Phoenix Pagliaccci

There is a ton of talent in the city, but few have the range of ability to add rapper, singer and songwriter to the résumé, let alone, to earn that respect as a female. But Toronto’s own Phoenix Pagliacci is carving her own path in the music scene and holding her own by building a buzz in the city with many local performances and her latest mixtape Books, Bucks and Beats Vol. 2: Rise Of Baby Buddha. The Toronto artist participated in last month’s Big Ticket cypher, which caught the attention of event founder, Chris Jackson, who asked Phoenix to showcase her talents at the upcoming Big Ticket event at the Velvet Underground on February 8. The humble artist is looking forward to her bright future, but took a moment to look back and reflect on how she began in the industry, paying homage to those responsible for her budding career as she anticipates what is to come at her upcoming show and beyond.
WHAT CAN THOSE WHO ATTEND THE BIG TICKET EXPECT FROM YOUR PERFORMANCE? They can expect energy, they can expect comedy, they can expect interaction and expect to be impressed.
WHAT DOES THE BIG TICKET SHOWCASE ADD TO THE TORONTO MUSIC SCENE, IN YOUR OPINION? The Big Ticket showcase is an awesome opportunity for a lot of local artists who don’t get performance opportunities, who don’t get opportunities to really showcase their talent, or maybe they have some new stuff that they don’t really know how to get out there, or market themselves and work with an awesome DJ. DJ Law is one of Toronto’s finest, hands down. It gives an opportunity for these artists to really have their 15 minutes
IN WHAT DIRECTION DO YOU THINK THE TORONTO HIP-HOP SCENE IS HEADING TOWARDS? Only up from here. A lot of artists are putting Toronto on the map and a lot of artists are being consistent in bringing in other artists and the quality is only increasing, so I see Toronto going up from here.
WHERE DO YOU THINK YOU FIT IN TO THAT? I don’t often like to play the female card, but it works in my favour, because there’s not too many Toronto female artists being put on the map right now. Shout out to Melanie Fiona of course and Andreena Mill, Michie Mee and Jully Black for setting the trend for Toronto female artists, but as a rapper, as well as a songwriter and singer, I think that that lane needs to be a little more paved and I’m willing to do that.
WHAT WAS STARTING OUT IN THE TORONTO HIP-HOP SCENE LIKE FOR YOU? I was fortunate enough to network to the point where, I met some people who did have showcase opportunities and were willing to give me a chance to showcase my own stuff. People like Tika Simone, she looks out for a lot of Toronto artists and really goes through and combs through the city for these artists and gives them the space to practice, the people to get in touch with for music and I was fortunate enough, by working with other artists, to get to know people who were willing to put myself out there. I started out singing backup for artists such as PG, Lokz, doing features on other artists’ stuff and kinda caught a few ears and they pointed me in the right direction.
WHAT DO YOU WANT PEOPLE TO TAKE AWAY FROM YOUR MUSIC? That I’m very honest, very creative, I have a great sense of humour and a lot of times in hip-hop, that’s not really what people are looking for, but I definitely bring that out in my music and I try and reach different people. My music is more of a conversation and so when you listen, I like to hear something back from you.

The Big Ticket

There are numerous monthly events and venues that showcase talented hip-hop artists in Toronto, but what the community lacks is professionalism in its field. This is according to industry heavyweight Chris Jackson, who plans to bring about change with his monthly showcase, The Big Ticket. Jackson, the brainchild of The Big Ticket, has been in the music industry for over 25 years and has seen the evolution of Toronto hip-hop for decades. He has hopes for what is to come in the future. “We need a foundation, a base, a blueprint and I was around back in the days in the ’80s and early ’90s and helped establish that foundation in hip-hop,” he explains. “We got lost at one point, we are still a little lost, but hip-hop in Canada is starting to find its identity again and that’s what Big Ticket was designed as, to help support artists, give them a place to perform on a regular basis and give them a venue and event that is on a professional level.”

On the second Friday of every month, hip-hop heads and tastemakers can be found at the city’s The Velvet Underground enjoying a night of music from local emcees, DJs and beat makers who are interested in the future of the hip-hop community in Canada. The event, which was birthed in July has already made a large impact on the city’s music scene, and has welcomed artists such as Perfeck Strangers, Raz Fresco and Masia One to its stage. Toronto emcee, The 12th Letter, who recently dropped his album Hear No Evil, Music To My Ears, celebrated its launch by performing at last month’s edition of The Big Ticket. He says the event is a dynamic asset to the Toronto hip-hop community.

“In the early ’90s, you had the Lyricist Lounge and places like that which spawned a lot of great talent and that people could come and see it. I feel that this is that same kind of hub where artists can perform and the fans can come out and see and get a taste of what the music is like and support it. We haven’t really had things like that in the past that have been consistent and this is a monthly event so things like this are vital to the city to grow the culture and prove that hip-hop has staying power in the city,” he said after his performance. At the next Big Ticket event on January 11, Jackson hopes to bring the best of Big Ticket and feature his favourite acts that have helped the showcase evolve.

Photos By: Fitzroy Facey