CLASSIFIED INTEL
Star keeps evolving with new R&B-influenced album
More than two decades after the release of his first album under his stage name Classified, it’s clear that the alter ego of Luke Boyd still has lots to say.
The East Coast hip-hop artist is now well into a Canadian tour, performing tunes from his recently released 16th album, Tomorrow Could Be the Day Things Change.
The 10-time Juno nominee’s latest album leans heavily toward the R&B side of the genre. Contributing on vocals for a couple of songs are Oakville, Ont., singersongwriter Anjulie and Toronto rapper Tory Lanez — on Changes and Cold Love, respectively. It’s an album that is fun at times, but often introspective and thoughtful, touching on topics such as female empowerment, missing and murdered Indigenous women and the abuse of children and women (Powerless).
“I always have fun songs on my albums, but I also like to have something that’s important to talk about, to think about,” Boyd said.
“I think these songs can definitely have an impact. The feedback I’m getting from Powerless has just been crazy, people commenting on Facebook and in emails, telling me their stories.”
Boyd took his time with this album, about two-and-a-half years off to spend “time with my girls” (he is married to Kim Boyd and they have three daughters, ages 10, 8 and 4).
“I really took my time with this one,” said Boyd. “But I think sometimes you just get tired of hearing it and working on it and now this (touring) is the fun part of it, doing it live.”
Boyd said much of his work is inspired by his own life, such as becoming a father and more sensitive to issues such as sexual abuse.
“I’m always writing about where I am at in my life. Just being a father is different, you’ll have different values than before.
“That’s why I dropped Powerless as the first single (in January). I think these issues are important now more than ever, to me. This is a big issue.”
Here’s a sample of the lyrics:
She wonders why nobody hears her cry
The footsteps in the hallway have her terrified
Scared as she looks into his staring eyes
He crawls into her bed and she just lays there almost paralyzed
Feeling powerless
On the lighter side, there’s Legal Marijuana, where he sings about the benefits of toking, if only to relax and find patience:
Dad use to complain about it. Now he can’t get through his back pain without it
And I could list all the different ways that it brings relief
And treats disease, glaucoma, PTSD, cancer and epilepsy
Boyd has been writing songs since he was a teen, recording his first full-length album, Time’s Up, Kid, in 1995 when he was still in high school.
His interest in music was fuelled by his father, Mike Sr., who played guitar in a cover band around Halifax. Boyd’s father often contributes guitar licks on Boyd’s albums.
His brothers Mike Jr. and Jake, both musicians, will also be on the tour. “It’s cool with them because you can be very honest with them, or they can say, ‘Hey, that’s crap’ or I can say it and that’s something you just can’t do with hired musicians,” said Boyd. “And it really keeps you grounded.”
Boyd recorded the album at his own studio in his hometown of Enfield, N.S., where he’s recorded most of his work.
It’s a common refrain from artists about the lengthy time between writing a song and producing a finished product and how they get tired of them even before performing them publicly.
Boyd is no different, but there’s one song on the new disc that’s stuck in his brain. “I don’t know if it’s the best song on the album, but it’s my favourite — Fallen. Just the beat. I really enjoyed recording it and I’m still feeling it, the beat.”