Leicester-based producer and DJ Christian Hoffmann works under the name Toronto Is Broken, a drum-and-bass project shaped by metal influences. The name began as a made-up band name on MySpace when Hoffmann was a teenager; it was not intended to refer to the Canadian city or make a political statement. Before concentrating on drum and bass with metalcore elements, Hoffmann experimented with future jungle, dubstep, UK garage and glitch hop. Breakbeat and jump-up have also featured among the styles he has explored.
Hoffmann launched the drum-and-bass label YANA Music in 2019 and later released the album Clare on the imprint. The album, released in 2021, draws on the metal and drum-and-bass crossover sound he identifies as central to the project. Toronto Is Broken has also put out music through Sub Slayers, Viper Recordings and FiXT. In 2020, the single “Body Dem”, made with Nvrsoft, appeared on YANA Music. The following year brought the FiXT single “Paragons (Zardonic Remix)” with Zardonic.
Hoffmann describes the project’s sound as modern metalcore meeting dancefloor drum and bass, with drum and bass at its core. Rock and metal elements have become more prominent in his recent work, while his earlier experiments included a broader range of bass-music styles. He has named Metrik as a drum-and-bass artist he would like to collaborate with, and Mike Shinoda as a hoped-for collaborator beyond the genre. Releases have also involved vocalists REEBZ and MC Sebotage. The single “GOFASTER” is among his collaborations with Sebotage and REEBZ.
In 2022, Toronto Is Broken joined Changing Faces, Deuce and Charger on the YANA Music single “Pressure”. The EP Like Me (Remixes) was released with REEBZ, and the single “Breed”, featuring REEBZ and Natty Lou, followed among the project’s vocal collaborations. Hoffmann released the fourth studio album TORONTOISBROKEN in 2023. In 2025, FiXT released the single “The Masquerade (Zardonic & Toronto Is Broken Remix)” with CANTERVICE and Zardonic. Hoffmann also runs REEBZ and produces music for other artists.