Native American hip hop
Encyclopedia
Native American hip hop is hip-hop culture practiced by people of Native American heritage; in colloquial terms, this also includes Canadian First Nation hip hop artists. As such 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 since its inception as breakdancers, DJs, rappers, and graffiti
artists. The Native American contribution to hip-hop can occasionally be veiled by the ethnic umbrella term of Hispanic
or Latino
, terms that do not specifically refer to race. The U.S. Office of Management and Budget currently defines "Hispanic or Latino
" as "a person of Mexican, Puerto Rican, Cuban, South or Central American, or other Spanish culture or origin, regardless of race".
Hip-hop is most often described as originating in the 1970s in the inner city
African American
and Latino American communities of New York City
.
Hip-hop has, in more recent times, grown in popularity not only in urban settings but also on reservations since it has become ubiquitous on television and radio. Political activism and its expression in art has also been of great influence due to the many social issues present in indigenous communities. Activists such as John Trudell
with his spoken word
poetry and Russell Means
with what he calls his rap-ajo music have been of some influence with their artistic endeavors.
, the first rapper to ever use the epithet MC, is Cherokee
and Ernie Paniccioli
, a famous photographer of hip-hop culture who grew up in Brooklyn
, is Cree
. Funkdoobiest
, Solé
, and Litefoot
(winner of the Native American Music Award
), are also well-known Native American hip-hop artists. Wu-Tang affiliate King Just is also of Native American and the Old Dirty Bastard also claimed to be of Native American descent. Flavor Unit
member Apache
is also Native American. Except for perhaps a few other artists, the majority of Native American hip hop is to be found in the underground scene, rarely gaining exposure beyond regional hits.
Kemozabi, a Wyandot DJ from the all native FBI crew, is well known in the underground for his participation in many DJ competitions such as the DMC
and Scribble Jam
. He was consistently placed second and third in many competitions such as the 2004 Montreal and Edmonton DMC competitions, and the 2005 Moncton and North Bay DMC competitions. War Party, became the first native performers to host RapCity. War Party is one of a number of Canadian groups to gain some chart success, including Tru Rez Crew and Slangblossom. Hatchet Warrior
, the second album by Native American hip hop artist Anybody Killa
, was released in 2003, and peaked at #4 on the Billboard
Top Independent Albums chart, #42 on the Top R&B/Hip-Hop Albums chart, and #98 on the Billboard 200
. Reddnation, a group from Alberta has become decorated - having received awards for 'Best Rap/Hip Hop CD' and 'Best Duo/Group' at the Aboriginal Peoples Choice Music Awards for their second album Now or Never, Best Rap or Hip-Hop Album at the 2006 Canadian Aboriginal Music Awards, 'Best Group or Duo' & 'Best Rap or Hip-Hop Album' at the 2007 Alberta Aboriginal Music Awards, and 'Best Group or Duo' at the 2007 Aboriginal Peoples Choice Music Awards.
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, Red Power Squad, Quese The Emcee, Night Shield, Reddnation, Rollin Fox, Supaman and War Party, giving them a voice online.
In the five years proceeding after the Millennium Year, the website grew in popularity and acted as a 'spring-board' for many of the Native hip hop artists around today.
Graffiti
Graffiti is the name for images or lettering scratched, scrawled, painted or marked in any manner on property....
artists. The Native American contribution to hip-hop can occasionally be veiled by the ethnic umbrella term of Hispanic
Hispanic
Hispanic is a term that originally denoted a relationship to Hispania, which is to say the Iberian Peninsula: Andorra, Gibraltar, Portugal and Spain. During the Modern Era, Hispanic sometimes takes on a more limited meaning, particularly in the United States, where the term means a person of ...
or Latino
Latino
The demonyms Latino and Latina , are defined in English language dictionaries as:* "a person of Latin-American descent."* "A Latin American."* "A person of Hispanic, especially Latin-American, descent, often one living in the United States."...
, terms that do not specifically refer to race. The U.S. Office of Management and Budget currently defines "Hispanic or Latino
Latino
The demonyms Latino and Latina , are defined in English language dictionaries as:* "a person of Latin-American descent."* "A Latin American."* "A person of Hispanic, especially Latin-American, descent, often one living in the United States."...
" as "a person of Mexican, Puerto Rican, Cuban, South or Central American, or other Spanish culture or origin, regardless of race".
Hip-hop is most often described as originating in the 1970s in the inner city
Inner city
The inner city is the central area of a major city or metropolis. In the United States, Canada, United Kingdom and Ireland, the term is often applied to the lower-income residential districts in the city centre and nearby areas...
African American
African American
African Americans are citizens or residents of the United States who have at least partial ancestry from any of the native populations of Sub-Saharan Africa and are the direct descendants of enslaved Africans within the boundaries of the present United States...
and Latino American communities of New York City
New York City
New York is the most populous city in the United States and the center of the New York Metropolitan Area, one of the most populous metropolitan areas in the world. New York exerts a significant impact upon global commerce, finance, media, art, fashion, research, technology, education, and...
.
Hip-hop has, in more recent times, grown in popularity not only in urban settings but also on reservations since it has become ubiquitous on television and radio. Political activism and its expression in art has also been of great influence due to the many social issues present in indigenous communities. Activists such as John Trudell
John Trudell
John Trudell is a Native American-Mexican author, poet, actor, musician, and former political activist. He was the spokesperson for the United Indians of All Tribes' takeover of Alcatraz beginning in 1969, broadcasting as Radio Free Alcatraz...
with his spoken word
Spoken word
Spoken word is a form of poetry that often uses alliterated prose or verse and occasionally uses metered verse to express social commentary. Traditionally it is in the first person, is from the poet’s point of view and is themed in current events....
poetry and Russell Means
Russell Means
Russell Charles Means is an Oglala Sioux activist for the rights of Native American people. He became a prominent member of the American Indian Movement after joining the organisation in 1968, and helped organize notable events that attracted national and international media coverage...
with what he calls his rap-ajo music have been of some influence with their artistic endeavors.
Notable Artists
Melle MelMelle Mel
Grandmaster Mele Mel , also known as Melle Mel , is an American hip-hop musician — one of the pioneers of old school hip hop as lead rapper and main songwriter for Grandmaster Flash and the Furious Five.- Biography :...
, the first rapper to ever use the epithet MC, is Cherokee
Cherokee
The Cherokee are a Native American people historically settled in the Southeastern United States . Linguistically, they are part of the Iroquoian language family...
and Ernie Paniccioli
Ernie Paniccioli
Ernie Paniccioli is an American photographer of hip hop culture. He is a Cree Native American, and grew up in Brooklyn, New York. His photography of hip hop began in the 1970s with shots of graffiti in New York....
, a famous photographer of hip-hop culture who grew up in Brooklyn
Brooklyn
Brooklyn is the most populous of New York City's five boroughs, with nearly 2.6 million residents, and the second-largest in area. Since 1896, Brooklyn has had the same boundaries as Kings County, which is now the most populous county in New York State and the second-most densely populated...
, is Cree
Cree
The Cree are one of the largest groups of First Nations / Native Americans in North America, with 200,000 members living in Canada. In Canada, the major proportion of Cree live north and west of Lake Superior, in Ontario, Manitoba, Saskatchewan, Alberta and the Northwest Territories, although...
. Funkdoobiest
Funkdoobiest
Funkdoobiest is an American rap group from Los Angeles, California. The original members are Son Doobie , a Puerto Rican rapper, and DJ Ralph M , a Chicano DJ, and Tomahawk Funk of the Lakota nation. The latter left after their second album.Their first two albums were mainly produced by Cypress...
, Solé
Sole
Sole may refer to:* Sole , the bottom of the foot* Sole , the bottom supporting member of the shoe-Business:* Sole proprietorship, a business which legally has no separate existence from its owner...
, and Litefoot
Litefoot
Gary Paul Davis , better known by his stage name Litefoot, is a Native American rapper and the founder of the Red Vinyl record label. He also portrayed Little Bear in the movie The Indian in the Cupboard.-Personal life:...
(winner of the Native American Music Award
Native American Music Awards
The Native American Music Awards , commonly known as the Nammys, are an awards program presented annually by The Native American Music Association & Awards, which recognizes outstanding musical achievement among Native Americans...
), are also well-known Native American hip-hop artists. Wu-Tang affiliate King Just is also of Native American and the Old Dirty Bastard also claimed to be of Native American descent. Flavor Unit
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 around producer DJ Mark the 45 King. It was Mark's connections to Radio personalities DJ Red Alert and DJ Chuck Chillout, who gave the crew...
member Apache
Apache
Apache is the collective term for several culturally related groups of Native Americans in the United States originally from the Southwest United States. These indigenous peoples of North America speak a Southern Athabaskan language, which is related linguistically to the languages of Athabaskan...
is also Native American. Except for perhaps a few other artists, the majority of Native American hip hop is to be found in the underground scene, rarely gaining exposure beyond regional hits.
Kemozabi, a Wyandot DJ from the all native FBI crew, is well known in the underground for his participation in many DJ competitions such as the DMC
DMC World DJ Championships
DMC World DJ Championships is an annual DJ competition hosted by Disco Mix Club which began in 1986. The most recent instance of this competition will take place in New Orleans and in Denver TBA.-World DJ Champions:*1985 - Roger Johnson...
and Scribble Jam
Scribble Jam
Scribble Jam was an annual hip hop music festival hosted in Cincinnati, Ohio. Dubbed "America's largest hip hop festival", it was co-founded in 1996 by "Fat" Nick Accurso, and Jason Brunson, founders of graffiti magazine Scribble, and DJ Mr Dibbs, in the parking lot of a local nightclub...
. He was consistently placed second and third in many competitions such as the 2004 Montreal and Edmonton DMC competitions, and the 2005 Moncton and North Bay DMC competitions. War Party, became the first native performers to host RapCity. War Party is one of a number of Canadian groups to gain some chart success, including Tru Rez Crew and Slangblossom. Hatchet Warrior
Hatchet Warrior
Hatchet Warrior is the debut studio album by Anybody Killa. Released in 2003, it is the rapper's first release on Psychopathic Records. It peaked at #4 on the Billboard Top Independent Albums chart, #42 on the Top R&B/Hip-Hop Albums chart, and #98 on the Billboard 200...
, the second album by Native American hip hop artist Anybody Killa
Anybody Killa
James Lowery, also known as Anybody Killa, or ABK, is a Native American rapper from Detroit, Michigan whose stage persona is that of a Native American warrior. He is signed to Psychopathic Records.-Biography:...
, was released in 2003, and peaked at #4 on the Billboard
Billboard (magazine)
Billboard is a weekly American magazine devoted to the music industry, and is one of the oldest trade magazines in the world. It maintains several internationally recognized music charts that track the most popular songs and albums in various categories on a weekly basis...
Top Independent Albums chart, #42 on the Top R&B/Hip-Hop Albums chart, and #98 on the Billboard 200
Billboard 200
The Billboard 200 is a ranking of the 200 highest-selling music albums and EPs in the United States, published weekly by Billboard magazine. It is frequently used to convey the popularity of an artist or groups of artists...
. Reddnation, a group from Alberta has become decorated - having received awards for 'Best Rap/Hip Hop CD' and 'Best Duo/Group' at the Aboriginal Peoples Choice Music Awards for their second album Now or Never, Best Rap or Hip-Hop Album at the 2006 Canadian Aboriginal Music Awards, 'Best Group or Duo' & 'Best Rap or Hip-Hop Album' at the 2007 Alberta Aboriginal Music Awards, and 'Best Group or Duo' at the 2007 Aboriginal Peoples Choice Music Awards.
Early Internet Pioneering
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, Red Power Squad, Quese The Emcee, Night Shield, Reddnation, Rollin Fox, Supaman and War Party, giving them a voice online.
In the five years proceeding after the Millennium Year, the website grew in popularity and acted as a 'spring-board' for many of the Native hip hop artists around today.
External links
- Native Hip Hop The original showcase for Native American and Aboriginal Canadian hip hop and rap artists.
- Movement Music: Hip Hop and Aboriginal Youth Activism Interview with Manik of the Native Youth Movement and Skeena Reece