Ken Masters is a hip-hop artist associated with happy hardcore and UK hardcore. He is based in Toronto and is known for a performance style that moves between comic storytelling, direct lyricism and more personal material.

Career

Masters wins the 2005 Importfest Freestyle Battle Championship and appears in the Toronto live and club circuit as a host of the city’s Premier Hiphop Party, SouledOut @ Reilys. His music appears on 300 mixtapes and compilations worldwide from 2005 onwards, and he gives interviews and promotional drops for DJs, magazines and websites.

He opens for a range of recording artists, including platinum-selling acts such as Young Buck and Mario, as well as Inspectah Deck of Wu-Tang Clan. He also completes a west coast tour with The Game.

Recordings

Masters releases The Masters Plan mix CD, which introduces his work to a wider audience, and he has The Masters Plan Vol. 2 in circulation. He is also working on a debut album, which is described as part of a longer period of recording and live-performance development.

Public profile

Masters is also noted for his legal dispute with the Toronto police, in connection with claims of false arrest and assault. He is presented as an artist who builds his profile through grassroots promotion and repeated public appearances.