When thinking of Toronto’s hip-hop roots, Christopher ‘Thrust’ France stands out as a prominent and esteemed figure. He gained major recognition for his appearance on Rascalz’s 1998 hit “Northern Touch” alongside rap luminaries Kardinal Offishall, Choclair, and Checkmate. The JUNO Award-winning single revolutionized Canadian hip-hop and rap and elevated Thrust’s career. Born in Toronto on July 8, 1976 this gold and platinum-selling rapper has made notable strides in the hip-hop world.

Thrust’s legacy stretches much further than dope EPs or a couple of popular music videos. He honed his hip-hop skills at the source, spending summers in New York during the late 1980s and 1990s. By the age of 15, Thrust was on TV and appeared in a Kids in the Hall skit in 1990. In 1994, he was featured in Andrew Munger’s documentary film Make Some Noise, a portrait of the underground Canadian hip-hop scene in Toronto. He released the EP Past, Present, Future in 1996– now regarded as one of Toronto’s biggest underground classics. He followed up this record with The Chosen Are Few in 2001. Thrust was nominated as Best New Solo Artist at the 2002 JUNO Awards.

Thrust has undoubtedly carved out his own niche in the music industry. He has shared the stage and toured with legends such as Public Enemy, Destiny’s Child, and The Fugees, earning global recognition for his musical prowess. Now, with his unique style, sound, and spirit, the multi-talented rapper has boldly stepped back into the spotlight. In 2020, Thrust signed a new record deal with Eric B Music Group based in the United States. His album, Play The Game to Win features the track “Skylarkin,” a tune with hints of hip-hop, reggae, and dancehall. In early 2020, Thrust collaborated with BoFaat to release “Like its 1994” and “Broken Arrow” in early 2020.

Beyond his music career, Thrust taught hip-hop production at Harris College. In 2017, Thrust and Big Tweeze launched Views Before the 6, a podcast exploring the history of Toronto’s hip hop scene; and in 2019 was a special guest facilitator at Hip Hop 101 Café in 2019, an event series on the evolution of hip hop at University of Toronto’s Hart House. Thrust continues to release new music, dropping “”Reminisce””, a fresh banger featuring BoFaat Beatz, in December 2024.