Artwork: Jules Badoni, Dineh
conTInued... people hip to Native hip-hop in like ’98 when we starting doing an event that we had to throw cause nobody else would do anything for Native hip-hop so we had to throw our own event. It is kinda like we always had to do it ourselves. We never really had that red carpet as Indigenous artists, we had to create that opportunity on our own. So my music was always rooted within that culture, in that ceremony, that identity. Now we have a bigger, wider understanding of the power of the spirit that we can put in our music as far as our ancestral beliefs. Because music is powerful, music is a tool that can change people’s lives. It is an instrument, a spiritual instrument that can literally bring a balance to what the other side is doing. Because there is another side to that music. You know, that destruction, that darkness that can be used to control the people, to trigger hate, through words, through symbolism. So as Indigenous people we can bring balance because we have gifts that have been given to us that give us the opportunity to use
the modern day gifts to change the world. To me it is not just Indigenous hip-hop. It is music that comes from that heartbeat, the drum, the hurt, the creation, and the star people, The Creator. And we are here today, we made it this far and we can use these tools, we can use them in a different way. So that is how and why, my music first and foremost comes from that creation that The Creator gave us and our spirituality. L: What is the most exotic place you ever performed at? Q: Hawaii. That place, I mean I have been to so many places but that place…. The only way I can explain it is that when I was there I just wanted to dig a hole and bury myself in it, let my head stick out, just let the earth surround me cause it was so powerful. I was so powerful, it was still connected to the past. The way I look at Hawaii, the land, the beauty
of it is probably the same way that a white person that LOVES Native Americans looks at a Native American elder. They are just so in awe, they are so fascinated by this Native American elder that has all this knowledge, this language, chiseled in all the Native American features, you know how that looks? They look at that Native like how I look at Hawaii. It was just so powerful, so connected, I just wanted to wrap my arms around it and be a part of it, and be there, be present. I would say Hawaii is the most beautiful place I have ever gone... …As far as spiritually exotic, within the people, that spirit drum is so powerful it moves from the music, moves through the words, moves through the people, moves in the people, out of the people and then back to me is so powerful. Even if it’s a small show is creates this space that’s so powerful that it’s like emitting beams of light to the earth from the universe and that right there is exotic, cause this land is exotic. That’s what this land is, amazing, beautiful, exotic. R – I have one more question about your new album, “Hand