Why emerging artist Lindasson says his Caldwell neighbourhood made him the rapper he is

Ottawa hip-hop artist Lindassonsays he feels lucky to have been raised in the city's Caldwell neighbourhood, despite the challenges facing the west-end area.

"Growing up in the eyes of the neighbourhood is a blessing," said the 26-year-old, whose music touches on some of the highs and lows of living in community housing.

"One of the great things about Caldwell is having friends down the street around the corner."

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Before establishing himself as a force in Ottawa's hip-hop scene, Lindasson, born Shymar Brewster, played basketball on a full-ride scholarship to Casper College in Wyoming.

He had envisioned acareer in the sport and dreamed of playing for the NBAone day. But that all changed in February 2016.

• CBC Ottawa's Creator Network is looking for young digital storytellers from diverse backgrounds to produce original video content to air on CBC and tell stories through their own lens. Get in touch to pitch your idea, or check out the stories at cbc.ca/creatornetworkott.

Lindasson was stepping off the practice courtswhen he received news his mother, Linda, had suffered a brain aneurysm and was in the ICU.He rushed home to be with his mother in her final hours before she passed away.

Lindassonthen decided to return to Caldwell to look after his younger sister, graduallyleaving basketball behind.

Instead, he picked up a microphone. In 2019, he began recording music under his current moniker,a tribute to his late mother that can be read as "Linda's son."

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Now that he'sa rising star in Ottawa's hip-hop scene, he says it's important to showcase the neighbourhood where he grew up.

For CBC Ottawa's Creator Network, Lindasson spoke to Peggea Bounda, hostof the community podcast The House,about how the Caldwell community both supported histransition from basketball to hip hop and continues to profoundly impacthis music.

"Growing up in the eyes of the neighbourhood is a blessing."

3 years ago

Duration 5:43

In this CBC Ottawa Creator network piece, Lindasson, aka Shymar Brewster, showcases the Caldwell community housing neighbourhood that he says shaped him as a rapper. Thanks to Peggea Bounda, Jean-Jacques Ngandu and Lucas Arias-Valenzuela, the creative team that produced this piece.

• Creator Network seeks young storytellers with a passion for making videos, online content

Watch more housing stories by and for young Canadiansatcbc.ca/unlocked

This film is part of Unlocked: Housing stories by young Canadians, a national storytelling series by the CBC Creator Network. These personal stories, produced primarily by Gen Zs and Millennials, reveal the challenges young Canadians face finding affordable housing, their creative solutions and their hopes for the future. You can read more stories here.

For more stories about the experiences of Black Canadians from anti-Black racism to success stories within the Black community check out Being Black in Canada, a CBC project Black Canadians can be proud of. You can read more stories here.