At some point, hopefully sooner than later, it will no longer be noteworthy to come across talented female emcees. That’s not to say I’m surprised when I do, but more to say that I am very aware of the lack of women on our Top Ten of 2011. And while I’ve grown to enjoy a lot of Canadian hip hop, my biggest concern to this point has been that for all the talented men rapping and producing that I have come across, the only woman on the scene that I knew of was Eternia. Much to my delight, I recently learned that Eternia did a track with another female Canadian emcee by the name of Kool Krys. As it turns out, this talented woman released a new album in December, and it’s a good one. Listen To Your Art is a fun and bold record that demands more room for female voices in Canadian hip hop.

Working with producer Bix and engineer Fresh Kils, Krys packs a lot into a short release. After a short intro, things kick off with the aptly titled “Show Stopper,” a song that bursts with energy built off huge Bo Diddley bass drum hits and blaring horns, while Krys lays down the new fashion of “Pearls and headbands, chains and glasses.” If you don’t feel the urge to dance, you might want to check your pulse. From there we move into the Girl Group inspired “Let Me Play It,” a great love letter to hip hop. Things get more intimate on “If You Want,” a slower track built on a mellow saxophone sample playing against a piano sample, all over some gently brushed hi hat and snare. This provides a beautiful backdrop as Krys discusses hopes and dreams with her partner. “Nails in Transit” is easily my favorite song about getting your nails done, with a funky beat that demands to be pumped in your car stereo. “The Voice” is a touching song built with flutes and strings over a simple drum beat that give way to Krys’ lyrics about the power of music to change someone’s life. “It’s Sunny,” with Saidah Conrad, is a funky track with beautiful jazz piano and the soulful refrain sung by Conrad recalls some of the best early ‘90s NYC hip hop. It’s a dark tale of a car crash, drunk driving, and the divergent paths that her and a former acquaintance have traveled since then. Things finish off strong with the Latin jazz of “Timeout,” which has Krys at her most confident as she stakes her claim in hip hop, without losing perspective or compromising her voice in the process.

My biggest complaint about Listen To Your Art is that it’s not nearly long enough. Every time I get to the end, I’m half-shocked that it’s already over, since I was so into it. It’s a great combination of absolutely bangin’ funky tracks that will get everyone dancing and introspective songs that let you know Krys on a more personal level. Leading the way through the album is the confident and deliberate delivery of Krys on the mic. It’s nice to see more women shake things up and offer up a different perspective, but even more so, it’s great to hear fun hip hop produced by talented artists. Hopefully we won’t have to wait too long for a follow up to Listen To Your Art, because I’m hooked.