VIDEO: D Thought - "Land Of Broken Dreams"

D Thought of CN5 Records and the Iskatewizaagegan #39 First Nation, comes at us with a deep, heart-felt song and video called Land Of Broken Dreams produced by Anno Domini Beats.

This song and video gives us real perspective of Rez-life which is enhanced by wise words from Shoal Lake rap artist D Thought. Cleanly filmed and edited, this video provides media-medicine for your mind as the summer wraps up and we prepare to head back to school.

Directed by Reign Wapioke.

For more on D Thought check out dthought.tk.

VIDEO: A Tribe Called Red - "NDNs From All Directions"

The meteoric innovators of electronic-powwow music A Tribe Called Red let loose another video dedicated to "NDNs From All Directions".

The trio consisting of DJ Shub, DJ Bear Witness and DJ NDN have made huge strides in the music world gaining recognition from websites, magazines and even MTV with their technological, futuristic style of what they call "Electric Powwow" music. They were recently featured on a CBC documentary about Ottawa's Indigenous music scene - a scene in which they play a huge part in upholding. Now they unleash their latest music video NDNs From All Directions.

NDNs From All Directions from Bear Witness on Vimeo.

Also check out Red Skin Girl.

VIDEO: Starmakerz Family - "That's Nice"

The second single off the new Starmakerz Family album brings us a street savvy video and another notch on the belt for this music trio.

The Starmakerz consists of Manik, DJ Sichuan and Magic Touch - the latter known for his production of hit tracks off of the Inez album project. As a team they are now working on a full-length album project as well as prolific video releases. Just in time for the end of summer, That's Nice will be sure to hit your playlists up in that classic Starmakerz way.

Ras K'dee's New Album "Cloudwriter"

Pomo/Keynan musician Ras K'dee has a new release called Cloudwriter available on iTunes for a great cause.

Ras K’dee has been putting it down for conscious Indigenous hip-hop for the last decade, bringing lessons of reality to his listeners on a solo tip and also with the collective, Audio Pharmacy.

In addition, he’s a founding member of SNAG Magazine, a progressive rag coming out of the Bay Area, Ras’ music is laced with awareness culture and Indigenous styles known so well from the California sun. Touching on issues of Indigenous struggles, Ras manages to turn it into medicine with his progressive style of music.

This new album, Cloudwriter, is laced with some banging rap beats, slower ballad type songs, reggae-funk and live instrumentation giving it a roots kind of feel. Perfect for summer weather.

The deepest part of this album release is the context in which Ras K’dee is making it available. The proceeds of album purchases will go towards a solar project on the Ha-bida Pomo Reservation in Northern California.  This is a class act by a great musician with an awesome product.

For more about Ras K’dee and Cloudwriter, check out audiopharmacy.com and purchase the album on iTunes or Amazon.com

1. Platform
2. Thalimit
3. Peace Prize Feat. Sunru Skywalka
4. Seethaway Feat. Rick Wayne
5. Harder Feat. Nikila Badua
6. Thepath
7. Sweetsounds Feat. Aisha Fukushima
8. Step Correct Feat. Mano Negro & Sole Rebel
9. Weallneed
10. Hold On
11. Diffrint Feat. Songbird
12. Buscando Feat. Deuce Eclipse & Raw G
13. Fallacy Feat. Somos One, Madlines & Ms. Tayfah
14. Thaharvest Feat. Pasha & Zygoat

Also check out Snag Magazine's website.

Discreet Da Chosen One's New Album "Magneto"

Sḵwx̱wú7mesh Nation Hip-hop artist Discreet Da Chosen One hits us with his 4th album release "Magneto" this week.

Discreet Da Chosen One has been putting it down in the Vancouver scene for the past decade and has branched out into the national scene as a nominee for the Aboriginal People's Choice Awards and with various tours across Canada.

Now as creative as ever, he releases his newest project Magneto. With 13 songs and artist features like Misha-Q and Dani & Lizzy, the album filled out with club bangers and comic-style storytelling that Discreet has become known well for.

Along side Discreet's constant stream of albums and mixtape releases, he puts much effort into working as a mentor in schools and youth groups, as well as working in the film industry and running his own audio-visual studio based out of the Capilano Reserve in North Vancouver.

Now on his fourth full length album release, Discreet continues to plug away at his love for music and drive to release more product to his audiences.

Available this Friday on iTunes and various locations, be sure to grab this album for your collection and support Indigenous Hip Hop.

Track Playlist:

1. Super Villain (Intro) 2. Magneto 3. My Vibe 4. Heart Cries - featuring Misha-Q 5. Man Of The Hour 6. Dances Wit Wolves 7. Frienemies 8. Unbreakable - featuring Dani & Lizzy 9. Re:Form - featuring Obsession 10. Cobra-Kon 11. Chick Whisperer 12. I Am The Future 13. The Girls - featuring Ali

For more information on Discreet Da Chosen One be sure to check out his VS Crew Website, our West Coast - Vol. 1 Podcast and his release party in our Indigenous Live Music Picks for this weekend. Do you have an album release coming up?

Let us know by dropping us a line at: info@rpm.fm

Marc Meriläinen's New EP

Ojibway and Finnish artist Marc Meriläinen combines Finnish instruments like the jantele and jouhikko with Aboginal vocables and modern beats on The Wolves of Tuonela.

Merilänen aims to combine the best of his two cultural backgrounds and the result is a multi-dimensional listening experience - beautiful, intruiging and relaxing. Released June 28, 2011 on iTunes.

The Wolves of Tuonela track listing:

1. Kantele
2. Soittaa
3. Ensi Ilta
4. Maija
5. Päivää
6. The Wolves of Tuonela

1491 Nation Presents: MC RedCloud

Huichol Hiphop legend RedCloud comes at us with his new album release just in time for summer - "1491 Nation Presents: MC RedCloud".

MC RedCloud and the 1491 Nation bring a great release for the summer including 18 tracks, some funny skits, bangin' beats and Redcloud's usual deadly rap flow. Best of all, this release is FREE for download, but we recommend you purchase the entire CD - you name the price! - and support the MC Redcloud and 1491 Nation movement.

A legend in the game in his own right, RedCloud has been representing Indigenous Hip-hop for the last decade out of Hawthorne, California. His freestyle skills carry with it a reputation of high-energy, mind-boggling skill and style that has rocked crowds all over Turtle Island. It's one thing to freestyle in front of people and be OK at it...but to dominate with crowd suggestions and rhythmic flow and style is what separates RedCloud from the rest.

Now he lays a beating to your speakers with this new summer release fully laced with real Hip-hop style and sounds. A mix-tape style album, he uses some amazing sounds and rap styles we haven't heard since the golden-era of the early to mid-nineties but updated to a new bump of west coast rap grooves and RedCloud's unmistakable flow and voice.

It's amazing to hear one of our own bring an amazing level of rap skill and musical talent into the Hip-hop game. This album definitely raises the bar and benchmark to another level.

This release is sure to get some plays in your ride, BBQs, 49ers and wherever else you have a great sound system.

To listen to, download and purchase the new MC RedCloud album go to mcredcloud.bandcamp.com.

Winnipeg's Most New Album "GoodFellaz"

One of the hottest and hardest working bands on the scene right now, Winnipeg's Most, released their second album "GoodFellaz" on Tuesday. Charlie Fettah leaked the fantastic cover art on Twitter, cementing the album's namesake as an homage to the classic Scorsese film.

"Goodfellaz" features guest appearances from Inez, Krizz Kaliko, Louie Rankin, Peter Jackson, The Rupness Monster, and The Heatbag Family.

You can stream the album on Winnipeg's Most Facebook Page, buy it on iTunes or, if you're in the Winnipeg area, it's available at NSHB Studio & Clothing.

"Goodfellaz" - Track listing:

1. Intro Ft. Louie Rankin
2. Winnipeg Boy
3. Don't Stop Ft. Rupness Monsta
4. World Goes Round Ft. Inez
5. Good Girls Gone Bad Ft. Rupness Monsta
6. Key To The City
7. If I'm Not a Hustla
8. Forgive Me Ft. Krizz Kaliko
9. When I'm Gone Ft. Peter Jackson
10. Never Know Why
11. The World's Crazy
12. Come Get Me Ft. Bubblz
13. Invincible Ft. Big Slim

Congrats boys, we're excited to hear it.

M.O. & Geothermal MC Release "String Games"

Iqaluit-born hip hop artist M.O. teams up with North Vancouver's Geothermal MC to release "String Games".

While "Eskimocentricity" presented linear rap narratives, "String Games" moves into more of a staccato hip hop storytelling style. The collaboration is exciting, dynamic and moving.

Get the album from CDBaby.

Track listing:

1. Marching Out 2. Drive 3. Bearings ft. Whitey of Southside Totems 4. Muskox ft. Kinnie Starr 5. Tundra ft. Big Scratch 6. Saturday 7. Spanned 8. Scaling ft. Shauna 9. Sides 10. Assembly ft. Hyper T 11. Shadow 12. Midnight ft. Belladonna the Virtuous