Canada Post unveiled a new Black History Month stamp set celebrating the vibrant roots of hip-hop in Canada. The stamps pay tribute to three of the country's most dynamic hip-hop trailblazers – Maestro Fresh Wes, Michie Mee and Muzion. Each of the artists is recognized for helping to shape the genre in Canada, while infusing the music with a uniquely Canadian sound.
Michie Mee and Maestro Fresh-Wes have been well celebrated on Toronto Mike'd. They've been over multiple times and I've been singing their praises for as long as I've had a microphone.
Muzion, on the other hand, is a blind spot for yours truly. The reason is obvious. They rap in French, and are primarily known in Quebec. Here's their bio from the stamp press release.
Hailing from Montréal, Muzion brought a distinct sound to the world of hip-hop, layering French, English and Haitian Creole into their music. The group was formed in 1996 by MCs J.Kyll (Jenny Salgado), Imposs (Stanley Salgado), and Dramatik (Jocelyn Bruno). Their two albums Mentalité moune morne… (Ils n'ont pas compris) (1999) and J'rêvolutionne (2002) received multiple honours, including Félix Awards for Hip-Hop Album of the Year. Their hit single "La vi ti nèg" won a 2004 Canadian Urban Music Award. Muzion's influence stretched into the wider culture. The trio, who were all born to Haitian parents, helped empower marginalized communities to see themselves as integral to the fabric of Quebec and Canada.
If you're interested in learning more about Michie Mee, here's her Toronto Mike'd debut.
And if you're interested in learning more about Maestro Fresh-Wes, here's his Toronto Mike'd debut.
