RedCloud's Top 5 Indigenous Emcees

If it wasn’t for our man RedCloud, we wouldn’t have even known there were so many indigenous emcees out here representing. RedCloud himself is from the Mexican tribe out of Chiapas (home to the Zapatistas) and the Juaneno tribe , but grew up banging with Chicano gangs in Los Angeles. He turned his life around and started releasing inspiring and positive hip-hop. Last month he released his new album, Hawthorne’s Most Wanted, with the first single “Tapatio” followed by “Boulevard Knights” actually peep this video first for a taste:




Nowadays, RedCloud is reaching out to not only Black and Latino gang members, but also indigenous people doing shows on Native American reservations. During his travels, he found that there were so many Native brothers representing that he had to help get the word out. So we hit him up ourselves to find out who are the Top 5 Indigenous emcees putting it down?


1. Supaman - "I met this cat in the middle of no where in Montana, when i heard him bust, i knew i was going to eventually sign him, 5 years later we did. Hes one of the best in the game and belongs to the Crow Nation. Keep an eye out for "'Indigenous Legends"- this next Syntax project will feature the styles of Supaman. Crow Agency's King."

2. Kaboose - "I first heard him on NightOwls, a compilation our label puts out... he stood out from the rest. This cat puts Minnesota natives on the map. Hes from Bemidgi (ojibwe/chippewa) and he's got styles, determination, heart and loyalty- all the things that made him a part of the Syntax/Indian Ink family."

3. Olmeca - Man, this cat is one of my favorite Indigenous emcees ever. Besides belonging to the LA underground supercrew "Acid Reign" this cat stands out. Word around the street, this guy has a heart for his people, like nobody else, he left his crew, family and friends and moved to Chiapas Mexico to help the Indians and farmers defend themselves from the mexican government. The events going on in Chiapas has become the Wounded Knee of our day- and this amazing native emcee has done what most revolutionaries dream of- speak life and represent.

4. Hellnback - Hellnback is part of the huge crew "Team Rezofficial" from Winnipeg Canada, the crew consists of many cats worthy of my top 5 (Big Stomp, Big Dro, Sleezy Sleeze, Tomislav and Lakota Jonez). I met the crew in Toronto and got to see his stage etiquette and freestyle skills- and i fell in love. Peep out youtube for Hellnback or Rezofficial videos... To me these guys have a close tie to first place along with "Dead Indians" for the illest indigenous emcees from Canada. Dont sleep -please. Hellnback has what it takes to change any misconception or stereotype about Indigenous Hip Hop. Protect your scalp kid.

5. Quese IMC - Another brother that makes me proud to be indigenous. Quese is one of the livest performers and most influential Emcees in this vessel of hip hop. He belongs to the Culture Shock Camp, a league of b-boys and b-girls, DJs, graffiti artists, speakers and frontliners for Indian country. What makes him stand out is that he’s legit. He truly has a heart for native youth, whether Canadian, American or Mexican. He gets the big picture- and he actually searches the soul. In an Emcee battle he can hold his own and he even had beef with the "puff daddy" of native hip hop: "Litefoot". Great live show, killer songs and a great cat to chill with.

Honorable Mentions:
Tactile The RhymeChild
Dead Indians
Maniac the Siouxpernatural
Def I
RedSkin the General
The Crux
Of Mexican Descent