Tasha Schumann

Tasha Schumann’s successful career as rap artist Tasha the Amazon comes as no surprise to her. After all, she has planned on being a musician since kindergarten.

“I remember telling my teacher that when I grew up I was going to be a famous singer,” said Schumann, a Victoria College graduate in psychology. “She chuckled and I didn’t get the joke.”

The joke is on that teacher, because Tasha the Amazon has made a name for herself in the world of hip-hop and rap, both nationally and internationally. She was nominated for a 2017 Juno Award for her album, Die Every Day, and won the award for the Best Hip-Hop Video at the Much Music Video Awards for the video of Picasso Leaning, the most-streamed rap song in Toronto last year.

Although classical piano was her first musical outlet, Schumann turned to popular music as a teen and has never looked back.

“I love hip-hop,” Schumann said. “It’s raw and it’s constantly evolving and changing. It’s the music of young people, shifting diasporas and changing ideas.

Schumann has a recording studio and production company, Bass and Bakery that she co-owns with her business partner, fellow Vic graduate Danny Thrax. In fact, her closest friends also date back to her U of T days.

“University was pretty significant for me socially, and I wouldn’t trade my degree for anything,” said the perpetual A student.

Being based in Toronto expanded her horizons, and Schumann continues to live in the city, even though large chunks of her life are spent touring.

“As an emerging musician, being in the middle of everything was an extremely validating experience that built confidence,” she noted.

And, although she may not realize it, Schumann’s musical goals echo a concept that is ubiquitous among U of T researchers.

“Broadly, I’m interested in doing things that haven’t been done before and pushing the boundary forward.”

Watch her videos and listen to her songs and you’ll discover that she’s on her way.

Posted May 7, 2018.