2023 Lineup

hassan phills | Host

Hassan Phills is funny. A stand up comedian emerging from the cultural mosaic of Toronto, Canada - Hassan’s point of view is insightful, relatable, and self-aware. Born to Jamaican and Djiboutian parents in one of North America’s most populous cities, Hassan Phils conversational brand of humor is steeped in anecdotal stories of growing up as someone between worlds while being firmly rooted in himself. 

Traveling across 11 countries (and counting) has only furthered Hassan’s studies into the human condition - the various idiosyncrasies we have as people and the common experiences we share as we navigate family, faith, love, ambition, and life in general. Having performed as a comic in the UK, Canada, and into the United States - Hassan Phills took a leap of faith in 2022 when he booked, promoted and produced his own tour, “That’s Crazy”, across Canada.

A resounding success, part of the young comic’s formula in growing a dedicated and loyal audience has been that he is very intentional in choosing his stops and the environments he convenes his shows. Cultivating new spaces for people to enjoy a night out of comedy and community, Hassan is planting seeds everywhere he goes. Those seeds have taken root as 2023 will now see round two of the “That’s Crazy” experience, this time with 15 cities across the country booked for Q3 and Q4 of the year! This will include his Toronto “Just For Laughs” festival debut where he will co-headline on two nights. 

A man who welcomes collaboration, this DIY entrepreneur and entertainer is building a career with real legacy and staying power - and he’s having a lot of fun doing it.

Karim Jabbari | Featured Artist

Karim Jabbari is a world-renowned calligraphy and light artist. The love he has for light and letters is fueled by his passion to incorporate ancient elements into modern design. The main focus of his art is to build bridges between cultures and civilizations through calligraphy. He uses modern techniques while preserving the essence of classical forms and styles. 

NARCY | Featured Artist

Yassin Alsalman, commonly known as NARCY, is an Iraqi Multi Media Artist, Rapper, Producer, award winning Video Director and University Professor. He is a published author and a celebrated pioneer of Arab Hip-Hop. Also known as the GOATAR, Narcy is staunchly independent, fiercely for the people, and passionate about fashion. He currently resides in Montréal, teaching the only Hip-Hop courses at Concordia University and running his bookshop Maktaba @maktaba.bookshop with his partner and wife. He is currently on the eve of releasing his self-titled record, YASSIN.

yusra ali | featured artist

Yusra Ali is currently a nursing student studying at the University of Alberta (UofA). She has achieved recognition by winning various regional poetry competitions in Edmonton, including the national Poetry in Voice "People's Choice" award in 2022. Her profound love for poetry is deeply rooted in her ethnic background and Muslim identity. This passion was ignited when she was given the opportunity to hold a microphone and address an audience in the sixth-grade. One of her primary objectives, which she seeks to achieve through her poetry, is to raise awareness about the various issues encountered within her Black-Muslim community and to empower those in her midst. Today, Yusra is excited to present one of her favorite spoken word pieces. She firmly believes that, at times, a poem can be more captivating and thought-provoking than even the most exquisitely captured image. Words possess a unique power, allowing them to transcend visual aesthetics and reach the deepest corners of the human heart and mind. Through her performance today, Yusra aspires to evoke emotions, inspire change, and foster a deeper understanding of the complex challenges faced by people in our society.