Hip-hop culture is alive and growing in Lethbridge

By Lethbridge Herald on August 9, 2025.

Jason "SpinMasterJ187" Gouden (right) and son Dylan "Jester Smilez" perform during the Monsters Gathering hip hop showcase at the Slice Saturday.

Joe Manio
Lethbridge Herald
Local Journalism Initiative Reporter

Recently at the Slice Bar and Grill, a lineup of nine hip hop artists from near and far performed at the Monsters Gathering showcase, organized by local promoter Ronnie DeGagnes who performs himself under the names “UrbanVoyce” and also “DJ Braveman.”

Through his company, High Level Promotions, DeGagnes  wants to revitalize the Lethbridge hip-hop scene. Like much of Lethbridge’s live music scene, the COVID pandemic hit the hip hop community hard. Five years on, the recovery continues.

“Pre-COVID especially, from 2008 to 2013, Lethbridge saw a golden era of hip-hop,” says DeGagnes. “As a member of CityProphets, I helped bring major acts to the city and built a strong, connected community. But things changed after the passing of James Nishima (DJ BOODA), who was the driving force behind it all. The scene hasn’t been the same since.”

The Monsters lineup included UrbanVoyce, TDuggie, Poeticvirtue, RG, Cryderman and The New Testaments band; with the “Underground Spotlight” featuring KR3WSuffix and Jester Smilez with music by DJ Braveman and DJ Pikachu. 

Many of the acts were local talent. Forty-seven-year-old Jason “SpinMasterJ187” Gouden moved to Lethbridge in 2016 to be closer to family here. 

“I started DJing about six months after I moved here because I didn’t really know anyone and needed something to do, which turned into paying gigs here and there,” says Gouden, who’s son Dylan “Jester Smilez” was in the lineup. “I have been a fan of hip-hop for as long as I can remember and I am an old-ass man.”

Gouden has a show on the University of Lethbridge’s radio station 88.3 FM CKXU every Saturday night called “Global Invasion,” a music mix show where he plays a wide variety genres (anything he thinks is “dope”), but hip-hop and dance hall have always been his passion.

Hip-hop is more than just a music genre. It’s a constantly evolving cultural movement with four foundational elements: rapping (MCing), DJing, breakdancing (B-boying), and graffiti art. 

Originating in the Bronx, New York City, in the 1970s, hip hop emerged from the African American and Latino communities as a form of self-expression and social commentary.

The lineup at The Slice performance included Indigenous rappers like Jester Smilez and local rapper RG, whose lyrics reflected their personal experiences and First Nations perspectives. DeGagnes himself is Metis.

“Hip-hop, especially rap, is one of the most powerful forms of self-expression and social commentary we have,” says DeGagnes. “It allows people to speak their truths in a way that cuts through the noise, using rhythm, rhyme, and story to say what needs to be said. It’s more than just music; it’s a mirror, a megaphone, and a movement all at once.”

While hip-hop is most often associated with rapping, many artists also sing, either as part of their overall style or in specific songs or sections. Artists may incorporate singing, particularly in choruses or bridges, often drawing from R&B or soul influences.

In the Monsters lineup was the local band The New Testaments, whose performance included covers of songs from the “Golden Age of Hip-Hop.”

“The New Testaments were a no-brainer for the Monsters Gathering lineup,” says DeGagnes. “The goal of the event was to showcase the best of Lethbridge’s underground Hip-Hop and R&B scene, and they brought that in full force.

“With a full band, live saxophone, and powerhouse vocalists, they brought a level of musicianship that raised the bar for everyone else on the bill. Their presence pushed the Hip-Hop acts to elevate their performance and it turned into a real showcase of talent across the board.”

Hip-hop gained significant prominence and evolved into a mainstream cultural force during the 1980s and 1990s. This era, often referred to as the Golden Age of Hip Hop, saw the genre solidify its place in music and culture, moving from its Bronx roots to widespread popularity.

It has spread to almost every continent with each culture developing its own unique flavour. As for the Lethbridge scene, DeGagne has high hopes. 

“The community is really coming together. If we continue to work hard, I see the return of the golden era of Lethbridge just on the horizon.”