“Traditionally, we’ve always been about pushing the limit of social norms and the way that people perceive us.” MC Quinton “Yung Trybez” Nyce
Stuart Derdeyn
Snotty Nose Rez Kids Quinton “Yung Trybez” Nyce (left) and Darren “Yung D” Metz.Photo by Rudegang Entertainment /PNG
Reviews and recommendations are unbiased and products are independently selected. Postmedia may earn an affiliate commission from purchases made through links on this page.
Article content
What is your racial or ethnic heritage?
Advertisement
This advertisement has not loaded yet, but your article continues below.
Article content
This question is standard in exit polls in the United States elections. In 2020, the following choices were included: White, Black, Hispanic/Latino, Asian and the catch-all category called Other. In an election day broadcast, CNN lumped American Indians, Alaska Natives, Native Hawaiians and others into a category called Something Else.
For Indigenous or Native American people, that last option didnt fly.
The Native American Journalists Association demanded an apology from the broadcaster and social media exploded with rejections of the blanket classification. However, this outrage quickly shifted into taking ownership of the term to generate positive expressions of native identity with videos, photographs, illustrations and more. The slight had been reclaimed and turned into an expression of cultural pride across fashion, art and entertainment circles.
One popular meme on Twitter featured a cartoon by artist R. Cate of a white child asking a Native child if they wanted to play cowboys and something else?
Always ones to be right up to date with their musical responses to Indigenous issues, Snotty Nose Rez Kids crafted a new tune in response.
Titled Something Else, it is the first new music in 2021 from the Kitimat-based Haisla hip hop duo.
Advertisement
This advertisement has not loaded yet, but your article continues below.
Article content
In the belly of the beast still kicking/Im something else cuz your boys built different proclaims MC Quinton Yung Trybez Nyce over a suitably murky trap beat that goes on to outline Indigenous pride and passion with fist-raising righteousness. Its a classic Snotty Nose Rez Kids tune, a musical middle finger to the powers that be.
Traditionally, weve always been about pushing the limit of social norms and the way that people perceive us, says Nyce. With the Average Savage, we ran with everything from Pocahontass savages chant and being called redskins in Peter Pan and other stereotypes and its the same with Something Else. People look to musicians to be the voices of the people and look to us for what we have to say, so were saying it.
Advertisement
This advertisement has not loaded yet, but your article continues below.
Article content
Since blowing up across North America with its 2017 self-titled debut and The Average Savage, SNRK sealed its reputation as one of the nations most dynamic duos with Trapline (2019) and 2020s Born Deadly EP. Their recordings have been shortlisted for the Polaris Music Prize, nominated at the Indigenous Music Awards, Western Canadian Music Awards and the Junos. Their music has been featured in films such as Monkey Beach and Rustic Oracle, as well as Trickster.
Both rappers have a close connection to the acclaimed CBC series which was cancelled after controversy surrounding producer Michelle Latimers Indigenous identity.
It was really great to be featured in Trickster and have a little cameo in Monkey Beach as ourselves, said Nyce. I think I first heard about that being made into a movie 10 years ago, so it was cool when it came full circle. Author Eden Robinson is my cousin.
Advertisement
This advertisement has not loaded yet, but your article continues below.
Article content
Season one of Trickster was so badass, that it really broke our hearts when all that went down, said Darren Young D Metz. For not just the actors, but the camera, editing and production crews it was going to be the thing that launched them into the industry, so its super unfortunate. Indigenous people have storytelling in our DNA and we chose hip-hop, but there should be way more going on in film and television too.
No matter what the medium, Metz feels positive about what the future holds for Indigenous arts and artists getting their message out. He wryly notes that the variety of styles and approaches in music alone is something else.
From the one and only who paved the way for all of us Buffy Sainte-Marie to Jeremy Dutcher, who sings in his native language and does something classical that is so beautiful, there are just so many bands and solo artists doing great things, said Metz. Personally, I feel that it was only a matter of time before it all blew up.
Advertisement
This advertisement has not loaded yet, but your article continues below.
Article content
Were living in a time where its cool to be Indigenous, were finally visible, said Nyce. All eyes are on us, and with everything going on with the lost children and other sad news, people want to hear what we have to say even more in the way we say it. Long before all of the traumas that came down with colonization, I think we always had that element of humour to offset the sadness.
While Something Else may have tongue-in-cheek lyrics, the album art reflects the sadness that is part of the groups experiences. The artwork will feature a picture of Taran Kootenhayoo, the late rising star actor and model who died tragically in December. The duo wanted to honour him, admitting that death and tragedy has been a regular feature of community life as long as they can remember.
Advertisement
This advertisement has not loaded yet, but your article continues below.
Article content
I took a lot of time during the pandemic to focus on this and my own mental health while writing the new album, says Metz. We arent the same wide-eyed rez kids we were when Trapline came out. This album is the ups-downs-all-arounds of who we are now, today.
Im excited to be back to playing, from the Midwest states on this coming tour, to all over North America, said Nyce. Going to those cities where the music we grew up listening to comes from is a thrill for me. With the pent-up fan demand for shows and how pumped we are too, its going to go off.
Snotty Nose Rez Kids new album arrives in October 22.
sderdeyn@postmedia.com
twitter.com/stuartderdeyn
Share this article in your social network
Advertisement
This advertisement has not loaded yet, but your article continues below.
Sign up to receive daily headline news from the Vancouver Sun, a division of Postmedia Network Inc.
By clicking on the sign up button you consent to receive the above newsletter from Postmedia Network Inc. You may unsubscribe any time by clicking on the unsubscribe link at the bottom of our emails. Postmedia Network Inc. | 365 Bloor Street East, Toronto, Ontario, M4W 3L4 | 416-383-2300
We encountered an issue signing you up. Please try again
Postmedia is committed to maintaining a lively but civil forum for discussion and encourage all readers to share their views on our articles. Comments may take up to an hour for moderation before appearing on the site. We ask you to keep your comments relevant and respectful. We have enabled email notificationsyou will now receive an email if you receive a reply to your comment, there is an update to a comment thread you follow or if a user you follow comments. Visit our Community Guidelines for more information and details on how to adjust your email settings.read more
