The Ultimate Guide on Toronto’s Underground Hip-Hop Scene

When you think of hip-hop powerhouses, cities like New York, Los Angeles, and Atlanta often dominate the conversation. But quietly—relentlessly—Toronto has been carving its own legacy, and not just through its mainstream stars like Drake and The Weeknd. Beneath the commercial spotlight lies a vibrant, gritty, and authentic subculture: Toronto's underground hip-hop scene. It’s a place where raw talent meets unfiltered expression. This is the heartbeat of the city—untamed, defiant, and beautifully real.

A Brief History of Toronto Hip-Hop

Toronto’s relationship with hip-hop dates back to the 1980s, when breakdancing, graffiti, and boom-bap beats first crossed the border into Canada. Influenced by the burgeoning New York scene, Toronto’s inner city youth began developing their own sound, lingo, and visual identity. Early pioneers like Maestro Fresh Wes, Michie Mee, and Dream Warriors laid the foundation with hits that gained international recognition.

But while some artists flirted with mainstream success, the infrastructure for a thriving commercial hip-hop industry in Canada was largely absent. This scarcity forced a generation of emcees, producers, and promoters underground—literally and figuratively—creating a tight-knit, grassroots movement that prioritized authenticity over fame.

What Defines the Underground Scene?

In Toronto, the underground isn’t just a classification of popularity—it's a badge of honor. It represents independence from major labels, creative freedom, and an unwavering commitment to truth-telling. Underground artists often self-produce, self-promote, and perform in intimate venues, ciphers, or street corners. They're typically less concerned with radio play or streaming algorithms and more invested in making music that reflects their lived experiences.

Thematically, Toronto’s underground hip-hop is diverse but often rooted in storytelling. You’ll hear raw tales of survival, identity, immigration, systemic inequality, mental health, and the unfiltered realities of life in Canada’s most populous city. There’s a sharp contrast between this world and the glossy image often portrayed in commercial music videos.

The Geography of the Movement

Toronto is a city of neighborhoods, and each one has contributed to the underground scene in its own way. Whether it’s the multicultural melting pot of Scarborough, the community resilience of Regent Park, or the electric creative energy in Kensington Market, every corner of the city has a story—and a sound.

Scarborough, for example, has been a hotbed for lyrical fire and sonic experimentation. The area’s immigrant-rich population has infused hip-hop with Caribbean, South Asian, and African influences. Emcees from here often bring a global consciousness to their bars.

Jane and Finch, historically stigmatized due to media portrayals, has bred some of the hardest-hitting rappers in the city. The music coming out of this area is intense, urgent, and unapologetically real.

Kensington Market and Queen West have long been cultural hubs for live performances and experimental art. You'll often find beatmakers, freestylers, and visual artists collaborating across mediums in these zones.

Key Artists to Know

While many in Toronto’s underground scene remain relatively unknown outside of the city, they’re revered within it. Here are a few names you should definitely know if you're diving into this world:

1. Saukrates

Though he’s been around since the 1990s, Saukrates is often considered the godfather of Toronto hip-hop. His soulful beats and introspective lyrics have influenced countless artists. He's the kind of artist that bridges the underground and the mainstream without compromising his style.

2. Rich Kidd

Producer, rapper, and creative force, Rich Kidd has long been a backbone of the Toronto sound. His beats have laced tracks for everyone from Drake to underground emcees. As an artist, his lyricism and storytelling are rooted in authenticity.

3. ShaqIsDope

Hailing from St. James Town, ShaqIsDope is known for his sharp lyricism and cinematic soundscapes. He’s managed to maintain credibility in both the underground and commercial lanes, working with U.S. producers while staying rooted in his Toronto upbringing.

4. Clairmont The Second

A unique voice in the scene, Clairmont The Second produces, raps, and directs his own music videos. His work is deeply personal and artistically refined, representing a more introspective arm of the underground movement.

5. Phoenix Pagliacci

A fierce lyricist and member of The Sorority, Phoenix Pagliacci brings feminist themes, Afro-centricity, and raw passion to the mic. Her presence represents the increasing diversity and dynamism in Toronto’s underground.

6. DijahSB

Open about their mental health struggles and identity, DijahSB is pioneering a new kind of emotionally honest hip-hop. Their music blends classic boom-bap with futuristic vibes, showcasing the evolution of Toronto’s underground sound.

The Venues That Keep It Alive

You won’t find massive arenas here. Instead, the underground thrives in gritty clubs, backroom bars, community centers, and impromptu street ciphers. Some of the most iconic venues and event spaces for underground hip-hop in Toronto include:

- The Drake Underground

Not to be confused with the rapper Drake, this venue underneath the Drake Hotel has been a long-time home for indie and underground talent. The low ceiling, moody lighting, and intimate vibe make it a favorite for local emcees.

- Smiling Buddha

A bar and music venue on College Street, Smiling Buddha has become a staple for open mics, hip-hop showcases, and indie performances.

- Danforth Music Hall

While it hosts more mainstream acts today, Danforth Music Hall has historically opened its doors to rising stars, often catching artists just before they blow up.

- Manifesto Festival

Though technically a festival and not a venue, Manifesto is the soul of Toronto’s urban culture scene. Their events support youth, art, activism, and of course, underground music.

- Sneaky Dee’s

This beloved punk bar also serves as a platform for experimental hip-hop, blending genres and bringing different scenes together.

Community Over Clout

One defining feature of Toronto’s underground hip-hop is its sense of community. Unlike more commercial environments, where competition can breed isolation, many Toronto artists collaborate, support each other’s releases, and co-host events. Collectives like BeatsTO, Yes Yes Y’all, and Hip-Hop Karaoke Toronto serve as launchpads for new voices and safe spaces for creative expression.

There’s also a growing ecosystem of underground media helping to amplify these artists, from niche podcasts and YouTube channels to Instagram blogs and local zines.

Social Justice and Cultural Identity

Toronto's underground hip-hop scene doesn't exist in a vacuum. It is deeply connected to broader social justice movements, particularly those advocating for Black, Indigenous, immigrant, and LGBTQ+ communities. Many artists use their music as a platform to challenge police brutality, gentrification, systemic racism, and mental health stigmas.

Artists like Mustafa the Poet, while not strictly hip-hop, blend spoken word and music to paint haunting portraits of life in Toronto’s marginalized neighborhoods. His work bridges genres and expands what it means to be an underground artist.

Immigrant identity is also a recurring theme. Toronto is one of the most diverse cities in the world, and that reality echoes through its music. Artists often rap in Patois, Arabic, Tagalog, and Somali, celebrating their cultural roots while confronting the realities of assimilation, racism, and generational trauma.

The Influence of Caribbean Culture

You can’t talk about Toronto’s hip-hop without acknowledging the Caribbean influence. From dancehall riddims to Patois-infused slang, the Jamaican cultural footprint is massive. This is evident not just in the music but in fashion, cadence, and social codes.

Toronto’s underground scene has managed to incorporate Caribbean styles without commodifying them—a delicate balance that speaks to the authenticity and shared history between the communities.

DIY Culture and Independent Hustle

In the underground, there’s no machine behind you—just hustle, heart, and a mic. Artists often record in home studios, design their own merch, direct their own videos, and build their audiences one fan at a time. Social media plays a critical role in this grassroots growth, especially platforms like SoundCloud, Bandcamp, and TikTok.

This DIY ethic isn’t just about necessity—it’s a philosophy. It keeps the scene raw, adaptable, and resistant to industry gatekeeping. Artists who blow up from this world are respected not just for their talent, but for their grind.

Challenges Facing the Underground

Despite its vibrancy, the underground scene faces real challenges:

• Lack of Funding: Many artists struggle to find resources to record, promote, and distribute their music.

• Limited Infrastructure: Canada doesn’t have the same robust hip-hop industry support as the U.S., making it harder to scale success.

• Venue Closures: Gentrification and rising rent prices have shuttered many legendary performance spaces.

• Media Attention: Underground artists often have to fight for even a fraction of the media spotlight given to pop stars.

Still, these hurdles have only hardened the scene’s resolve. Out of pressure comes diamonds, and Toronto’s underground has no shortage of them.

Why You Should Pay Attention

If you're tired of formulaic lyrics, overproduced beats, and recycled themes, Toronto’s underground offers something refreshingly different. This is where the art form thrives in its purest form—raw storytelling, innovative production, and fearless creativity.

Listening to Toronto’s underground is like walking through the city’s alleys, apartment blocks, and soul—it’s not always pretty, but it’s always real.

Where to Start: Essential Listening

To dip your toes into the scene, here are a few underground Toronto projects worth checking out:

• Clairmont The Second – Do You Drive?

• DijahSB – 2020 the Album

• Rich Kidd – We on Some Rich Kidd Shit

• The Sorority – Pledge

• Mustafa – When Smoke Rises

Also, check out local hip-hop playlists on Spotify and YouTube that highlight indie and emerging Toronto artists. The beauty of this scene is that there’s always someone new to discover.

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Toronto’s underground hip-hop scene isn’t just a musical movement—it’s a cultural force. It's the voice of a generation that’s determined to be heard, with or without the industry's backing. It’s where young emcees become local legends, where cyphers become classrooms, and where pain turns into poetry.

So next time you visit the 6ix, skip the CN Tower and hit up a basement show. Follow that kid passing out mixtapes on Queen Street. Plug into the soul of the city. Because in Toronto’s underground, hip-hop isn’t just alive—it’s thriving.

Lateef Warnick is the founder of Onassis Krown. He currently serves as a Senior Healthcare Consultant in the Jacksonville FL area and is a Certified Life Coach, Marriage Counselor, Keynote Speaker and Author of "Know Thyself," "The Golden Egg" and "Wear Your Krown." He is also a former Naval Officer, Licensed Financial Advisor, Insurance Agent, Realtor, Serial Entrepreneur and musical artist A.L.I.A.S.