Canadian hip hop veteran Tough Dumplin sat down with WorldWide Entertainment TV to share some of the defining moments in his career — including a major co-sign from one of hip hop’s most respected DJs.

During the interview, Tough Dumplin recalls the moment when DJ Premier got his hands on one of his records. What was supposed to be a simple listen-and-give-feedback situation turned into something much bigger.

“DJ Premier got a hold of it… They were supposed to give me feedback, but none of them did. They just started airing the song,” Tough Dumplin revealed.
“I already knew it was taking off. And I think it was the most played Canadian song by DJ Premier.”

According to him, Premier didn’t just play the record — he gave it the full Premier treatment.

“Every show, DJ Premier played it. No music industry connects, nothing. And he would scratch it too. I had people hitting me up like, ‘Yo, every week DJ Premier plays your music.’ He just got it and ran with it.”

That consistent exposure helped set the stage for Tough Dumplin to drop his second album and expand his presence in the scene.

Working With Legends the Organic Way

The conversation took an even deeper turn when Tough Dumplin reflected on some of the legendary artists he’s worked with throughout his career — all without forced industry setups or artificial connections.

“If you look at it, I got to work with A Tribe Called Quest.
I got DJ Premier backing my music.
I got to mix Junior Reid’s records.”

One of the most powerful moments came when he spoke about recording with Phife Dawg from Tribe.

“I was a big fan of Tribe, and the fact that I actually have a record with Phife was off the chain. When we got into the studio, I was writing with him.”

These collaborations weren’t arranged by labels or management. They came naturally, through respect and authenticity — something Tough Dumplin says he’s truly grateful for.

A Reminder of the Toronto Hip Hop Legacy

Tough Dumplin’s story highlights a foundational era of Canadian hip hop where artists carved their own lanes and earned recognition internationally through raw skill and creativity.

His experience with DJ Premier remains one of the strongest examples of Canadian rappers breaking through in the United States without major backing.

WorldWide Entertainment TV continues to spotlight the pioneers and innovators who helped build the culture.