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Rap Recording of the Year

Toronto hiphop crew BrassMunk comprise three multi-talented MCs with real rhyming skills and one knob-twiddling maestro. May 19 sums up their mandate this way: “We get live with the lyrical, make you feel hysterical.” They were nominated for a JUNO in 2003 for the single track – “El Dorado” and their cut ‘Live Ordeal’ was nominated for a Juno in this category in 2001, and the EP Dark Sunrise confirmed their potential.

Toronto-based rapper has been a key player on the Canadian hiphop scene for almost a decade. He was part of the "Northern Touch" collective, then broke big with his gold-selling Virgin Records release, Ice Cold. He has collected JUNO and MMVA Awards, and collaborated with the likes of Guru, De La Soul and Beenie Man. His third album, Flagrant shows that Choclair remains a skilled contender.

Toronto rap trio IRS take pride in their musical diversity. "We don't have any one specific sound or any predictable flows or rhymes," says DJ T.R.A.C.K.S.. Their progressive style earned them the Future Stars Award at 2002's Canadian Music Week, and touring slots with Shaggy and Kardinal Offishall. They've collaborated with Kardinal and Rascalz, and their debut album, Welcome To Planet IRS, marks them as real contenders.

The charisma of Mr. Roam is conveyed by his smoooth voice and effortlessly flowing and witty wordplay. Early joints showed up on some top local hiphop compilations, and his track "Bump" was the lead single off Mastermind's "Volume 50: Street Legal" collection. Tom Strokes Presents The ClasSix Plus Six is a retrospective of his prime cuts.

The second album from inventive hiphop foursome Sweatshop Union lives up to its title. The powerfully political group deliver their goods via melodic beats and conscious lyrics. Such special guests as Bookworm (Oddities) and Moka Only (Swollen Members) add even more depth to their sound.