Smoke Dawg

Smart began rapping at the age of 16 in 2013. He uploaded many freestyles on to YouTube including the song "U Ain't about That" with DGC Roney and YH.[3] Smoke Dawg gained recognition in 2014 with the release of "Still" featuring Halal Hang member MoG, released on October 4, 2014. It gained over 1 million views within a month of release.[4] This was two days before close friend Ano died. Mo-G and Smoke Dawg uploaded the song "Still" to YouTube in January 2015. In it, the two rappers and their friends rap, dance, and laugh in shadowy parking lots, fluorescent-lit apartment corridors, and an empty studio. Although the initial upload was deleted, its re-upload amassed over 4 million views within a year of being online.[5][6]

Smart rose to fame with his 2015 single "Trap House" released on July 31.[7] The single went viral for introducing a dance move known as "flippin'" and gained the attention of numerous notable artists including French Montana, who jumped on the official remix of the single[8][9] and Toronto artist Drake. Drake went on to include Smart in many of his worldwide tours and he also headlined alongside ASAP Ferg.[10] Safe released the single "Hang" in 2015 which saw a feature from Smoke Dawg.[11] Smart subsequently went on to release the single "Overseas" alongside Skepta in October 2016.[12] This was Skepta's second work with a Canadian artist, the first being Tre Mission.[13] The single was produced by Toronto native Murda Beatz.[14] Smart also performed at Toronto's first independent hip-hop festival outside of OVO's own offering, 6 Fest. The two-day festival saw Smoke Dawg performing alongside his Halal Gang as well as Pusha T, French Montana and Roy Woods.[15]

Smart was placed on Now's list of Toronto musicians to watch for in 2017.[16] In February 2017, Smart released the song "Count it Up" where he went to London, UK to shoot the music video.[17] He also headlined in London with supporting acts from Nafe Smallz, Drake and Splurgeboys.[18][19] Whilst in the UK, Smoke Dawg and Halal Gang affiliate Puffy L'z dropped a "Fire in the Booth" freestyle with Charlie Sloth in March 2017.[20] He was also on the Boy Meets World Tour touring with Drake.[21][22] During this month Smart also featured on Jimmy Prime's single "Humana" alongside Donnie.[23] Toronto's most notorious music festival, uTOpia, was held during June 2017 and premiered showcase for the new generation of artists in the General Toronto Area. Smoke Dawg who was one of the main performers of the festival brought out Puffy L'z and Mo-G. The event was rated 7 by Exclaim!, who described Prime Boys and Halal Gang's performance as playing off of each other's energy, which ultimately brought the night together.[24] In September 2017, Smart was featured in the documentary "Northside" which highlighted Toronto's fledgling rap scene.[25] Noisey released a short documentary titled "Noisey Meets Smoke Dawg" in December 2017. The behind the scenes documentary caught up with Smoke Dawg in Toronto where he talked about his rise, the passing of his best friend, and how to break out of Toronto's glass ceiling.[26]

Smart announced that he was working on his debut studio album Struggle Before Glory in early 2018. However, before the album was officially released, he was shot and killed on June 30, 2018, in front of a nightclub in downtown Toronto.[27] The lead single of the album "No Discussion" featured AJ Tracey and was produced by Murda Beatz. It was released a month after his death on August 13, 2018.[28] Smoke Dawg's posthumous debut and only studio album Struggle Before Glory was released on November 29, 2018.[29] The album was rated 8/10 by Exclaim!.[30] The album features from the likes of Toronto artists Puffy L'z, Jimmy Prime, Jay Whiss and Safe, as well as UK artists Fredo, AJ Tracey and Giggs.[31] The album was described as a "sum up of the late rapper's legacy".[32][33][34] Smoke Dawg's younger brother, Young Smoke, provided a tribute on the outro of the album.[35]

The deluxe edition of Struggle Before Glory was released on June 19, 2020, a year and a half after its initial release.[2]

Halal Gang affiliate Mustafa the Poet released a short film titled Remember Me, Toronto.[44] The film aims to discuss the systemic structure working against the lower economies of Toronto and wanted to give these artists the opportunity to "rewrite their memories and the memories of those they lost". Smart was featured at the start of the clip in an archive footage of his speech on how he wishes to be remembered.[45] Smart appeared on Puffy L'z debut album Take No L'z released on July 19, 2019, on the single "Boring" alongside Jay Whiss.[46] He was also featured on Donnie's debut album From the Beginning to End released on November 22, 2019, on the track "Good as it Gets" alongside Jimmy Prime.[47] Jay Whiss released the single "Mind in a Maze", the lead single for his debut album Peace of Mind.[48][49] The song was a tribute to Smoke Dawg and has stated that it was his favorite song ever recorded.[50] Smart was known for his adlib "Awhooley", in an interview with Now newspaper, Puffy L'z stated he uses the adlib to keep Smart's name alive.[51]

• Struggle Before Glory

As lead artist

As featured artist