Independent hip hop is alive and thriving in Toronto. At its best, hip hop is the oral history of a city as it happens - stories from the street where the preacher-poets meet and exchange ideas over beats. Though our city may seem soaked in non-stop drizzle, this list should help T-Dot hip hop heads reconnect with the real flow of Toronto. If you're reading this, it's not too late.

COMMUNITY

R.I.S.E.
Reach Intelligent Souls Everywhere (RISE) is a Scarborough-based community collective of artists and activists. Their RISE Poetry Mondays at Burrows Hall provides a platform for youth to express themselves through performance art and spoken word. They also run artistic development workshops at the Malvern S.P.O.T.

Manifesto
Since 2007, Manifesto has used hip hop as a positive community force to empower artistic and entrepreneurial youth. The annual Manifesto Festival is one of the biggest celebrations of hip hop in Toronto's calendar, and to date they've programmed over 1000 local, regional, and international artists.

Play De Record
If there ever was a concrete, brick-and-mortar community hub for hip hop in Toronto, a strong case could be made that Play De Record is it. A gathering place for hip hop fans, DJ's, artists, and producers to share knowledge, dish gossip, browse gear, and pick up a record or two.

LIVE

The $5 Rap Show
Four years running, the $5 Rap Show has been showcasing the best independent hip hop from Toronto, the U.S. and beyond. Hosted by local legends Wordburglar and More or Les bi-monthly at Rancho Relaxo.

Big Mic T.O.
Big Mic T.O. started in Brampton and has been showcasing local independent artists throughout the GTA for close to three years. Follow their social media channels for up to date info on events.

#BigTicket
Since 2012, EasParkProductions' #BigTicket series has been bringing the best in local, regional, and international hip hop at venues like Velvet Underground, Wrongbar, and Tattoo. This past February they had local luminaries share the stage with the legendary Phife Dawg from A Tribe Called Quest.

The Hustle
From boutique hip hop and R&B concert promoter, Academy Presents, monthly series The Hustle has put the focus on local talent while bringing in international headliners. Past events have taken place at Revival, The Drake Underground, and The Piston.

VENUES

One thing Toronto seems to be missing is a physical focal point for its hip hop scene. While you can catch disparate events at places like The Drake, Rancho Relaxo, Revival, The Phoenix, and Wrongbar, there doesn't seem to be a venue in the city that caters to live independent hip hop like S.H.I.B.G.B.'s or Soybomb HQ do for punk. Of course, this writer may simply be out of touch, so let us know your thoughts in the comments.

LABELS & COLLECTIVES

Bakers Club
A collective putting out releases and mix tapes from The 6th Letter, ChillxWill, Raz Fresco, Lo Thraxx, and BriskInTheHouse.

Urbnet
The recording home to D-Sisive, Wordburglar, Dan-e-o, and Grand Analog amongst many, many others.

Freedom Writers
Home to artists Tona, Adam Bomb, Theo3, Frankie Payne, Progress, Mathematik, with production and engineering by Big Sproxx.

Never Forgive Action
DJ Numeric, DJ Dalia, Ted Dancin' and More or Les make up the Never Forgive Action Crew. They host an old school hip hop party on the first Saturday of the month at The Drake Underground; Hip Hop Karaoke on the third Friday of the month at Revival, and the $5 Dollar Rap show bi-monthly at Rancho Relaxo.

PARTY & DANCE

If you just want to go out and dance and connect with other hip hop fans in Toronto, you can check out the following DJ nights: Ignition (second Saturday of the month at Crawford); Party & Bull$hit/Bitchcraft (two monthly parties at Parts & Labour); Essence Brown (last Friday of the month at The Steady); andDJ Fase (last Saturday of the month at 3030 Dundas West).

RADIO

CHRY 105.5 FM
York University's campus/community radio reps hip hop no less than nine times per week, often twice-a-day, and boasts the most hip hop programming in the country. Tune in to hear rare-grooves, up and coming national and international artists, and of course a healthy dose of local talent and events.

• Back Road Radio with DJ Big Jacks, Bozack Morris, Royale, and Mel Black Rose, Mondays 6pm to 8pm.
• Follow The Leader with DJ Ritz, Mondays 10pm to 12am.
• Chain Reaction Show with Got Karizma, DJ Skitz, and Sole Purpose, Tuesdays 7am to 10am.
• Studio B with DJ MelBoogie, Tuesdays 11pm to 1am.
• Soul Suite with DJ O-nonymous, Wednesdays 7am to 10pm.
• The Essentials with DJ Smartiez, Wednesdays 11pm to 1am.
• Sound Junction with Great Scott, DJ O-nonymous, Thursdays 10pm to 12am.
• Bigger Than Hip Hop with Mr. Grumpy, Jake, DJ Spontaneous, Ro From Tha Bro, Mona Lisa, Thursdays 12am to 2am (early Friday morning).
• On The Rise with DJ Hotshot, and Ada O, Fridays 4pm to 5pm.

CIUT 89.5 FM
The heart and soul of local independent Toronto radio boasts three legendary hip hop shows each week.

• Drill Squad with DJ Dred-E-Maximum and DJ Magic Tricks, Tuesdays 6am to 9am.
• Stylistic Endeavors with DJ Fase, DJ Riccachet, Theo3!, and DJ Thera-P, Fridays 8pm to 10pm.
• Masterplan Show with Lodi Dodi, and DJ Romeo Sundays 8pm to 10pm.

TRP
Toronto's newest independent underground radio station (internet only).

• BEVSTMODE - hip-hop-centric trap, electronic and progressive beats. Fridays 2pm to 4pm.
• Y.A.L.A. with Anupa Mistry. Monthly, Fridays 6-7pm.
• Minced Meat - Toronto to Detroit hip hop and electronic music. Bi-weekly Mondays, 5-7pm.
• FAM BIZ with Party & Bull$shit's DJ RyFi - Classic hip hop. Monthly Wednesdays 6-7pm.

ONLINE

Keep up to date with these Toronto-centric hip hop blogs that cover local artists, new releases, music news, and special events in the city:

• TorontoRappers.com
• Cityonmyback.com
• ThisIsWalder.com
• RideTheTempo.com
• HipHopCanada.com
• HipHop.ca

Thanks to DJ Mel Boogie, More or Les, and Mindbender for their help compiling this article.

What did I miss? Leave your favourite sources for independent hip hop in the comments below.

See also

The top 5 venues for hip hop in Toronto
The top 5 hip hop radio shows in Toronto
Meet the biggest hip hop fan in Toronto
The top 10 Toronto beatmakers you've never heard of