Portion Flips the Rags to Riches Story on “Hella Clean”

The rising Toronto rapper gets newly introspective on his latest single.

by Ben Boddez

After signing to Warner Music Canada earlier this year, up-and-coming Toronto rapper Portion continues his impressive run of singles leading up to his major-label debut, I Am Nothing Without.

His latest, “Hella Clean,” switches things up from his typical fiery trap offerings and dives firmly into introspective emotive rap. Flipping the script on the typical rags-to-riches story, Portion begins telling the tale of how he escaped from a tumultuous upbringing – instead of fully relishing in his newfound success, Portion drops some bars about how mental patterns from the darker days are hard to shake even when surrounded by opulence. 

Over a chilling trap-piano instrumental built out with some futuristic synth swells that match nicely with Portion’s piercing and Auto-Tuned cadence, he compares the modern-day sound of his money being counted to the unforgettable ringing out of gunshots in his past. Toronto seems to be unmatched when it comes to producing hip-hop superstars, and if his 2021 singles are anything to go by, Portion is up next.