On the occasion of its 35th anniversary, Roots Rhymes Collective (RRC) and the AGO celebrate the legacy of MuchMusic’s ground-breaking and innovative hip hop television program, RapCity. Launched in September 1989, RapCity has been credited with platforming Canadian hip hop talent from coast to coast, as well projecting what has been dubbed the “Canadian Hip Hop Nation” to international audiences outside of Canada’s borders. 

Join us for a discussion with some of RapCity’s creators and legendary personalities as we celebrate RapCity’s contributions to the history of Canadian and global hip hop landscapes. Conversations with Master T, Michele Geister, Basil C. Young, Nam Kiwanuka, Tyrone Edwards and Oliver Walters will range from RapCity’s early days, its power as platform for hip hop culture and its practitioners, to its challenges and triumphs as the show took its place in Canadian television history. There will also be short retrospective performances by DJ Law. Presented as part of The Culture: Hip Hop and Contemporary Culture in the 21st Century.  

Programmed in partnership with the Roots Rhymes Collective 

The afternoon is organized into three segments:

1-2PM - RapCity Beginnings

2-3PM - RapCity Generations

3-4PM - RapCity Legacy and Audience Q&A

Michele Geister is a creator, producer, director and feature writer of iconic content for television, radio and print in Canada, Jamaica and Europe. She is recognized as a visionary for her contributions to Canadian Black and Hip Hop music industries for her development of the MuchMusic series Soul in the City and RapCity. Credited with transforming the Jamaican television ecospace with her lifestyle series Island Dreams and Vibes Cuisine, she is also the co-creator of Jamaica's beloved morning show, Smile Jamaica. Committed to social justice and the production of life affirming, cultural content, she is the Media Director of the Source Farm Ecovillage - an intentional off-grid community in Jamaica active in efforts to combat climate change. Michele remains invested in edutainment as a co-creator of the UNUH game app and learning management system that uses neuro linguistic programming principles.to assist young people with their personal development.

Nam Kiwanuka is the host/producer of TVO’s The Thread with Nam Kiwanuka, and also co-hosts The Agenda with Steve Paikin. She also contributes to columns for TVO.org. Originally from Uganda, Nam spent her early years in a refugee camp in Kenya before settling in London, Ontario. Her remarkable career in journalism includes roles as the first Black woman in Canada to host a magazine sports show with NBAXL and CFL Crunch on Sportsnet; as a VJ/Videographer at MuchMusic, and writing a column for the BBC’s Focus on Africa. Beyond her professional work, she’s a passionate plant collector with a collection to rival Allan Gardens and is determined to perfect her chocolate chip cookie recipe.

Basil C. Young is a visionary cameraman and director of photography with over 40 years of experience, filming worldwide for Canada’s Fashion Television, MuchMusic, RapCity, ETalk, Bravo, World Vision and more. His work helped shape visual storytelling in music, fashion, and humanitarian media. Filming across continents, Basil pioneered raw handheld aesthetics and cinematic techniques—styles that continue to influence hip-hop, entertainment, and documentary filmmaking today. From capturing the street energy of RapCity to the high-gloss world of fashion and celebrity culture, Basil blended grit with artistry, leaving a lasting impact on pop culture. His lens brought underground movements to mainstream audiences, shaping how music and culture are visually experienced worldwide.

Originally from Leeds, England. Tony aka Master T was a decorated VJ at MuchMusic hosting/producing and interviewing some of the most popular artists in the world, including Madonna, Janet Jackson, Eminem, Mary J. Blige, Backstreet Boys, Spice Girls, Meat Loaf, Jay Z, TuPac and countless others. From 1990-2001 at a pivotal time in Canadian hip-hop history, he was a producer and VJ for various MuchMusic programs, including his original creation X-tendamix/Da Mix, and produced RapCity in the latter years, which helped to continue the growth of Hip Hop throughout Canada and beyond. He’s the former Director of Media Production for RX Music a music consultancy agency and created and produced their online series, RX Music Live. As an MC, host or keynote speaker he continues to be in demand for his natural dynamic approach for engaging audiences. In 2023, T managed to conduct three massive Keynotes with Canadian Hip Hop Icons. Kardinal Offishal at CMW, Michie Mee for Indie Week and Maestro Fresh Wes for National Music Centre and CARAS. Currently he is the host, producer and director for Esor Productions, providing online content and creating properties for the brand he has helped establish with his wife over the years.

Oliver Walters is an award winning videographer/advanced drone pilot for the Canadian Broadcasting Corporation. He is a graduate of the RTA program at TMU and has over three decades of experience in various roles in the media industry, including host of MuchMusic's RapCity program. Currently, he teaches at TMU in the Radio and Television Arts program. At CBC, he works on longer format news documentary stories for the Fifth Estate, Marketplace, and is a part of the CBC Sport's Olympic Broadcast team. He and his family have a passion for travel, food, and learning about other cultures. 

DJLaw 3000, also known as DJ Law, is a Toronto-based video DJ renowned for his contributions to hip-hop history. Active on social media platforms like Instagram and Threads, he engages with a substantial following, sharing mixes and content that reflect his deep connection to Toronto’s hip-hop scene. On Instagram, his profile features a variety of posts, including music mixes and event highlights, emphasizing his role in Toronto’s hip-hop culture. His Threads account further showcases his dedication to the genre, with numerous posts discussing hip-hop history and sharing music. In addition to his online presence, DJ Law has utilized platforms like Facebook to distribute his mixes, offering fans direct access to his work. While specific details about his career milestones and personal background are limited online, his consistent engagement and influence within Toronto’s hip-hop community are evident through his digital content.

Dr. Francesca D’Amico-Cuthbert is a multi-disciplinary artist and award-winning historian of American and Canadian Hip Hop with expertise in Rap music, the music marketplace, and the creative industries. Francesca currently serves as the Chief Research Officer at the Hip Hop Education Center in New York City and Roots Rhymes Collective’s Director of Research on Toronto Hip Hop history.

Matthew Progress is a Toronto-based multidisciplinary artist, focused primarily on music and film. He is also a staff writer at Foyer, the digital publication of the AGO.