Myrtle D. Millares delivers a thought-provoking treatise on the development of a uniquely Canadian artform through the amalgamation of shared African diasporic expressions resulting from African American, Caribbean, and Canadian experiences. Through insightful interviews, Millares provides colorful and first-hand details on the development of Hip-Hop in a major commercial and cultural center not named New York or Los Angeles. Her work adds a missing international (or local if you're Canadian) perspective to the conversation surrounding the global significance of Hip-Hop. Additionally, Millares does well to respect diverse voices and experiences within the Toronto Hip-Hop cypher by including narratives from women and a discussion on LGBTQIA+ contributions to the field.

Marcus X. Thomas, Chair of Music and Performing Arts Management, The Hartt School, University of Hartford, USA

A nuanced and erudite examination of individual lives of those artists dedicated to hip-hop culture, Hip-hop, Style and Identity in Toronto insists we center the voices of hip-hop artists to unravel how one becomes hip-hop. Millares masterfully interweaves the connections between hip-hop studies and music education as articulated by hip-hop artists themselves; offering us multiple sightlines to grasp the varied and intricate ways in which hip-hop culture centers and celebrates difference and disjuncture as the starting point to the development of a musical identity. Hip-hop has always centered that idea of “no biting” which Millares beautifully captures in this essential music education and music pedagogy text.

Mark Campbell, Assistant Professor of Musicology, University of Toronto Scarborough, Canada

Hip-Hop Style and Identity in Toronto adds to the ever-growing canon of global Hip-Hop studies by taking a look at Hip-Hop identity construction from a Canadian perspective. Given the great success of artists like Kardinal Official, Drake and The Weekend, this books provides a timely, unique and comprehensive understanding of the Toronto context in Hip-Hop culture.

Jabari Evans, Assistant Professor of Race and Media, University of South Carolina, USA