March 30 (Today) marks one year since the Canadian hip-hop community lost Bishop Brigante (aka Nickolas Parra) — an artist, entrepreneur and larger-than-life personality whose impact stretched far beyond music.
For us at HipHopCanada, the loss was deeply personal.
We had covered Bishop’s career for more than two decades. He was one of the first artists we built a real relationship with in the early days of the site, long before Canadian hip-hop had the infrastructure it does today. Over the years, that working relationship turned into a friendship — one built on music, ideas, laughter and the kind of mutual support Bishop was known for.
When he passed away at 46 following a battle with cancer, the loss was felt across the country. But for those who knew him personally, it left a space that still hasn’t been filled.
Over the past year, that impact has been impossible to ignore.
From heartfelt social media tributes and murals to songs, paintings and community gatherings, Bishop’s name has continued to echo across Canada. More recently, a moving tribute at King of the Dot — hosted by his son Lito — brought fans, friends and peers together once again, alongside a powerful video tribute that reminded many just how deeply he was respected.
But beyond the tributes and moments of remembrance, something else has taken shape: action.
In the months since Bishop’s passing, Melanie “Melly” McVey — Bishop’s partner, a nurse and founder of ResQ First Aid — quietly launched an initiative rooted in the same values he lived by. The Push Forward Collective, created in Bishop’s honour, focuses on supporting people in the community who are working hard but facing difficult circumstances. Each month, a nominee receives financial assistance to help cover essential needs like bills, groceries, tuition or other barriers holding them back.
The Push Forward Collective is built on a simple idea: helping people who are trying but just need a break. It’s also very much in line with how Bishop moved. He helped people quietly, without looking for credit, and he always respected those who were putting in the effort to push forward.
That mindset defined Bishop long before his final chapter. Known to many as a pioneering Canadian MC who made early moves in the United States, he also left his mark in acting, battle rap and fashion, including the creation of his clothing brand, The Ends. But beyond the accomplishments, it was his loyalty, humour and generosity that left the deepest impression on those around him.
Even during his cancer battle, Bishop continued looking outward. Alongside Melly, he launched a petition calling for earlier colorectal cancer screening, hoping to help others avoid the fight he was facing. It was a reflection of who he was until the very end: determined, selfless and always thinking about others.
On the one-year anniversary of Bishop Brigante’s passing, HipHopCanada connected with Melly to talk about grief, legacy, resilience and how she’s turning loss into purpose — one person at a time.
Photo: Supplied
Melanie McVey Interview
HipHopCanada: It’s been nearly a full year since we lost Bishop Brigante, someone who meant a lot to the Canadian hip-hop community and to us at HipHopCanada. How have you been navigating this past year, both personally and professionally?
Melanie McVey: It’s been a heavy year. There’s no way around that. Losing Nick changed a lot for me — personally and in how I move through life. Grief isn’t something that just goes away, it’s something you learn to carry. Some days are harder than others. We still talk about him every day — the memories, the things he said, the way he was. That’s actually been one of the things that helps the most. Keeping those moments alive makes the hard days a little easier to get through. He’s always on our minds.
At the same time, I’ve been raising my daughter, navigating my own health, going through cancer and recovery. And the truth is, I wouldn’t have even known to get checked if it wasn’t for him — so in a real way, Nick saved my life. He was my angel on earth.
Professionally, I’ve stayed focused. I’ve continued running my business, building Push Forward Collective, and working full-time in my nursing career. Staying busy and being able to help people in different ways has been a big part of how I’ve managed everything. It doesn’t take the loss away, but it gives it purpose. I move differently now — with more intention, and a lot more appreciation for what actually matters.
HipHopCanada: Out of that difficult period came The Push Forward Collective. Can you tell us how the idea first took shape and what inspired you to launch it?
MM: It came from Nick. This past year has been one of the hardest of my life. Nick was the kind of person who helped people constantly, but never for recognition. He didn’t look for praise, and he didn’t help people who weren’t trying. He respected effort. If you were pushing forward, even if you were stuck, he would step in. That’s just who he was.
He had a tough exterior, but a big heart — and the people who really knew him understood that. Push Forward Collective was built from that. I wanted to create something that reflects how he moved — supporting people who are actually trying, not handing things out for the sake of it. It’s also what’s helped me carry his loss. Everything I do with it is rooted in his influence, just built in a way that stands on its own.
HipHopCanada: For those unfamiliar with your background, can you tell us about ResQ First Aid and how your work as a nurse helped shape your approach to community support?
MM: ResQ First Aid started at the same time as my nursing career. I was 19 yrs old. In my first year, I got certified to teach first aid and was literally putting up flyers with pull tabs and my phone number on them — just trying to get started. From there, I built it through word of mouth. There was no social media back then, no real way to advertise online like there is today — we still had phone books. So everything grew from people recommending me, one person to the next.
Over time, it turned into a successful business, and I’ve trained thousands of people in life-saving skills. At the same time, I’ve been working as a nurse, primarily in the downtown core of Hamilton. That’s where you really see things up close — how people are living, what they’re dealing with, and how quickly someone can fall behind even when they’re trying.
Both of those paths shaped how I look at helping people. It’s not about talk — it’s about being hands-on and doing something that actually makes a difference. That’s what carried into Push Forward Collective. It comes from real-life experience — seeing people who are trying but stuck, and stepping in, in a way that actually helps them move forward.
Photo: Supplied
HipHopCanada: The Push Forward Collective is focused on helping people who are doing their best but still struggling to get ahead. Why was that specific focus important to you?
MM: Because I’ve seen it up close — and I’ve lived it myself. When I first started out, I had to do everything on my own. I wasn’t handed anything in life. I built everything from scratch — step by step. So I understand what it feels like to be trying and still not have things come easy.
Between that, nursing, and running my business, I’ve met a lot of people who are doing everything they can — working, trying to better themselves — and still can’t catch a break. Not because they’re not trying, but because life hits in ways people don’t see. That always stayed with me. Effort isn’t always the problem — sometimes people just get stuck.
And that’s something Nick believed in too. He respected people who were trying. He didn’t feel sorry for people who weren’t doing anything — but if you were putting in effort, he would step in without making a big deal about it. That mindset stuck with me. I didn’t want to create something that just gives things out. I wanted something that supports people who are already pushing forward but just need one thing to change.
HipHopCanada: You were by Bishop’s side through his cancer battle and advocacy work, including efforts to lower screening ages. How did that experience influence the work you’re doing today?
MM: Being by Nick’s side through that changed me in a lot of ways. I sat beside him through every one of his 18 brutal chemotherapy treatments. I witnessed a strength that went beyond words — the kind of unshakable, relentless fire that doesn’t flinch in the face of pain.
He met every treatment, every setback, every impossible moment with a determination that was almost defiant. He fought with a power that most people will never understand or comprehend. And he never, ever gave up. What stood out even more was that through all of it, he never lost who he was. He was still looking out for people, still helping where he could, still showing up the way he always did. That’s what stayed with me. It showed me what real strength looks like — not just in what someone says, but in how they carry themselves through everything. And that mindset shaped how I move today — in my work and in what I’ve built. It reinforced for me that if you have the ability to help someone, you do it. No hesitation.
HipHopCanada: Bishop Brigante left a strong impression on the Canadian hip-hop community, but you experienced his impact on a much more personal level. What do you think defined him most as a person?
MM: What defined him most was the difference between what people saw and who he really was. The outside world saw someone strong, confident, maybe even intimidating. But the person I knew was different. He made my life easier every day— just in how he showed up, how he cared, how consistent he was. He showed me what real love actually looks like.
He was loyal… for real loyal. The kind you don’t come across often. He made me laugh hysterically everyday and was also my best friend , not just my love. To me, he was one of one.
HipHopCanada: What is your favourite Bishop song? How familiar were you with his music before you guys started dating?
MM: My favourite Bishop song is “About to Change.” Before we met, I knew of him — I remember being a teenager and seeing him on MuchMusic and catching the occasional video — but I didn’t really know much about him or that side of his life at the time.
It wasn’t until we met in 2019, that I really got to see everything he had built. He showed me his world — his music, his career, the work he put in — and I gained a whole different level of respect for him. One thing that always stood out to me was how much he represented Toronto and the people around him. He wasn’t trying to get to the top alone — he wanted to bring his homies with him. That mattered to him. He wouldn’t move forward unless the people around him were moving too. I ended up loving all of it — not just the music, but what it represented. I was really proud of everything he accomplished, in music, acting, and everything else he did.
Bishop Brigante before the NARC anniversary screening event in Toronto
HipHopCanada: About a year before Bishop passed, the Back Outside event and the NARC anniversary screening brought out a powerful show of support from the community. What was it like witnessing that level of love for him while he was still here, and did it change your perspective on the impact he had?
MM: It was really powerful to witness. Both of those events were huge. The NARC anniversary event especially stood out. That was a big part of his career, and to see something like that come back around — with Joe Carnahan and Jason Patric flying in from LA to be there for him — it meant a lot.
The Back Outside event was incredible! Seeing him perform with his son on stage was so heartwarming. He was so proud of that moment. What I remember most is how it made him feel. You could see it. He felt genuinely loved and supported by both events.
It wasn’t just people showing up — it was the level of respect they had for him. People came from all over, and it was real. I was just really happy that he got to feel that in his heart while he was still here. It showed me how much of an impact he had — not just in what he did, but in how people felt about him.
HipHopCanada: The Push Forward Collective helps someone new each month. Has there been a moment so far that really confirmed for you that this initiative was making a real difference?
MM: Yeah — there’s been a few moments already. So far, we’ve helped two people. One with car insurance and groceries, and another with school uniforms, insurance, and groceries.
What really confirmed it for me is seeing the shift in real time. When that one thing gets taken care of, you can see the relief — like a weight lifted. It’s not about fixing everything. It’s about removing one barrier so they can keep going. Even the people nominating others — you can tell how much it means to them to be able to put someone forward who deserves it. That’s when it clicked for me that this is working. It’s doing exactly what it was meant to do.
HipHopCanada: You recently watched the KOTD tribute hosted by Bishop’s son Lito. What was it like experiencing that from home and seeing the community come together to honour him?
MM: “Take that fucking mirror down.” There couldn’t have been anyone more fitting to step into that moment and say that in memory of Nick — and Lito said it perfectly. It felt like a full circle moment. We actually weren’t home — we were in Florida celebrating Adrienna’s 13th birthday, surrounded by family, watching it poolside. Otherwise, we would have been there in person. I also think it says a lot about Organik and Gully for including him in that. That was powerful, and it meant something. Amazing tribute.
Seeing Lito step into that — he did an incredible job. I’m genuinely proud of him. It takes a lot to stand in a space like that, and he carried himself well. You can see the influence. Nick raised an incredible young man. I know Nick would be very proud of him.
HipHopCanada: You’re currently competing in the 2026 Entrepreneur of Impact Awards, where a win would mean $25,000 toward The Push Forward Collective. With voting coming down to the wire, what would that support mean right now?
MM: Winning wouldn’t be a “win” to me — it would be fuel. That $25,000 would go 100% toward Push Forward Collective. Every dollar would be used to help more people. Right now, it’s fully funded through my business, ResQ First Aid. So everything that’s been done so far has come directly from that. This would allow me to take what I’ve already built and expand it — help more people, more often, and make it something even bigger than it already is.
For those who know me or know my story, you know this is something I genuinely care about. I’d appreciate the support, and I want to thank everyone who has already taken the time to vote and put me in a position to even be here. At the end of the day, it just means more people get help when they need it.
HipHopCanada: You’ve built a career around teaching life-saving skills and supporting others. Where does that drive come from?
MM: I think it just comes from how I’ve lived my life. I’ve always been someone who shows up for people. Whether it’s through nursing or teaching first aid, I’ve spent years being in situations where what you do actually matters. And I’ve also been on the other side of it — having to figure things out on my own, building everything from scratch at a very young age. So I understand what it feels like when you don’t have a lot of support. That kind of stays with you. For me, it’s not something I overthink — if I can help someone, I just do.
Photo: Supplied
HipHopCanada: Looking ahead, what’s your vision for The Push Forward Collective? What would success look like one year from now?
MM: Right now, Push Forward Collective is in its early stages, and I’m building it the right way from the ground up. The next step is structuring it as a not-for-profit, with the goal of transitioning into a registered charity once that process is complete. I’ve already had businesses and individuals reach out asking how they can support, which shows me there’s real interest in what this can become. Once the structure is in place, we’ll be able to start accepting donations and expand the impact.
A big part of my vision is transparency. I want Push Forward Collective to be known as an initiative where 100% of donations go directly back into helping people. That means building a system that clearly shows where everything is going — no confusion, no grey areas. I believe that level of transparency will set it apart and build trust, which in turn will allow it to grow and reach more people. One year from now, success to me would be having that structure in place, consistent support coming in, and being able to help more people on a regular basis — while staying true to what it was built on.
HipHopCanada: What’s the best way for people to support The Push Forward Collective and help you continue pushing this mission forward?
MM: Right now, the best way to support is simply by helping get the word out. The more people who know about Push Forward Collective, the more likely we are to reach the people who actually need it. A lot of them aren’t the ones asking — they’re the ones quietly trying to hold things together.
You can find everything on Instagram, where it explains exactly what we do and how it works. The nomination form is there, and the entire process is 100% confidential — for both the person nominating and the person being nominated. That’s the biggest thing right now — awareness.
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