Exco Levi – Rhythm runs through him

His words hang in the air like the lingering notes of a bassline after a performance. Our Classic Man speaks, as if keeping time to an internal beat only he can hear…

In the landscape of Canadian music, reggae often exists in the margins celebrated within communities but overlooked by mainstream recognition. Artists pour their souls into their craft, only to find their work confined to specific venues, radio stations, and audiences. The question echoes: How does one maintain cultural authenticity while reaching broader audiences?

Exco Levi knows this well. “My dad used to DJ at 16 years old, and my dad met my mom at 15,” he shares, his voice carrying the weight of generations. “I was created through music.”

This connection to music is cellular, ancestral, almost spiritual. Yet, even with five Juno Awards and international recognition, the challenge remains: bridging the gap between cultural specificity and universal resonance.

“I was created through music.”

Exco Levi’s journey from Manchester, Jamaica to Brampton, Ontario reads like a classic immigrant story, except the soundtrack is uniquely his. Since arriving in Canada in 2005, he has navigated the music industry with precision and purpose, collecting accolades while staying true to his roots. “There is a big difference in loving something, and having a passion for something,” Levi explains. “It is inborn in you. Regardless of the love, you have to have the passion.”

This distinction becomes clear when examining his discography. Albums like “Country Man” (2015), “Narrative” (2018), and “Black Creek” (2021) reveal an artist committed to storytelling over commercial trends. Songs like “Bleaching Shop,” which addresses skin bleaching in communities of colour, and “Mr. Hammer,” speaking to community violence, demonstrates Exco’s willingness to tackle uncomfortable subjects through his music.

The texture of his voice: rich, warm, with an edge that cuts through even the most complex arrangements, carries these messages to audiences who might otherwise never engage with such topics.

What emerges from Levi’s work is an understanding that music functions as both cultural preservation and evolution. His songs serve as bridges between Jamaica and Canada, between generations, between social commentary and entertainment. “Last week, I saw my daughter singing to herself, and I see what my grandmother saw in me,” Exco reflects, a soft smile playing on his lips. The moment captures the cyclical nature of artistic inheritance, the way creativity moves through bloodlines and communities, adapting, yet remaining recognizable.

His approach to music creation reveals this balance. “I have learned so much in terms of writing and recording. I am working with a producer from LA, and I have tapped into a side of me that I didn’t know I had.”

This collaboration represents geographical expansion and an artistic dialogue that honours reggae’s roots while pushing its boundaries. The result is music that feels simultaneously timeless and contemporary, personal and universal.

Perhaps Exco’s greatest gift is his ability to find common ground through rhythm. His performances at venues ranging from the Montreal Reggae Festival to the world-famous Rototom Reggae Festival in Spain have demonstrated reggae’s universal appeal. “I started three years ago. My mom passed away and it is in tribute to her,” Levi shares about one of his signature events. “Last year we did it at JCA and had 400 people.”

The event, now known as the High Priest Reggae Fest, has become a cornerstone of Brampton’s cultural calendar. This year’s performance on December 20^th, at The Rose Theatre promises to be another milestone, featuring Exco Levi alongside: the powerhouse Rayzalution Band, reggae icon Tanya Mullings, Juno nominee Eyesus, and two-time Juno winner Kairo McLean.

The festival represents a gathering of community, a celebration of heritage, and a testament to reggae’s enduring power to bring people together across differences.

“Silence can be the loudest answer. Sometimes you just have to listen.”

As our conversation winds down, Levi’s thoughts turn to the future and the legacy he hopes to leave. “Identify your calling,” he advises younger artists. “Not everyone is a singer. Sometimes you are a drummer. Listen to people with track records. Silence can be the loudest answer. Sometimes you just have to listen.”

These words encapsulate his philosophy on music, and on life itself, a recognition that each person has a unique role to play in the larger composition of community and culture.

For Exco Levi, the journey continues with each performance, each song, each connection forged through the universal language of music. His story serves as both inspiration and invitation, a reminder that when we honour our authentic selves and cultural heritage, we create something that resonates far beyond our immediate circles.

As the December 20^th performance approaches, the anticipation builds. The Rose Theatre will transform into a space where rhythm and community intersect, where stories are told through the very vibrations that move through bodies and souls. “Exco Levi and friends,” he says with a knowing smile, “This year you never know what might happen.”

The open loop hangs in the air, a promise of something yet to come, a story still unfolding, a rhythm waiting to be discovered. High Priest Reggae Fest featuring Exco Levi takes place December 20th, 2025 at 8:00 PM at The Rose.

For tickets, visit Bramptononstage.ca