RISING - LIL BERETE

By Avery Stedman

This short documentary dives into the personal story of Yay Berete p/k/a Lil Berete, a young rapper from Regent Park, Toronto's most notorious and violent neighbourhood. After one of his songs goes viral at the tender age of 16, Berete becomes one of the youngest rappers in Toronto's history to receive an international record deal. Despite his success early on, growing up in Regent Park still took it's toll and was the catalyst for many personal tragedies, stemming from systemic issues like gentrification as well as the constant threat of violence, crime and murder. Through his love of music and rediscovering his Africanity, Berete paves the way for other in his community to follow in his footsteps as he liberates himself from the hood.