Is Toronto’s music scene trapped in the shadow of American Hip Hop, or are local artists just failing to market themselves correctly?

In this clip from The Man Dem Show Episode 233, Guttzy Guttz, DJ Laz Vagez, and DJ Zar break down the harsh realities of the Toronto music industry. The mandem dive deep into why local tracks like Savv4x’s “Villains 3” lose momentum too quickly, how Casper TNG and 100BandPlan ran up the numbers on “The Market”, and why Toronto artists are consistently 2 years behind the US sound.

They also debate a massive cultural question: Should Toronto completely ditch trying to replicate US Drill/Trap and fully embrace its deep Caribbean and Dancehall roots? Let us know in the comments if you think Toronto music needs to stop begging for American acceptance!

Follow the Crew on IG:
📌 Guttzy Guttz – @eldelnegro
📌 DJ Laz Vagez – @officialvftv
📌 DJ Zar – @djzartv

#TorontoMusic #TheManDemShow #Dancehall #6ixBuzz #TorontoHipHop #Drake #ToryLanez #CanadianMusic

0:00 – Favorite Recent Guests & Zoe
0:22 – Why No One Requests Toronto Music at Proms
1:15 – Audience vs Artist: Who Blames Who?
1:35 – Deciphering Savv4x’s “Villains 3” & Marketing Missteps
2:35 – How Casper TNG & 100BandPlan Made “The Market” Run For A Year
3:37 – The Myth of Short Shelf-Life Music
4:25 – Stop Relying EXCLUSIVELY on 6ixBuzz & Keep6ixSolid
5:15 – Creative Marketing Hacks Missing in the City
6:30 – The Algorithm Trap: Toronto vs the World
7:10 – Nayda Vii’s Rise & The Vybz Kartel vs Sexy Redd Feature Debate
7:58 – Is Toronto’s Sound 2 Years Behind the United States?
9:03 – Caribbean Influence: Dancehall vs Foundational Black American Culture
9:48 – Does Jamaican-Infused Hip Hop Dilute the Culture?
10:55 – Why Are Canadian Artists Begging for American Acceptance?
12:35 – The “Toronto Accent” & What Made Cardinal Offishall Great
13:10 – Analyzing LTL’s “Stick and Move” & Lil Yachty Sample Rhythms