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By David Farrell
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DF
Maestro Fresh Wes
Since the launch of its stamp program in 2009, this issuance marks the first time that the postal service has recognized homegrown hip-hop pioneers.
Canada Post is celebrating Canadian hip-hop artists.
Since 2009, the postal service has issued stamps in celebration of Black History Month, recognizing individuals and movements that have made an impact on the country’s culture.
This year, they’re spotlighting three pioneers in Canadian hip-hop: Maestro Fresh Wes, Michie Mee and rap trio Muzion.
The issuing of the stamps marks the first time the Canadian postal service has recognized the influential role of hip-hop artists as part of its Black History Month program, celebrating artists who have helped shape the sound and direction of Canadian hip-hop.
Maestro Fresh Wes made history in 1989 as the first Canadian MC to hit the mainstream with his single “Let Your Backbone Slide.” Over the decades, the artist has continued to have a fruitful career, earning the 2023 Polaris Heritage Prize for his debut hip-hop album Symphony in Effect. The following year, he was inducted into the Canadian Music Hall of Fame and became the first hip-hop recipient of the Governor General’s Performing Arts Award.
During the late 80s, Michie Mee emerged as one of the first notable female voices in Canadian rap, innovatively blending hip-hop with Jamaican Patois. The MC trailblazed on, opened up for various artists, including Salt-N-Pepa and Sinéad O'Connor, while launching an acting career. Most recently, Mee was featured in the 2025 docuseries Sounds Black, which explored the impact of Black music in Canada.
In 1996, Montreal-based group Muzion formed. The trio — consisting of Dramatik, Imposs and his sister J-Kyl — brought a distinctive multilingual approach to hip-hop, combining French, English and their native tongue, Haitian Creole, in their work. They made waves in their home province, snagging multiple ADISQ awards in the early 2000s. While the group hasn’t been active since 2014, they’ve maintained their place in Canadian culture.
“Each of the artists is recognized for helping to shape the genre of hip-hop and rap in Canada,” Canada Post shared in a statement, noting that stamp subjects are chosen by an independent advisory committee that reviews public and organizational submissions.
The official stamps will be unveiled at a special private event at Toronto’s Concert Hall on Jan. 27. In addition to honouring the hip-hop pioneers, there will be appearances by DJ and broadcaster Ron Nelson, TV producer-director Michele Geister and former VJ of MusiquePlus' weekly show, HipHop, Malik Shaheed.
