{{Short description|Canadian hip hop artist}} {{For|the author writing as Cate Sampson|Catherine Sampson}} {{lead too short|date=January 2012 <!-- why does Cale Sampson deserve an article? WP:BAND -->}} {{Infobox musical artist | name = Cale Sampson | image = | caption = | image_size = | birth_date = {{birth date and age|1979|1|11}} | birth_place = Toronto, Ontario, Canada | genre = Canadian hip hop, Rap | occupation = Emcee, songwriter | years_active = 2002–present | label = Heads Connect Ent | website = {{URL|http://www.CaleSampson.com}} }}

'''Cale Sampson''' (born January 11{{when|date=January 2012}} in Toronto, Ontario, Canada) is a Canadian hip hop artist.

==Biography== Sampson first emerged in the early 2000s as a member of the group Rhythmicru, who released several independent albums which were popular in the Toronto hip hop scene.<ref>{{cite web |author= |url=http://www.metronews.ca/toronto/scene/article/15680--beats-from-the-street |archive-url=https://archive.today/20120804160927/http://www.metronews.ca/toronto/scene/article/15680--beats-from-the-street |url-status=dead |archive-date=2012-08-04 |title=Beats from the street &#124; Metro |publisher=Metronews.ca |date=2007-10-11 |accessdate=2013-11-05 }}</ref> Their biggest hit was a song called "The Facts of War" about George Bush and the war in Iraq. It also appears as a track on Sampson's self-titled debut.<ref>{{cite web |last=Towie |first=Brian |url=http://www.metronews.ca/toronto/scene/article/164234--double-trouble |archive-url=https://archive.today/20120804230543/http://www.metronews.ca/toronto/scene/article/164234--double-trouble |url-status=dead |archive-date=2012-08-04 |title=Double trouble &#124; Metro |publisher=Metronews.ca |date=2009-01-08 |accessdate=2013-11-05 }}</ref>

After Rhythmicru split up, Sampson started a solo career.<ref>{{cite web |last=Dart |first=Chris |url=http://exclaim.ca/musicreviews/generalreview.aspx?csid2=865&fid1=39375&csid1=135 |archive-url=https://archive.today/20120713201220/http://exclaim.ca/musicreviews/generalreview.aspx?csid2=865&fid1=39375&csid1=135 |url-status=dead |archive-date=2012-07-13 |title=Cale Sampson - Cale Sampson • Hip-Hop Reviews • |publisher=Exclaim.ca |accessdate=2013-11-05 }}</ref> He then joined forces with some of Canada's most prominent hip hop producers, including Classified and DJ Kemo of The Rascalz and opened for such acts as Guru from Gang Starr, Maestro Fresh-Wes, The Hilltop Hoods, Eyedea & Abilities, and Scratch from The Roots.<ref>{{cite web|last=Stewart |first=Addi |url=http://www.nowtoronto.com/music/discs.cfm?content=166457 |title=Cale Sampson &#124; NOW Magazine |publisher=Nowtoronto.com |date= |accessdate=2013-11-05}}</ref> He has also performed on the Van's Warped Tour, as well as at NXNE.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.citytv.com/toronto/citynews/entertainment/local/article/11619--rapper-next-door-toronto-s-cale-sampson-is-living-the-dream |title=Rapper Next Door: Toronto's Cale Sampson Is Living The Dream &#124; CityNews |publisher=Citytv.com |date=2009-07-02 |accessdate=2013-11-05 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20121001163609/http://www.citytv.com/toronto/citynews/entertainment/local/article/11619--rapper-next-door-toronto-s-cale-sampson-is-living-the-dream |archive-date=2012-10-01 |url-status=dead }}</ref> Sampson released his first full-length album, ''Cale Sampson'' in 2009 and his second album ''The Big Picture'' in 2013.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://pinkmafia.ca/blog/2010/07/08/cale-announces-new-project-with-d-ray/ |title=Cale Announces New Project with D-Ray |publisher=Pinkmafia.ca |date=2010-07-08 |accessdate=2013-11-05 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20131105170806/http://pinkmafia.ca/blog/2010/07/08/cale-announces-new-project-with-d-ray/ |archive-date=2013-11-05 |url-status=dead }}</ref>

===Critical acclaim=== Sampson's debut solo album, ''Cale Sampson'' received highly positive reviews from the critics and peaked on both the Earshot and ChartAttack charts as the #3 most played hip hop album on Canadian college radio.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.earshot-online.com/charts/index.cfm?intChartTypeID=103 |title=!earshot : charts : latest Hip Hop chart |publisher=Earshot-online.com |date=2013-10-29 |accessdate=2013-11-05}}</ref> In 2009, Cale Sampson was also named "Best Songwriter of the Year" by ''Now Magazine'' for their annual "Best of T.O." edition.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.umm.ca/articles/article.php?article_id=1422&sid=a8ef77a2152562bd33ff6e512b11e145 |title=UMM.COM - Urban Male Magazine |publisher=Umm.ca |date= |accessdate=2013-11-05}}</ref>

Sampson's second album, ''The Big Picture'' which focused primarily on global issues such as war, technology and economics, was also very well received. Writing for The Caper Times in September 2013, George Pink responded positively to the album stating that "the lyrics are nothing short of spectacular" and calling ''The Big Picture'' "a very brave, bold and fantastically written hip hop album. It is a gift to the ears as well as the mind".<ref>{{cite web|url=https://issuu.com/capertimes/docs/2013-09_caper_times_sept._16 |title=Pink, George (2013-09-15). "Cale Sampson's The Big Picture Album Review|publisher=Issuu.com|date=2013-09-15}}</ref>

===Work outside of music=== In his youth, Sampson had a small acting role opposite Vince Vaughn in the feature film ''A Cool, Dry Place''. He had no acting experience prior to taking this role. Sampson tried out as an extra after being handed a flyer in his school. Despite his lack of previous experience, he was given the role of a high school basketball player named "Peter".<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.imdb.com/name/nm0760155/|title=Cale Sampson|publisher=IMDb.com|accessdate=2013-11-05}}</ref>

==Discography== * ''Cale Sampson'' – 2009 * ''The Big Picture'' – 2013

==References== {{Reflist}}

==External links== * [http://www.CaleSampson.com Cale Sampson Official Website ] * [https://archive.today/20130419041511/http://www.aux.tv/video/Cale-Sampson-Hip-Hop-Artist-ExploreMusic-Extra/ AUX TV - Interview with Alan Cross] * [http://watch.muchmusic.com/clip239819#clip239819 MuchMusic – Music Video for “Never Had A Choice”]{{Dead link|date=October 2019 |bot=InternetArchiveBot |fix-attempted=yes }}

{{Authority control}}

{{DEFAULTSORT:Sampson, Cale}} Category:Living people Category:Canadian male rappers Category:21st-century Canadian rappers Category:Singers from Toronto Category:21st-century Canadian male musicians Category:1979 births