The Sorority – Pledge

The Sorority – Pledge (independent)

Strength in numbers: where are all the rap groups? Part of what has made Migos and Brockhampton so successful is the novelty of having more than two rappers in one group. In Quebec, it’s not at all unusual to have rap crews: Alaclair Ensemble, Radio Radio, Dead Obies. This year also saw the rise of the Snotty Nose Rez Kids from Vancouver. But an English-Canadian rap crew made up of four women? That’s unheard of. That they’ve made one of the best rap records of the last 12 months makes it even sweeter.

The members of the Sorority— Haviah Mighty, Lex Leosis, Phoenix Pagliacci, Keysha Freshh—met at an International Women’s Day event (of course). They quickly clicked, and small wonder: they all have great flow, they’re all equals, and they’re as skilled as R&B singers as they are rappers. Even better, for a group with such old-school skills, the music underneath is thoroughly modern yet also wholly original—they’re not chasing trends to fit in.

Every month another artist comes out of Toronto that exemplifies the diversity of the city’s hip-hop and R&B scene, each one seemingly stronger than the last. Expect to hear a lot more about the Sorority in the next year and beyond. (June 1)

  

Stream: “SRTY,” “West End (Yea Eh),” “East End (Dun Kno)”