Each month, we will speak to an athlete, celebrity, designer, or non-Hip Hop entertainer about what Hip Hop means to them. This feature is intended to showcase how far-reaching the influence of Hip Hop culture has grown in the past 50 years and how much the culture means to so many.
This month, we spoke with Toronto-based actor Brendan Jeffers.
Brendan Jeffers is a Toronto-based actor best known for playing the dangerous and manipulative antagonist Vince Bell on Degrassi. He has also appeared in Star Trek: Strange New Worlds, 50 Cent’s Get Rich or Die Tryin’, and most recently, The Holy Hustle, now streaming exclusively on BET+.
So Brendan, what does Hip-Hop mean to you?
“Hip Hop is art. Obviously, the music is at the forefront, and it’s one of the most innovative, fun, expressive and influential genres of music. And with the music, Hip Hop has its own dances, evolving fashion, visual art and more. Breakdancing, MCing, DJing, graffiti – Hip Hop is culture.
Historically, it started in New York as Black culture, but it’s grown into not just African American culture but American culture and global culture.
Hip Hop was a big part of my life growing up just outside of Toronto, Canada. And now, Hip Hop is the halftime show at the Super Bowl. Hip Hop is part of the Olympics. Hip Hop is selling out stadium tours across the world. Hip Hop is your favourite athlete’s walk-out song. Hip Hop is helping your favourite actor get into character. Hip Hop adds flavour to your favourite pop song. Hip Hop is influencing other genres of music. I can go on and on… Hip Hop is a collective culture, and it’s a part of the soundtrack to my life.”
Why do you think it’s important that Hip Hop has its own Museum?
“Culture should be celebrated, and Hip Hop is no exception. A museum will allow people to learn, remember, honor and be inspired by the creativity of OutKast, the passion of Tupac, the wordplay of Rakim, the brotherhood of Wu-Tang Clan, the storytelling of Nas, the vulnerability of Lauryn Hill, the activism of KRS-One, the artistry of A Tribe Called Quest, the entrepreneurship of Jay Z, the honesty of J. Cole, the musicality of The Roots, the energy of Busta Rhymes, the vision of Kanye West… So whether you breakdanced at a South Bronx party in 1977, or are making beats on your iPhone in 2026, hopefully, The Hip Hop Museum will be a place for you to reflect and revolutionize the culture.”
