This compelling exposé takes a look at three female DJs who are unapologetically disrupting the Toronto hip-hop scene. The film chronicles the journey of women who are pursuing their passions and crafting their careers in a male-dominated industry. From the up-and-coming independent curator to the global powerhouse, these creatives have crafted a brand for themselves as industry leaders, without compromising who they are. They are paving the way for a generation of women and LGBTQ people, previously excluded from the social and cultural norms of the hip-hop world. It is the weirdos and nonconformists who are now redefining what it means to be a woman of colour in hip-hop. “Badassery” examines the social, political and cultural factors that enabled and empowered their success, such as the growing economization of social media, the rise of independent artists, and beauty as capital. “Badassery” was created out of our participation in POV 3rd Street’s Media Training Program. POV 3rd Street is an organization dedicated to breaking barriers for youth from communities who are under-represented in the media industry through training, mentorship and job placement. It is fitting, then, that our documentary deals with similar issues: the struggle to find one’s place in an industry that “isn’t for them”; the resilience it takes to battle the odds and the arduous and inspiring journey of going from outcast to badass.
