Sadly, we unexpectedly lost King Reign in the summer of 2016. He was a celebrated and driving force in the Toronto hip-hop community not only for his exceptional talents, but for his character. A thoughtful storyteller wise beyond both his years and genre, it’s no surprise to learn that Reign—an acronym for Rhyme Energy in God’s Nature—was always enthralled with the arts. He had a gift for painting moving pictures through his carefully crafted narrative rhymes, which are as soulful in lyrical content as they are in sound. Like street narrators Slick Rick and Nas before him, Reign’s raps bristle with a sharp sense of detail and attack from a fresh, smart perspective. If every story has two sides, Reign digs deeper and uncovers a third. If Reign doesn’t make you see things differently, he’ll articulate what you’ve been trying for years to describe. King Reign’s music spans over 2 decades of work, which expressed his surroundings and experiences. Juno nominated as a member of Brassmunk, he also excelled as a solo artist with projects such as his critically acclaimed album, Sincere. He also had collaborated with now prevalent names such as Drake, Pharoahe Monch, Saukrates, Kardinal Offishall and Boi1da. Reign certainly made a resounding impact that was recognized and acknowledged by influential peers, media and industry.