The Disarming Persona of More or Les

More Or Les has a wry sense of detachment in the way he promotes himself.

He is quick to acknowledge a populist stance on hip-hop as a listener (he cited years, not artists when asked about his musical influences).

He is also not the slightest bit reluctant to suggest that he has the same likes and dislikes of most kids growing-up in Meadowvale (a neighborhood in Scarborough) in the late eighties and early nineties.

He is down-to-earth, and hints at some sophistication when he talks about the intricacies of influence in hip-hop (at one point talking about the specific contributions of Chuck D post-1998). More Or Les seems determined to strike a balance as an artist. Another way of stating this is that More Or Les is reluctant to take risks as an artist.

On The Les-Kils EP specifically, the third album by More Or Les, the traits listed above manifest as a cautious reverence to how music and life intersect, by way of a few anecdotes and examples, including extended self-reference. So is “The Les-Kils EP” autobiographical?
To call it anything other than what it is - songs about rap, brunch and DJs - would probably be a mistake. Just listening to More Or Les trying to sell self-branded t-shirts on stage at his album release party, one can tell the emcee doesn’t like to make a big deal of himself.

A lack of ego probably helps account for a history of strong collaborations. The first was with two Scarborough locals in a group called Black In Effect, formed at a community center. In late 2004 More Or Les released an album produced by Gene King, a Black In Effect member. A spot on the grassroots tour called Perpetual Motion followed. By mid-2005 More Or Les was performing with the Herbalizer, a British emcee, at a concert in France attended by thousands. Early 2006 marked the release of a second album.

More Or Les is no stranger to self-promotion as his track record evidences. But when he has to speak about himself directly on stage without music, a tone of ironic detachment is most apparent (”I need Shopping Channel music while I do this”), and the whole venture seems like a parody of itself. Something - natural modesty perhaps (More Or Les hid his first rhymes under his mattress) - asserted itself and arrested any desire to form a thoughtful opinion of what can be seen and heard.

If nothing else, it’s a persona that disarms easy criticism.

- Adam Collier

Hardbossin’ Facts

Where is your favorite place to eat in Toronto?
The Salad King for pure unadulterated fantastical dining, and Fresh for everything in between.
And several brunch places for sho’.

Where have you found the women most beautiful?
In comic books, ’cause they fly, punch through walls and rarely break a sweat.

What is your favourite beer?
Currently Sapporo, usually Corona.