Toronto native Terrell Morris (aka City) is a poet turned songwriter whose music is a rich blend of jazz, soul and hip hop. He started writing as a poet, which naturally led to songwriting that both honours his personal experiences and leaves room for interpretation for listeners. The deep introspection and warm tones of the neo-soul he grew up with is heard across his discography and that nostalgic ’90s vibe is intentional and true to his roots.

Morris’ earliest influences include Erykah Badu, a favourite of his mother, and Jay-Z, who he says carried him through his formative years and helped solidify his sound. He grew up with direct ties to Toronto hip hop pioneers Ghetto Concept and was behind the scenes of this local scene on video sets, meeting local artists such as Sticky Fingaz and Maestro Fresh Wes. There is also a fondness for Outkast, Raphael Saadiq, Bob Marley and Sizzla, as Morris also claims reggae and folk as influences.

Although he had been recording music since he was 14, Morris did not release his debut solo album, Lavender, until 2020. Prior to this, he collaborated with producers Free n Losh for a project called Molasses in 2018 and has been steadily releasing singles.