Sep. 06, 2006 - Issue #568: Sex in the City

Reddnation has a one-night stand

I’m sitting in Denny’s with two-fifths of aboriginal hip-hop group Reddnation. On one side is MC Keith Laboucan, aka Madjikal, who calmly leans on a windowsill. Next to him is soft-spoken founder, CEO and executive producer Darren Brule, aka Ill Logikal. Both are relaxed, despite the fact that it’s only a matter of days before the group headlines what is arguably their biggest show to date.

Their upcoming performance at the Starlite Room will be more than just the CD release party for their latest album, Now or Never; it will also double as the world video premiere for their first single, the infectious “Fabulous.”

“We’re billing this as history in the making,” Brule says, tranquilly sipping on a Coke and explaining that Sep 9 has the potential to be one of the biggest aboriginal hip-hop shows that Edmonton has ever seen. Joining Reddnation is an army of other First Nations acts, including Non Status, Won 18, Eloquence, Cappo and ex-War Party member, Lyrically. Brule says it’s time for groups to put differences aside and come together for one party. “This is the first time the majority of the aboriginal groups have come under one roof and support each other,” Brule says. “We’re trying to set the benchmark for native hip hop in the city and trying to bring more unity to the scene. We’re all different entities, but we’re all coming and joining as one for that night.”

Despite the show’s theme of unification, Reddnation’s Now or Never is a bit of an anomaly as far as aboriginal hip-hop albums go. With the group after a wider fan base, they expanded their sound and produced an album that stands apart from those of other First Nations hip-hop groups.

“Being native and being in hip hop has its pros and cons,” Laboucan says. “But we’re at the point where we want to get in the mainstream regardless of what nay-sayers may talk about. In order to make it somewhere, you gotta cross over and widen your fan-base.”

And although Reddnation pulls no punches when it comes to representing their heritage, their video for “Fabulous,” as Brule calls it, is “just a normal rap video.”

“Compared to all the other native hip-hop music videos that have been done,” he continues, “this is the first video that didn’t have native imagery or content relating to political issues.” V

Sat, Sep 9 (8 pm)
Reddnation
With Cappo, Non Status, Won 18,
Eloquence, Lyrically
Starlite Room, $7

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