NOTL-based hip-hop duo 80 Empire didn’t take home a trophy at Sunday’s Niagara Music Awards, but they are still winning fans across the globe with their new album, guided by local collaborations, community engagement and an ethos of uplifting people through music.
Brothers Adrian and Lucas Rezza, nominated for Best Music Video, Best Hip Hop Song and Best Producer, have deep roots in NOTL, raising their families here for more than a decade.
“Sure, is it nice to put some hardware on your desk. Of course it is. But we really didn’t go [to the Niagara Music Awards] with the intention thinking that we were going to win,” Adrian Rezza told The Lake Report.
Their latest album, “A Galactic Love Supreme,” featuring rapper Doodlebug, has garnered international attention; however, the collaborations they’ve done in town have created some of the most meaningful connections for the duo.
The album, entirely produced in Niagara-on-the-Lake, opens and closes with powerful narratives by award-winning historian Saladin Allah, whom Adrian met during a Black history lecture at the NOTL Museum.
“If we didn’t have these wonderful things within our community, like these lectures at the museum, Saladin would have never been on the album,” said Rezza.
80 Empire’s music aims to bring positivity and unity into the world, especially amidst today’s global turmoil, Rezza said.
“The album really is something positive, soulful and uplifting. Right now, the world needs that.”
The album incorporates elements of jazz, soul and funk along with hip-hop, broadening its appeal beyond traditional rap audiences.
“You don’t have to be a fan of rap to understand our album. It’s just a good sonic representation of good music,” said Rezza.
80 Empire’s music videos currently air on major networks like BET Jamz, and their album was named among NPR’s top releases. The duo says they are eager for more collaborations and performances in Niagara.
“We’d love to team up, perform the album here, and have a whole local event. We love this community,” said Rezza.
