Canadian Battle Rap Legend Bishop Brigante Passes Away After Battle with Cancer

Toronto-born battle rapper and musician Bishop Brigante has passed away after a battle with cancer. His son confirmed the news on Sunday (March 31) through an emotional Instagram post, remembering his father as a fighter who never backed down from adversity.

A Son’s Heartfelt Tribute

In his statement, Bishop Brigante’s son reflected on his father’s strength and resilience:

“I never thought the day would come where I’d be writing to the world about such a tragedy. My father was many things, but at most he was a fighter. He overcame so many obstacles in his lifetime and not once said something was ‘impossible.’ I’ve spent the last 19 years learning from such an incredible man. An incredible man I’m so proud to call my father.”

He also noted that Bishop passed away peacefully and vowed to honor his father’s legacy.

Bishop Brigante’s Legacy in Hip-Hop

Bishop Brigante was a pioneer in the Canadian battle rap scene, earning respect both nationally and internationally. He became the first Canadian to win three straight weeks on BET’s Freestyle Friday, helping to put Toronto’s underground rap scene on the map.

Outside of battle rap, Bishop had a successful music career, releasing “Trust Nobody,” “It’s Fo’ Twenty,” and other well-received tracks. He also collaborated with several major artists and was a key figure in King of the Dot (KOTD), one of the world’s premier battle rap leagues.

Beyond music, Bishop pursued acting, appearing in films such as Narc (2002) alongside Ray Liotta and participating in a stage production of A Clockwork Orange.

Hip-Hop Community Pays Tribute

Following the heartbreaking announcement, tributes poured in from across the hip-hop world.

• Drake and Royce da 5’9 shared heartfelt messages in the comments of the Instagram post.
• The Alchemist took to X (formerly Twitter), writing: “Take that mirror down… NOW!’ RIP Bishop Brigante. Huge loss smh.”
• KOTD founder Organik shared an emotional tribute, saying: “I just want to say, I’m grateful to have had someone look out for me and look over me the way that Bishop did. We both connected through similar paths in the music industry and became brothers.”

Bishop Brigante’s passing marks a tremendous loss for Canada’s hip-hop culture and battle rap history. His impact will continue to be felt by fans and artists who were inspired by his artistry and resilience.