The only way a music scene flourishes is because individuals within it are relentless in their pride. For downtown Toronto, one of those cornerstone groups is Prime Boys. The crew is made up of Jimmy Prime, Donnie, and Jay Whiss. While many link them to Drake through Jimmy’s coining of the term “the 6” they are foundational to the aesthetic and sound of the Esplanade area, Toronto’s central waterfront district popular with tourists. “We grew up where people come to vacation in Toronto,” says Jay Whiss. “We’re trying to tell stories they don’t know about.” Prime Boys’ stories tend to focus on positivity and growth, rather than hip-hop’s obsession with hostility. “That’s a core value,” Jimmy says. He adds he surrounds himself with like-minded community builders: “I make sure everything around me is thorough. Everyone you see around me are people I want to have around me, you know?”
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