Best of Me (Closing Ceremonies)

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Luke Boyd (born on December 13, 1977), professionally known as Classified, is a Canadian rapper and producer from Enfield, Nova Scotia. more »

Year:

2016

5:58

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 Watch: New Singing Lesson Videos Can Make Anyone A Great Singer

I remember camping in Green Valley Campground 
And Chris Joyce played me Run DMC's "Tricky"
It was the first rap song I ever heard 
And I fell in love with it quick
Started writing' some really bad rhymes 
That I thought were really, really clever with my friends 
Quincy Brown, Scott Brown, AJ White and Matt McDougall
My first manager was Derek Lejeune and that lasted one afternoon 
But he got me my first show at a place called Café Au Lait
That was May 12th, 1995
I met Jorun at that show
And he introduced me to the hip-hop scene in Halifax 
From Universal Soul, Nathan C, Flexman
Papa Grand, Skillz, Hip Club Grove, Shy Love and Buck 65
Jo also taught me how to make beats on the sampler 
I bought from SIXTOO and around '99 I started producin' for different people
J-Bizzy, J-Bru, Spesh K, Bonshah and anyone lookin' for beats
Eventually I started to group with 
Who I thought were some of the best in the city
White Mic, Nathan C, Marvin Upshaw, Short Shane (rest in peace)
Dean Lucas, Dj LooneyTunes, Mark Mirage, and Knucklehead
Who you might know as Tyrone from Trailer Park Boys
We even had a manager, this guy named Martin Finch
While I was doing this group thing 
I was still always doing my solo stuff
And around 2000 Brian Cane from Ottawa, who was helping manage me
Got me a small independent deal with this label called UrbNet Records 
Which is ran by Darryl Rodway, 
It was the first time I had my music out on the national level
Around that time I started doing my first real tour,
Played a lotta smaller venues, pits and legions, some grimy venues
I remember this place called the Embassy Hotel in London
Had some great shows there
Jason Bruce, a.k.a. J-Bru was on tour with me back then 
And he toured with me for almost 10 years after that
Eventually my brother Mike Boyd came on tour too
'Cause I was producing for him and he was rhymin'
We had a few different DJs, CandyMan, Tech12
But I eventually hooked up with this guy named Brian Pelrine
AKA Dj IV, who was a young DJ on the come up
Had some good times back then
And all these people from my past brought out the best of me now

The best of me now
The best of me now
Best of me now

Around 2005, a guy named Craig McMillan was bookin' up shows for me
I was back to managin' myself so he started 
Helpin' me out with that a bit
I was also workin' with this guy named Chad Hatcher and Jordan Croucher
Who you might know as JRD
They did a lotta tourin' with us back then
I was doing a lot of music and producing for them
I even started my own label and signed them both 
'Cause I just loved the music we were makin' and wanted to get it out
Around 2006, I met my fifth and final manager, Jason Murray
He was really the first real manager I had and everything changed 
And became 100 percent easier to focus on my music
He got me my first major label deal through Sony Music
Shout out to Dave Harris, Shawn Corner and Shane
The tours got bigger, thanks to Jason Furmen and Tom Canton 
And after Sony I started working with J.P. and Randy Lennox 
From Universal
Also added a couple more people to my tour crew
My youngest brother Jake Boyd started playing guitar for me
Shawn Thunder started playing drums
But Shawn was in couple bands 
So after about a year I had to get another drummer, Marc Shinski
I got my own sound guy and tour manager, Elijah Walsh
Made sure these shows were all gonna sound good
I was also blessed over the years to work 
With some of the best directors in the country
Like Harve, Ar T (?), Cazh (?), and the MacDonald brothers Luke and Nick
Around 2010, I started working with a guy by the name of David Myles 
Who's actually playing guitar on this
Dave, say what's up man
Hey, hey, hey
I produced some stuff for him 
And he did a few songs on my album 
Like "Day Doesn't Die" and "Inner Ninja"
Which became my biggest song I ever did 
There's actually a lotta guys over the years 
That helped me out with my music
 I always made my beats 
But I always needed someone who could play guitar or bass 
Or even just give me some advice and helpin' me out
Guys like Jim Mullen, Glen MacDonnell, Neil Danning, Mark Pellizzer
Who went on to have the #1 single in the world
"Rude" with his band MAGIC!
Dan Weston, Hi Huyhn, Playboy and Quake, Josh Van Tastle
Ria Mae, David Christensen, Mark Hamilton, Billy Parks
Matt Joyce, Scott Bradley, Nick Horn, Mark Perry
Greg Munden, Ian Stainger, Julie Hoffman and my break dancers
Tony McCool, Bernie Bermunda, and B. Solo
All these people from my past bring out the best of me now

The best of me now
The best of me now
Best of me now

Now I'm on my fifteenth album, which could be my last
But I do say that after every album
I'm sittin' here back in Enfield
I been workin' on this thing for like nine months now
I barely left my home, stopped tourin' 
And stopped doing shows and just stayed here 
And worked on this album in the garage of my place 
So I could be close to my kids
I wear the same jogging pants everyday
I haven't shaved, my computer only works right sometimes
But I'm gettin' there. 
I gotta thank all the unofficial executive producers of this album 
That would help me out when I got confused
And couldn't decide what beat to rhyme on or which verses I liked
My brother Mike, Simon Benell, Dj IV, Jason Murray, White Mic
K.I., J-Bru and Elijah. Big thanks to my family
My parents Mike and Cathy Boyd
My parents-in-law, Ron and Lynn Gallant, Chris Gallant
My sister Leah and Craig Hopewell
Mike's wife Sarah and all of my nephews and nieces and cousins
And of course, my wife Kim, and three daughters
Kayla, Taylor and Emma, you all bring out the best of me
Thank you

The best of me now
The best of me now
Best of me now

 Watch: New Singing Lesson Videos Can Make Anyone A Great Singer