Hip-hop, a resilient art form that emerged from life’s struggles, has undergone a remarkable journey in the last 50 years. From its humble beginnings in the Bronx in 1973, it has evolved into a global movement, embodying grit, determination, and a defiance to remain relevant. However, in Canada, despite being the birthplace of exceptional talents like Drake, PARTYNEXTDOOR, and Nav, the genre grapples with a struggle for mainstream recognition.
Mark V. Campbell, a DJ, scholar, and participant in the University of Toronto’s Hip-Hop Diaspora, sheds light on the persistent challenges faced by Canadian hip-hop. He notes that the industry’s reluctance to embrace hip-hop is a question that echoes back to 1984. Even in 1983, lobbying for a Juno Awards category for Black music resulted in a Calypso-slash-reggae category, excluding funk and entirely neglecting hip-hop.
The Junos introduced a rap music category only in 1991, acknowledging the genre’s success with artists like Maestro Fresh-Wes, Main Source, and Dream Warriors gaining global recognition. However, the subsequent decade saw a decline in Canadian hip-hop’s visibility, with zero hits on the Canadian Top 100 Pop Charts.
In 1998, the Rascalz, with their anthemic single “Northern Touch,” reignited Canadian hip-hop. Despite winning Best Rap Recording at the Junos for their album “Cash Crop,” they were relegated to a backstage press room during a non-televised portion of the ceremony. This incident, according to Campbell, marked a watershed moment, highlighting the lack of infrastructural support for hip-hop in Canada.
Campbell emphasizes that the consistent struggle for attention with American media industries and the perception that the audience for hip-hop is limited to Black communities in Canada have hindered the genre’s growth. He points out that Canada’s large size and sparse population make it challenging to compete for attention, reinforcing the argument that the market for Black music is limited.
The solution, according to Campbell, lies in the internet, which has become the catalyst for the global future of Canadian hip-hop. The internet provides a platform for artists to reach beyond national borders, connecting with audiences worldwide. The future of Canadian hip-hop is not limited to Canada; it’s a global phenomenon, breaking free from historical constraints.
In celebrating hip-hop’s 50th anniversary, the University of Toronto’s Hip-Hop Diaspora, curated by Campbell, plays a crucial role in exploring and expanding the genre’s knowledge production practices beyond the U.S. This symposium series, featuring scholars, practitioners, and community organizers, aims to understand the challenges and opportunities in global hip-hop culture.
Pablo D. Herrera Veitia, a post-doctoral fellow and Afro-Cuban rap producer participating in the Hip-Hop Diaspora, emphasizes the importance of gaining access to resources, technology, and sound libraries. Canadian hip-hop, despite limited resources, has become influential globally. Artists like Sol Guy, Khemo, and Nomadic Massive have contributed to the global hip-hop scene through collaborations and technology.
Campbell concludes that the future of hip-hop in Canada is not confined within its borders. The focus on the diaspora is intentional, acknowledging that hip-hop is a global phenomenon. Canadian artists are finding success worldwide, from Havana to London, from Toronto to Stockholm. The future of Canadian hip-hop is an expansive, borderless narrative, reaching audiences in Switzerland, Italy, Kenya, and beyond. The journey continues, breaking free from geographical constraints, guided by a vision that transcends national boundaries.
TORONTO – Unifor says workers at a Walmart warehouse in Mississauga, Ont., have voted to join the union.
The union says it’s Walmart’s first warehouse to unionize in Canada.
Unifor national president Lana Payne says the employees stood up for their rights and the union is excited to get to work on their first collective agreement.
Unifor’s campaign at Walmart’s facility began in December 2023.
The vote was held from Sept. 10 to 12.
Unifor represents 315,000 workers across the country.
This report by The Canadian Press was first published Sept. 13, 2024.
The Canadian government says it will donate up to 200,000 vaccine doses to fight the mpox outbreak in Congo and other African countries.
It says the donated doses of Imvamune will come from Canada’s existing supply and will not affect the country’s preparedness for mpox cases in this country.
Minister of Health Mark Holland says the donation “will help to protect those in the most affected regions of Africa and will help prevent further spread of the virus.”
Dr. Madhukar Pai, Canada research chair in epidemiology and global health, says although the donation is welcome, it is a very small portion of the estimated 10 million vaccine doses needed to control the outbreak.
Vaccine donations from wealthier countries have only recently started arriving in Africa, almost a month after the World Health Organization declared the mpox outbreak a public health emergency of international concern.
A few days after the declaration in August, Global Affairs Canada announced a contribution of $1 million for mpox surveillance, diagnostic tools, research and community awareness in Africa.
On Thursday, the Africa Centres for Disease Control and Prevention said mpox is still on the rise and that testing rates are “insufficient” across the continent.
Jason Kindrachuk, Canada research chair in emerging viruses at the University of Manitoba, said donating vaccines, in addition to supporting surveillance and diagnostic tests, is “massively important.”
But Kindrachuk, who has worked on the ground in Congo during the epidemic, also said that the international response to the mpox outbreak is “better late than never (but) better never late.”
“It would have been fantastic for us globally to not be in this position by having provided doses a much, much longer time prior than when we are,” he said, noting that the outbreak of clade I mpox in Congo started in early 2023.
Clade II mpox, endemic in regions of West Africa, came to the world’s attention even earlier — in 2022 — as that strain of virus spread to other countries, including Canada.
Two doses are recommended for mpox vaccination, so the donation may only benefit 100,000 people, Pai said.
Pai questioned whether Canada is contributing enough, as the federal government hasn’t said what percentage of its mpox vaccine stockpile it is donating.
“Small donations are simply not going to help end this crisis. We need to show greater solidarity and support,” he said in an email.
“That is the biggest lesson from the COVID-19 pandemic — our collective safety is tied with that of other nations.”
This report by The Canadian Press was first published Sept. 13, 2024.
Canadian Press health coverage receives support through a partnership with the Canadian Medical Association. CP is solely responsible for this content.
MONTREAL – A 20-year-old man arrested over an alleged Islamic State terror plot to kill Jews in New York City will return to court in December in Montreal.
Muhammad Shahzeb Khan, a Pakistani national living in Ontario, was arrested last week in Ormstown, Que., allegedly on his way across the border into New York state.
Khan has been charged in the United States with one count of attempting to provide material support and resources to a terrorist organization, and officials are seeking to have him extradited to stand trial.
He was not present for a hearing today in Quebec Superior Court, where lawyers said they are waiting for extradition documents and for authorization from Canadian officials before proceeding in the case, which will return before a judge on Dec. 6.
U.S. authorities allege that Khan, also known as Shahzeb Jadoon, intended to use “automatic and semi-automatic weapons” in a mass shooting at a Jewish centre in Brooklyn around Oct. 7, the one-year anniversary of the Hamas attack on Israel.
Authorities allege he began planning his attack in November 2023.
Earlier this week, federal Immigration Minister Marc Miller said Khan arrived in Canada in June 2023 on a student visa.
This report by The Canadian Press was first published Sept. 13, 2024.
