Can't Repress the Cause
"Can't Repress the Cause (CRTC)"[1] is a politically-driven soundtrack single that was released in 1990 by a group of historically underrepresented and marginalized Black-Canadian soul singers and rap artists, mostly from Toronto, collectively known as Dance Appeal.[2]
Produced in social protest[3] at a turning point in Canadian music history, the song and its music video served as a public outcry of the artists in response to the historically-controversial 1990 CRTC decision that denied an FM radio license to Milestone Radio for what would have become Canada's first Black owned-and-operated urban music radio station.[4] The song's title used the initials "CRTC" to create a double play on the "CRTC" acronym.[5]
The collective supergroup of soul singers and rap artists delivered an explosive, historical live "Can't Repress the Cause" performance at Toronto landmark 299 Queen Street West location, aired during the 1991 Much Music Video Awards show.[6] Participating artists[7] included Maestro Fresh Wes, Dream Warriors, Michie Mee, B-Kool, Eria Fachin, Lillian Allen, Devon, HDV, Dionne, Thando Hyman, Carla Marshall, Messenjah, Jillian Mendez, Lorraine Scott, Lorraine Segato, Candy Pennella, Self Defense, Leroy Sibbles, Zama and Thyron Lee White.[8]
The song received a Juno Award nomination[9] for Best R&B/Soul Recording at the Juno Awards of 1991,[10] and its video won the MuchMusic Video Award for Best Dance Video.[11]
References
[edit]- ^ We Are Dream Warriors (2017-02-09). Can't Repress the Cause. Retrieved 2025-03-28 – via YouTube.
- ^ "Maestro Fresh Wes becomes the first ever hip hop recipient of the Governor General's Performing Arts Awards". The Globe and Mail. 2024-02-22. Retrieved 2025-03-28.
- ^ "Urban Music". www.thecanadianencyclopedia.ca. Retrieved 2025-03-28.
- ^ "When the CRTC denied a 'mainstream Black radio station' for Toronto". CBC. September 18, 2020.
- ^ Campbell, Mark V. (November 17, 2023). "Black music in Canada exists, thrives and survives — but it's not because of the mainstream music industry". CBC.
- ^ TheRealDonCarlito (2014-11-23). '91 "Cant repress the cause" Much Music Video Awards. Retrieved 2025-04-12 – via YouTube.
- ^ "Women in Hip-Hop: Refusal, Resistance, and Interruption | Events | Hart House". harthouse.ca. Retrieved 2025-03-28.
- ^ "Urban Music" Archived November 2, 2012, at the Wayback Machine. The Canadian Encyclopedia.
- ^ "Past Nominees + Winners". The JUNO Awards. Retrieved 2025-03-28.
- ^ "Rap music makes presence felt in '91 Juno Awards nominations". Montreal Gazette, February 7, 1991.
- ^ "Crash Test Dummies pick up MuchMusic's top video award". Waterloo Region Record, September 30, 1991.