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ADISQ's all-white rap shortlist sparks backlash in Quebec as winner Loud honours Black pioneers on stage
All five nominees for rap album of the year at Quebec's ADISQ music awards were white, prompting Montreal artists to question long-standing under-representation of Black artists; winner Loud, accepting the prize at the first gala on November 4, used the moment to honour the Black artists who built Quebec's rap scene, as fellow nominee Calamine had urged.
Quebec's biggest music awards, the ADISQ, are facing a backlash over this year's rap album shortlist: all five nominees were white. The list named Aswell for "Berger", Calamine for "Rétrograde", FouKi for "Still Kankan", Kinji00 for "À la prochaine fois" and Loud for "Douze sur douze". Loud won the category at the first gala on November 4, but the criticism has not quieted. A CBC report said Montreal artists view the all-white line-up as part of a longer problem with representation, not a one-night mistake.
The acknowledgement on stage
According to reports, nominee Calamine had urged the eventual winner to recognise the Black artists who helped build Quebec's rap scene. Loud did so when he accepted the award, turning the acceptance into an acknowledgement of the people missing from the ballot. The first gala was hosted by rapper Sarahmée, one of Quebec's most visible Black artists.
The background
ADISQ, the Québec Association for the Recording, Concert and Video Industries, has organised an annual music awards ceremony since 1979. Its broader 2026 nominations were announced in September, and 46 trophies were handed out across the industry event and the first gala. Critics note that rap is a musical form rooted in Black communities, yet no Black artist appeared on the rap album shortlist, and they question how the nominations are chosen; artists and listeners are now asking ADISQ to explain the list.
(File photo: a music awards ceremony.)
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