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Reservation life infused into rap songs

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Navajo rap artist King Blizz hosts album-release party

Dineh/Navajo rapper Ryan Hardy a.k.a. King Blizz held an album release party Sept. 9 at the Juggernaut for his compilation CD, “It’s Hard To Explain.”

His first album “Patiently Awaited” came out in 2014. Hardy hails from Ganado, Ariz., and raps about his life, living on the Navajo Nation.

Along with Hardy, several other rappers attended the gala event to help promote his album in which some are Dineh as well, including “Shade” from Two Gray Hills, “Dopeness” from Shiprock, Terrell Matheny R&B Artist/Dancer from Aurora, Colo., and Matias Ashley from Burntwater, Ariz.

Hardy’s album speaks of the hardships people face on the reservations, almost on a daily basis. He chose the name King Blizz to represent his people, and all Native Americans nationwide that can relate to his songs and the stories behind them.

“I’m doing it for my people, and I talk about the way of life and try to give them a visual, a perspective to those who don’t know Native Americans,” he said.

Being homeless and dropping out of high school at one point in his life, his rap is reflective of those personal obstacles.

His songs also include his Dineh culture and contemporary problems facing his tribe.

Hardy was influenced at an early age, listening to other rap groups at the age of 10 on the radio, and his passion was fueled by his uncles who told him to keep pursuing what he loved.

When asked about the negative side of rap, Hardy said it’s all in how you view the rap artist and how they say it.

“As far as the partying and all that stuff it’s just rap and the perspective of life,” he said.

He says he tries to separate himself from the negative side of rap to help his people, and think about real life issues.

Monte Pete “Shade,” from “Tribe 2 Entertainment” also came out to help promote Hardy’s album.

Originally from Two Gray Hills, Pete has been in the rap industry for more than 20 years and likes to put a positive spin to his songs. He wants to help promote positive messages where there really isn’t many positive role models for today’s Dineh youth.

“Rap music is the dominant music for all reservation kids, and a way to do it then is through rap,” he said. “I believe my generation was the last one to get whipped by a belt, and now we have boys growing up with no father and don’t know how to treat a woman.”

Pete says music should have a message in it, and it should inspire people.

“What good is it to make music without a message in it?” he said. “Music is spiritual and inspirational, and otherwise it’s nothing.”

When Pete is not making music, he speaks at elementary schools and colleges in the area, where he likes to spread positive reinforcements to a generation without positive role models.

He said his influences are his grandmother and mother, who are both strong, independent women. As for musical influences, he grew up listening to all genres of music – music that he would hear his aunts play, which included country, pop, and classic rock.

Helping celebrate the release of Hardy’s album was Terrell Matheny, an R&B Artist/Dancer, from Aurora, Colo. Being a part of the main act, Matheny also came to promote his latest album “Daydream,” and has been performing for 20 years.

He says today’s R & B has lost a lot of substance in the music since the 90’s, and he hopes his album will bring that back.

“The music I grew with like Baby Face, and others, just don’t have that soul anymore,” he said.

Matheny’s main influence was Michael Jackson, because of how he brought forth the idea of equality.

“Michael was so smooth and I loved that no matter what race, color, age … no matter where you came from, he tried to bring us all together,” he said. “That’s why I’m here to help out my brother King Blizz.”

Next, Matheny is to headed to Las Vegas, NV, and open up for major R&B groups.

For more information on King Bizz, Shade, and Terrell Matheny, go to Facebook.

By Dee Velasco
For the Sun