RIP Matt “Dutch” Garner

I never met Dutch but I’ve surely met his work where hip hop shows in Montreal is concerned.

My tone is writing about hip hop is disgruntled, jaded and grumpy old man sometimes but when I’m at the show, I’m the guy yelling the lyrics out louder than you. 

That’s how I was at the Ghostface Killah show last year.

The young man responsible for my Ghostface Killah memories is the same young man Montreal mourns now. 

As much as I sound like I hate hip hop, I love it and probably always will.  Dutch loved and lived hip hop so much that he made it possible for a guy like me to pick & choose if/when I would go to see a hip hop artist perform in my hometown. 

News of his death nearly stopped me from going to the Ghostface Killah show that night, compounding my fears the show would not happen at all. 

Just as I overcame the setbacks to attend the show, Dutch faced his own in his quests to bring artists to Montreal. 

After the little experience I have in organizing a concert and what I saw from that documentary about Wu-Tang Clan reuniting for a show, I have respect for promoters.  It takes skills to successfully plan, organize and get a venue filled with people to see a hip hop concert.  It also takes a network of people to assist in making the vision come to fruition.  Dutch had his EscapeMTL colleagues to help him make many a show happen in Montreal.  Dutch had skills and has my respect forever.

I extend my condolences to Dutch’s family and EscapeMTL.

Rest in Peace Dutch.