Being the mélange that Montreal is, the city's rap scene has long benefited from its unique place in Canada's broader culture—where the country’s two official languages converge with influences from Europe, Africa, and the Caribbean. In the '90s, staunchly francophone artists such as Loco Locass set the stage for Dead Obies, Loud, and Koriass to play with the nuances of language, giving rise to the polyglot Franglais that permeates so much of Montreal’s current rap output. But anglo rappers like Speng Squire and Nate Husser are also on the come-up, showing every bit as much promise as their counterparts south of the border. And that’s to say nothing of how R&B artists such as Shay Lia and KALLITECHNIS are putting a soulful imprint on the city’s sound.