New Canada Post stamps honour Black Canadian hip-hop icons

Michie Mee, left to right, Muzion and Maestro Fresh Wes are pictured on new Canada Post stamps honouring Black Canadian hip-hop icons for Black History Month in this handout photo. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Handout - Canada Post (Mandatory Credit)

TORONTO — Maestro Fresh Wes was among the stars witnessing the unveiling of Canada Post stamps honouring hip-hop for Black History Month.

The national postal service revealed the look of three new stamps featuring the Toronto rapper and producer; rapper and actress Michie Mee; and the Quebec trio Muzion.

“It is so exciting to see us honoured in the name of hip-hop with Canada Post,” Mee said with tears in her eyes following the unveiling of the stamps on Tuesday.

The Jamaican-born rapper, who is known as the godmother of Canadian rap, said being featured on the stamp means the world to her and her loved ones.

“It means so much to my family, especially to those who are familiar with stamps and send letters, shout out to you! I’m gonna be mailing you soon.”

The invite-only unveiling event drew nearly 300 people, including family and friends of the honourees. The night was full of hip-hop music, an open bar and dancing.

“It is everything that any artist, anyone that is part of a culture, fighting to be seen. This is what you want to live. This is what it is all about, to be acknowledged,” Muzion member Stanley Rimsky Salgado said.

Hip-hop, he said, is “the greatest national treasure that we have.”

The stamp set is a tribute to the vibrant and colourful roots of hip-hop in Canada. Each one is printed with fluorescent inks that glow under black light, features metallic silver-and-black duotone portraits, and is layered with matte and gloss varnishes.

“I never thought we’d get our own stamps, but how cool is that? And my pops took the photo. Wicked!” Wes said, hugging his father onstage as they celebrated.

The stamps were designed by Noël Nanton and Nadia Molinari of typotherapy, a Toronto-based studio.

“I tried to tell this young lady we were gonna make it,” Mee said, pointing to her stamp, which depicts her younger self against a colourful background. “And now we’re here.”

Canada Post says this is the first time it’s issued stamps celebrating hip-hop artists.

“Each of the artists is recognized for helping to shape the genre of hip-hop and rap in Canada,” the Crown corporation said in a media release.

Stamps and collectibles will be available to the public starting Wednesday.

Last year’s stamp for Black History Month featured Marie Joseph Angélique, who was accused of a crime she denied committing. She was arrested in 1734 on suspicion of having lit dozens of buildings and homes on fire in Montreal.

It was alleged she did so to escape her enslaver after learning she had been sold and would potentially be sent to the West Indies.

Despite maintaining her innocence throughout the trial, she was found guilty and publicly hanged.

This report by The Canadian Press was first published Jan. 27, 2026.

Fatima Raza, The Canadian Press