Master T: 5 Songs That Changed My Life

Award-winning on-air personality, programmer and former MuchMusic VJ Tony Young, professionally known as Master T, has interviewed some of the biggest names in music: everyone from Tupac and Dr. Dre to Madonna and Janet Jackson. 

Co-creator and host of MuchMusic's wildly popular show, Da Mix (previously X-Tendamix), which aired from 1990-2001, he has spent his impressive 40-plus year career championing music of Black origin, including hip-hop, R&B, reggae, house and more to Canadians across the country. And I'd be remiss if I didn't mention that he was also the face of the MuchMusic Dance Mix compilation CD series for many years, a core memory of my youth.

His incredible knowledge of the Canadian hip-hop scene recently landed him a feature in Black Life: Untold Stories, an eight-part docu-series that celebrates Black Canadians' contributions to the arts, politics, sports and music. Wanting to know more, we invited him to the CBC Music studio to hear about some of the songs that made the biggest impact on him.

Reaching back to some of the highlights of his VJ life, Master T shortlisted five songs, from Robin S's 1993 house track "Show Me Love" to 1999 mega-hit "Still D.R.E." by Dr. Dre featuring Snoop Dogg, and more. Get to know some of the music that shaped Master T's life and career in the video above.

'Be Happy,' Mary J. Blige 

"Definitely one of my favourite artists [is] Mary J. Blige. It's one of those Mary J. Blige songs that makes me want to move, it makes me want to dance, it really makes me feel connected to where Mary was at that point in her life."

'Still D.R.E.,' Dr. Dre feat. Snoop Dogg

"When I hear this track it always reminds me that Dre is back, and you can see him through the video, just a level of confidence."

'Murder She Wrote,' Chaka Demus & Pliers

"I've always loved this song because it also comes from the bam bam rhythm, and whenever I hear the bam bam rhythm it's like an old reggae tune and they just kind of modified it, so it's just a sweet reggae vibe."

'Your Love is King,' Sade

"My girl, Sade. If anybody knows me, they know how much I love Sade, and my wife loves her as well. We love her so much that we actually played "Your Love Is King" as our first dance when we got married way back."

'Show Me Love,' Robin S

"When I heard this song in the clubs, it was one of those songs that just hit you."

Check out Master T in Episode 3: Northern Beats of Black Life: Untold Stories, an eight-part docu-series that celebrates Black Canadians' contributions to the arts, politics, sports and music, now available on demand on CBC Gem.