Twy & R-Paay Address Old Beef, Toronto’s Broken Scene & Announce The Players Ball | The Man Dem Show

On this episode of The Man Dem Show, DJ Laz Vagez and Guttzy Guttz sit down with Toronto artists Twy and R-Paay for an in-depth conversation. The group starts by addressing the history of a past conflict leading to an apology and a mature discussion about their growth.

Twy and R-Paay dive deep into their Scotian roots, explaining the history of prominent family names in the Black community, their connection to the Underground Railroad, and their own Indigenous heritage. They discuss their musical journeys, from R-Paay performing 50 Cent in a grade six class project to Twy being inspired by R&B legends like The Jackson 5.

The artists share their perspectives on the current state of Toronto’s music scene, criticizing the lack of infrastructure, support for upcoming artists, and the negative influence of divisiveness that they feel is holding the city back. They recount experiences working with other city mainstays like Robin Banks and detail the creation of their new music together.

Finally, they announce their upcoming event, “The Players Ball,” on October 25th—an awards show designed to give flowers and recognition to artists, producers, and creators who are often overlooked in the city’s industry.

Tune in for a candid discussion on resolving conflict, building a better music culture, and creating a positive future for Toronto hip-hop.

Follow the guests:
Twy: @Twy902 | R-Paay: @rpaaydcr

Event Information:
The Players Ball
October 25th
Tickets available on Eventbrite

Timestamps:
00:00:00 – Intro
00:00:41 – Addressing the Original Conflict
00:02:41 – Dissecting the Song Review That Started the Beef
00:05:13 – An Apology and Maturing Past the Disagreement
00:08:13 – The History of Scotian Families and Last Names
00:09:41 – Discussing Black & Indigenous Roots in Canada
00:10:16 – Are Scotian Stereotypes Real?
00:11:37 – How They Started in Music
00:13:21 – R-Paay Recites 50 Cent’s “Hate It or Love It” for a School Project
00:15:17 – The Motivation Behind Twy’s Music
00:18:22 – How Chicago Drill Music Changed Toronto’s Vibe
00:19:56 – Twy on Robin Banks Helping His Career with “Rockstar”
00:20:47 – What was Toronto’s Music Scene Like in 2016-2018?
00:22:37 – Is There a Lack of Support from OGs in the City?
00:25:58 – What Toronto’s Music Infrastructure Needs to Change
00:27:36 – Announcing The Players Ball Awards Show
00:31:51 – Why a Players Ball is Needed in Toronto
00:33:34 – How Will The Players Ball Be a Safe Event?
00:39:47 – The Creative Process Behind Twy & R-Paay’s Collabs
00:44:27 – Twy on Dealing with Personal Issues on Social Media
00:46:40 – Listening to Twy’s Diss Track
00:55:29 – Twy Discusses the Regis Korchinski-Paquet Case
00:58:49 – Using Music and Experience for Community Outreach
01:00:16 – Future Plans: Music, EPs, and TV Shows
01:03:19 – Defining Success as an Independent Artist
01:05:13 – Outro & Where to Find The Artists