GrittyCity

Gritty City: An Oral History of Winnipeg Hip-Hop Music: 1980-2005 is a new book by Winnipeg author Nigel Webber.

In a detailed and never before told history, Webber unravels the beautiful but forgotten history of Winnipeg hip-hop music, taking the reader from the earliest days of the early 1980s, all the way up through the peak of the early 2000s heyday.

“Winnipeg has always been known as a ‘meat ‘n’ potatoes’ rock & roll city. Yet, in the 1980s and ‘90s, a distinctive rap and hip-hop scene flourished throughout the city, fostering a number of artists whose impact has been felt beyond our city limits. Nigel Webber has done an exceptional job of tracing the evolution of that vibrant scene and tracked down the key players who brought this music to eager Winnipeg audiences. They tell the story of the rise of rap and hip-hop locally from their own personal experiences which gives [Gritty City] an authenticity, bringing the story to life.”

-John Einarson O.M.,

author of “Heart of Gold: A History of Winnipeg Music”

"One thing I learned while working on Hip-Hop Evolution is that no one --not even our heroes --will be with us forever. So gathering the first-hand accounts of those who were there, while we can, is critical work. To that point, Nigel Webber does a fantastic job of taking us right down to ground-level with first-person accounts that not only detail the history but also paint a vibrant picture of Winnipeg Hip-Hop’s birth and blossoming.”

-Shad, rapper and host of “Hip-Hop Evolution”