Toronto’s 88GLAM Cut A Debut With The Weeknd On ’12’

Comprised of Derek Wise and 88 Camino, Toronto’s 88GLAM debut their first collaborative single ’12’ with mesmerising visuals and a drop-in from another 6 native, The Weeknd.

Toronto has long since been established as a great breeding ground for talent, as Nathan Miller’s latest documentary ‘Northside’ attests to, so no surprises that the latest act to break from the 6 are not holding back. 88GLAM’s debut single boasts a string of effortless, late-night-drive style bars – “I’m just balling with my chick eh, drive through Collins with my chick eh” – while melancholic melodies float over a bed of snappy snares and punchy 808s.

Directed by Dan LeMoyne, the retro cinematic visuals features 88GLAM on a journey through the night, one shot set in a dark room as a game of poker unfolds; and another posted outside the corner store while Camino braves the bright lights of a pharmacy in search of more narcotics. The green-tinted, murky colours cast an eerie vibe over the two rappers while many of their XO affiliates alongside The Weeknd also join the party.

Both artists have been releasing music individually over the past few years; ’12’ was produced by AlexOnWeed, the mastermind behind Camino’s renowned ‘You’re Not My Mans’ – already a certified club banger in Toronto; and Wise first attracted the attention of XO Records in early 2014, later appearing in The Weeknd’s ‘King of the Fall’ music video which now sits on over 50.5 million views.

Featuring homegrown production from Canadian cohorts Murda Beatz, WondaGurl, and AlexOnWeed – and only one handpicked feature from XO’s own Nav – the duo have been teasing fans with their self-titled collaborative project since the summer and look set to unleash their new body of work on November 7th.

The combined force of these two artists will no doubt bring a fresh concoction of sounds to the table. Watch the video for ’12’ below: