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First Class Festival to Go On Despite Artist Cancellations

Che, Black Kray, Skaiwater and Nettspend have all withdrawn, but the organizers were quick to pivot.

First Class Festival to Go On Despite Artist Cancellations

Nettspend

Cian Moore*
Billy Eff
By Billy EffAug 27, 2026
Billy Eff

Billy Eff is the Content Director for Rolling Stone Canada. An award-winning journalist and columnist, he has previously contributed to outlets including VICE and Urbania. A passionate advocate for underground music and a musician himself, he has conducted several hundred interviews with artists and industry professionals across a wide range of styles and genres over the past 15 years. He is based in Montréal, Québec.

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First Class Fest is heading into its biggest weekend with a different lineup than expected, but the show must go on.

The Toronto underground rap festival, which starts tomorrow, Aug. 28, has lost four artists in the days leading up to its debut at The Bowl at Sobeys Stadium. Che, Black Kray, Skaiwater and, most recently, Nettspend have all withdrawn, Stereogum reports.

Che's cancellation was announced last weekend, with organizers calling the change "unforeseen and beyond our control." Xaviersobased has been added to Friday's lineup in his place. Black Kray, meanwhile, has been replaced by TwentyThree, and Diamond* and Jaeychino were added following Skaiwater's departure.

Nettspend's cancellation came Tuesday. The rapper announced on social media that he would not be making it to Toronto, without giving a reason. First Class Fest later said Nettspend had not provided an explanation and criticized the cancellation, calling the situation ‘disappointing’ both for the festival and its attendees.

Luckily, organizers moved quickly to fill the remaining gap. 1oneam and Apollo Red have been added to Saturday's bill, while Friday headliner OsamaSon will return for a second performance featuring leaks and unreleased material.

Despite the last-minute shakeup, the festival is scheduled to proceed as planned. Starting in 2022, First Class Fest started booking shows designed to bring underground rap acts to Canada. This weekend marks its first outdoor festival, and approximately 9,000 fans are expected to attend each day.

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