Welcome to TyriqueOrDie’s House

The rap-house artist behind Toronto’s legendary Christie Pits rave shows he is still willing to risk it all.

By Aurora Zboch

Photo by Jennifer Bonnell

Published on September 23, 2025

It’s a sweaty, sticky summer night when TyriqueOrDie approaches the House of Lancaster, an adult entertainment lounge in Toronto’s west end. In a black hoodie and sporty wrap sunglasses he pulls up with an entourage, here to celebrate the release of his new single, “Sex in the Mosh.” How better than to get double-cheeked up on a Thursday evening and throw a rave in the most unusual place. Upstairs in what is typically the gentlemen’s quarters, the room is buzzing, waiting for Tyrique to take the mic.

Tyrique stands over the booth and raps over “Sex in the Mosh” for 15 minutes straight with a camcorder in hand. Girls, girls, and more girls take centre stage. He rains cash onto the dancefloor, dollar bills emblazoned with his own face. Simply a slutty house banger with a classic organ lead, the song is made to be replayed. “I knew once I heard those chords – boop boop, boop boop,” Tyrique sings, “I wanted to do something sexy and I wanted it to be raunchy and ‘in the club.’” On “Sex in the Mosh,” Tyrique’s deep voice lustfully regales the tale of a woman getting what she wants amid the chaos of a crowd.

Tyrique recalls his welcome into the house music community as “heartwarming,” as opposed to the “hostile” hip-hop scene he used to navigate as a young Black man. “It just wasn’t the easiest for me to even find the right people to be even partying with.”

“Going from parties where I have to watch my back, to parties where I can go by myself and make five new friends in the night…it’s not a culture shock but it’s the closest thing to it,” Tyrique says. “I’m just so happy that the Toronto Rave Community was just so welcoming. I was able to meet and make a ton of great friends in like the span of five to seven years. And doing so, we were able to create our own little community.”

That little community expands into multi-genre, elaborately themed event series in three different flavours: Toronto Hardcore, Toronto Dubstep and the Toronto DnB. Best known in the rave scene as Ace, Aaron Plummer is Tyrique’s ride or die. They grow up in Toronto together and go on to rule the renegade spaces of the mid 2020s, along with multi-talented creatives Angelphroot (Angel Nayyar) and Estella Maise. Their parties are some of the hottest and worst-kept-secret parties, gaining the attention of a new generation of ravers, viral media, and local authorities.

“This is as underground as it gets,” Tyrique describes the parties that take place under the big bridge across the Don Valley. “It’s like a 40 minute hike just to get to this location. The police have no access there. There are no lights, there is no access to the roads. It’s just you and this open field and it’s awesome. If anything that’s what I miss from throwing these raves — just discovering all these lowkey spots. Great times.”

Tyrique, with just a few words, knows how to cause a frenzy. Ace fondly remembers a moment when Ty goes feral on the mic. “Show me moshpit!” he shouts. “Show. Me. Moshpit. Not even just, ‘Open up the pit!’ but, ‘Show me moshpit’ – Oh, OK, shit.” That same energy is activated on this new record, infused with a bit more sleazy fantasy. Truly, “Sex in the Mosh” is a love letter to the pit itself.

Their raves tap into a grungy, punk energy that exists in the city’s young electronic music lovers. “People were saying that moshpits aren’t supposed to be on the dance floor – but we encourage that.”

Long before catching major label attention, Tyrique builds a wide network of creative friends. “I find myself in a lot of interesting rooms with a lot of interesting people.” Support from MC Flipside puts him on to Universal Music Group, as TyriqueOrDie’s potential for stardom beyond Toronto’s underground is undeniable.

“2017 is that pivotal point for me,” Tyrique says, “I study: listening to house music, making house music, and dancing to it.” Despite being a local party legend for years, Tyrique is now learning how to DJ. It’s one more tool for the rapper, vocalist and producer to use in his seductive live sets.

I sit down for some fresh air outside with Ace, and we’re catching our breaths remarking on the magic of the professional dancers. He boasts about his friend like he’s a celebrity, referring to Tyrique as the GOAT at least six times in the duration of our conversation. Humbly put: rapping over house beats is quite unique, and Tyrique does it very well. “Ty’s the only guy doing it. Whoa…” Ace trails off on Ty being the next Flowden and Azealia Banks (before she was cancelled). “When Tiesto finds out about Ty, it’s over.”

Photo: Genelle Cruz

“This guy’s performance level is just on some Travis Scott, Kanye shit. And the fact that he’s from Toronto is just so unreal. We’re so lucky to have an artist like Tyrique in the city.”

Back inside, Toronto’s all star DJs spin high energy sets before bringing it down to a slower, sultry level with lewd hip-hop and twerk anthems. Ace wastes no time opening with a jungle set. Nino Brown and Young Teesh allow the dancers to get loose with strip club bangers.

Tyrique is “still off planet Earth” when we catch up the week following a wild strip club release party. “It’s just been an excellent past couple days. But I have to get back to work, you know?”

Tyrique hustles as hard as he plays. “Music is that thing that I’d be doing as a hobby on my off days. When I’m not working, I’m still working on music.”

I may be blushing a little when he turns the conversation around to me. “When are you raving next?” Tyrique teases. “I’m trying to rave with you.”

It’s half a joke, half a challenge — the same way Tyrique approaches everything. Whether it’s a strip club release, an underground bridge rave, or a track like “Sex in the Mosh,” he’s always daring you to meet him in the chaos.