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He goes by the name of Byram Joseph aka Slakah the Beatchild and he’s a “performance producer” from Canada whose interests include "making timeless music." He is influenced by the late great
J.Dilla, often likened to such veterans as
Raphael Saadiq,
Pete Rock and
Dwele and has worked with the best of the best of Canada's popular artists from
Drake to
Justin Nozuka to
Glenn Lewis to
Melanie Durrant.
But what is a “performance producer” anyway? A term in which the artist, producer and multi-instrumentalist believes he invented is representative of the likes of the Pharrells and the will.i.ams and according to the Beatchild, “they are first and foremost producers in my opinion but they are also performers as well and they really excel in producing and I think I excel in producing and making beats and what not but I perform my craft as well.”
Say what you want about Canadian Hip Hop, but what often emerges from the north is a credible, mature sound which captivates even the most hardened American Hip Hopper. Whereas acts like K-OS, Slakah the Beatchild and Kardinall Offishial have remained consistent, the likes of Drake and K-NAAN have rapidly become internationally recognised performers. Acclaimed rapper and an established name within the scene, Miles Jones, drops his much anticipated second album, Runaway Jones, for the rest of the world to embrace as its much earlier release in Canada has already won many fans over.
It's been a long journey to The Bridge for Canadian songstress Melanie Fiona, one that's taken her across the world. I ask how London matches up to all of the cities she's visited while virtually living out of her suitcase. “I love it! If I could live and work here I would.” ...Over her hometown Toronto? “Well, I can't live AND work in Toronto...” she responds, addressing something I was preparing to discuss later in the interview; Canada's sparse black music scene. While Toronto has a plethora of diverse urban talent, the opportunities for them to penetrate the mainstream Canadian music industry is almost non-existent. 
“I’m of the opinion - especially in this day and age - that having a record in the marketplace doesn’t mean anything if the right pieces aren’t in place.” - the unsung hero increasingly known as Colin Munroe tells SoulCulture.