Andy McCurbin otherwise known as Brother A, was a part of the early days in the Toronto underground hip-hop movement. The rapper and emcee has been in the business for over 40 years and worked alongside some of the city’s tastemakers. McCurbin often frequented many of the city’s up and coming music venues, including one of Toronto’s first hip-hop clubs, the Dub Club. He was a regular toaster at the legendary club and in an interview with NOWToronto he noted, “You could tell from the energy that this was something special.” He goes on, “You’d get going and just go with the music, come in and just become part of the scene. I was the guy who welcomed you into the room, and just kept the party going, keep the energy going.”

McCurbin performed at many venues across the city as Brother A, even becoming a part of the Maceo Sound Crew. He continues making music, does voiceover work (he is the voice in some of the African Lion Safari commercials), and does some work for Roots Canada. McCurbin has always promoted the Toronto sound and its talent, noting that the only reason the city was not in the same lane as New York at the time, was the lack of record label support.