ABBY GABBY is a Courtice-based sister duo who blend catchy melodies, soulful harmonies, and playful energy to create music that’s both heartfelt and fun. Rooted in indie/alternative pop, gospel, and R&B—with influences from Lover’s Rock and classic crooners—they bring nostalgic tones into fresh, contemporary soundscapes. From a young age, Abby and Gabby found comfort in music, using it as a way to express their inner worlds and navigate life’s experiences. Their songs celebrate emotion, sisterhood, self-expression, and resilience. Whether performing originals or reimagining timeless classics, ABBYGABBY is known for creating warm, emotional spaces through their performances. Their goal is to make people feel safe, joyous, and seen—inviting everyone to connect, reflect, and simply be themselves. As part of RISE 'til Infinity at the Convergence Art & Music Festival, they are proud to stand alongside fellow BIPOC artists, sharing stories and sounds that uplift identity, creativity, and community.

Afiwi Groove School is Durham Region’s Award Winning African performing Arts School. Established in 2013, in Ajax, Ontario, Afiwi Groove School empowers, educate and Inspire communities through Arts and Culture of the African Diaspora. This year Afiwi celebrates 10 years building, healing and bringing the Black community together through African Caribbean Music and Dance. In March 2023, Afiwi Groove School was gifted the Music Counts “Inspired Minds” Juno Award from Kevin Drew and the Canadian Junos Awards. The West African Djembe drum represents the community. The Musical sound “anka-dje anka be” means ‘Let’s come together and work in harmony”. Drum and Dance Performance: Performing today is Afiwi  Sr. Urban Dance students.  They represent the essence of Afiwi Groove school and the talent that is being developed to represent excellence through Arts and Culture of the African Diaspora. Afiwi Drum Circle is lead by Kemar Scarlett who teaches at Afiwi Groove School.  Sign up for dance and music dance classes at Afiwi at www.afiwigroove.com  Follow AFIWI on IG @Afiwigroove to learn more!

Andre Mandela López is a visionary muralist and multidisciplinary artist whose work centers Indigenous wisdom and collective healing. His murals and public art projects are rooted in community collaboration, designed to cultivate togetherness and awaken the innate creativity and love within us all. Through vibrant imagery and intentional engagement, Andre bridges political and social issues with spiritual solutions—reconnecting people to the land, to one another, and to their own inner power. His practice stands as a living testament to the transformative role of art in cultural resilience and liberation.

Breaking Canada champions the art and sport of Breaking (Breakdancing), fostering talent from coast to coast and promoting the discipline nationwide. We are not only nurturing the current generation of breakers but also investing in the future by building robust infrastructure for the sport in the country. As the proud organization that supported Canadian Breakers for the 2024 Paris Olympic Games, we celebrate the historic achievement of Phil Wizard, who secured a gold medal in the sport's Olympic debut. This remarkable success exemplifies our commitment to developing world-class talent and establishing Canada as a leader in global Breaking.

DJ INTHECUT is a veteran on the turntables, known for blending hip hop, R&B, and drum and bass into high-energy, culture-rich sets. Influenced by his father’s legendary house parties and crews like the X-Ecutioners, his style is rooted in rhythm and raw authenticity. But the story doesn’t end there. Off the decks, he trains in traditional Wing Chun kung fu and is passionate about mentoring youth. Through martial arts, he teaches discipline, confidence, and purpose—empowering the next generation to move with strength and integrity. Whether rocking a party or leading in the dojo, DJ INTHECUT lives by the beat and leads by example.

Since 2017, the energetic and eclectic DJ Sela Vie has been spinning all over the Greater Toronto Area, bringing the vibe everywhere from the club to the skate park. As an open format DJ, she’s mainly known for mixing Hip-Hop, House, and EDM but loves the challenge of blending different genres with one another. Along with her love of music and mixing, Sela’s goal with DJing is to ensure people are having a great time and creating greater memories. In the past two years, DJ Sela Vie acted as a touring DJ for artist, Haviah Mighty, played the MUJI Back-to-School event, and rocked the stage during the Toronto Pride Parade. Growing up in a West Indian family along with four older siblings that all had different music tastes, Sela didn’t just grow to love music, it became a way of living. Around her, music is never not playing. From a young age using song lyrics as a way to her feelings be known to her friends, it became her primary way of expressing herself. Even now, the mixes Sela puts out are intending to make you feel something. Currently, DJ Sela Vie holds two residencies, weekly at Freeplay Toronto and monthly at the Junction Underground. As of 2025, Sela is looking to expand her brand, produce her own beats, and maybe get out of the city once in a while.

Veteran Toronto lyricist, Dan-e-o won a Rap-Off Contest on the “Electric Circus” dance show as a 13 year-old. Five years later, in 1996, his first single “Dear Hip Hop” was featured on Beat Factory’s Rap Essentials Volume One compilation. It is now considered a Canadian Hip-Hop classic. Well known for his incomparable live shows, Dan-e-o is widely respected as one of Canada’s top-tier MCs. A member of the Scarborough collective, Monolith, Dan-e-o has released six solo albums. The latest, Vigilante, is equal parts lyricism clinic and seething social commentary. The LP harshly critiques social media misuse, gun violence, anti-black racism, self-hatred, jealousy and self-doubt. He also addresses a past toxic relationship while not missing a beat tearing into talentless rappers. With an impressive list of featured guests which includes such legendary artists as Masta Ace, Saukrates and even comedy superstar, Russell Peters, Dan-e-o has created a recipe for hip-hop perfection.

Desiree Mckenzie is an award-winning poet, arts educator, national poetry slam champion living in Toronto. Her poetry and voice have been featured in works for CBC’s Poetic License series, When Sisters Speak, Clearco Financial, Button Poetry, Kids Help Phone and Home Depot. She facilitates a range of community poetry programming for organizations like JAYU, VIBE Arts, Unity Charity, and Poetry in Voice. In December 2022, she opened for Rupi Kaur on her world tour stop at Massey Hall. She is currently enrolled in the University of Guelph Creative Writing MFA program.

Elle De Lyon is a master storyteller whose powerful narratives span live events, transformative programs, films, books, and stage performances. An author, award-winning creative producer, director, and dynamic performer, she commands the stage with presence, poise, and prowess. Elle blends Hip-Hop, R&B, jazz, and R.A.P. (Rhythmic Affirmation Poetry) into rich, soulful storytelling that bridges art, healing, and community. Born and raised in Scarborough and living in Oshawa for over a decade, Elle serves as Program Director at RISE Edutainment — reaching intelligent souls everywhere with transformative art and education. She also leads PDA Global Media, a creative consulting agency empowering marginalized creatives to craft and share their stories with impact and confidence. Honoured to return for a second year, Elle hosts, curates, and directs the festival’s inaugural Day 1 of the iconic 2-day Convergence Art and Music Festival on September 19, where creativity and culture ignite and converge.

Keysha Freshh, known for her electrifying stage presence and razor-sharp lyrical prowess, is a trailblazing hip-hop artist hailing from Toronto, Canada. With a career spanning over a decade, she has carved her name in the industry as a versatile rapper, captivating audiences with her unique blend of bold authenticity and poetic storytelling. From her early days in the vibrant Toronto underground scene to commanding major stages worldwide, Keysha Freshh has consistently pushed boundaries with her dynamic flow and thought-provoking lyrics. Her music resonates with a diverse audience, tackling social issues, personal growth, and the realities of urban life with a raw honesty that connects deeply with listeners. A true wordsmith, Keysha Freshh continues to evolve her sound, drawing inspiration from her Guyanese heritage and the multicultural tapestry of her hometown. Beyond her solo career, she collaborates with fellow artists, enriching the hip-hop landscape with her distinctive voice and unwavering dedication to the craft. Off-stage, Keysha Freshh is a community leader and advocate, using her platform to empower young artists and champion social justice causes. Her commitment to authenticity and artistic integrity has solidified her reputation as a force to be reckoned with in the music industry and beyond.

Jahmeika “M3IKA” Reid is an emerging artist with West Indian Jamaican and British roots, who found her voice in Scarborough’s vibrant arts community. A graduate of Wexford Collegiate School for the Arts, M3IKA has opened for Big Lean at the MANIFESTO Festival, joined a London music exchange with Nando’s, and released her debut single “PC2WP.” In 2024, she returned to the MANIFESTO stage, sharing it with Jully Black and Choclair to celebrate 50 years of Hip Hop. M3IKA’s artistry bridges music, storytelling, and mentorship, hosting the UAN Open Mic Series with Unity Charity and facilitating workshops with “Beats, Rhymes, and Life.” Her community work extends to The Greenprint Network, nurturing youth through artist development. Inspired by her British roots and love for Hip Hop, M3IKA’s upcoming single “Smokey Mirrors” reflects her growth and layered storytelling, staying true to her mission of empowerment, authenticity, and building community through music.

Melo Griffith is an Alternative-Rap and Indie R&B artist, bends the boundaries of contemporary hip-hop with hypnotic voicing and colourful lyricism. Raised in the GTA and shaped in Ottawa, Melo’s sound blends Toronto’s raw rap edge with blues, funk, and bedroom pop influences. His immersive music explores storytelling, youthfulness, and life’s raw beauty, creating world-like soundscapes that elicit emotion and imagery. Notable works include his debut CTFO and collaborative projects The Caves Have Wifi and The Caves Have Wifi 2. As a Black artist in Toronto, Melo redefines creativity through his self-styled "Rapternative" music, pushing boundaries with versatility and depth.

Realije The Beatbox Emcee, born Elijah Bartoszewski, is a beatboxer and rhythmic poet from Toronto with Jamaican, Cuban, Polish, and Ukrainian roots. Raised in Parkdale and Etobicoke, his multicultural upbringing exposed him to a range of artistic influences including breakdancing, DJing, emceeing, and genres like reggae, dancehall, and hip-hop. He began his artistic journey as a bboy at 11 and has been professionally beatboxing and emceeing since he was 16. While studying Environment and Urban Sustainability at TMU, Realije deepened his artistic voice by fusing lived experience with academic discourse, often focusing on themes like racial justice, unity, and community-building. Known for his improvisational style and collaborations, he gained recognition through performances and workshops across Toronto. In 2019, he founded Sunset Cypher, a weekly outdoor event series in Trinity Bellwoods Park aimed at showcasing local talent and creating a vibrant space for hip-hop and multi-disciplinary arts. His leadership through this initiative helped strengthen Toronto’s creative community and cemented his role as a key figure in the city’s underground arts scene.

Tara Lord is a bold and authentic voice in hip-hop. Known as The Stargirl, she brings fearless energy and honesty to everything she does, from performing at Rolling Loud and Pride Toronto to connecting with her community through lyrics that shine light. Her sound is genre-blending and soul-deep, created to inspire, uplift, and empower.