Drake has undeniably had a positive impact on how Canadian hip-hop is viewed on a global scale. He has kicked in da door for many other notable artists, (The Weeknd and Partynextdoor), and made ‘The North,’ a desirable place for artists and entertainers alike to perform. Many producers, video directors, fashion designers, and music industry executives have been put on by OVO’s finest, which has ultimately has brought an audience to the city that frankly did not come to the 6ix before he became famous. I believe the Canadian Hip-hop community forever indebted to Drake for legitimizing Canadian rap music globally. He has created a generation of rap artists that feel they can become household names from Saskatoon to Sydney.

That being said, there was a hip-hop scene in the Nasty North before Aubrey made his presence felt in 2007. There were many established artists in Canadian hip-hop but they did not garner the international recognition the mightily deserved. They were considered soft, uncharismatic, or lacking the necessary talent to compete with their fellow emcees south of the border. I wasn’t the biggest fan of Canadian hip-hop growing up, but Canadian rap definitely impacted my love for the genre. Looking back at the time B.D., I realize that some of the artists I grew up on were far more talented than I ever gave them credit for and deserve the respect of the young yutes coming up in the city.

Below I will outline the five best hip-hop songs made in Canada before Drake. Do you agree? Comment below.

5. BaKardi Slang

Released in 2001 off of Kardinal Offical’s album Firestarter, “BarKardi Slang” is an ode to the Toronto slang that permeates every facet of present-day Canadian culture. It is a play off of Big L’s Ebonics but still serves as a defining moment in Canadian hip-hop history. It showed the world some of the differences between the vernacular of Canadian and United States emcees and uses some of the vocab that Drake has made popular worldwide.

4. E-Z On Tha Motion

Released in 1995 by Rexdale’s very own Ghetto Concept, “E-Z On Tha Motion” was influenced by the sounds of the early-nineties New York underground hip-hop scene. It is said half of the video was shot in NY while the other half was filmed in Rexdale. The jazz samples are very distinctive, which makes it different from any other Canadian rap songs during that era. I rated this song number four on the list because it was one of the first instances that showed the Canadian flow and production could compete with those of our neighbours to the south.

3. Let’s Ride

“Well, it’s the Nocka, The Chiz Rocker. Party while I’m wine drinkin’. My rhymes will bust a hole right through your thinker.” Released in 1999 by Choclair, “Let’s Ride” was one of the first mainstream Canadian rap songs I can remember. During the summer of 1999, I heard it everywhere. Stores, restaurants, basketball courts, and car stereo systems were bumping this in Toronto all summer long. This song was a phenomenon in Canada and created some buzz in the USA. It was one of the first Canadian hip-hop videos I saw on BET, and trust me, this was a significant accomplishment at the time for a Canadian hip-hop artist. Due to its catchy hook and crossover appeal during a time where Canadian hip-hop was very much in its infancy, “Let’s Ride” gets the number three spot on the list.

2. Let Your Backbone Slide

It is safe to say this is the first Canadian rap song to blow up internationally. Released in 1989 by Maestro Fresh Wes, the Godfather of Canadian hip-hop, “Let Your Backbone Slide” officially put Canada on the map in the hip-hop community. This song definitely has an 80s feel to it and is used to this day in break-dancing competitions. It was the first Canadian rap song to go gold, and its impact on the music scene in Canada is undeniable. The only reason “Let Your Backbone Slide” did not take the number one spot is the next song made the public recognize the talent that existed from coast to coast in Canada.

1. Northern Touch

“We notorious. Ain’t nobody can bang with us. Rascalz, Checkmate, Kardinal, and Thrust, Choclair coming down with that northern touch.” I would say that is the most famous intro to a rap song B.D. This song holds the number one spot for a multitude of factors. I would say the main reason it is the most influential song before Drake is it displayed the Canadian rap talent from the Pacific to the Atlantic. Never before had there been so much Canadian star power on one song.

Released in 1998, “Northern Touch” brought together the most prominent Canadian hip-hop artists on the same track to flex their lyrical muscle for the country to see. Canada had gone numerous years without the genre making an impact on the airwaves. Northern Touch made hip-hop music viable economically again, which can directly correlate to direction rap took after its release. The song’s influence is hard to quantify, but it undoubtedly left a mark on the industry and paved the way for future acts like Drake to follow.