Bishop Brigante, a legendary Toronto battle rapper and recording artist, passed away on March 31, 2025, at the age of 46 after a courageous battle with colorectal cancer. His son, Lito, shared the heartbreaking news on Instagram, emphasizing his father’s resilience and unwavering spirit. Brigante was a cornerstone of the Canadian hip-hop scene, known for his hit songs like “Its Fo Twenty” and “Trust Nobody.” He also had acting roles in the television series “Orphan Black” and the crime thriller “Narc” alongside Ray Liotta.
Toronto music writer and publicist Dalton Higgins described Brigante as the “textbook definition” of a local legend, saying, “Bishop had a special kind of swagger, charisma, and zest for life that you rarely find in local area performers.”
Brigante was open about his health struggles, revealing that his colon cancer symptoms were initially misdiagnosed as hemorrhoids or irritable bowel syndrome (IBS). After his proper diagnosis in 2023, he organized a campaign to lower the minimum age for colonoscopy screening from 50 to 30. The news of Brigante’s passing sparked an outpouring of emotion from artists across North America, including tributes from Drake, Royce da 5’9″, The Alchemist, Maestro Fresh Wes, and Choclair.
Born and raised in Toronto, Brigante started battle rapping in the 1990s and became the first Canadian to appear on BET’s popular freestyle segment, “106 and Park.” He released several songs that made a splash in both Canada and the U.S. and toured with major acts like Busta Rhymes and G-Unit.
Toronto mourns a true legend
Brigante truly flourished in the battle rap scene, becoming vice president of King of the Dot Entertainment (KOTD), an influential Toronto rap battle league.
KOTD became a Toronto institution, featuring appearances from hip-hop royalty like Drake, Method Man, Raekwon, and MC Hammer. In his final months, Brigante raised awareness about colorectal cancer and the importance of colonoscopy access. His petition to change the age criteria for diagnostic screening has over 38,000 signatures as of writing.
Friends and colleagues remember Brigante as a connector and a people person who brought others together. Travis “Organik” Fleetwood, founder of KOTD, shared a heartfelt tribute, calling Brigante “the Godfather of Toronto Hip Hop” and emphasizing his genuine, loving nature. Bishop Brigante’s influence and contributions to music and culture will be fondly remembered, and he will be deeply missed by fans and peers alike.
