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Hip Hop in Canada

Canada’s hip hop sector is energetic, committed and ever-evolving. Its cultural roots are based in African oral traditions; it is grounded in community relations and activism. Currently, in Canada, hip hop artists work in a number of art forms, including music, dance, visual arts, spoken word, and inter-arts.

  • Profiling Hip Hop Artistry in Canada (PDF, 826KB)
    This research paper presents a state of the art of hip hop. It provides a profile of the hip hop sector and highlights its role a form of cultural expression and community development. Initially commissioned by the Canada Council in 2005 as an internal document, it is now available online to inform broader discussions of hip hop in the arts community.   

Related reading:

Canada Council Support for Hip Hop

Here are a few recent (2007-08) examples of Canada Council funding that has supported hip hop artists and organizations: 
 

Wayne Curtus Clearsky, Vancouver, B.C.

Grant program: Aboriginal Peoples Collaborative Exchange Travel Grants

Purpose: to share his contemporary urban indigenous cultural perspectives from Turtle Island through Hip Hop, while embracing and experiencing indigenous Maori culture and perspectives at the Nice'N'Native Gathering in Auckland, Aotearoa-New Zealand.

 

Kevin Lee Burton, Winnipeg, Man.

Grant program: Audience and Market Development Travel Grants Program: International

Purpose: To promote his film, Nikamowin (which uses the Cree language for hip hop/trance/electronica rhythms) at the Sundance Film Festival in Park City, Utah, from 16 to 28 January 2008. 

 

Canada Dance Festival Society, Ottawa, Ont.

Grant program: Annual and Project Funding - Dance

Purpose: Multi-year contribution in 2007-08 to encompass the off-festival event "Hip Hop 360" and in 2008-09 towards travel, per diem, accommodation for artists and co-production costs for the 2008 Festival.

 

The 411 Initiative for Change, Toronto, Ont.

Grant program: Capacity Building Grants for Culturally Diverse Arts Organizations - Equity

Purpose: Annual capacity building 2007-08.

 

Moe Taylor, East York, Ont.

Grant program: New Music Program

Purpose: To stage a live, public concert even featuring Taylor and Japanese musician Yuki Abe aka Kaigen.

 

Institut du Nouveau Monde, Montréal, Qué.

Grant program: Artists and Community Collaboration Program (ACCP) - Writing & Publishing

Purpose: to create "Slam poésie," a slam poetry course, in collaboration with the INM's summer school.

 

Art Gallery of York University (AGYU), Toronto, Ont.

Grant program: Artists and the Community Collaboration Program (ACCP) - Visual Arts

Purpose: AGYU-Medina Urban Arts program.

 

Diana Lyn David, Vancouver B.C.

Grant program: Integrated Arts Program for Artists - Inter-Arts

Purpose: Towards research, creation, production and professional development costs from September 2008 to March 2009.