Editor's Note: Here's Why We Need to Focus on Toronto's Rap Scene

As someone who has lived in Toronto (MALVERN!… and Pickering affiliate) all their natural life, it’s a bit odd to reckon with the fact that Toronto hip-hop—and more so its identity—has become so present in pop culture. Where in previous decades it was largely accepted that we’d crib our influences from across the border, we now take full ownership of the music that comes from the city. And while a particularly Canadian inferiority complex still exists, and we still certainly look to the US for co-signs and larger mainstream success, we’ve also grown by leaps and bounds. Getting a name drop in a Mary J. Blige or Ludacris song is not a game-changer anymore; if anything it feels like to be an artist of worth nowadays you have to mention travelling through “the 6” and to our more popular landmarks. More interesting is that all of this is still a relatively new feeling. We haven’t yet, for those who remember, been able to feel comfortable or take this feeling for granted.

While Toronto has a long history filled with talented acts like Kardinal Offishall, Choclair, Michie Mee, and more who’ve pushed us closer and closer to commercial dominance, our true breakthrough is, of course, courtesy of music giant Drake. There’s no need to delve further into Drake’s story as it—as well as The Weeknd’s—has been chronicled by everyone, including us, ad nauseum. But not nearly as much has been said about the new generation of artists making a name for themselves here right now. Noisey's new documentary 6IX RISING then aims to change that by training a lens on this developing musical legacy. Following Big Lean from North York’s Parma Court, Jazz Cartier and CMDWN from the downtown core, the Prime Boys of the lakefront Esplanade, and Pressa and Friyie from Jane and Finch in the city’s west end, RISING strings together the personalities and sounds that will continue to push Toronto’s ascent in hip-hop.

The doc is also populated with small moments that Toronto locals will understand intimately: from the guy who has always a vice grip on the Henny bottle ‘til the very last drop; the unisex designation of “manz” in conversation; and the automatic rage when someone exposes our “govy.” It’s something that’s been captured before, and captured very well, but not with the sole focus of what’s going on currently. It’s a snapshot, if you will, of a scene in mid-explosion.

However, a snapshot is a snapshot, and despite RISING’s length there are pieces missing. A wide swath of independent artists from the city’s respective East and West ends are absent, people who are core to the hotbed that sustains the scenes here and the bevy of stories beyond the ‘hood. Just as well, the many women who provide important insight into the experiences here with the same energy, if not more, than the men. It’s important for our editorial team, and me personally, to fill this gap in coverage. So, as a result, we’ve provided a large roster of content to further your insight beyond the film. Because make no mistake, these are the acts that will dominate the charts and your playlists in the very near future, likely as soon as next year.

What 6IX RISING will do on a local and international level is open up and peel back the sheen of North America’s newest rap capital. It shows our progress while also pointing out the glass ceilings that exist here in their many forms—from the lack of local infrastructure and support to the persistent police presence that attempts to diminish the buzz these artists are creating. And hopefully it will push you, people of the community and our culture, to fill in these gaps and document those you believe in as well. Our music scene is still very new in the eyes of the mainstream—eight whole-ass Drake years to be exact. Let’s make sure it’s chronicled correctly in its relative infancy and for the years to come.

Pree the content below:

What’s Drake to Do When Toronto Isn’t Enough?
[Rappers Shouldn’t Be Underrepresented in Music Funding ](https://noisey.vice.com/en_ca/article/zme3ne/rappers-shouldnt-be-underrepresented-in-music-funding)
The Essential Guide to Downtown Toronto Rap The Essential Guide to West Toronto Rap [The Essential Guide to East Toronto Rap ](https://noisey.vice.com/en_ca/article/nz8md8/the-essential-guide-to-east-toronto-rap)A Guide to Toronto's Dark, Emotional Hip-Hop Sound 6ix-az Playlist

If this is your offspring at the 24:45 mark, retire your whole family tree. Jabbari pretends to be on Twitter.