She is the first hip-hop artist to do so since the prize was established.
by, Lauren Davies
History was made in the world of Canadian music as the 2019 Polaris Music Prize was awarded to a hip-hop artist for the first time since the award was established in 2006. Toronto-born and Brampton-raised, Haviah Mighty, has been a prominent member of the local music scene in Toronto, both through her work as a solo rap artist and through her contributions to the female rap trio Sorority.
The Polaris Music Prize is a not-for-profit organization that annually recognizes a Canadian artist for their contributions to Canadian music. The award is chosen for an artist regardless of their genre, popularity, or financial success. The expert panel of judges is selected from a pool of broadcasters, bloggers, programmers, or other media authorities that play an important role in the Canadian music industry. Collectively, they create their longlist of 40 Canadian albums, which is then narrowed to the shortlist of 10 albums that become the official list of nominees. It was from this list that Mighty’s 13th Floor was decided on as the official winner.
Mighty describes her album as the “moment of resurgence where the dismissal that has existed is now being removed, and the discussion is being had.” She demonstrates a clear desire for telling only the truth, including insights into her own struggles as an up-and-coming female rap artist and facing discrimination. This is her debut solo album, and in her winning speech at the Polaris Music Prize ceremony, Mighty confesses that “this is the first time I’ve been able to speak my truth, my narrative… I’ve had the same thoughts and same sentiments since high school and every time, it was not the time or the place, and here now at the Polaris 2019, it is the time and place for 13th Floor to take the stage.” The Polaris Music Prize is a way of thanking Haviah Mighty for opening up her intuitive mind to us and gifting listeners with a musical collection that will endlessly resonate with its audience.