Drezus
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Comment: Might pass notability for musicians with the Canadian awards, but the whole page reads like a promotional page for Drezus. Plus, possible WP:CV issues around the Vice interview. Bkissin (talk) 18:00, 17 April 2018 (UTC)
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Drezus | |
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| File:Drezus standing.jpeg | |
| Born | Jeremiah Manitopyes August 28, 1982 |
| Nationality | Canadian |
| Occupations |
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| Years active | 2000–present |
| Musical career | |
| Genres |
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| Labels |
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Drezus (drē-zəˈs; born August 28, 1982, Jeremiah Manitopyes) is an indigenous rapper and activist based in Winnipeg, Manitoba [1]. Drezus' accomplishments in the field of music include awards for Best Music Video, Best Producer/Engineer, Best Rap/Hip Hop Album, and Indigenous Entertainer of the Year[2]. These awards followed the success of his album, Indian Warpath, released in the summer of 2014[2]. However, Manitopyes' life was not always filled with awards and recognition. Growing up as a member of the First Nations tribe, he faced multiple jail stints and violence in his life. Now, 35 years of age, Manitopyes has found meaning in his music and is working to share it with those who will listen.
Early life
Jeremiah Manitopyes was born in Saskatoon, Saskatchewan on August 28th, 1982. His father, Lawrence Severight, a traveling country singer, was quite absent in Manitopyes' life [3]. As a result of such, he grew to despise guitars in his music. Instead, his taste was more suited for rap. He felt a personal connection to the music due to the life he lived, drinking 40s of malt and getting involved in the drug game from an early age.
His mother, Gloria Manitopyes, a social worker, hoping to save him from a life of violence and gang-banging[4], moved him away from the small town of Saskatoon to Calgary, a town on the come-up due to the discovery of oil [3]. This move, however, did little to change Drezus' lifestyle, as he kindled new friendships with other Natives in the area [5]. However, at the age of 17, his big break came. After sneaking into a Jamaican club in downtown Calgary, Manitopyes convinced the DJ to let him get on the mic for a bit. To quote Manitopyes himself, "In front of 300 Jamaicans, I started busting, and they were like, 'Who is this guy?" but they couldn't deny the flow."[3] As a result of such, Drezus was born.
Tribe and Historical Connection
Manitopyes heritage sets back to the Plains Cree. It is an Indigenous dialect that is prominent in the Northern American region[6]. The region where he grew up in is part of the First Nation, also referred to as the Canadian Indian Tribe. "Canada, the First Nations (French: Premières Nations) are the predominant indigenous peoples in Canada south of the Arctic Circle"[7].
During the age of 18, Jeremiah was sent on a vision quest by a healer, with the intent to turn his life around. He was non-receptive to the process and the healer tried to tell him that he had the spirit of a chief. "She tried to convince him that she sensed he carried the spirit inside of a chief, Piapot, who began his life as a horse thief but would go on to become a legend in Cree folklore for leading his people away from the settlers who invaded their land in the 1800s. She told him he would one day do something similar"[8]. This foreshadows the type of impact he would later have in his Native Community.
Music career
Early Career
After his success at the Jamaican club, word of Drezus began to spread. Running into them at another Calgary Club, War Party, a successful Native hip-hop group from the 90s, also found themselves very impressed with the young rappers work after he laid down a 20-minute freestyle for them [3]. One member of the group, Big Stomp, was especially impressed with the young rapper, pointing out the fact that Manitopyes was "a diamond in the rough." He was able to keep with the beat flawlessly and had no trouble flowing with the production.
2000 - 2012
As a result of impressing Stomp so effectively, Drezus was invited to start Rezofficial, which would include some of the former members of War Party. Their debut album, The Foundation, would go on to win the Canadian Aboriginal Music Award for Best Rap/Hip-Hop album in 2004 [1]. Their big break would come in the form of an invitation to perform at the 2010 Vancouver Winter Olympic Games. However, Drezus was never able to make it. As a result of his second distribution charge, he was charged five years in a jail cell in Winnipeg.
2012 to Present
While attending a drug rehabilitation center in 2012, he took a cultural course which opened his eyes to the truth of his ancestry [3]. As a result of such, he learned the songs of the Natives, and began to care about who he was as a person more than who he was on the streets. Although Manitopyes refers to this moment as one of the most eye-opening moments of his life, the real, single defining moment of his life would come soon after. After being released, he robbed a couple individuals in Winnipeg, but he didn't get away without repercussions. Their crew caught up to Manitopyes, robbed him of everything he had, and stomped him out. It was then that he decided he was done with this life forever.
“I had two choices: The choice to retaliate, which meant at least someone losing their life…or getting the fuck out of there,” he says. “It was a real ‘man-up’ moment.” As a result of this event, he moved back to Calgary where he found his family waiting for him, including a young son he had left behind [1]. His life would forever change, as he started feeling a connection to the people he had once left behind. He had new perspective that would undoubtedly change his music, as demonstrated with the 2013 release of Red Winter[9]. As a result of such album, Drezus has won multiple awards and been invited to visit and speak to government agencies such as the Calgary Youth Offender Center.
Since the release of Red Winter, Drezus has recognized the fact that songs like Warpath are not going to be played on the radio, but he says that now, he is exactly where he should be[4] . As of 2017, he has began work with Taboo from the Black Eyed Peas and has caught the eye of MTV/VMA with a nomination with Taboo for a possible award. He is expected to drop a new album this summer, but the future of Drezus is yet to be seen.
Artistry
Musical style
Manitopyes has compared himself to artists such as Public Enemy and N.W.A with his biggest influence of all time being Ice Cube. Some of his other influences, however, include Notorious BIG, Red Hot Chili Peppers, Wu Tang Clan, Dr. Dre, and Run DMC [10]. His early musical style was similar to War Party, a Native hip-hop group. He would write about the gang lifestyle, but as he grew older, after a couple jail stints, he reformed his music to act as a retelling of his story, with ties to his Native life and history.
Activism
Since his recent success, Drezus has worked on giving back to his community. He holds youth/community workshops and gives keynote speeches regarding his journey [1]. He hopes that other can learn from him and be inspired to make more of themselves and push themselves to new limits. He is currently touring, hoping to spread his influence and spread word of his journey to as many people as possible [11]. "I would tell them that they are all young warriors and have a special place in this world as light givers. Put the phone down and go shoot some hoops, feel the sun, snow, rain or whatever and just be thankful to be alive. There is always a way out of whatever seems to be bothering you or preventing you from being happy. Be yourself, love hard and work harder. Be proud to be. One day while you’re out chasing your dreams that light will find you and it will show you a whole different world full of opportunities and goodness. Go get it"[12].
Discography [1]
- Indian Summer
- Solomon's Prayer
- The Sequel
- Like This
- Cruisin' (ft. Lightningcloud)
- Say (ft. Inez)
- All I Can Be (ft. K-Riz)
- Free
- Free Part II (ft. Fendercase)
- Nehiyah Girl (ft. Joey Stylez)
- Warpath
- High Note (ft. Merkules, Nato & Sese)
- Reminisce (ft. Hellnback & Big Slim)
- What You Need (ft. Fayliesha)
- The Morning After
- Out My Window (ft. Young Kidd)
- Red Winter
- Intro
- Day of Action (ft. Main Flow)
- Red Winter
- Big Dreams (ft. Nato)
- Feel's Good (ft. Brooklyn)
- Me & U (ft. Inez Jasper)
- Lose Control
- Don't Give Up On Me
- Rose
Awards and Nominations [13]
- Indigenous Music Awards:
- Best Music Video: Warpath
- Best Producer/Engineer: Indian Summer
- Best Rap/Hip-Hop Album: Indian Summer
- Indigenous Entertainer of the Year
- Canadian Aboriginal Music Awards:
- Best Rap/Hip-Hop Album: The Foundation
References
- ^ a b c d e "Welcome to the Warpath". Drezus Music. Retrieved 2018-04-09.
- ^ a b "Rapper Drezus Dominates Canada's Indigenous Music Awards 10-Year Celebration - Indian Country Media Network". indiancountrymedianetwork.com. Retrieved 2018-04-16.
- ^ a b c d e "Drezus Walks: Meet the Native American Rapper Merging Old Sounds and New". Noisey. 2014-10-29. Retrieved 2018-04-09.
- ^ a b "Watch An Important Short Film About First Nations Rapper Drezus". The FADER. Retrieved 2018-04-16.
- ^ Media, Broadway. "Interview with Indigenous Rap artist DREZUS – U92". Retrieved 2018-04-09.
- ^ "Plains Cree". Wikipedia. 2018-04-01.
- ^ "First Nations". Wikipedia. 2018-04-16.
- ^ "Drezus Walks: Meet the Native American Rapper Merging Old Sounds and New". Noisey. 2014-10-29. Retrieved 2018-04-18.
- ^ "Drezus | FNX – The Aux". fnx.org. Retrieved 2018-04-16.
- ^ "Sounds Of Sovereignty". Retrieved 2018-04-09.
- ^ "Great Big Story". www.greatbigstory.com. Retrieved 2018-04-09.
- ^ "10 Questions: Rapper Drezus on Ice Cube, Hoops and Time Travel - Indian Country Media Network". indiancountrymedianetwork.com. Retrieved 2018-04-18.
- ^ "Drezus big winner at Indigenous Music Awards in Winnipeg | CBC News". CBC. Retrieved 2018-04-09.
External Links
The Official Drezus Music Site
Category:Canadian rappers Category:Musicians from Winnipeg Category:Living people
| This article, Drezus, has recently been created via the Articles for creation process. Please check to see if the reviewer has accidentally left this template after accepting the draft and take appropriate action as necessary.
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