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A Tribe Called Red

05/12/2016Ushering In The Mystical Prophecies Of The Halluci Nation
 

Months of protests led by the Native American Sioux Indian community, involving hefty clashes between demonstrators and federal law enforcement on behalf of a planned pipeline project in the state of North Dakota, took a decisive turn this weekend, as the US Army intervened and will now allegedly look into alternative routes.

Meanwhile, across the border in Canada, native producer and DJ crew A Tribe Called Red (est. 2008), aka Bear Witness, 2oolman and DJ NDN, continues to take a positive musical stand and share its unique palette of electronic sounds with a broadening global community: "A Tribe Called Red promotes inclusivity, empathy and acceptance amongst all races and genders in the name of social justice. They believe that indigenous people need to define their identity on their own terms. If you share this vision, then you are already part of the Halluci Nation."

Coincidentally, "We Are The Halluci Nation" is also the name of the group's recently released third studio album (after "Nation II Nation" 2013 and "A Tribe Called Red" 2012). The three-piece is considered to be "the primary purveyors of powwow step", a blend of instrumental hip hop, reggae, moombahton and dubstep-influenced dance music with indigenous elements such as vocal chanting and drumming.

It does not come as a surprise then that the late Native American activist, poet and musician John Trudell is the first voice you hear on the collective's new album, including feature performances by Yasiin Bey (aka Mos Def), Saul Williams, Colombian visual artist and musician Lido Pimienta as well as native musicians the likes of Black Bear, Tanya Tagaq, Australian aboriginal band OKA or Swedish-Sami singer Maxida Marak:

We are the tribe that they cannot see.
We live on an industrial reservation.
We are the Halluci Nation.

We have been called the Indians.
We have been called Native American.
We have been called hostile.
We have been called pagan.
We have been called militant.
We have been called many names.

We are the Halluci Nation.
We are the human beings.
The callers of names cannot see us, but we can see them.

We are the Halluci Nation.
Our DNA is of earth and sky.
Our DNA is of past and future.

We are the Halluci Nation.
We are the evolution, the continuation.
Halluci Nation.

John Trudell, Poet Tree Publishing

Watch "We Are The Halluci Nation" here or “ALie Nation” here. Also, last week marked the premiere of the group's latest music video for its single "The Virus", featuring outspoken rapper/singer/songwriter/poet and actor Saul Williams and the Chippewa Travellers family drum group. So without further ado, watch the new clip below for a healthy dose of A Tribe Called Red's mighty powwow step.

AUTHOR: Lev Nordstrom