Changes coming for rapper Classified

By Ryan Ross

Sitting at a table, wearing a Pittsburgh Pirates cap and with his winter coat still on after a van ride from Halifax, Luke Boyd is at ease before a Valentine’s Day show at The Wave.
The Enfield, N.S., based rapper known as Classified looks over a laminated menu while members of his crew set up for the night’s performance.
On stage, someone brings in a pair of drums and taps out a beat while DJ IV sets up his turntables on a long banquet table.
The show doesn’t start for a few hours and Boyd just learned the room holds over 1,000 people instead of the 200 he was told when he signed the contract to perform.
He shrugs it off.
“As long as the people here are having a good time we usually have a good time.”
It’s the first time Boyd has played at The Wave. He says he has performed in Charlottetown before, although it has been a while.
“It’s cool to come back.”
The show is in support of his newest CD, While You Were Sleeping, which he produced himself and released on his own label, Halflife Records.
The album has a few new songs but is mostly older material that shows what he used to do, he says.
“This is what I was working on while you weren’t paying attention.”
Although the music might be old, Boyd does have something new to celebrate. A few weeks ago, while he was on tour, he found out his wife is pregnant.
“I’m sure it’s just gonna add to the experience.”
He doesn’t expect it to affect his career, though it doesn’t take much to go down to his studio and make music.
He will still have to keep on top of what he’s doing.
“This is my job.”
A growing part of that job is producing for artists like Jordan Croucher, Chad Hatcher and his own brother, Mic Boyd.
He says the brothers have always done music together.
“When the thing got done it got done.”
Later, while they sat on the edge of the stage waiting for their food, Mic said he always toured with his brother and hasn’t done any shows on his own.
“A lot better way of getting fans than going by yourself.”
Back at the table, Luke said it’s cool to work as a producer and let other people stress about everything else.
“I don’t want to be a rapper when I’m 56 years old.”