Michie Mee, a pioneering figure in Canadian hip-hop, has made history as one of the country's first superstars in the genre. Her innovative blend of reggae sounds into her rap has not only characterized her unique style but also played a significant role in shaping the Canadian hip-hop landscape. Michie Mee made headlines as the first Canadian rapper to sign with a major American label, and throughout her career, she has remained deeply connected to her roots.

Reflecting on her early influences, Michie Mee recalls the encouragement of local youth during her formative years at Weston Collegiate Institute in Toronto. “The courage. About 30 kids just running around here, saying, ‘You can do it. And I was like, ‘okay.’ We’ll take on the world and prove to them that Canadians can rap,” she said during a recent visit to the school where her journey began nearly 40 years ago.

Regarded as the godmother of Canadian rap, Michie Mee became a trailblazer in a time when hip-hop was still gaining traction. Currently, her contributions to music and culture are being honored by Canada Post, which has included her in a special collection of stamps recognizing hip-hop pioneers as part of Black History Month celebrations. Alongside her, Maestro Fresh Wes and the Quebec group Muzion are also featured in this prestigious collection.

Initially surprised by the recognition from Canada Post, Michie Mee expressed her joy, stating, “First, I was like, is this really Canada Post? And then it sank in, wow, we’ve arrived in terms of hip-hop being recognized to this level of just recognition.” Former manager Ivan Berry praised Michie Mee's legacy, emphasizing that her work laid the groundwork for the commercialization of hip-hop music in Canada.

When discussing the selection process for the stamp collection, Eli Yarhi from Canada Post remarked on the importance of honoring artists who represent the foundational days of hip-hop in Canada. “When it came down to deciding, okay, we want to do hip-hop, but which artists should we focus on to really tell that story? We knew we wanted to come down to the roots and these three groups… they are really representative of those early days, the seeds of hip-hop in this country,” he explained.

Throughout her career, Michie Mee has faced various challenges, particularly in navigating her identity and representation as a woman in the male-dominated hip-hop industry. She reflects on the complexities of being perceived through the lens of race and gender, stating, “I’m really a product of my environment. I just put words to it, so that being a woman in that case, it’s like, who’s in charge of her? I’m in charge of me. Are you sure? Who’s in charge of her? They always wanna know the Black guy in charge of her and then the White man in charge of him, was my fight for most of my career.”

Currently, Michie Mee is working on her memoir, detailing her life journey while also giving back to the community. She is actively mentoring youth and imparting the same empowering message that has driven her to achieve her dreams. As she comes to terms with her recognition, Michie expressed her emotional gratitude: “I’m on a stamp. I’m on a stamp. I mean, you can’t make these moments up. … Thank you, Canada, merci.”