TLDR: In the latest episode of The Steady Mobbin Podcast, director M Works reflects on the moments that shaped Toronto rap’s visual era. The conversation revisits Robin Banks, Tory Lanez and the work behind the camera.
The Steady Mobbin Podcast continues its run of deep-dive conversations with figures who helped shape Toronto hip-hop from the inside. Its latest episode turns the spotlight toward the camera lens, sitting down with director Matthew Kelly, better known as M Works.
M Works is widely known for directing Robin Banks’ viral track “Wass Gang,” a video that became one of the defining visuals of Toronto’s mid-2010s rap movement. In the interview, he walks listeners back to 2015 and describes crossing the Finch Bridge to Jane and Finch with nothing but his camera to shoot what would become a generational moment.
The conversation also traces the persistence required to break into directing. M Works recalls sending four emails before finally receiving a yes, an early example of the kind of determination that would eventually connect his work to JUNO-nominated tracks. He also reflects on the technical side of directing, from early days shooting on a Canon T3i to experimenting with stop-motion techniques and navigating offers to sell his channel.
Hosts Black Mob (BLAQMVB) and Glory also push the discussion into tougher territory, including whether directors carry a responsibility to address gun violence, and what it was like working in the booth with artists like Banks and Tory Lanez.
HipHopCanada previously covered The Steady Mobbin Podcast’s conversation with Richie Sosa, another episode that explored the foundations of Toronto rap culture and the era that shaped it. The M Works episode continues that same spirit of reflection, focusing on the visuals that helped define how the city’s music was seen as well as heard.
You can watch the full interview with M Works below.
The Steady Mobbin Podcast is a Toronto-based long-form conversation show focused on culture, legacy, and lived experience across hip-hop and media, with weekly episodes that prioritize substance over soundbites. Stay tuned to HipHopCanada for more from The Steady Mobbin team and follow @MobbWithUs on Instagram.
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