Dead Obies

Dead Obies are a Québécois rap collective from Longueuil, on Montréal's South Shore, who emerged in the early 2010s as central figures in a new wave of Québec hip-hop. Formed around members including Yes Mccan, Snail Kid, VNCE CARTER, 20Some, Joe Rocca and O.G. Bear, the group built its identity on «franglais» — a fluid mix of French and English street slang distinctive to Montréal.

Their breakthrough came with the 2013 album «Montréal $ud», whose title track became a viral hit and brought the group mainstream attention, followed by mixtapes such as «Collation Vol. 2 – Limon Verde: La Expériencia». Musically, Dead Obies favor dark, moody trap and boom-bap-inflected beats, contrasting with wordy, rapid-fire, code-switching verses.

The group's use of English within French-language rap sparked public debate in Québec over language and cultural identity, making them as much a cultural flashpoint as a musical act. Beyond their own records, various members have pursued solo and side projects, cementing Dead Obies' role as a launching pad for a broader generation of Québec rap artists.