Canada鈥檚 role in 50 years of hip-hop history will get a spotlight on this year鈥檚 Juno Awards broadcast.
Organizers of the homegrown music celebration say they鈥檝e booked Toronto rappers Kardinal Offishall and Haviah Mighty as MCs to lead viewers through a tribute to the country鈥檚 place in the music genre.
The performance will include appearances by 鈥淟et鈥檚 Ride鈥 rapper Choclair, 鈥淟et Your Backbone Slide鈥 hitmaker Maestro Fresh Wes and 1990s hip-hop duo Dream Warriors, known for 鈥淢y Definition of a Boombastic Jazz Style.鈥
Others set to appear include female hip-hop pioneers Michie Mee and DJ Mel Boogie as well as relative newcomer Tobi.
The showcase of hip-hop history is written and produced by Kardinal and Joanne Gairy, the Toronto actress and hip-hop poet known as Jemeni.
The Juno Awards take place March 13 at Edmonton鈥檚 Rogers Place, and air on CBC-TV and CBC Gem.
Nine-time Juno winner Avril Lavigne, who鈥檚 up for five awards this year, will be among the presenters, alongside other new additions that include singers Lauren Spencer Smith, Jessie Reyez and 鈥淜im鈥檚 Convenience鈥 actor Andrew Phung.
Canadian Music Hall of Fame inductees Nickelback will be toasted on the show by Edmonton Oilers captain Connor McDavid before the band performs a medley of their hits.
鈥擠avid Friend, The Canadian Press