Overview
Since its underground inception in the Bronx in the 1970s, Hip Hop has grown to be a global artistic movement, which expresses the imagination, experiences, and unique language of Black and other underprivileged communities through djing, rapping, breaking, graffiti, fashion design, and writing.
In this first installment of the HHSL&LC Artist Talks, visual artist and illustrator Adrian Hayles and rapper DillanPonders will discuss the power of Hip Hop as a tool for storytelling and creative expression, as well as the creative processes and practices behind their own work.
This event is intended for emerging artists and students in the Toronto community, who are interested in harnessing their imagination in new and creative ways and in subverting ‘traditional’ approaches to storytelling.
Speakers
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Adrian Hayles
Toronto-based illustrator
At the tender age of nine, Toronto-based illustrator Adrian Hayles discovered the expressive nature of the visual arts. With his continued artistic development, illustration became his deepest passion and talent. His desire to learn and absorb from his surroundings led him on a personal creative journey. As a graduate of the Graphic Design program at Humber College with over 10 years of working experience behind him, Adrian has established his place in Toronto’s modern art community. His style is provocative and inspiring and defies categorization. Blurring the lines between graffiti and ultra realism, Adrian’s voice and vision is instantly identifiable. His works include countless portraits and illustrations for various magazines and collaborations with the City of Toronto to develop murals for vacant community spaces. In the past Adrian has painted complete buildings and city blocks, designed award winning video games and animated television shows. Adrian has painted the second largest body of work by an individual artist, the Yonge Love Murals, covering 4,088 square meters.
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DillanPonders
Named one of XXL’s “10 Canadians to Know”, DillanPonders is carving a unique lane in hip hop with his distorted and hazy, yet cutting and perceptive sound and larger than life persona. A trapped-out poet with a powerful delivery, Ponders’ music is versatile, with songs perfect for a party or sombre solo listening.
Just a few years ago, DillanPonders was homeless, sleeping in bus shelters and bank lobbies, not knowing where his next meal was going to come from. He built himself up from nothing, finding a part time job, saving up to build a small home studio and releasing music online, and he’s been on an exponential rise ever since.
Ponders has performed across North America, as part of festivals like SXSW, Mondo.NYC and on the Smoker’s Club tours, as well as alongside some of hip hop’s left field leaders, including Flatbush ZOMBIES, Pouya and Father. He’s been featured in some of the genre’s top publications, including The Fader, Complex, Noisey, XXL and has headlined Spotify’s Northern Bars and Hip Hop Central playlists. His music has been synched in a variety of television shows and commercials, including Netflix’s Atypical and Message From The King. He’s done this all while remaining completely independent. Without a major deal or co-sign, Ponders has built his cult-like following one person at a time.