Aubrey “Drake” Graham

This Grammy-winning Toronto R&B star worked with Drake and Jay-Z. Then she decided to disappear. Now, Melanie Fiona is finding that making a comeback isn’t so easy

She just released a new EP, but the singer has already cancelled most of her upcoming tour dates. April 26, 2025 By Nick Krewen Special to the Star She’s won two Grammys and a Juno and has been associated with some of the biggest names in hip-hop. Then she went independent and virtually disappeared. Now, after being out of the spotlight for 13 years, Melanie Fiona is attempting a comeback. “I…

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Former ‘Degrassi’ producer on becoming a recording artist at 76 and what Drake’s really like

Stephen Stohn will release The Orange Sessions with his group, GTA Rhythm Section. by Nick Krewen Special to the Star He’s the chancellor of Trent University, an Order of Canada member, a former top entertainment attorney to the stars and has served as executive producer for most of the run of the “Degrassi” TV franchise. And at 76, Stephen Stohn just added a new accomplishment to his impressive résumé: recording artist. As…


Boi-1da reflects on his career — from being a Toronto kid rushing out to buy an Eminem album to a Grammy nominated producer

Boi-1da has produced for music superstars, including a long association with Drake. On Sunday, he’s up for Non-Classical Producer of the Year for the second time By Nick Krewen Special to the Star When the 65th Grammy Awards are held Sunday in Los Angeles, all Canadian eyes will be on the Non-Classical Producer of the Year category. That’s because Toronto’s Matthew Samuels – better known publicly as Boi-1da – has…


Nagamo Publishing looks to give a voice to performers, composers, artists of the Indigenous hubs of Canada

Nick Krewen Special to the Star After two years of building its production library, Toronto-based Nagamo Publishing is ready to take on the world. As the first exclusively Indigenous-created music production library and composer agency on the planet to serve media needs, Nigel Irwin, Nagamo Co-Creative Director and Composer says the shingle offers a lot of variety.  “Our bread and butter is contemporary music fused with traditional sounds, as well…


Drake still at top of his game in Scary Hours 2 – plus addresses the upcoming Certified Lover Boy

Nick Krewen Special to the Star Drake not only dropped a new three-song EP called Scary Hours II at midnight: he also dropped a new video and – to top it all off – a new 24-hour fully curated radio channel. With short notice on Thursday night, the man who has been  setting hip-hop trends for the past 11 years shared on his Twitter and Instagram feeds that he’d appearing on…