Mob Bounce Reclaim Identity, Share Influence and Bring Healing in "Mob Medicine" Doc

Last month woke hip-hop duo Mob Bounce released "Mob Medicine," a short documentary about their journey in finding themselves and empowering native communities through their music.

“We started getting our ideas out and it’s like we just started created this whirlwind of thoughts which slowly turned into action and looking at us today, that’s become our healing tool,” Travis Adrian Hebert aka Heebz the Earthchild (Cree/Métis) says of Mob Bounce’s beginnings.

“What I feel about my lyrical content is that it’s the spirit materializing a message through me. Part of my intent with that is that it connects with other people," said Craig Frank Edes aka The Northwest Kid (Hungarian/Scottish/Irish and Gitxsan). "Being aware its like you understand your surroundings and the energy around you and you have the opportunity to create life.”

Like many Indigenous youth, Travis and Craig grew up with a loss of their cultural identity, but discovered that hip-hop was the vehicle in which they were meant to share their experience and spread knowledge to others who have gone through similar experiences.

“I feel like our music is good for the youth and for the people who need healing in the sense that we bring terminology to that social awareness," says Craig. "Eventually there’s just layers and layers that will peel apart and it creates a lot of healing for the youth who had to experience a lot of the same things say me and Travis experienced in our communities."

Check out "Mob Medicine" below, directed by Media Creatorz Amanda Strong and Bracken Hanuse-Corlett:

For more Mob Bounce visit: facebook.com/mobbounce

Stream Mob Bounce's Hypnotic New Single, "Animal Spirit"

Mob Bounce drops "Animal Spirit", the second single from their upcoming release, Mob Medicine.

Hot off the melancholic longing of "Welcome to the Struggle", Heebz the Earthchild and the Northwest Kid are back with round two, "Animal Spirit", a haunting dose of Indigenous hip-hop medicine.

Over a hypnotic backing beat filled with echoing chimes, bells, and distorted animal sounds, the track channels the carefully-crafted lyrics of the two MCs, in traded sing-rapped verses brimming with flow and fire.

"Animal Spirit" takes struggle music and blends it with the force of ancestral presence and resurgent return. Mob Bounce critiques the failings of western rapacious capitalism and colonialism, while calling out to west coast secret societies, protected knowledge, and prayers of thanks to the Creator.

Mob Bounce sees through the smoke and mirrors of colonized being with eagle-eyed clarity. Get lifted on the music and listen with your spirit.

STREAM: Mob Bounce - "Animal Spirit"

STREAM: Mob Bounce, 'Welcome to the Struggle'

You hear the flames of resistance? Mob Bounce is back. "Welcome to the Struggle", the lead single from their much-anticipated new album, Mob Medicine, announces their righteous return.   

It starts with, and comes back to, the fire. With the crackle of a slow burning urgency, an ominous winding synth growl, and a simple repeated rhythm, hip-hop duo Mob Bounce reappears out of the smoke spitting bars of west coast wisdom.

MCs Heebz the Earthchild and The Northwest Kid take "matter into their own hands", calling out racism, homophobia, sexism and oppressive forces over a brooding reimagining of hip-hop mixed with a powerful Indigenous spirit. This is rap with clarity, vision and purpose: "change in the world is on [their] microphone checklist".

Having dropped a subterranean, a capella album promo last week (which you can watch below), the Mob switches it up and critiques the errors of human ways by calling forth the sacredness in art and life. That's Mob Medicine. Real world struggle music.

The new album drops in 2015. Until then, we'll be waiting and watching "for the sun / when the eagles cry out".

STREAM: Mob Bounce - "Welcome to the Struggle" 

Watch Mob Bounce's Mob Medicine Promo

For more on Mob Bounce check their Facebook and Twitter. 

PREMIERE: Stream Sister Says’ New Album “Heart Placement”

Sister Says’ much anticipated second album, Heart Placement, is a soulful, electric mix that sets a new bar for the genre-bending pop duo.

In a departure from the Haida-Tsimshian sibling's jazz-infused first album, Gillian and Robert Thomson, aka Sister Says, along with producer Daivd Meszaros, have crafted twelve fantastic songs. Drawing on soul and an early 70s production sound, they weave electric guitar, keys, organ, and well placed harmonies with an occasional folky acoustic guitar and even a bit of banjo picking. Sonically pared down compared to their last release, the production is tasteful and compelling, bringing the strengths of the melodies and Gillian's voice to the forefront.

For the album, they assembled a crack band of Vancouver musicians including guitarist Lonny Eagleton, drummer Geoff Hicks, pianist Andrew Rasmussen, and, on three of the tracks, pianist Jillian Lebeck.

Recorded over a two year span, Sister Says clearly took the time to create exactly the best album they could, and the result was worth the wait. Lyrically they explore enjoying the present in the positivity-infused title track, they dig into darker depths of loss and hurt in Abel's Underneath and Lost My Soul, and they reflect on change and growth in the closing track Swimming Sharks, which is the sole track to delightfully feature Robert on lead vocals (Gillian's sultry, clear voice delivers all other songs.)

Sister Says has been working and growing steadily since their 2010 debut The Only Way, proving here that they have more ways than one to keep us listening, and loving it. Turn it on and turn it up - the premiere of Heart Placement.

STREAM: Sister Says - "Heart Placement"

Heart Placement is now available for pre-order at sistersays.bandcamp.com.

DOWNLOAD: Enter-Tribal - "Native Cypher"

Taking it back while moving it forward, this quartet of Indigenous MCs steps up and rocks a classic beat in the first of a new series they call the Native Cypher.

Flexing their verbal versatility and lyrical skills, Chief Rock, Beka Solo, JB the First Lady, and Heebz the Earthchild from Mob Bounce, combine to drop some science over the East Flatbush Project hip-hop classic instrumental "Tried by 12".

Looking foward to seeing what's next up in the Native Cypher. Now kick back and enjoy the ride.

DOWNLOAD: Enter-Tribal - "Native Cypher"

STREAM: Heebz The Earthchild - "Idle No More"

Leave it our boys Mob Bounce from the West Coast to drop one of the first Indigenous hip-hop tracks to draw directly from the spirit of the emerging #IdleNoMore movement and turn it into music. One half of the duo, Heebz the Earthchild, dropped this new joint on SoundCloud yesterday.

We'll let the lyrics speak for themselves, but we can already hear crowds gathering with a repeated, melodic chant of "Idle No More".

"Idle No More" Lyrics:

Put your coat on, this is a cold song. With the heart of my elders, this is an old song. We have to go strong when they hold bonds. Those politicians with there souls gone. We row on the river that we flow on and keep showing the world what we know is wrong. My eagle eyes are sharper then the scissors held by the barber, cutting the braids of our rivers. That's a cut to and from Stephen Harper. Your treason is harder then the stone in your heart SIR. I see more pride as we fight Bill C-45. We'll make you mortified that you ever tried to attack our people who stand fortified. This land is for the lives who stand for truth and not for lies. I know what I'm fighting for, and what I am fighting for, you know what I am fighting for, for this I IDLE NO MORE.

STREAM: Heebz the Earthchild - "Idle No More"

This is our first installment in an RPM series that seeks to #SoundtracktheStruggle. Submit your music to be featured — and tag your tracks on SoundCloud, Tumblr, Twitter and social media with #SoundtracktheStruggle

OKA Talks Touring with RPM

Australia's OKA is no stranger to the Canadian West Coast summer music scene. They've toured Canada several times over, traveling as far as Evolve Music Festival and Folk on the Rocks. I had a few questions for the boys and Zappa gladly accepted the opportunity to answer.

EB: Of Evolve, Shambhala, and Folk on the Rocks, which outdoor music festival have you enjoyed the most and why?

Z: Oh man. That is too hard. I thought these interviews usually start with an easy question? We love the crazy uniqueness of Shambhala, the awesome vibe of Evolve but I must say from last year my personal favorite was Folk on the Rocks. There was something magical about being so far north. Oh yeah... and I also partied extra hard. Ha.

EB: You're from The Land of Milk and Honey; Folk On The Rocks happens in the Land of the Midnight Sun, what was your experience of Yellowknife like?

Z: It really surprised us. We had no idea what to expect. All we heard about in the lead up to the festival was the famous enormous mosquitoes. I don't know what happened – but hardly any were around. You can tell the festival really lights up the town. Our shows were so much fun and we met some awesome people. The sun not really going down was also a trip out too. My favorite time of the day is twilight. I call it the 'goo'. When we were there the goo lasted ALL night. Super stoked.

EB: I saw you guys play at Shambhala Music Festival outside of Nelson, BC, last year. I had a really good time. Although Nelson is in the Kootenays, I'm curious of your experiences of the West Coast of Canada - the fans, the people, the scenery - what's your take?

Z: There's no doubt the West Coast of Canada holds truly some of the most staggering and beautiful landscape we've ever seen. As a touring band you quickly get sick of the 4-6 hour drives between every gig. For us some of the most incredible journeys have taken place through the Kootenays and beyond. I still remember my first ride on the Jasper Highway to Robson Valley Music Festival. Every turn we were met with mind-blowing mountain ranges and such pristine glaciers. Makes traveling easy. The people we meet? Well lets just say they are better than the scenery.

EB: From what I can tell, you're all posted up on Australia's Sunshine Coast in the off season. Have you ever been to British Columbia's Sunshine Coast?

Z: No we haven't! But that's a question everyone asks us. I think maybe we're afraid of it. Afraid that we may discover another land that we'll want to live in. Ha. We'll get there one day for sure.

EB: For Zappa - how is your collection of small things coming along?

Z: HA HA classic! Coming along quite nicely. I think my last 'mini' gift was a legit uber small Swiss Army knife.

EB: For Didgeristu - is your collection of hotel cards growing since you were up North?

Didgeristu: Endless... its getting out of hand now. I should open my own hotel.

EB: Electric Didge... please explain.

D: Its basically awesome.... and simple. Essentially a length of PVC pipe, with a microphone on the end hooked up to a space echo, amplified, then out of the speaker the earthy sound goes! That's the easy bit. The hardest part is getting the sound. Stu has been playing his whole life. Takes a long time to develop didge technique.

EB: For Chris Lane - how are these guys to travel with?

CL: Mmmm... ummmm. No comment. Ha Ha. We've been doing it for 4 years straight and we still hang out. That's saying something isn't it?

RPM: What does the funk mean to you?

Z: The funk is that thing in the music that makes you feel invincible. Like you're a professional dancer with really really impressive moves. For men, it makes you want to walk right up to 'that girl' and boogie on down. For girls, it gives you all the confidence to tell 'that guy' to go away cause you're dancing up a storm. It's a smile. Is what James Brown lived and breathed. It's Yum.

RPM: Are you fans of Vegimite? Some locals want to know if you miss it when you're on tour.

Z: Yeah we're fans. The trick is not to use too much. I wouldn't say we miss it, because we gain so much in Canada. Example – MAPLE SYRUP. That stuff is elixir from heaven.

EB: What was your favorite parts of touring En Zid?

Z: Secretly I think a big part of Australia and New Zealand's rivalry is because deep down Australia knows NZ is awesome. Ha. It's SO beautiful. Kind of like a different version of BC. The music there is amazing. Fat Freddy's Drop spearheads the army of quality bands. For me, this trip was one of the WORST ever. I'd just come from the relaxing coconut filled island of Samoa and ingested food poisoning at Auckland Airport. I had the most painful 30 hrs of my life – with a 1 ½ hour gig right in the middle. I couldn't set up my drums. The boys did for me. Someone drove me to the stage, I staggered on, then played through the set. Hardest gig ever! I know next trip will be better.

EB: When can we expect a new Oka album?

Z: 2013 is another album year for OKA. We've been writing on the road and have a host of new tunes being tested at our shows. Can't wait to release them. DidgeriStu is an absolute machine when it comes to writing the beds. We'll have a show then go back to the hotel, Chris and I will wake up in the morning and Stu's like... “Check this out” - he's just happened to write a whole track while we were sleeping.

EB: Would you rather - a 3 album deal with a multinational record label and touring stadiums, or busking and outdoor festivals. For ever.

OKA: As much as we love what we do, we'd prolly take the deal (but still busk and do outdoor festivals every now and then).

EB: Would you rather - travel by horseback across North America, or travel on the backs of eagles to Narnia, but you couldn't come back. You each get to bring one other person to Narnia.

Z: Seriously... how could you say NO to eagles. I would happily fly away with my significant other. Stu has a family, so he wouldn't budge without them. Chris would have to be promised the beach and a surfboard.

EB: When did the idea to bridge Aboriginal and Pop Cultures through music and instrument selection happen, and when did it stick?

Z: It was never planned. Our music rarely is. It's all about the 3 of us bringing our flavor, energy, vibe and skills to the table. Stu is like a friendly bear. His presence is felt and respected. Technically he is one of the best Indigenous Didgeridoo players in Australia and he holds such a grounding role in the band. His culture shines through the music because it shines through him. He's a joker too – and I feel like it shows in his playing and energy on stage. Chris is the wanderer – so talented and versatile on sax, array of flutes, whistles, harmonica and guitar. He'll rarely play the same thing which is an awesome gift and big reason why our music is a journey. Like the surfer he is Chris just weaves through and over the wave of groove Stu and I lay down. Also a joker – Stu and I spend a lot of time laughing at what he thinks is normal. I was the latest to join the band and really found I could express my musicality and spirit within the music. Drums are my life – and in OKA I play what ever I feel like, Polynesian style, funk, hip hop, disco, latin, afro, jazz and more. The three of us just clicked. We've still never had a rehearsal. We leave it all to stage. We have loads of fun. Thanks so much!

Video: Caley Watts Band - "The Wolf Song"

The Caley Watts Band's The Wolf Song begins as a slow howl before picking up into a quick trot and bringing us down some west coast trails, heads nodding to the rhythm.

I imagine game trails, hunting and rabbits. Images of wolf cubs come to my mind, and then young pups testing their strength against the others'. If The Caley Watts Band from Bella Coola drew inspiration for this song from the wild, it's worked to bring the author back into the woods in his imagination.

Bella Coola is the traditional territory of the Nuxalk Nation, who have been there for an estimated 10,000 years, if not longer. There is a rich culture of storytelling there. In traditional narratives told by Aboriginal peoples of the Pacific Coast, supernatural beings were known to take the form of animals, birds or fish in the human world. In their own villages, these beings lived among the people as humans. Many stories tell of the encounters between humans and animal or supernatural beings, sometimes even with traditional masks and dance that were preserved through the times, even though potlatching and masks were at one time not allowed.

Is Caley Watts really a wolf being, singing the songs of her ancestors?

Watch: The Caley Watts Band - "The Wolf Song":

DJ Deano Late Night at VIMAF

On the late night Friday roster, November 11 for the 2011 Vancouver Indigenous Media Arts Festival DJ Deano (Heiltsuk) will be playing original tunes accompanied by Csetkwe's vocals and visuals by Bracken Hanuse Corlett.

After a full day of incredible Indigenous films, those in Vancity can stretch their legs while listening to the original womp womps of DJ Deano (Dean Hunt) from the Heiltsuk Nation. Usually preoccupied with a life dedicated to wood chips and the form lines of his ancestors, he is taking his earlier music projects out of storage for the momentous return of west coast film festivals.

He's had a do-it-yourself process of sampling everything from vinyl he rummaged out of thrift stores to cheesy pop tunes, mixing a little bit from here with a little bit from there to create the beats he could hear in his head. He explains he started to see the ceiling coming with what he could accomplish until he finds the time to further his music training. "I decided to take a break to focus on my carving and painting work until I had the time to seriously take up an instrument."  And his visual work has been flourishing because of it. "I started to realize that the way that made beats, cutting and pasting, was affecting my creative process with my other artwork. I would do the same thing when I made a box. Throw a lot at it and then get to a point and start editing back. "

The Friday night show will give DJ Deano a chance to get back into his music. He will be playing a mix of his older tunes still fresh to most show-goers. Csetkwe will be adding some vocals to certain tracks and her partner Bracken Hanuse Corlette will be adding his and Deano's visual art to the mix.

Check it out after the screening of The Other Side Of Hip-Hop: The Sixth Element - a film about the life of Ernie Paniccioli. With a performance by RPM's own Ostwelve to top it all off.  Not to be missed!

Friday Nov 11 | 8:30pm – Late | W2 Media Cafe – 111 W Hastings | $10 VIMAF 2011 The Other Side of Hip-Hop w/ Late Evening Music Program

w/ RPM.fm Presents: Indigenous Music Culture Visions Music Video Program

Check out the full Vancouver Indigenous Media Arts Festival program here. 

DOWNLOAD: DJ Deano - "Alligator Tears" DJ Deano - "Alligator Tears" by RPMfm

Impossible Nothing Talk 'Montechristo'

Impossible Nothing's album Montechristo is a unique collaboration between friends Darwin Frost and Bracken Hanuse Corlett (Oweekeno/Coast Salish). Frost composed the beats and Hanuse Corlett curated the songs and designed the artwork.

BHC: I'm a multimedia artist hailing from the Wuikinuxv and Klahoose Nations. I started working in the arts ten years ago in theatre and performance. I then shifted focus into media arts and visual arts. I have trained with acclaimed Northwest Coast Heiltsuk artists Bradley Hunt and his sons Shawn Hunt and Dean Hunt. I'm a graduate of the En'owkin Centre of Indigenous Art and I'm in my grad year at Emily Carr University of Art and Design.

DF: My name is Darwin Frost, and I do magic. I work in the present moment with media to manipulate it so that our beings have an easier time traversing through life; I world-walk.

RPM: How did you come to collaborate on this album?

DF: Bracken has always been someone who has been able to draw from within and bring up something interesting. He's abstract within his artwork, which ranges from traditional west coast to full on maximalist pop, and his use of color has always been something I admired.

BHC: The Impossible Nothing is my bro. He asked me to collab(orate) and I said yes. We had some good discussions/battles on the tracks and the flow of putting an album together. It was like building a comic book.

DF: We both are multimedia artists but at the point in time we were doing this album, Bracken was working on visual art like drawing and painting primarily and I was working on music. It was natural to include both our works as one project. Montechristo was paired down to 11 tracks from about 45 so it was a lot of work on both of our parts to get it done

RPM: What are you working on next?

BH: I am working on a video project for a media arts grant that I got this summer. I'm working on some video and paintings for my grad show. I'm also going to release a beat tape in 2012 under the alias Amphibian 14. And I am going to be locked in my studio in preparation for an upcoming solo show. I'm on this maximalism shit Darwin goes on and on about.

DF: I keep most of that to myself. I am working on paintings, more albums (commercial ones and free ones), music videos, and lots of other art in between.

Impossible Nothing's album, Montechristo, is available for download on Soundcloud and Bandcamp.

Check out their track "Mother Tongue".

◯⨝⊻Mother Tongue - Off of "Montechristo". Out now! by Īṃƥɵʂşiƃɭȅ∞Ƞ૦ƫȟįȵğ

RPM YouTube Playlist: West Coast - Volume 1

To accompany our West Coast Volume #001 Podcast, we have compiled a playlist with some additional West Coast based Indigenous artists on our RPM YouTube channel.

The playlist includes:

Rapsure Risin’ – The Lights Go Out Discreet Da Chosen 1 – Ma Letter JB The First Lady – Get Ready Get Steady K.A.S.P. – On A Roll Kristi Lane Sinclair – Last Song Optikz – Gifted Manik – Commercial Drive M’Girl – Eyes Wide Open Ry Moran – Dreams Of Grey Urban Buffaloes – Regret Nothing

There's no way we could ever fit all West Coast Indigenous music videos in one playlist, so stay tuned for more playlists from the RPM YouTube Channel.

What videos would you like to see featured on our YouTube channel and playlists?

Send us your video picks on our Get Involved page and Suggest An Artist.