Northern Touch - Creation and Impact

Creation and Impact

Rascalz, who had recorded their first album in 1993, survived the 1990s by learning the business aspects of the music industry, operating their own independent label as well as touring and performing. Following their 1997 album Cash Crop, they wrote "Northern Touch" as a sort of anthem for Canadian hip hop's resilience and determination, inviting several other guest musicians to perform on the track. The song was also originally scheduled to include k-os and Jully Black, who cancelled due to other commitments.

The song was subsequently released as a single, and garnered radio airplay throughout North America, becoming Canadian hip hop's first hit song since 1991. Although the song just barely missed the national Top 40 charts, peaking at #41 in RPM, it reached the Top 10 in most major markets, and was the first Canadian hip hop song to reach the Top 100 at all, and the first to garner widespread radio airplay both in Canada and internationally, since Dream Warriors' "My Definition of a Boombastic Jazz Style" in 1991.

It was not on the original pressings of Cash Crop, but was quickly added to follow up pressings of the album, due to its popularity.

Cash Crop won the Juno Award for Best Rap Recording in 1998, but Rascalz refused the award because it was presented in the non-televised portion of the ceremony along with the technical awards. The award was moved to the main ceremony in 1999. Rascalz won the award again, this time for "Northern Touch" itself, and performed the song live at the ceremony.