Acrpost: A Project of the Pacific Association of Artist Run Centres

Event Description

Sweatshop Union are getting ready to release their highly anticipated third album ‘United We Fall’ on Battleaxe/EMI Records, April 26th, 2005. ‘United We Fall’ will hit the masses leading off with the single and video for ‘Broken Record’. ‘United We Fall’ is classic Sweatshop Union material, combining the energy of raw hip hop, with conscious lyrics and the driving force of highly musical beats.

Sweatshop Union have been working hard over the past three years leaving a lasting impression behind wherever they go. Their debut album ‘Local 604’ was released on Battle Axe Records in 2002. The album would go on to produce three videos for the singles ‘The Truth We Speak’ ‘Humans Race’ and ‘Up From The Ground’ all of which would be rotated on Much Music as well as garner a nomination at the 2003 Much Music Video Awards. Sweatshop Union capitalized on the video exposure by hitting the road with the likes of label mates Swollen Members and Abstract Rude, as well as other heavy hitters Jurassic 5 and Blackalicious. This would be the beginning of a relentless touring schedule that would begin to solidify their growing fan base.

Sweatshop Union went back into the studio in late 2003 and produced their critically acclaimed Juno nominated sophomore album ‘Natural Progression’ which was released in February of 2004. Once again Sweatshop Union hit the road to promote their new album. Solo dates across Canada led to a tour supporting Black Eyed Peas. Meanwhile, the first single from ‘Natural Progression’, “The Thing About It”, was quickly nominated for Best Independent Video at the 2004 Much Music Video Awards. The second single off of ‘Natural Progression’, “Better Days” featuring Moka Only, led to national radio airplay at CHR and Urban Radio, as well as charting on Much Music, Much Vide and MTV Canada’s countdowns. ‘Natural Progression’ went on to spend three months at #1 on the national college radio hip hop charts, The success of the singles as well as the third single and video for ‘Don’t Be Afraid’ would lead to three Western Canadian Music Awards Nominations, two Independent Canadian Music Awards nods and a Canadian Radio Music Awards nomination.

Sweatshop Union would enjoy the success of ‘Natural Progression’ from the road, spending the better part of 2004 and early 2005 on tour with dates in both Canada and the U.S. They went on to spend their downtime in between show dates in the studio recording the material for ‘United We Fall’ including collaborations with Rob The Viking (Swollen Members), Mad Child (Swollen Members) and Dj Revolution (The World Famous Wake Up Show).

In a time when hip hop music, in the eyes of the mainstream, remains soulless and simplistic, Sweatshop Union will remain driven to deliver a stronger, deeper, more meaningful sound that is clawing its way into the conscience of the masses.