Rap had an immediate influence on this individual
who discovered it in the early eighties. "Having a brother
that was a lot older than me (me being 7,8,9,years old) gave me
a chance to hear music that I wouldn’t normally get a chance to
hear."
“I wasn't old enough to hear them in the clubs at the time, but my
bro used to bang those in the crib and that definately started the
influence".
"Temus" (per-nounced tee-muss) whose real
name is James Mitchell had many different musical influences while
growing up, but began writing lyrics around 1987-88). (In the early
90's Temus met DJ Shaman at 100 miles downtown who used to DJ house
parties and clubs in East Scarborough and downtown areas . At any
jam he was spinning at you would catch Temus on the mic. "I
used to see cats like Big Sauks, Spade from Citizen Cane, Grimm Luv,Motion
and Mathematiks all at these parties from time to time, even touching
the same mic and it was all love.”
In 1993 Temus recorded his first track in Shaman's basement with
3 other friends and through 1995, Temus managed to record a few more
songs with friends from the area just to have fun with and practice.
However, when 1996 came around, while attending
Seneca college Newnham campus Temus met Christopher "Alleyne" Rudder. "We
met through a mutual friend and we clicked after realizing that we
seen each other before." Alleyne & Temus were cool but they
didn't end up linking up untill they ran into each other a couple
more times at school and started talkin'. "Once we knew we were
on the same page we linked up. Little did I know that this would
change my life once again".
As Alleyne & Temus started working, Temus
met Alleyne’s friends Kevlaar and Snagg as well as other members
of what would later become the BlackSunz. The group’s first and
only album was called “Eklyptic Cypha” (1997) and was produced
by Kevlaar and Alleyne. It went on to sell a few hundred copies
locally. Despite the slow but progressive success, most of the
BlackSunz members were still taken the bus instead of pushing a
Benzie or a Beamer so they moved on.
Kevlaar, Snagg (then Sherrkaan), Shifty Karma (the Esteem),
7 (then Krayzee), Alleyne and Temus went on to form S.I.N. (Strength
In Numbers) which they would be guest on each others projects.
Together with Temus, Alleyne & Temus would later
go on to record four albums; “Alleyne & Temus” (1997), “Dying
To Survive” (1999), “Off The Record” (2000) and “Da B-Sidez” (2004)
During that time Temus recorded "Blocking out the Enemy" with
producer friend Phylline as well as "Megacity 2000","Excellence" and "Nine
in you" with Snagg and Kevlaar. These were all underground bangers. "Exellence" & "9
in you" appeared on mixed tapes.
In 2003 Alleyne’s career came to a sudden halt due
to the diagnose and untimely death of his beloved step daughter who
passed away from brain cancer in 2005. While Alleyne was dealing
with that Temus worked with Shifty Karma on Shifty's solo the "Standing
Ovation EP". In 2004 Temus went on to record his first ever
solo, self titled EP co-produced by Kibwe Luke.
In 2006 he re-united with Alleyne for Alleyne’s solo project Everything’s
Eventual (2006) and in 2007 Alleyne & Temus dropped “Collide”
The newest CD by aLLeYNe & tEMuS is the
long awaited 2009 release of “Push”
“...push for something better, push for brighter days and sunny weather,
yo we in this together."
This CD is probably one of the greatest works ever recorded by aLLeYNe & tEMuS.
Mature, confident, aggressive and calm, smooth and bouncy all over
jazz and soul over-tones proven to be the real bases of who they
are. it features a new level of production by aLLeYNe with guests
such as Toronto's Trane Studio performance greats (flautist) Jef
Kearns & SoJay. It reunites guests from previous albums such
as Kaysun, Snagg (Sherrkaan), Shifty Karma (Esteem), 7 (Krayzee,
7th Seale), 8.0.1.7.3.5. and Spoken Word talent Andrew Rudder. One
of the most exciting upgrades is introduction of a new free-lance
DJ, D.J. R-Double.