Rad Rap

Jaffna-born, Toronto-based rapper Shan Vincent de Paul talks hip-hop, fatherhood, the call of the homeland and representing the Tamil diaspora

- NIDHI GUPTA

Toronto’s hip-hop scene, according to Shan Vincent de Paul, is “the hottest in North America right now – along with Atlanta, LA or New York.” “TiKA, Haviah Mighty, Junia-T, Desiire, Swaggerite, Wild Black, FUCTAPE, Roveena, SAFE,” he rattles off a list of names from the local scene who are making the right moves. More importantly, he is convinced that there’s a “brown artist renaissance” afoot. “Apart from my own crew, which includes La+ch, Coleman Hell, Mad Dog

Jones,” SVDP writes to us, “I think Yanchan and Navz-47 are killing it.” He’s only recently picked up on the booming Punjabi rap scene growing there – “I love what Fateh is doing, also got to rock with Noyz a few weeks back, he’s dope, great dude” – and considers himself a huge fan of Raja Kumari, Anik Khan, Priya Ragu, Sid Sriram, S.A.M, Rebelle Perle, Pritt and Two’s A Company. “Our experiences are so similar. To pull inspiration from an entirely different scene in the South Asian community would be a lot of fun.”

SVDP is of Sri-Lankan origin, and has been around as a rapper for long enough to knowingly separate wheat from chaff. He’s two albums, several EPs and viral singles-old – including a Trump diss track called “Bitch Go” and his breakthrough song from 2016, “Die Iconic”. From hiphop, he counts everyone from OutKast to Jay-Z, DMX to Pharoahe Monch, Hieroglyphics to Nas – “that era of artists” – among his influences. It shows: Across his discography, there’s evidence of witty lyricism, a rare gift for delivery and an ear for production.