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FYI

Maestro Pays Homage To Jurassic Park

The Canadian hip-hop pioneer is helping fuel Raptors mania by releasing a fresh video for his infectious anthem that is inspired by the team and its loyal fans. It's a slam dunk.

Maestro Pays Homage To Jurassic Park

By FYI Staff

With Raptors mania sweeping Toronto and beyond, Canadian hip-hop pioneer Maestro Fresh Wes is seizing the moment by releasing a fresh video for his infectious Toronto Raptors-inspired anthem, Jurassic Park.


Produced by and featuring Rich Kidd, the track and video is a celebration of Maestro's hometown team and their fans who gather outside the stadium for games. Jurassic Park was initially featured on Maestro's 2017 LP Coach Fresh, but with TO fan fervour grabbing international attention, the time is right for fresh exposure.

Maestro Fresh Wes' latest release is Champagne Campaign, an album that marks his 30th anniversary of exploding onto the scene with 1989’s Symphony in Effect, the first Canadian hip-hop album to reach Platinum status. Featured on that album was the classic track Let Your Backbone Slide, the first Canadian hip-hop single to reach Gold status.

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An accomplished actor, Maestro (real name Wes Williams) just wrapped up eight seasons playing the role of Vice Principal Paul Dwyer on the CBC hit sitcom, Mr. D.  

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Intro

Billboard Canada 2025 Power Players List Revealed

By Richard Trapunski, Rosie Long Decter, Peony Hirwani, Stefano Rebuli and Heather Taylor-Singh

Billboard Canada Power Players is back for a second year, and it comes at a pivotal time for Canadian music. Canadian Content regulations – a principle that built the domestic industry – are up for review for the first time in a generation, with ongoing hearings taking place with the CRTC. The Online Streaming Act, meanwhile, is attempting to regulate major foreign streaming services to contribute to CanCon as the CRTC once did for radio, but companies like Spotify, Amazon and Apple Music aren't taking it without a fight.

Those issues shadow the industry, which has both struggles and successes. The country was recently named the 8th largest music market in the world by the IFPI and Toronto has emerged as a marquee live music market. That's been reflected in the successes and investments in new venues by companies like Live Nation Canada, MLSE and Oak View Group, though some festivals and promoters outside of their orbit have gone public with their own struggles.

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