TLDR: The Belly and XO story is the focus of a new We Love Hip Hop video exploring how they shaped Canadian hip-hop before Drake’s global reign.
Before OVO became a household name and Drake turned Toronto into a global rap capital, there was Belly. And behind him, CP Records (which would eventually become the XO Records we know today). In their new documentary-style video, We Love Hip Hop peels back the curtain on one of Canada’s most overlooked powerhouses in hip-hop history: the Belly and XO story.
Long before The Weeknd’s Grammy wins and before Belly was writing for Beyoncé, the Ottawa-born rapper and his team were building a music empire brick by brick. The video follows Belly’s early grind, the rise of CP Records, and how his longtime connection with Wassim “Tony Sal” Slaiby eventually led to the formation of XO. These weren’t just industry players. They were the architects behind one of the most successful cross-border transitions in Canadian music history.
The video dives deep into Massari’s influence and eventual departure, underground rivalries, beef with Kamikaze (aka KAMAG5), and a volatile raid on Belly’s home. The most jaw-dropping moments come later: working with a young Drake, ghostwriting for megastars, and being instrumental in The Weeknd’s early sound and image. The YouTube doc skips past the hype and digs into the details. It’s a reminder that the foundation for Canada’s biggest musical exports was laid long before the world was watching.
In a time when most people think the story starts and ends with Drake, “The Crazy Story Of Belly & XO“ reminds us that the Canadian rap blueprint was being drawn long before the 6 had a king.
