The Ruler’s Back|D-Sisive: A Live Review…By Derek Christoff

**to be published in Rolling Stone Magazine**

Outside, the sun was shining, but a storm was brewing inside of the venue. A venue that was surrounded by screaming fans, some that have been lined up as early as 5am, desperate to get a spot in front of the stage. It was a homecoming for a king. D-Sisive may have lost the Juno Award for Best Rap Recording a week prior in Ottawa, but tonight he was triumphant. A winner in the hearts of his supporters. 

The venue doors were unlocked and opened to a stampede, causing security to dive for safety. The raging fans meant no harm. They just wanted to be near their hero. And soon they would be.

DJ Techtwelve warmed the audience up with a mixture of mainstream and classic Hip-Hop anthems. Heads nodded to the pounding drums, but the music could not match the volume of the chanting. “D-Sisive…D-Sisive…” Chanting that began as the first spectator arrived at the foot of the stage and got stronger by the minute, as the venue reached it’s capacity. Two fans, unconscious due to heat and dehydration, were rushed to a local hospital before D stepped foot on the stage.

The lights went out. The screaming was deafening. The earplugs I purchased that morning were useless. This was not your average show. This was an experience. One this crowd will never forget.

All it took was four Techtwelve, metronome-like scratches and the opening strings of the Jonestown 2 classic/Muneshine produced, IF, to send the crowd into a frenzy. Lights exploded just before the opening line. D-Sisive was on stage clad in a black vest and his signature toque, standing behind the mic stand ready to slay this sweaty audience. The crowd recited every word at a volume practically drowning out D-Sisive’s vocals. The slight smirk on D’s face revealed his comfort. He was at home with his family. There was no other place in the world he would rather be, and the thousands of fans in front of him felt the same. Sadly, he would soon be removed from his comfort zone.

“I would have won the fucking Juno I deserved…Oops!”

It was the line that ended the night. The crowd couldn’t contain themselves as they rushed the stage. D-Sisive’s tour manager, Kyle Lundie, and security raced towards D and got to him before the crowd could. This was Hip-Hop’s Bieber Fever. A Morrissey concert ended early. The police waiting outside to escort him to his hotel after the show now had a new and unexpected job to do. They stormed inside the venue, gaining order. D-Sisive and Techtwelve were carried out of the venue, pushed into a waiting SUV that forced it’s way through the crowd. Fans were slamming their hands on the windows of the vehicle while D-Sisive waved to them on the the other side. It was Beatlemania.

We’ve reached out to D-Sisive’s publicist for comments on the circus, but calls have not been returned.

We were able to capture a few moments of the short set posted below.

PSYCHE!