The Juno Awards,or simply known as the Junos,are awards presented by the Canadian Academy of Recording Arts and Sciences to recognize outstanding achievements in Canada's music industry. They were originally called the Gold Leaf Awards,and the trophy resembled a metronome. Alongside the Canadian Screen Awards,they are considered one of the main annual Canadian entertainment award shows. The first Juno Awards ceremony was held on February 23,1970 to honour the musical accomplishments of performers for the year 1969. New members of the Canadian Music Hall of Fame are also inducted as part of the awards ceremonies.
The Canadian hip hop scene was established in the 1980s. Through a variety of factors,it developed much slower than Canada's popular rock music scene,and apart from a short-lived burst of mainstream popularity from 1989 to 1991,it remained largely an underground phenomenon until the early 2000s.
Jully Black is a Canadian singer,songwriter and actress. She has released 4 studio albums,and 2 remix EPs. She has collaborated and written for many artists,including Nas,Saukrates,Choclair,Kardinal Offishall,Destiny's Child,and Sean Paul.
Jason Drew Harrow,better known by his stage name Kardinal Offishall,is a Canadian rapper and record producer. Often credited as Canada's "hip hop ambassador",he has been regarded as one of the country's most prominent hip hop producers during the 2000s and is distinctive for his reggae and dancehall-influenced style of hip hop.
Kareem Blake,better known by his stage name Choclair,is a Canadian rapper. He was one of the most successful Canadian rappers in Canada in the late 1990s and early 2000s. Choclair has been nominated for six Juno Awards,winning four.
Ghetto Concept is a Canadian hip-hop duo from Toronto,Ontario,composed of Kwajo Cinqo and Dolo. Infinite,who is currently a solo artist,is a former member of the group.
Rascalz are a Canadian hip-hop group from Vancouver,British Columbia. The group played a crucial role in the artistic and commercial development of Canadian hip hop as well as specifically for the Westcoast scene in Vancouver popularizing the term “Van City”. The group consists of emcees Red1 and Misfit,and record producer DJ Kemo. Breakdancers Zebroc and Dedos were also part of the group.
Black Jays is a Canadian independent record label,production company,and musical collective,specializing in hip-hop,R&B,and reggae music. Founded in 2000 by rappers Kardinal Offishall and Solitair,it was originally known as Silver House and the Girl (S.H.A.G.). In 2004,the group came to prominence after releasing a remix album and mixtape. The Toronto-based group's name is derived from the Toronto Blue Jays baseball team.
Fire and Glory is the third studio album by Canadian rapper Kardinal Offishall,released November 15,2005 on EMI/Virgin Records,exclusively in Canada. Two hit singles were released from the album,"Everyday (Rudebwoy)" and "Feel Alright".
Christopher France,better known by his stage name Thrust,is a Canadian rapper from Toronto,Ontario. He is most known for his appearance on the Rascalz' 1998 single "Northern Touch," which also features Kardinal Offishall,Choclair,and Checkmate. He was also featured on the pop band soulDecision's biggest hit "Faded". Thrust has taught an Artist Series at the Harris Institute of Music in Toronto.
Sheldon Pitt,better known by his stage name Solitair,is a Canadian rapper and record producer from Toronto,Ontario. He is a founding member of the now defunct Black Jays record label and production team. Solitair has been producing hip hop and R&B for nearly 20 years,and has produced for Nina Sky,Glenn Lewis,Cham,Maestro,Rascalz,Kardinal Offishall,Ivana Santilli,Jully Black,Choclair,and Sugar Jones among others.
Quest for Fire:Firestarter,Vol. 1 is the second studio album by Canadian rapper Kardinal Offishall. It was released on MCA Records,his first album for a major label. It is a recompilation album,which includes older songs and demos that he used to get signed. The lead single,"BaKardi Slang",became his first single to appear on a Billboard chart. The second single,"Ol' Time Killin'",was a minor hit. The album received generally favorable reviews from music critics.
Not 4 Sale is the fourth studio album by Canadian rapper Kardinal Offishall,released September 9,2008 on Kon Live/Geffen Records. It is his second international major-label album after Quest for Fire:Firestarter,Vol. 1,released in 2001. It was a critical success,and included the top five Billboard Hot 100 single "Dangerous",and the minor hit "Numba 1 ".
"Dangerous" is a song by Canadian rapper Kardinal Offishall featuring American singer Akon. Produced by DJ Kemo and hAZEL,it was the first single from his fourth album,Not 4 Sale. It was released to radio in March 2008,and on iTunes on April 1. On the week of May 13,at the American iTunes Store,the song was offered as a free download. The song won the award for Single of the Year at the 2009 Juno Awards. In January 2023,the single was certified 4×platinum by Music Canada and 3×platinum by the RIAA.
Cash Crop is an album by the Canadian hip hop group Rascalz,released in 1997 on ViK. Recordings. The album is the group's most successful record to date and was certified gold by CRIA with sales of over 50,000 copies across Canada.
Rap Essentials Volume One is a Canadian hip hop compilation album,released in 1996 on Beat Factory Music,and distributed by EMI Music Canada. It is considered a landmark hip-hop album,and it was very influential.
Baby Blue Soundcrew was a Canadian DJ group from Toronto,Ontario,specializing in hip-hop and R&B music. The group was composed of Kid Kut,KLC,C-Boogie,and Singlefoot. They are notable for releasing two commercially successful compilation albums in 2000 and 2001.
"Money Jane" is a song recorded by Canadian DJ group Baby Blue Soundcrew featuring Canadian rapper Kardinal Offishall,Jamaican musician Sean Paul,and Canadian singer-songwriter Jully Black. It was released by Universal Music Canada in 2000,and was the first single from the group's debut studio compilation album Private Party Collectors Edition;a remix was included on Offishall's 2001 album Quest for Fire:Firestarter,Vol. 1. "Money Jane" is a Canadian hip hop and dancehall song with lyrics about a wealthy woman who provides financial and material support for her male companion. The song is noted for its influence on Toronto's hip hop music scene,and is credited with launching Paul's international music career.
Figure IV Entertainment was a Canadian independent record label,specializing in hip hop music.
David Carty,known by his stage name Jelleestone,is a Canadian rapper.
