Native American Hip Hop is
hip hop culture practiced by people of (often
urban
Urban means "related to a city". In that sense, the term may refer to:
* Urban area, geographical area distinct from rural areas
* Urban culture, the culture of towns and cities
Urban may also refer to:
General
* Urban (name), a list of people ...
)
Native American heritage, including Canadian
First Nation
Indigenous peoples are culturally distinct ethnic groups whose members are directly descended from the earliest known inhabitants of a particular geographic region and, to some extent, maintain the language and culture of those original people ...
hip hop artists. It is not a specific form of hip hop but varies in style along the lines of hip hop in general. Native Americans have been present in hip hop culture since its inception as
breakdancers
Breakdancing, also called breaking or b-boying/b-girling, is an athletic style of street dance originating from the African American and Puerto Rican communities in the United States. While diverse in the amount of variation available in t ...
,
DJs,
rappers
Rapping (also rhyming, spitting, emceeing or MCing) is a musical form of vocal delivery that incorporates "rhyme, rhythmic speech, and street vernacular". It is performed or chanted, usually over a backing beat or musical accompaniment. The ...
, and
graffiti
Graffiti (plural; singular ''graffiti'' or ''graffito'', the latter rarely used except in archeology) is art that is written, painted or drawn on a wall or other surface, usually without permission and within public view. Graffiti ranges from s ...
artists. The Native American contribution to hip hop can occasionally be veiled by the ethnic umbrella term of
Hispanic or Latino
''Hispanic'' and '' Latino'' are ethnonyms used to refer collectively to the inhabitants of the United States who are of Spanish or Latin American ancestry (). While the terms are sometimes used interchangeably, for example, by the United States ...
, terms that may refer to Native Americans in certain contexts.
Hip hop has grown in popularity not only in urban settings but also in reservations since it has become ubiquitous on television and radio. Political activism and its expression in art have been of great influence due too many social issues present in indigenous communities. Artists such as
John Trudell
John Trudell (February 15, 1946December 8, 2015) was a Native American author, poet, actor, musician, and political activist. He was the spokesperson for the Indians of All Tribes' takeover of Alcatraz beginning in 1969, broadcasting as ''Radi ...
(with his
spoken word
Spoken word refers to an oral poetic performance art that is based mainly on the poem as well as the performer's aesthetic qualities. It is a late 20th century continuation of an ancient oral artistic tradition that focuses on the aesthetics of ...
poetry) and
Russell Means
Russell Charles Means (November 10, 1939 – October 22, 2012) was an Oglala Lakota activist for the rights of Native Americans, libertarian political activist, actor, musician, and writer. He became a prominent member of the American In ...
(with what he calls his
rap-ajo music) have been some of influences with their artistic endeavors.
Notable artists
Melle Mel
Melvin Glover (born May 15, 1961 in The Bronx), better known by his stage name Grandmaster Melle Mel (or simply Melle Mel) () is an American hip hop recording artist who was the lead vocalist and songwriter of Grandmaster Flash and the Furiou ...
, the first rapper to ever use the epithet ''MC'', is
Cherokee
The Cherokee (; chr, ᎠᏂᏴᏫᏯᎢ, translit=Aniyvwiyaʔi or Anigiduwagi, or chr, ᏣᎳᎩ, links=no, translit=Tsalagi) are one of the indigenous peoples of the Southeastern Woodlands of the United States. Prior to the 18th century, t ...
and
Ernie Paniccioli
Ernie Paniccioli (born February 26, 1947) is an American photographer of hip hop culture who lives in Jersey City, New Jersey. He was inducted into the Hip Hop Hall of Fame in 2014.
A Cree Native American, Paniccioli grew up in Brooklyn, New Y ...
, a photographer of hip hop culture who grew up in
Brooklyn
Brooklyn () is a borough of New York City, coextensive with Kings County, in the U.S. state of New York. Kings County is the most populous county in the State of New York, and the second-most densely populated county in the United States, be ...
, is
Cree
The Cree ( cr, néhinaw, script=Latn, , etc.; french: link=no, Cri) are a Indigenous peoples of the Americas, North American Indigenous people. They live primarily in Canada, where they form one of the country's largest First Nations in Canada ...
.
Funkdoobiest
Funkdoobiest was an American hip hop group from Los Angeles, California, United States, composed of rappers Jason "Son Doobie" Vasquez, Tyrone "Tomahawk Funk" Pacheco and DJ Ralph "Tha Phunky Mexican" Medrano. They are members of the Soul Assassi ...
,
Solé
Tonya Michelle Johnston (born July 17, 1973), better known by her stage name Solé, is an American rapper from Kansas City, Missouri.
Biography
Solé was born in 1973 in Kansas City, Missouri, to Phyllis Frazier and James Johnston, Her siblin ...
, and
Litefoot
Gary Paul Davis (born September 11, 1968), better known professionally as Litefoot, is an American business professional, actor, musician, and a citizen of the Cherokee Nation. He is the Executive Director of the Native American Financial Servic ...
(winner of the
Native American Music Award
The Native American Music Awards (also known as the NAMAs or "Nammys") are an awards program presented annually by Elbel Productions, Inc., The Native American Music Awards Inc., and The Native American Music Association, a 501(c)(3) non-profit ...
), are also well-known Native American hip hop artists. Wu-Tang affiliate
King Just
The following is a list of Wu-Tang Clan's associated acts and affiliates, known as the Killa Beez, the Midwest Wasps, and the Wu Fam. At times, they are directly funded, supported, or produced by Clan members, are formed as extension groups origin ...
is also Native American and the
Ol' Dirty Bastard
Russell Tyrone Jones (November 15, 1968 – November 13, 2004), better known by his stage name Ol' Dirty Bastard (often abbreviated as ODB), was an American rapper. He was one of the founding members of the Wu-Tang Clan, a rap group primarily fr ...
also claimed to be of Native American descent.
Flavor Unit
The Flavor Unit is a crew of emcees and DJs from New York City and Northern New Jersey. It is now known as the Unit. The original version of the crew centered on producer the 45 King. It was Mark's connections to radio personalities DJ Red Aler ...
member
Apache
The Apache () are a group of culturally related Native American tribes in the Southwestern United States, which include the Chiricahua, Jicarilla, Lipan, Mescalero, Mimbreño, Ndendahe (Bedonkohe or Mogollon and Nednhi or Carrizaleño an ...
has also been assumed to be Native American, though a reliable source has yet to be found. In the past, the majority of Native American hip hop was to be found in the underground scene, rarely gaining exposure beyond regional hits. However, artists such as
Drezus
Drezus (drē-zəˈs; born Jeremiah Manitopyes; August 28, 1982) is Plains Cree rapper and activist based in Calgary, Alberta. Drezus' accomplishments in the field of music include awards for Best Music Video, Best Producer/Engineer, Best Rap/Hip ...
,
Frank Waln
Frank Waln or Oyate Teca Obmani ("Walks With Young People") is a Sicangu Lakota rapper and activist. His first solo album, ''Born Ready'', was released in 2017, followed by ''The Bridge'' the same year. He has been awarded three Native American ...
,
Supaman, DJ oTTo and Red Eagle are just a few newer artists that have gained substantial popularity in recent years.
Some Indigenous artists worry that their blend of traditional music with their own may be seen as disrespectful to their ancestors. However, many elders and hip hop listeners are able to appreciate the mixture, as it can bring multiple generations together through music.
''
Hatchet Warrior
''Hatchet Warrior'' is the second solo studio album by American rapper Anybody Killa. It was released on April 8, 2003 through Psychopathic Records. Production was handled by Zug Izland, Fritz the Cat, Monoxide Child and Violent J, with co-produce ...
'', the second album by Native American hip hop artist
Anybody Killa
James Lowery (born June 26, 1974), also known as Anybody Killa, or ABK, is an American rapper from Detroit, Michigan, United States, whose stage persona is that of a Native American warrior. He was signed to Psychopathic Records, but is now under ...
, was released in 2003, and peaked at #4 on the ''
Billboard
A billboard (also called a hoarding in the UK and many other parts of the world) is a large outdoor advertising structure (a billing board), typically found in high-traffic areas such as alongside busy roads. Billboards present large advertise ...
'' Top Independent Albums chart, #42 on the Top R&B/Hip-Hop Albums chart, and #98 on the
''Billboard'' 200.
The organization ''Beat Nation'' is a Canadian not-for-profit Indigenous hip hop collective with the goal of giving public space to Indigenous artists and their listeners. It is run through a website and exhibits which aim to share ''Beat Nation's'' work and music, as well as give space for Indigenous hip hop culture to operate.
Rapper
Young Kidd from
Winnipeg, Manitoba
Winnipeg () is the capital and largest city of the province of Manitoba in Canada. It is centred on the confluence of the Red and Assiniboine rivers, near the longitudinal centre of North America. , Winnipeg had a city population of 749,6 ...
is of
Jamaican and Aboriginal heritage, and two of the trio group,
Winnipeg's Most
Winnipeg's Most was a Canadian hip hop group, made up of the MC's Jon-C (Billy Pierson), Charlie Fettah (Tyler Rogers), and Brooklyn (Jamie Prefontaine). They were based in the city of Winnipeg, Manitoba. Jon-C and Brooklyn are both Aboriginal pe ...
, are Aboriginal - ''Jon C'' and ''Brooklyn''. Winnipeg's Most have won several
Aboriginal Peoples Choice Music Awards
The Indigenous Music Awards, formerly called the Aboriginal Peoples' Choice Music Awards, is an annual Canadian music award, given out to Indigenous people who are in the music industry.
The APCMA receives financial support of the Department of ...
. Both ''Young Kidd'' and ''Winnipeg's Most'' have achieved high levels of local success in Winnipeg.
Florida rapper
Denzel Curry
Denzel Rae Don Curry (born February 16, 1995) is an American rapper and singer. Born and raised in Carol City, Florida, Curry started rapping while in the sixth grade and began working on his first mixtape in 2011. Influenced by underground Flor ...
, a pioneer of the Cloud Rap and Soundcloud Rap scene, is of Bahamian and Native American heritage.
Early Internet pioneering
The first
URL dedicated to Native hip hop in the north was Redhiphop.com, which was started in December of 1999. It was unlike other existing online databases in that it was a standalone site with its own
domain name
A domain name is a string that identifies a realm of administrative autonomy, authority or control within the Internet. Domain names are often used to identify services provided through the Internet, such as websites, email services and more. As ...
. The site had individual artist sections and playable and downloadable
MP3s. Unlike the Native Hip Hop Geocities page, this site had working contracts with artists involved - it was started by Manik out of the
Redwire Magazine office. At that time there was already a Geocities page which served as the first online database. After Redhiphop.com, the Geocities page followed suit and bought its own URL - NativeHiphop.net.
Stretching back as early as October 17, 2000,
one of the main websites promoting Native hip hop performers has been NativeHipHop.net, a collective effort with submissions from various artists and members of the public.
Offering a wealth of website links, artist reviews and MP3 downloads – NativeHipHop.net was, in the early days, instrumental and invaluable in networking with Indigenous North American hip hop artists and groups such as Shadowyze, Atzlan Underground, Anishinaabe Posse, Gary Davis, Manik, Natay, 7th Generation, Red Power Squad, Quese The Emcee, Night Shield, Reddnation, Rollin Fox, Supaman, King Blizz and War Party, giving them a voice online.
In the five years after 2000, the website grew in popularity and acted as a 'spring-board' for many of the Native hip hop artists around today.
References
External links
Native Hip Hop The original showcase for Native American and Aboriginal Canadian hip-hop and rap artists.
Interview with Manik of the
Native Youth Movement and
Skeena Reece
Skeena Reece (born 1974) is a Canadians, Canadian First Nations in Canada, First Nations artist whose multi-disciplinary practice includes such genres as performance art, "sacred clowning," songwriting, and video art. Reece is of Cree, Tsimshian, ...
{{DEFAULTSORT:Native American Hip Hop
Native American music
American hip hop scenes