Cape Breton Island 
Canada Post is marking Black History Month with a new stamp set that looks back at the early voices that helped define hip-hop in Canada.
Credit: Canada Post
The collection honours three artists whose work shaped the genre at a time when Canadian hip-hop was still finding its footing: Maestro Fresh Wes, Michie Mee and the Montréal-based group Muzion. Together, their careers trace how the music evolved across languages, regions and influences, while still sounding distinctly Canadian.
Maestro Fresh Wes broke ground in 1989 with Symphony in Effect, becoming the first Canadian rapper to reach mainstream success. Its lead single, “Let Your Backbone Slide,” made history as the country’s first gold-certified rap track. Over the years, Maestro expanded beyond music into writing, acting and public speaking, with recent recognition including induction into the Canadian Music Hall of Fame.
Michie Mee emerged around the same time, earning a reputation for innovation and range. She blended rap with Jamaican patois, dancehall and reggae, released one of Canada’s earliest rap hits, and later became the first Canadian MC signed to a major U.S. label. Her work helped push Canadian hip-hop onto a wider stage.
From Montréal, Muzion offered a different perspective, weaving French, English and Haitian Creole into socially conscious music. Their albums earned major awards in Quebec and beyond, while also amplifying the voices of marginalized communities.
Visually, the stamps draw on late-1980s and early-1990s hip-hop aesthetics, using bold typography, metallic accents and fluorescent inks.
The issue includes six Permanent stamps and first-day covers cancelled in Toronto and Montréal, tying the tribute back to the cities where these artists left their mark.
For Collectors:
- Muzion: Official First Day Cover: $2.24
- Michie Mee: Official First Day Cover: $2.24
- Maestro Fresh Wes: Official First Day Cover: $2.24
- Booklet of 6 Permanent stamps: $7.44
