Canadian hip-hop icon Michie Mee is thrilled about the news she received from Canada Post. Known as the pioneer of Canadian rap, she will soon grace an official postage stamp. “I couldn’t believe it when I got the call. I was ecstatic,” she shared with As It Happens host Nil Kӧksal. Michie Mee will be featured on one of three stamps commemorating Canadian hip-hop trailblazers for Black History Month, alongside Toronto rapper and producer Maestro Fresh Wes, and Quebec trio Muzion.
Canada Post stated in a press release that each artist played a significant role in shaping Canada’s hip-hop and rap scene. Michie Mee, originally from Jamaica and raised in Toronto, was one of the first to incorporate Jamaican patois into her rhymes. Maestro Fresh Wes made history as the first Canadian MC to achieve mainstream success with his 1989 hit “Let Your Backbone Slide,” while Muzion brought a unique blend of French, English, and Haitian Creole to their music.
For Michie Mee, being featured on the stamp collection is a long-overdue recognition, especially for women in Canadian rap. She was the first Canadian hip-hop artist to secure a U.S. record deal back in 1988. Despite the challenges faced by the Canadian hip-hop scene in the ’80s and ’90s, Michie Mee and her peers continued to push boundaries and make an impact.
The new stamps, set to be unveiled at a private event in Toronto on Jan. 27 and available to the public in February, mark the first time Canada Post has honored hip-hop artists. Michie Mee expressed gratitude for the recognition, emphasizing the importance of unity within the Canadian music community. She encourages aspiring artists to stay focused, believe in themselves, and enjoy the journey, as she continues to do herself.
