Devon Martin (known mononymously as Devon) was an emcee who rose to prominence in 1990 for his recording “Mr. Metro” which featured a critique of the Toronto Police Service and was inspired by incidents of police racism and brutality across North America. Including his own detention by police in Redondo Beach, California. Born in England and raised in the Mississauga suburb of Malton, Devon formed his first band, Shock Waves, at the age of 14, releasing an independent single in 1977. In response to his recording “Mr. Metro”the Toronto Police Service threatened to arrest him on defamation charges, forcing him to black out parts of the video which might have been perceived as identifying Toronto police officers. The video went on to win a MuchMusic Video Award in 1990. He was also a part of a second political record released in 1990 titled “Can’t Repress the Cause” by Dance Appeal – a supergroup of Toronto-area musicians that included Maestro Fresh Wes, Dream Warriors, Michie Mee, B-Kool, Lillian Allen, Eria Fachin, HDV, Dionne, Thando Hyman, Carla Marshall, Messenjah, Jillian Mendez, Lorraine Scott, Lorraine Segato, Self Defense, Leroy Sibbles, Zama and Thyron Lee White. After releasing his debut album It’s My Nature in 1992, he decided to relocate to Vancouver in 1997 and signed to indie label Rated-R Recordz where he released the EP Pressure.
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