Quebec rap shines at ADISQ 2025: Souldia is the undisputed king

This week, the organization ADISQ celebrated local music through three events: the Industry Gala, the First Gala and the Official Gala presented to the Place des Arts. While the spotlight has shone on many figures in Quebec music, one thing has become undeniably clear: rap now occupies a major place in popular culture. Between performances of Sarahmée, Aswell, Naomi and Shah Frank, the Hip-Hop scene dominated conversations and accolades.

During the First Gala, hosted by Sarahmée and broadcast on the airwaves of Télé-Québec, it is Souldia who swept the Félix Award for Album of the Year – Rap for Nouvelle vie. This award adds to an impressive list of accolades: after Ad vitam aeternam (2018) and Backstage (2023), he thus signs a third historic victory in this category, a record for a solo artist.

It is important to remember that in the history of Quebec rap, alone Taktika had so far achieved the feat of winning three Felix in the category Album of the Year – Rap. By adding their victories and participation within the collective 83, the total even climbs to five Felix, a historic record for a group from the French-speaking Hip-Hop scene.

Their journey, which began in the late 1990s with projects that have become cult classics such as Mon mic, mon forty, mon blunt (2001), L’Affaire Taktika (2006) and Le Cœur et la Raison (2009), paved the way for a whole generation of artists. Today, Souldia he thus joins this very exclusive circle, equaling the performance of Taktika on an individual level and confirming that Quebec rap now has its true legends.

Released under the label Disques 7ième Ciel of the renowned Mr. Steve Jolin, the album testifies to an artistic evolution where lucidity takes precedence over rage, without betraying the origins of Souldia, rapper from Limoilou whose consistency commands respect.

Part of the cream of the crop

This year's rap category brought together several heavyweights of the movement. Lost was nominated for Portrait robot, a project carried out with Souldia, praised for its balance between melody and gravity. Rymz proposed Vivre à mourir (Deluxe), a reissue marked by more introspective sounds.

Sarahmée, also the master of ceremonies, distinguished herself with Pleure pas ma fille, sinon maman va pleurer, an album that is both personal and socially engaged. Finally, Raccoon completed the table with Porter le coup, oublier. Porter la marque, se souvenir, a conceptual work rooted in lived experience and memory.

This ranking illustrates the diversity of Quebec rap in 2025. Multiple voices, varied approaches, but the same reality: these are the artists who fill venues. Because even if some believe the same names reappear year after year, it must be acknowledged that they are the ones who draw crowds, sell tickets, and transform the Quebec scene into a true cultural engine. While many struggle to fill half a bar, Souldia, Loud, Rymz, FouKi, Lost or Sarahmée They are constantly performing sold-out tours.

An entire industry driven by Hip-Hop culture

On the artisans' side, the Hip-Hop scene also distinguished itself at the Industry Gala. The agency SIX Media Marketing, where works Patricia Clavel, won the Felix of the Year - Press Relations Team. This is a well-deserved award for a professional who has worked for years to give Quebec rap the visibility it deserves, placing it at the heart of the media and cultural institutions. This recognition is a reminder that behind every artist is a solid team, essential to the growth of the movement.

By bringing together Souldia, Lost, Rymz, Sarahmée, Fredz, Raccoon and Patricia Clavel under the same banner, ADISQ 2025 will have confirmed what the streets and social media already knew: Quebec rap is no longer a marginal movement, but a pillar of contemporary Francophone music. These artists have not only won over the public, but have also institutionalized their place within Quebec culture.

With his third Felix, Souldia made history and cemented his name in the collective memory. He became the first solo rapper to achieve such a feat, embodying the transition from underground to mainstream recognition. More than a trophy, this victory symbolizes a reality: in 2025, rap is no longer an alternative, it is the beating heart of the music scene here.

The Official Gala, hosted by Pierre-Yves Roy-Desmarais since the Wilfrid-Pelletier Hall at Place des Arts, continued this recognition of Hip-Hop. If the major categories featured figures like Fredz and Jay Scøtt, It was the presence of rap in the performances and nominations that confirmed its place among the dominant genres. The song Le stade by Fredz was notably among the finalists for the Song of the Year, further proof of the generational impact of rap from here.

Souldia returns to the competition with Nouvelle vie in two major categories: Album of the Year – Popular Success and Show of the Year, which means he could leave with one or two more Félix awards on Sunday evening starting at 7:30 p.m. at Salle Wilfrid-Pelletier in Place des Arts (Montreal, Quebec, Canada).

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