Revered as one of Canada’s standout beatmaking talents since the turn of the 2010s, Toronto rapper-producer Rich Kidd combines inventive boasts and trash-talking with earnest, soulful introspection. He broke through with production for hometown hero Drake, showcasing his singular method of combining street rap and boom-bap stylistic elements. Kidd remained incredibly prolific through the first half of the 2010s, releasing a series of albums, mixtapes, collaborative projects, and beat tapes. His first two full-lengths—2012’s The Closers (with SonReal) and 2013’s In My Opinion— became critical sensations in Canada, leading to several JUNO Awards nominations. By the end of the decade, Rich Kidd had begun to channel his energy into mentorship, working with young musicians as a part of the Remix Project community program in Toronto.