War Party
Websites:
http://rpm.fm/artist/war-party/
Origin:
Hobemma, Alberta
Biography:
With 3 Canadian Aboriginal Music Awards under his belt Rex Smallboy is somewhat of an icon in the Canadian native rap music scene. From leading War Party to be the first native rap group to appear on Much Music Canada to working with Rap music Legend Chuck D on his last War Party release, Rex’s passion to bring a native presence to Rap stoked the hearts and minds of many First Nation’s rappers. With his first full solo effort in the final stages of the master recording process Rex is already making moves with his management team keeping the War Party name alive and bringing the next chapter of native rap to the masses. Alberta based Prairie Dog Films has recently licensed two of the upcoming tracks to be featured in the new APTN series Blackstone.
-www.prairiedog.ca
3 Time Canadian Aboriginal Music Award Winners
Founded by Rex Smallboy to represent the Native voice in Rap. War Party made music history as the first native rap group to have a music video (Feeling Reserved) air nationally on Much Music Canada. (Rap City)
War Party also made another ground breaking accomplishment featuring legendary Rap icon Chuck D from Public Enemy on their album The Resistance.
Considered to be the pioneers of the native rap scene in Canada some of War Party's performances include the World Expo in Nagoya, Japan and the First Peoples Festival at the Smithsonian Museum in Washington, DC.
Over the years War Party has received considerable attention from such media as APTN, CBC, MSNBC, AVR, NCIFM and CFWE. War Party's music has also been featured on Aboriginal films Dreamkeepers and Stryker.
War Party originally started as a group now consists of Rex and Cynthia Smallboy performing as a duo and Rex also performing as a solo act.
Band/artist history
War Party Biography
War Party was founded by Rex Smallboy to represent the Native voice in the rap music industry. Known for having a positive vibe and powerful message of overcoming adversity War Party made music history as the first native rap group to have a music video (Feeling Reserved) air nationally on Much Music Canada.
Inspired by the revolutionary forces of rap and driven by the untold injustice inflicted on the American Indian, the music and message of War Party tells a remarkable and heroic story of hip-hop, courage, honesty and determination.
Easily one of the most important rap groups of their time, War Party focuses on the trials and tribulations of coming from a socially, politically, and economically deprived environment such as the First Nations reserves of North America.
With a strong reputation for ground breaking accomplishments, War Party has also gained national recognition for their music from The Canadian Broadcasting Corporation (CBC) and the Aboriginal Peoples Television Network (APTN).
War Party has received international attention performing at the Indigenous Language Conference in Nagoya, Japan and from sponsorship by the world renowned clothing designer Tommy Hilfiger at the 2002 Telus World Ski & Snow Boarding Music Festival.
The group also received coverage from MSNBC News for their performance in Washington DC at the First Americans Festival hosted by the world famous Smithsonian Museum.
War Party recorded their first album titled The Reign in 1999 independently releasing the debut CD late 2000 and winning the 2001 Canadian Aboriginal Music Award for Best Rap or Hip-hop Album. War Party also won the 2001 Canadian Aboriginal Music Award for Best Music Video for a remix of the song Feeling Reserved.
War Party also released an independent EP titled Exclusive Rez Cuts winning the 2002 Canadian Aboriginal Music Award for Best Rap or Hip-hop Album.
War Partys 2nd full length independent release titled The Greatest Natives from the North went on to receive nominations for the 2003 Native American Music Awards and the Canadian Aboriginal Music Awards.
War Party has worked with Chuck D from Public Enemy, (Featured on their latest release The Resistance) and have had their music featured in the major motion picture Dream keepers.
War Party is now a duo consisting of Rex and Cynthia Smallboy
