In 1492 Columbus Sailed the Ocean Blue….and if you demand more of this white washed narrative then you’re not patriotic are you? Aaaawwww…Hell Nah!
It’s time for a new narrative, not just on this false holiday called Columbus Day but across the country we demand better in recognizing historical truths for all people of color and our past and current treatment by institutional systems of oppression, white privilege and day-to-day occurrences of micro-aggressions and overt craziness by white power.
A new era of realness and healing must be ushered in. As indigenous peoples, our story did not end a hundred years ago and we are not relegated to stoic pictures of time-gone-by. We are very much alive and our stories continue. The push to reclaim today as Indigenous Peoples’ Day is sweeping the country and current historical struggles like the one at Standing Rock to protect our earth are building global support.
As this happens, I believe Hip Hop is providing an important platform to voice these stories. Native Breakers, Emcees and DJs are making noise and amplifying their narratives and power through Hip Hop, a culture created in The Bronx by Black youth and further influenced by Afro-Latino youth in the 70s to say “I’m here and my voice is important.” It’s no surprise this same culture resonates with Native youth and artists as a way to channel their talents, strengthen their voices and make change in their communities.
So if you don’t know….here you go.
This past weekend at the Silverback Open presented by UDEF and The Pro Breaking Tour, one of the largest Breaking platforms in the world, Remind and Thesis made it known Native Bboys are badass tradition bearers for Hip Hop Culture. Ricky “Rockany” aka Stuntman put it best when he said, “Thesis won first place and Remind won the place.” Check out Stance’s recap here.
REMIND
The legendary Remind of Style Elements Crew came to the competition for the first time in its 3-year existence to have fun and let his divine energy shine. In the process he advanced to the Top 8 out of hundreds of the best Breakers worldwide and won the hearts and minds of all who attended and the thousands who watched from the livestream. Remind is in his late 30s and in Breaking years many consider that ancient. Truth is this brother IS ancient. Remind draws on his ancestors’ ancient wisdom and knowledge and his purpose on this earth is to remind us of our sacred humanity by being a living legend that is humble and truly cares about his community. A talk with this brother will enlighten and make you laugh. His unique style and approach to Breaking has influenced countless Bboys and Bgirls across this globe. He’s a game changer that keeps adding layers and layers to his list of credits. Remind is also part of an all-Native crew called XFRX (Chief Rocks) who have been putting on a jam called Sacred Cypher that was formerly held during the same time as Gathering of Nations in Albuquerque, NM as a way to bring Hip Hop culture to the community in a good way.
THESIS
Thesis is so fresh and innovative! This native brother seriously can’t stop, won’t stop being the best. Thesis came to Silverback Open this year to defend his title and emerged the last-man-standing once again. The two-time title holder is a Yaqui brother from Arizona who not only shines in the circles but keeps everyone looking fresh with his Ojos de Venados. Breakers from around the world are learning about these traditional neckpieces that keep the bad spirits away while looking fresh doing it. Thesis is still so young and the future for this brother holds no boundaries. He’s a fierce warrior in the battles and a ride-or-die friend to his crews Knuckleheads Cali, Massive Monkees and the all-Native crew Fresh Descendants. Check out his final battle against Issei for the title here. He credits his family, true friends and his crews for helping him illuminate and push for greatness even through dark times.
QUESE IMC
Quese IMC is an outspoken and action orientated Emcee using his voice to spread knowledge and inspire resistance. A Pawnee brother from Oklahoma, he and his brother Brian Frejo aka Shock B have been using Hip Hop as a platform to spread peace, love, unity and having fun through their efforts with Culture Shock a Hip Hop festival in Oklahoma for years. Three years ago they brought out DJ Kool Herc to participate in their most recent Culture Shock in Oklahoma and while there the legendary DJ participated in a sacred sweat ceremony with the community on Father’s Day. Fitting as DJ Kool Herc is known as one of the founding fathers of Hip Hop. Quese was one of many protectors who joined over 150+ tribes and nations coming together to stand up for water rights at Standing Rock in South Dakota. The Water Is Life #NoDAPL movement is still going strong and has gained international support to stop the Dakota Access Pipeline project that would put many water ways in danger of pollution. He was just in The Bronx working with other water protectors to do Hip Hop shows to raise further awareness and support. He was arrested during the protection actions and you can donate to help with lawyer costs here: https://fundrazr.com/51AKp5
ARTSON
Artson is a Emcee and Bboy from Style Elements Crew and Rock Steady Crew who uses Hip Hop to teach, inspire and create action for his community. He recently dropped multiple albums in a few month period gaining recognition from The Source Magazine and fans across the globe. Last week, Artson participated in a protection action in downtown Los Angeles that called for solidarity with Standing Rock and the Water Is Life #NODAPL movement. He and his wife Carla recently opened up an Urban Trading Post in downtown Long Beach called HOME on the Promenade where they sell native hand-made goods. From Hip Hop to home goods, this brother is a true entrepreneur bringing culture to commerce in a good way.
SUPAMAN
I met this brother in Oklahoma in the Spring at Hastylez’ Hip Hop festival and jam called Battle on the Plainz. His amazing talent for spreading knowledge through humor and Hip Hop consistently shines through. Supaman, an Apsáalooke brother, is an Emcee and Fancy Dancer whose unique brand of talent fuses beat looping, emceeing and dance together to create a phenomenal showing of how traditional cultures can come together with Hip Hop in a good way to lift up the youth. He is an amazing educator. He has been featured by MTV countless times and still continues to be an on-the-ground community builder. This brother is nothing but the best.
OLMECA
In a constant and never-ending era of Immigrant backlash, this indigenous Emcee of Mexican decent is doing important work of spreading important knowledge that many Latinx peoples need to reclaim and invest in learning their indigenous ways. Olmeca’s work has brought him to Chiapas to learn from and work with the Zapatistas to many actions on the boarder and with farmworkers across the U.S. He was just at the SOA Watch Encuentro at the Boarder in Nogales, Arizona and Nogales, Sonora. His use of Hip Hop highlights indigenous voices while being on-point with his political analysis of current high-stakes attacks on Brown, Black and working class people. His view of being both from here and there pushes us to understand space and place beyond the illegal boarders constructed by imperialism. He is Hip Hop as resistance to its max. He is starting a Midwest tour this month bringing workshops, lectures and music to the people of Wisconsin, Michigan and Illinois – so if you’re in that area look out.
A TRIBE CALLED RED
A Tribe Called Red is the internationally renowned DJ collective from Canada reinvigorating our cultural compass for understanding native culture through current musical trends. They have been non-stop in releasing banger after banger to keep the people dancing while making poignant political commentary that reminds us all that NDN culture is surviving and thriving. They never hold back and constantly keep the masses current with their unique way of speaking truth to power through their musical genius. Their live shows don’t disappoint and feature amazing dancers that bridge the traditional with Hip Hop. A recent additional to their live shows is the amazing Angela “Miracle” Gladue aka MISS CHEIF ROCKA
who is both a Fancy Shawl dancer and Bgirl/Freestyle Hip Hop Dancer from Canada. I had the honor of rocking the 49 Stage with her, Remind and Verenice Portela Farias at Gathering of Nations in 2015 as we backed up Quese IMC, Shock B and Artson. She’s also an amazing artist. Check out her digs here. Angela was recently in DC protecting in front of the White House for scared water rights and the Water Is Life #NoDAPL movement.
There are countless examples of Indigenous Hip Hop cultural bearers across our beautiful Turtle Island and around the globe. I salute them all on Indigenous Peoples’ Day. We came to reclaim our scared humanity!
“Word is Bond, Action is Bold.”
– El La Katrina from GIRL ILLA Tactics
