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Do you ever wonder what other people thought the first time they heard some of the most iconic voices of the culture? That’s what ‘The First Time I Heard…’ is all about. We will connect with other rap artists, industry executives, DJs and other voices from the culture and ask them to reminisce about the first time they heard some of the most iconic voices of our culture.
Photo Credit: Spek
Do you ever wonder what other people thought the first time they heard some of the most iconic voices of the culture? That’s what ‘The First Time I Heard…’ is all about. We will connect with other rap artists, industry executives, DJs and other voices from the culture and ask them to reminisce about the first time they heard some of the most iconic voices of our culture.
Known for blending jazz, Afro-Caribbean rhythms, and socially conscious lyrics into one of the most distinctive sounds in Canadian Hip Hop, Spekfirst made his mark as part of the pioneering duo Dream Warriors. Emerging from Toronto in the early ’90s, Dream Warriors broke through with the critically acclaimed ‘And Now the Legacy Begins,’ helping to carve a lane for thoughtful, genre-defying rap on a global stage. Spek joined the group with the release of their album ‘Subliminal Simulation’ featuring the hit single “Day In Day Out.”
Since then, Spek has expanded his reach far beyond music—as an artist, executive, and cultural connector shaping conversations across continents.
In 1988, King Lou of Dream Warriors made his recording debut on Michie Mee and L.A. Luv’s single “Victory Is Calling,” which also featured MC Lyte. Dream Warriors also toured with Michie Mee, one of the founders of the Canadian Hip Hop scene.
We caught up with Spek to talk about the first time he heard Michie Mee.
Adam Aziz: What was your reaction the first time you heard Michie Mee? Do you remember what song it was?
Spek: The first time I heard her was “Jamaican Funk.” I had heard of her, but had never heard her music before then, because we weren’t getting all the wax that was coming out. I really discovered Michie after I joined Dream Warriors because of L.A. Luv.
AA: What was it about Michie Mee that you think made her stand out?
Spek:Â She had a lot of attitude and sass. I dug her voice. Her voice had a real dope texture. I wrote for Michie around the time I joined Dream Warriors. I was one of the guys in the back writing rhymes. She can write, but we used to write together, and she spit some of those bars that I wrote.
Photo Credit: Atlantic Records
AA: Do you have a favorite Michie Mee song?
Spek: There are two songs. One is “A Portion From Up North,” which was dope. Super old school. Super sassy. Her voice sounds amazing. And the other song is one I don’t think she ever released that I used to listen to as a demo called “F*ck Off,” and it was hard as hell.
