First Class Fest loses Che, Black Kray and Nettspend before its Toronto edition

Toronto's First Class Festival lost three names from its bill in the week before its two day run at Sobeys Stadium on August 28 and 29, with Che, Black Kray and Nettspend all coming off the lineup. Organizers found a replacement for every gap and said the weekend would run as planned.

The first withdrawal came on August 22, when the festival said on Instagram Reels that Che was off the bill. "This was unforeseen and beyond our control," the post read, adding that the goal was still to make this the best underground festival of all time. American rapper and producer Xaviersobased took the slot.

Two more changes followed before the gates opened. Black Kray was replaced by TwentyThree, and Skaiwater came off with Diamond* and Jaeychino stepping in. The heaviest loss landed on August 26, when organizers posted that Nettspend had cancelled his performance and had given them no explanation for it.

That second statement was unusually blunt about how the team felt. "We know how disappointing this is to you all. It is just as devastating to us," the FCF team wrote, saying every performer is under contract but that no promoter can force an artist to take the stage. Nettspend's slot went to 1oneam, Apollo Red and OsamaSon, billed as a leaks and unreleased set.

What survived is still a dense two day snapshot of current underground hip-hop. The Friday bill at York University's Keele Campus was built around Osamason, Bktherula, Pradabagshawty, Slump6s, Jahsh, Sorisa and Sayso, while Lucki led Saturday alongside Untiliapan, Tezzus, Rexv2, Devstacks, Sixbiill, Katozai, 10kMoss and Wxvy Jackson.

Nettspend has been busy on his own account this year, and put out the song Y Would I Care? on SoundCloud without much warning. The Toronto festival calendar has also filled out around First Class Fest, with PHANTOMFEST: Open Air adding acts for its 2026 edition. Tickets for First Class Fest stayed on sale into the weekend.