“Canada’s Biggest Rap Festival” Loses 20% Of Its Lineup At The Last Minute
Toronto's First Class Fest, a show that bills itself as "Canada's biggest rap festival," is set to start tomorrow, but it has lost one fifth of its lineup at the last minute. First Class is a relatively small operation, founded by two guys in their early twenties, and it's set to start tomorrow at the Bowl at Sobey's Stadium. They've been putting on shows since 2022, and this will be their first…
Canada's First Class Fest, billed as the country's premier rap festival, is experiencing a significant setback with a 20% reduction in its lineup at the final moment. This Toronto-based event, founded by two young men and set to kick off tomorrow at the Sobey's Stadium Bowl, is making its outdoor festival debut. The line-up heavily features the chaotic, digitally altered style of underground rap known as rage. However, the planning process has been as turbulent as the music itself.
Initially, the lineup included Che, Black Kray, and Skaiwater, but they dropped off day one and were replaced by Xaviersobased, TwentyThree, and Diamond* and Jaeychino, respectively. This last-minute lineup shuffle was described as "unforeseen and beyond our control" by the organizers. Later, Nettspend also withdrew from the festival, citing no explanation, leaving the organizers disappointed and in disbelief.
In response, they announced Nettspend would be replaced by 1oneam, Apollo Red, and OsamaSon, who will deliver a surprise set of unreleased tracks on night one. Despite the chaos, the organizers commend themselves for ensuring the festival proceeds as planned, acknowledging the difficulty of managing such a high-pressure situation.
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