QUEBECOIS HIP-HOP CHALLENGE: DAY 6

Algonquin rapper Samian grew up on the Pikogan Indian Reserve near Amos, in Abitibi. It was Manon Barbeau, of the Wapikoni Mobile project (a production studio on wheels that works with young people in Native communities), who first saw Samian’s potential, five years ago, and told him to go ahead and be a rapper if that’s what he wanted to do.

Since he first started collecting accolades, for his tasteful brand of hip-hop incorporating both French and Algonquin (he went back to his grandma to learn the language when his career took off), Samian’s stage persona, at first very ethnicized, expanded into a more complex and personal stance, presumably closer to his Métis identity. To boot, his most recent video, the slick black and white “Kisakiin“, is shot in an urban setting and devoid of any obvious Algonquin signifiers.

My selection for today is a song Samian did two years ago with Quebecois political activists -cum- rappers Loco Locass. The video, with all its costumed over-the-topness is somewhat cringe-worthy, as are some of the verses offered by Loco Locass’ jesters, but the beat, complete with drum-circle war chants, heroically saves the day.