What Polaris Prize winner Haviah Mighty is watching this week
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Today's Guest Curator is Haviah Mighty, a Toronto-born hip hop artist who won the 2019 Polaris Music Prize for her debut album 13th Floor. Haviah has blazed a trail for herself—first as part of the group The Sorority and later as a solo artist—with her genre-fluid musical stylings and unapologetically bold lyrics. 13th Floor interrogates the existence of racism in Canada and how it permeates the lived experiences of Black communities. Her Polaris victory placed Haviah in hallowed company with past winners like Buffy Sainte-Marie, Feist and Tanya Tagaq. She shared with us a few Canadian shows she’s watching during her downtime.
As a young rapper, I have to say this show is essential! I'm able to 'live' through things I could never have experienced, and feel empowered as a musician from the education this show provides. I also think that given how influential hip-hop culture has become on a mainstream level, it would be ignorant of us to not try to better understand its origins. The show was actually produced by Canadians and I think it's wonderful that a Canadian rapper is the host. All Canadians should watch Hip-Hop Evolution. They'll likely be surprised by how much cultural impact hip-hop has had on our everyday lives and customs, even here in Canada! — Haviah Mighty
Hip-Hop Evolution is available on Netflix.
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I consider myself a young entrepreneur, so in order for my business to evolve, my understanding of business must also evolve. That being said, I don't think you need to be a business owner to enjoy this show. As you learn about investments, margins and profits, you're also watching people just like you come up with what might be the next million-dollar idea. Watching Dragons' Den sparks so much creativity and new ideas in me. I think this show has the potential to change the way we view money, grow our ideas, and realize our fullest potential in building the things that we’re passionate about. — Haviah Mighty
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Now that Haviah's had her say, may I recommend one of her own videos? If you're new to her music, a great place to start is the song "Wishy Washy." It's an upbeat mix of reggae, hip-hop and pop featuring her sister, Omega Mighty. The music video even shows proper hand washing techniques! Although, beware, the chorus is highly infectious. — Liisa Ladouceur