Today, 12th of February 2011, Montreal lost a great artist. The omission of “hiphop” artist is voluntary, for Bad News Brown, real name Paul Frappier, was so much more. A pionneer, a great musician, a good soul.
Far from being great friends, nonetheless I’ll never forget the first time we met, first time we spoke; opening for Talib Kweli at the Medley in 2003, sitting backstage, after exchanging head nods, he asked me “What’s your sign, you must be a Taurus?”… Kind of taken aback because I am, I asked him how come he knew. He told me “I just know, I’m a Taurus too, it’s an energy thing… Taurus can spot Taurus…”
A spiritual man of sorts, we engaged in a brief but meaningful conversation… Real refreshing when you consider the usual hiphop attitude aka thug-bravado people tend to display at such events.
Regardless of the circumstances, regardless of what happened, it’s a sad day for Montreal, it’s a sad day for music…
My thoughts are with his fam, friends and loved ones.
by Tony Romance
