Genre: Spoken Word, Hip-Hop
Period: 2000s-present
Region: Ontario
Matthew-Ray Jones, also known as Testament, is a Mississauga native, poet, art educator, emcee, and speaker. A natural wordsmith, he began writing poetry at the young age of seven, and by his teenage years he fell in love with hip-hop, bringing his love of words to a new light.
The entrepreneur has since released several albums, led workshops, and has made multiple television and radio appearances. Testament has taken his voice both nationally and internationally in Europe, Asia, South and Central America, the Caribbean, and North America. Throughout his career, he has worked with several notable acts including Kardinal Offishall, Naughty by Nature, Biz Markie, Saukrates, and more.
With decades of experience, Testament uses his incredible talents to spread a message of peace and love to his audiences. He leads workshops, seminars, and other programs helping to instill passion for the arts through education. In 2024, he was appointed the second Poet Laureate for the Province of Ontario. He hopes to spread his message of peace, love, and unity through his work.
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