork of breaking to the world after a competitor at the day past’s ladies’s match made information for various causes. After going viral for her less-than-crisp bunny hops and sprinklers, Raygun (a.ok.a. Australia’s Rachael Gunn), has confronted important backlash and accusations of rigging the method to get to the Olympics. 

“I didn’t realize that would open the door to so much hate,” Gunn stated in a press release this week. “Which has frankly been pretty devastating. While I went out there and I had fun, I did take it very seriously. I worked my butt off preparing for the Olympics and I gave my all, truly.”

The tone was totally different for Wizard, who expressed his thanks on Instagram this week.

“The sheer amount of love and support from this past week has warmed my heart,” he stated. “My goal winning aside was to enjoy the moment as much as possible, as it was years in the making coming down to one moment. I didn’t want to let that one moment define me ever, and I wanted to show how much love I have for this art, dance, community, sport. Looking back I can’t help but be in awe of everyone that showed up, both on and off the field. The camaraderie between all the competitors was truly beautiful, all knowing how hard it was to get here.” – Richard Trapunski

Tragically Hip Docuseries ‘No Dress Rehearsal’ Will Premiere at the Toronto International Film Festival

A beloved Canadian band is shedding new mild on their journey. The Tragically Hip, who’re celebrating 40 years since their founding, will premiere a long-promised new Prime Video docuseries at the Toronto International Film Festival (TIFF) in September.

The Tragically Hip: No Dress Rehearsal is directed and produced by late frontman Gord Downie‘s older brother Mike and options never-before-seen footage of the band. It tells the story of their rise to recognition — the band has 9 No. 1 albums in Canada and 17 Junos, and is synonymous with Canadian music for a lot of listeners — and the tragic lack of Downie from mind most cancers in 2017.

“This project is a labour of love,” stated Mike Downie in a press release. “We set out to understand what held the band together, what pushed them apart and how they captured the hearts and minds of so many fans both in Canada and around the world.”

The model new trailer for the four-episode collection options reflections from the band members on The Hip’s ups and downs in addition to their remaining tour with Downie in 2015 after his prognosis. The interviews are accompanied by live performance footage and commentary from well-known Canadians like actor Will Arnett and broadcaster George Stroumboulopoulos. The band’s longtime supervisor, Jake Gold, serves as an government producer.

After its TIFF premiere, the collection will stream on Prime Video, although no date is obtainable but. Incidentally, the collection follows one other latest Prime Video documentary on a Canadian icon coping with sickness: I Am: Céline Dion.

TIFF 2024 can also be set to function appearances from musicians like Bruce Springsteen, Elton John and Pharrell Williams. The pageant runs Sept. 5-15. – Rosie Long Decter

PartyNextDoor Re-Enters Canadian Albums Chart Following Drake Collaboration News

An area star is again on the Canadian Albums chart this week after a headlining-grabbing efficiency at Toronto’s Budweiser Stage. 

PartyNextDoor‘s PartyNextDoor 4 (P4) has re-entered the chart at No. 87 following that headlining show, which saw a special appearance by Party’s longtime collaborator Drake.

After taking part in his personal set, Drake introduced PartyNextDoor again to the stage earlier than the present’s finish to duet on “Come and See Me” and announce some particular information: “We’ve been working on something for y’all,” he stated. “When it gets a little chilly, PartyNextDoor and Drake album will be waiting right there for you.”

In the meantime, Party’s personal album has seen a resurgence, re-entering the chart the place it spent three earlier weeks and peaked at No. 13. The album can also be on the Billboard 200 albums chart at No. 152 (Canadian Albums solely has 100 spots). 

Also on the Canadian Albums chart this week, Punjabi artist Navaan Sandhu has debuted at No. 97 along with his album, The Finest. Amritsar-born Sandhu has been racking up tens of millions of streams with the album, and the music video for its title monitor, launched two weeks in the past, has 2.9 million views.

The chart debut is one more indicator of Punjabi music’s recognition within the nation, with artists like Diljit Dosanjh, Karan Aujla and AP Dhillon seeing related success on Canada’s charts during the last yr. 

Ye and Ty Dolla $ign‘s Vultures 2 is the No. 1 album in Canada this week. – RLD