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Toronto Raptors Celebrate Director X With a Music Video Shoot at Scotiabank Arena During a Game

Canada's only NBA franchise team honoured a local hero this week with a G.O.A.T. Night (greatest of all Toronto) celebration dedicated to the influential music video director.

Director X

Director X

Lane Dorsey

Director X has been named the G.O.A.T. by his hometown team.

The Toronto music video director, whose work on videos like Drake's "Hotline Bling" and Rihanna's "Work" has had a major impact on Canadian music culture, was celebrated this week at a Toronto Raptors NBA game.


At the team's G.O.A.T. Night — Greatest of All Toronto — Director X was celebrated with a t-shirt themed around his music video work, as well as a music video shoot inspired by his style. As the Raptors faced off against Orlando Magic — they won — fans had the opportunity to appear in front of the camera.

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"There's times you know you've done big things out here, but a night like this makes you go oh, wow," Director X told CityNews of the celebration.

In an acclaimed career, Director X has also worked with Ariana Grande, Black Eyed Peas, Future, Kendrick Lamar, Lil Yachty, Nelly and many more on memorable music videos. He's won the Juno for music video of the year and has been nominated for a Grammy and several MTV Video Music Awards, and has branched out into TV, film and other creative media. The owner/founder of FELA was also named to the inaugural Billboard Canada Power Players list — plus he's a lifelong Raptors fan.

The footage captured at the game will be turned into a new Raptors music video, set to premiere at a future Raptors game.

G.O.A.T. Night is part of the Raptors 30th season anniversary. There's two more G.O.A.T. Nights planned — Friday, March 28 and Wednesday, April 9 — with future honourees still to be announced.

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Sony Music Entertainment Canada president Shane Carter was part of the team that helped create I Am: Céline Dion, the documentary that celebrated international icon Céline Dion.
IOC/Getty Images

Sony Music Entertainment Canada president Shane Carter was part of the team that helped create I Am: Céline Dion, the documentary that celebrated international icon Céline Dion.

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Here Are the Canadian Music Executives on Billboard's 2025 Global Power Players List

This year's list features executives from companies such as Universal Music Canada, Warner Music Canada, Sony Music, Amazon Music, Live Nation and more. The list precedes Billboard Canada Power Players, which will be out in early June.

Billboard Canada Power Players will celebrate its second edition this June, but some Canadian executives are already being celebrated for their global impact.

This week (May 19), Billboard has released its 2025 Global Power Players list highlighting music executives who are driving success outside the United States.

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