| Nation II Nation | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|
 | ||||
| Studio album by | ||||
| Released | May 7, 2013 | |||
| Genre | Electronic, hip hop, Aboriginal music of Canada | |||
| Length | 40:00 | |||
| Label | Radicalized Records | |||
| The Halluci Nation chronology | ||||
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Nation II Nation is the second studio album by Canadian electronic music group The Halluci Nation, released on May 7, 2013, by Radicalized Records, an imprint of Pirates Blend Records. [1]
At the time, the group was still performing under the name A Tribe Called Red. The album builds on the musical foundation of their self-titled debut album, combining powwow vocals and drumming with electronic music genres like moombahton, trap, and dubstep. Nation II Nation weaves together themes of Indigenous cultural reclamation and resilience with contemporary social commentary. [2]
The album features many collaborations with powwow drum groups and dancers from across North America, continuing the group's commitment to spotlighting Native talent. Groups featured include Black Bear, Sitting Bear, Chippawa Travellers, Smoke Trail, Northern Voice, Eastern Eagle, and Sheldon Sundown. Canadian hip hop artist Northern Voice is also featured on the track "Sisters." [3]
Nation II Nation peaked at number two on the Earshot National Top 50 Chart and number three on the Earshot National Aboriginal Music Countdown. It was nominated for Electronic Album of the Year at the 2014 Juno Awards. [4] The album's title track also won the 2014 Aboriginal Peoples Choice Music Award for Best Powwow Song/Singers.
As with the group's debut album, Nation II Nation interweaves contemporary social issues facing Indigenous communities with messages of cultural resilience and pride. Songs tackle hard-hitting topics like missing and murdered Indigenous women ("The Road"), struggles with substance abuse ("NDNs from the Rez"), and conflicts over land rights ("How I Feel"). [5]
At the same time, the album emphasizes continuity between traditional Indigenous culture and modern Indigenous identities. Collaborations with powwow drum groups showcase the evolution of those musical practices, while songs like "Sisters" highlight how traditional teachings still guide Indigenous lives today. [6] As group member Bear Witness explained, the album aims to showcase that First Nations peoples "...are still here. We're contemporary and we're doing cool stuff." [7]
Nation II Nation received positive reviews from music critics. At Metacritic, which assigns a normalized rating out of 100 to reviews from mainstream critics, the album has received an average score of 80, based on 5 reviews, indicating "generally favorable reviews."
Reviewers praised the album's ability to blend modern musical styles with traditional Native vocals and drumming. Exclaim! called it "an inspired mix of cultures" [8] while AllMusic wrote that "these cuts blaze the trail between modernity and ancient traditions." [9] Critics also highlighted the album's political messaging, with Now stating that "...the trio tackle First Nations issues head-on over hard-hitting bass and crackling electronics." [10]
All tracks are written by The Halluci Nation
| No. | Title | Length |
|---|---|---|
| 1. | "Bread & Cheese" (featuring Black Bear) | 4:23 |
| 2. | "Ndn Stakes" (featuring Sitting Bear) | 4:17 |
| 3. | "The Road" (featuring Black Bear) | 3:05 |
| 4. | "Different Heroes" (featuring Northern Voice) | 3:45 |
| 5. | "Sisters" (featuring Northern Voice) | 4:32 |
| 6. | "Electronic Intertribal" (featuring Smoke Trail) | 3:42 |
| 7. | "Pbc" (featuring Sheldon Sundown) | 4:15 |
| 8. | "Red Ribbon" (featuring Eastern Eagle) | 4:03 |
| 9. | "Tanto's Revenge" (featuring Chippewa Travellers) | 4:00 |
| 10. | "Sweet Milk Pop" | 3:32 |
| Total length: | 40 min | |
Beyond critical acclaim, Nation II Nation cemented The Halluci Nation's status as leaders in using electronic music to spotlight contemporary Native culture and social issues. Their performance of the song "Different Heroes" at the 2014 Juno Awards Gala brought a powwow to mainstream national television. [11] That same year, the group made history as the first Indigenous group to win a Juno Award in the Best Breakthrough Group category. [12] Additionally, Nation II Nation was nominated for Electronic Album of the Year the same year, losing to Guilt Trips by Ryan Hemsworth. [13]
The Juno Awards, or simply known as the Junos, are awards presented by the Canadian Academy of Recording Arts and Sciences to recognize outstanding achievements in the music industry. They were originally called the Gold Leaf Awards, and the trophy resembled a metronome. Alongside the Canadian Screen Awards, they are considered one of the main annual Canadian entertainment award shows. The first Juno Awards ceremony was held on February 23, 1970 to honor the musical accomplishments of performers for the year 1969. New members of the Canadian Music Hall of Fame are also inducted as part of the awards ceremonies.
Susan Aglukark,, is a Canadian singer whose blend of Inuit folk music traditions with country and pop songwriting has made her a major recording star in Canada. Her most successful song/single is "O Siem", which reached No. 1 on the Canadian country and adult contemporary charts in 1995. Overall, she has released seven studio albums and has won three Juno Awards.
A powwow is a gathering with dances held by many Native American and First Nations communities. Powwows today are an opportunity for Indigenous people to socialize, dance, sing, and honor their cultures. Powwows may be private or public, indoors or outdoors. Dancing events can be competitive with monetary prizes. Powwows vary in length from single-day to weeklong events.
Indigenous music of North America, which includes American Indian music or Native American music, is the music that is used, created or performed by Indigenous peoples of North America, including Native Americans in the United States and Aboriginal peoples in Canada, Indigenous peoples of Mexico, and other North American countries—especially traditional tribal music, such as Pueblo music and Inuit music. In addition to the traditional music of the Native American groups, there now exist pan-Indianism and intertribal genres as well as distinct Native American subgenres of popular music including: rock, blues, hip hop, classical, film music, and reggae, as well as unique popular styles like chicken scratch and New Mexico music.
Buffy Sainte-Marie, is an American singer-songwriter, musician, and social activist. While working in these areas, her work has focused on issues facing Indigenous peoples of the United States and Canada. Since the early 1960s, Sainte-Marie has claimed to have Indigenous Canadian ancestry, but a 2023 investigation by CBC News concluded that she was born in the United States and is of Italian and English descent. Some Indigenous musicians and organizations have since called for awards she won while falsely claiming an Indigenous identity to be rescinded, including her 2018 Juno Award for Indigenous Artist or Group of the Year.
Indigenous music of Canada encompasses a wide variety of musical genres created by Aboriginal Canadians. Before European settlers came to what is now Canada, the region was occupied by many First Nations, including the West Coast Salish and Haida, the centrally located Iroquois, Blackfoot and Huron, the Dene to the North, and the Innu and Mi'kmaq in the East and the Cree in the North. Each of the indigenous communities had their own unique musical traditions. Chanting – singing is widely popular and most use a variety of musical instruments.
The Juno Award for Indigenous Music Album of the Year is an annual award presented by the Canadian Academy of Recording Arts and Sciences for the best album by an Indigenous Canadian artist or band. It was formerly known as Best Music of Aboriginal Canada Recording (1994–2002), Aboriginal Recording of the Year (2003–2009), and Aboriginal Album of the Year (2010–2016). Indigenous artists are not excluded from consideration in other genre or general interest categories; in fact, some indigenous musicians, most notably The Halluci Nation, have actively chosen not to submit their music in the indigenous category at all, instead pursuing nomination only in the more general categories.
The Gathering of Nations is the largest pow-wow in the United States and North America. It is held annually on the fourth weekend in April, on the Powwow Grounds at Expo NM, in Albuquerque, New Mexico. Over 565 tribes from around the United States and 220 from Canada travel to Albuquerque to participate.
The Halluci Nation, formerly known as A Tribe Called Red, is a Canadian electronic music group who blend instrumental hip hop, reggae, moombahton and dubstep-influenced dance music with elements of First Nations music, particularly vocal chanting and drumming. Based in Ottawa, Ontario, the group consists of Tim "2oolman" Hill, and Ehren "Bear Witness" Thomas. Former members include co-founder DJ Jon Deck and Dan "DJ Shub" General, who left the band for personal reasons in spring 2014, and was replaced by Hill. Co-founder Ian "DJ NDN" Campeau left the band for health reasons in October 2017, with the band opting to remain a duo for the time being.
Flying Down Thunder and Rise Ashen are a Canadian electronic music duo based in Ottawa, Ontario, who blend electronic house music with traditional First Nations music. Their album One Nation was a shortlisted Juno Award nominee for Aboriginal Album of the Year at the Juno Awards of 2012.
The Juno Awards of 2017, honouring Canadian music achievements, were presented in Ottawa, Ontario the weekend of 1–2 April 2017. The ceremonies were held at the Canadian Tire Centre in Kanata and televised on CTV with Bryan Adams and Russell Peters as co-hosts. The duo replaced Michael Bublé, who was originally scheduled to host the show.
Cris Derksen is a two-spirit Juno Award–nominated Cree cellist from Northern Alberta, Canada. Derksen is known for her unique musical sound which blends classical music with traditional Indigenous music. Her music is often described as "electronic cello" or classical traditional fusion.
Northern Cree, also known as the Northern Cree Singers, is a powwow and Round Dance drum and singing group based in Maskwacis, Alberta, Canada. Formed in 1980 by Randy Wood, with brothers Charlie and Earl Wood of the Saddle Lake Cree Nation, members originate from the Treaty 6 area. These include Ferlin McGillvary, Steve Wood, Joel Wood, and Conan Yellowbird.
We Are the Halluci Nation is the third studio album by Canadian electronic music group The Halluci Nation, released on September 16, 2016 by Radicalized Records, an imprint of Pirates Blend Records.
William Prince is a Canadian folk and country singer-songwriter based in Winnipeg, Manitoba.
Bryden Gwiss Kiwenzie is a Canadian musician whose debut album Round Dance & Beats (Powwow) was a shortlisted nominee for both the Juno Award for Indigenous Music Album of the Year at the Juno Awards of 2017 and Best Hand Drum Album of the year at the 2017 Indigenous Music Awards.
Lido Pimienta is a Colombian Canadian musician, singer, and songwriter. She rose to prominence after her 2016 album, La Papessa, won the 2017 Polaris Music Prize. Her music incorporates a variety of styles and influences, including traditional indigenous and Afro-Colombian musical styles such as Cumbia and Bullerengue, as well as contemporary synthpop and electronic music.
Black Bear, sometimes credited as Black Bear Singers, are a Canadian musical group from Manawan, Quebec, who perform traditional First Nations music. They are frequent collaborators with the group The Halluci Nation.
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Crown Lands is a Canadian rock music duo from Oshawa, Ontario. The band consists of vocalist/drummer Cody Bowles, and guitarist/bassist/keyboardist Kevin Comeau. With prog-rock influences, the duo compose music and lyrics inspired by Indigenous resistance to colonialism. They have stated that their name, "Crown Lands", communicates a desire to disrupt the concept of Canadian "crown land", or government-held lands stolen from First Nations.