The Calgary hip-hop scene is often overlooked when the city’s musical landscape is talked about. Polo Sho is an example of an artist looking to break through that misguided vision. A performer who has been a staple in the scene, he’s gone from a regular at straight-up hip-hop nights to poetry slams and multi-genre showcases, to an engineer and producer with 3rd Verse, helping shape the sound of Calgary hip-hop into something specific.

A Nigerian-Canadian, his work with 3rd Verse is centrally diasporic, and their JollofNJam party is one of Calgary’s most slept-on regular music events. Ever the community-builder, Polo Sho is also the founder of LiftedOnes, a harder-edged collective of MCs infusing ’90s chopper and boom bap styles with darker and more mysterious beats.

As Polo Sho his performances are prettier, jazzier, and presented with a full band of some of Calgary’s stankiest groovers. His confidence is obvious in his production and delivery and is fuelled both by the chip on the collective YYC scene and the community he has built around him. A “local” artist right now, Polo Sho is looking at much bigger horizons.

- Liam Prost