Sir Louie’s influences are eclectic and genre-spanning. From Bob Marley to Kanye West to Erykah Badu and Rage Against the Machine, his admiration for artists who push the envelope is reflected in his fresh take on hip hop.
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It’s taken little more than two short years for Canadian rapper Tyrus Facey, aka Sir Louie, to start making some serious waves on the local and international music scenes. Already recognized for his authenticity, gritty delivery and unique energy, the prolific Winnipeg native has been dropping singles on the regular (three new tracks coming in November alone), with each release exceeding expectations set by the last. Tracks like “Go Dumb” and the Toksik collab “Mess” have seen Sir Louie’s popularity explode as quickly as his fanbase in 2020.
Sir Louie’s fresh take on hip hop draws inspiration from a wide range of influences and genres. From Bob Marley to Jamiroquai to Kanye West and Rage Against the Machine, the artists he cites as early influences are known for bending the rules. “Any artist who was passionately pushing the envelope. Hearing the incredible music they made that was so different from their peers really resonated with me,” Tyrus told RAC. “Nowadays, I’ve added other influences to that list: Childish Gambino, Erykah Badu, James Brown, J. Cole, Led Zeppelin, Kendrick Lamar – But the things I loved about my early influences are present in my new ones.” He’s quick to mention, however, “The music I listen to now doesn’t necessarily reflect in the sonic choices of my work, but in the risks I take. In every song I make, I do my best to be more real, more raw, more open emotionally. My favourite artists do this with ease.”
As a creator, Sir Louie makes his objectives clear: “To spread power and love through every song, every performance, every interview, every person I interact with. Period.” That he prefers conveying that message to a live audience should come as no surprise. “Being on stage opens up a door in my heart that allows me to fully live in the moment. It is one of the only places I feel 100% okay being myself. I can barely put it into words. I feel powerful. When I create music, I always keep in mind how the song will translate to a live setting. Hip hop today has gotten a bad rep for providing lacklustre live performances. I’m changing the narrative.”
Despite his early success, Sir Louie is quick to give props to the people who have lent their expertise along the way. “I’ve had so many people help me on this journey. A few people who I have to recognize are, first and foremost, my parents for raising me right; my cousin, Len Bowen, for being a pioneer on the Winnipeg music scene; Fresh IE for mentoring me on the business side of music; and finally, Dj Foreign and the whole 4Reign World crew back home for putting their faith in me and always having my back.”
Tyrus “Sir Louie” Facey is part of RAC’s fall 2020 cohort. Considering his already significant talent as a rapper and audio engineer, we asked him what led him to his choosing RAC for his production training and where he envisioned his career in the short and long term. “When I decided I was pursuing music full-time, I knew I needed to take my skills in production to a professional level. After researching all the audio engineering colleges I could find across Canada, RAC seemed like the natural choice. Six months from now, I see myself still loving school, creating better music than I am now, and connecting with even more people. Six years from now? World Domination.”
