Kunle Thomas, also known as “King Reign,” was a notable figure in Toronto’s hip-hop scene. The Juno nominated artist gained respect and popularity through hard hitting lyrics and clear passion. He was a proud father of two children committed to making a positive impact with his music.

Born in Toronto, Ontario, in 1975, Thomas was the son of Trinidadian and Guyanese immigrants. His upbringing greatly influenced his love for music. His father was a DJ, and he regularly attended Afro Caribbean musical festivals alongside his parents. During his teenage years, Thomas’ musical passion was brought to life. He performed in his high school band and wrote rap lyrics during his free time.

In 2003, Thomas pursued his musical dreams— debuting under the alias King Reign with single “Uptight,” featuring Saukrates. Four years later, he gained more prominence due to his addition to BrassMunk— the legendary Toronto hip-hop group. He contributed to the group’s album Fewturistic, which received a Juno nomination for Rap Recording of the Year in 2008.

Following this success, King Reign released the 2009 EP The Audacity of Hope then took a 5-year hiatus before releasing the full-length album Sincere in 2014. The project was well received in Toronto’s hip-hop community. In a comprehensive review, music journalist Jade Newton described it as “a reminder…that hip-hop is not dead.”

Tragically, Thomas died of a heart attack on June 28th, 2016 at only 40 years old. His death was a shock to Torontonians, who expressed their condolences via Twitter in staggering numbers. In a beautiful act of kindness, his peers from Toronto’s Hip-Hop community organized GoFundMe to contribute to his children’s trust fund. Since his untimely demise, his label Reign Music released 4 pre-recorded singles to honour his memory.