2023 Junos will celebrate the 50th anniversary of hip-hop with all-star performance
Choclair, DJ Mel Boogie, Dream Warriors, Michie Mee, more will come together to mark the milestone
The Canadian Academy of Recording Arts and Sciences (CARAS) has announced the complete list of performers for the 2023 Juno Awards — and it includes an all-star celebration of hip-hop's 50th anniversary.
Co-written and produced by rapper Kardinal Offishall — four-time Juno winner and newly minted global A&R for Def Jam — and award-winning singer/writer/actor Jemeni, the performance will include Choclair, Dream Warriors, Maestro Fresh Wes, Michie Mee, Tobi and DJ Mel Boogie, while Kardinal and Haviah Mighty will host the tribute.
"The history of hip-hop around the world is incredibly rich, with so many distinct voices contributing to the narrative," said Kardinal, via press release. "It's an honour to be able to help tell this story through a distinctly Canadian lens and celebrate this important cultural milestone at the 2023 Juno Awards."
CARAS also announced that Grammy-nominated powwow and round dance group Northern Cree will perform in collaboration with Aysanabee during the awards night, while Digging Roots' ShoShona Kish, also the co-founder of Ishkōdé Records with Amanda Rheaume, will introduce the special performance. Avril Lavigne and Lauren Spencer Smith have also been added to the list of presenters, and Spencer Smith will be joining the Juno Songwriters Circle lineup on March 12.
Ryan Reynolds will also be making an appearance at the 2023 Junos, albeit virtually: he'll honour Nickelback for the band's Canadian Music Hall of Fame induction. Edmonton Oilers captain Connor McDavid will join the band onstage during the honours, and Nickelback will mark the occasion with a medley of its chart-topping hits.
These newly announced performers and presenters join the lineup of previously announced acts, including: Alexisonfire, AP Dhillon, Banx & Ranx with Preston Pablo and Rêve, Jessie Reyez, Tate McRae and Tenille Townes.
Simu Liu is back to host the 2023 Juno Awards on Monday, March 13, at 8 p.m ET. Tune in on CBC, CBC Gem, CBC Radio One, CBC Music and CBC Listen, and stream globally on cbcmusic.ca/junos.
