Quebec City historian showcases province’s hip-hop scene in local exhibit

Aly Ndiaye’s relationship with hip hop has been 30 years in the making. A self-proclaimed bookworm, he’s known by the stage name Webster, and has long aimed to shed a light on the lesser-known parts of Quebec history. Known in recent years for his conferences and specialized walking tours of Quebec City, he says it was hip hop that first showed him the power of self-expression. “I got exposed to hip-hop culture and it really spoke to me because it was the first time as an African-Canadian, as an African-Québécois, this was the first time I saw myself — I saw my realities pictured on TV,” he said. “Being a young mixed kid from Limoilou streets, this is the first time I saw people looking like me who were empowered.” In the mid-90s, Webster launched a hip-hop career of his own, with his music focusing on themes he had previously felt unable to express. Story continues below advertisement “It was a way to express myself, to express creativity also, and to speak about things I was living but nobody was talking about back then,” he said. Get the latest National news. Sent to your email, every day. “We were profiled...