Toronto's Mustafa The Poet's raw talent has been gaining more exposure, especially after the release of his powerful single, "Stay Alive" earlier this year. The song addressed the gun violence in Toronto, and the globe, that has taken away so many lives at a young age. Today, the singer released a brand new collaboration titled, "Come Back" alongside James Blake. They debuted a live rendition of the song on YouTube earlier today which marks two years since the death of rising Toronto rapper Smoke Dawg.
"Perpetually grateful for James who helped free me of my own emotional burdens when I was young, to now helping me free these stories of those who've passed too young," he said about the song. "today marks 2 years without Smoke Dawg. I pray the people you lost come back to you in the form that heals you best, if not a memory, a dream, if not a dream, in their siblings eyes, if not that, than in the way you carry yourself”
Quotable Lyrics
The oak tree my old TV, the friend of past
I miss the night was made for rest
When my heart was more than glass
About The Author
Aron A. is a features editor for HotNewHipHop. Beginning his tenure at HotNewHipHop in July 2017, he has comprehensively documented the biggest stories in the culture over the past few years.
Throughout his time, Aron’s helped introduce a number of buzzing up-and-coming artists to our audience, identifying regional trends and highlighting hip-hop from across the globe. As a Canadian-based music journalist, he has also made a concerted effort to put spotlights on artists hailing from North of the border as part of Rise & Grind, the weekly interview series that he created and launched in 2021.
Aron also broke a number of stories through his extensive interviews with beloved figures in the culture. These include industry vets (Quality Control co-founder Kevin "Coach K" Lee, Wayno Clark), definitive producers (DJ Paul, Hit-Boy, Zaytoven), cultural disruptors (Soulja Boy), lyrical heavyweights (Pusha T, Styles P, Danny Brown), cultural pioneers (Dapper Dan, Big Daddy Kane), and the next generation of stars (Lil Durk, Latto, Fivio Foreign, Denzel Curry). Aron also penned cover stories with the likes of Rick Ross, Central Cee, Moneybagg Yo, Vince Staples, and Bobby Shmurda.
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