The Canadian hip-hop duo Dream Warriors played an integral part in setting the northern hip-hop scene. Forming in 1988 the Toronto based King Lou (Louis Robinson) and Capital Q (Frank Allert) became major influencers to the jazz-rap movement. Their 1991 album And Now The Legacy Begins took the music world by storm. They held a unique fusion of rap, reggae and jazz and became one of the first international success stories for a Canadian hip-hop artist.

Both members grew up in the Toronto Jane and Finch area and even at the height of their fame, they were integral parts of the community. They began recording with label Beat Factory that housed fellow Canadian musicians like Michie Mee and Carla Marshall; they eventually signed with Island, a UK record label, becoming immensely popular in Europe. In interviews and performances King Lou always brought a sugar cane with him to represent where the duo was from and where they were going.

Their song “Wash Your Face in My Sink” and “My Definition of a Boombastic Jazz Style” was one of two singles in the UK’s top 20 and helped the album go Gold in Canada. The group has collected several Juno nominations and a 1992 win for the Quincy bossa-nova inspired “My Definition of a Boombastic Jazz Style”. The same song would be indited in 2023 to the Canadian songwriter’s hall of fame.

Their second album Subliminal Simulation was not as well received and their third album The Master Plan was released in the United Kingdom and Canada. Their fourth and final studio album The Legacy Continues was only released in Canada. While their other albums may not have held the same success, their music was culture defining and helped usher in a new era of sound.