At the Intersection of Black and Native Hip-Hop
TORONTO – Wasun is one of Toronto’s most most politically active Hip Hop MCs. He has spent much of his life involved in political efforts to advance the struggles of grassroots people. In December of 2015 Wasun released a new album entitled “Comrade Music” which features extensive collaborations with Indigenous rappers including James Blood, Sciance, Pete Nyce, and Fresh.
Wasun was active in supporting the Six Nations reclamation in 2006, and for years after he worked closely with the CUPE 3903 First Nations Solidarity Working Group in building connections between the Black Action Defence Committee and youth in Six Nations facing state repression. That political relationship has grown into an ongoing musical collaboration between Black and Native rappers, as expressed in Wasun’s latest album.
On December 31st, 2015, Wasun sat down with Real Peoples Media to talk about the history of those connections, the launch of his new album and the connections he sees between the Black and Indigenous freedom struggles.
Wasun has graciously given Real Peoples Media permission to make available two tracks off of the Comrade Music EP featuring collaborations with Onkwehon:we MCs.
This track was developed in the wake of the Idle No More movement and is a collaboration between Wasun and Indigenous MCs Sciance (from Rama) and James Blood (from Six Nations), prod. by Octave.
The Cycle – feat. Wasun, Fresh, Pete Nyce, TZ. prod. By Classic Roots (J. Depery)
This is the fourth track on Wasun’s new album Comrade Music. This song is called “The Cycle” and features Wasun and a number of Indigenous MCs including Fresh, Pete Nyce, TZ. prod. By Classic Roots (J. Depery). Check out www.taotrecordings.com for more info.
