By Tim Collins

Snotty Nose Rez Kids are a force to be reckoned with.

The duo, made up of Darren B次元官网网址淵oung DB次元官网网址� Metz and Quinton B次元官网网址淵ung TrybezB次元官网网址� Nyce, produce some of the most exciting hip-hop music of their generation. They have become internationally recognized for their work, and although the awards keep coming, the group remains true to their core values and the lessons they learned growing up on the reservation.

B次元官网网址淭he greatest award we could get is that the next generation hears our music and gets inspired to be the best versions of themselves,B次元官网网址� Metz said.

B次元官网网址淲hen we first started performing, we wanted a name that would tell people who we are without having to explain it. The symbolism is that it is rough out there but that thereB次元官网网址檚 always love there too.B次元官网网址�

Winners of the 2023 Prism Prize, and shortlisted for the Junos, the duo has also been shortlisted for the Polaris Music Prize, nominated for Best Hip Hop Album at the Indigenous Music Awards and for Indigenous Artist of the Year at the Western Canadian Music Awards.

In short, the hip-hop duo has had an amazing rise to success.

The First Nations Haisla rappers, originally from Kitamaat Village in northern B.C. are based in Vancouver, but itB次元官网网址檚 the B次元官网网址渞ezB次元官网网址� that molded these remarkable artists into who they are today.

B次元官网网址淣o matter where we are, we always carry the rez with us,B次元官网网址� Nyce said. B次元官网网址淭hereB次元官网网址檚 a real sense of community (on the reservation) and everyone takes care of one another. WeB次元官网网址檙e one big family.B次元官网网址�

And although rap and hip-hop have often been viewed as the music of the oppressed, characterized by a sort of rough anger, Nyce has a different perspective.

B次元官网网址淚tB次元官网网址檚 not all about street life, and itB次元官网网址檚 not all about anger. ThereB次元官网网址檚 love and compassion there. ItB次元官网网址檚 about life experience,B次元官网网址� Nyce said. B次元官网网址淚f you live on the street, you express that, but if youB次元官网网址檙e and artist and you have love in your heart, you express that as well.B次元官网网址�

The duo has produced six albums to date and is poised to release their seventh this spring.

B次元官网网址淥ur next album has sort of an Indigenous futurism theme with hints of an apocalypse and how living in the old ways can be the answer,B次元官网网址� Nyce said.

Metz said when they put out an album, B次元官网网址渋tB次元官网网址檚 like us checking in on the world.B次元官网网址�

That was certainly the case when the group released their B次元官网网址淟ife AfterB次元官网网址� album in 2021.

B次元官网网址淭hat album came out after the pandemic and it reflected the tragedy and emotional pain that we all experienced during that time, but it also reflected the love and the hope that would allow us to go on.B次元官网网址�

Snotty Nose Rez Kids is now in their seventh year performing professionally, and although they are both now married with Metz expecting his first child, the duo still pursues a gruelling performance schedule.

B次元官网网址淲e do about 80 to 120 shows a year and weB次元官网网址檝e toured all over North America, and weB次元官网网址檝e toured the Netherlands, the U.K., Mexico, and Australia. Our next album actually has some big-name Australian artists as part of it, so weB次元官网网址檙e definitely branching out,B次元官网网址� said Nyce.

Metz added their music has changed as they gather more growth and maturity.

B次元官网网址淚B次元官网网址檇 never travelled outside B.C. before and now weB次元官网网址檝e been all over. But no matter where we go, we try to find the best of the situations and we grow and mature. ItB次元官网网址檚 like our education.B次元官网网址�

That education began, however, back on the B次元官网网址渞ez.B次元官网网址�

B次元官网网址淲e definitely grew up at a young age,B次元官网网址� said Metz. B次元官网网址淎nd what inspired us most was family. I remember watching my mom taking the mike at a feast and how she was always confident and composed. Those moments shaped us as artists.B次元官网网址�

And being an Indigenous artist can be a challenge, to be sure.

B次元官网网址淚 think we probably had to work three times as hard to get as far as we have compared with the average white dude, but that struggle made us who we are,B次元官网网址� said Nyce. B次元官网网址淭he truth is that now is a good time to be an Indigenous artist, in part because of the work that weB次元官网网址檝e all put in before. Rez dogs roll in packs, and so do we.B次元官网网址�

Their background continues to inform their approach to music and may well be the secret to their success.

B次元官网网址淚 feel that what weB次元官网网址檝e always wanted to do is make music that makes us feel good. If it makes us feel good, then someone out there hearing it will feel good as well,B次元官网网址� said Metz. B次元官网网址淚tB次元官网网址檚 like a modern-day medicine ceremony B次元官网网址� all good vibes. If itB次元官网网址檚 healing for us, then we know it will help others too.B次元官网网址�

Snotty Nose Rez Kids are still touring, with a host of gigs in the U.S. over the coming weeks, but the good news is that they will be returning to B.C. for a series of shows, including two performances in Victoria on Feb. 16 and 17 at the Capital Ballroom.

More information and tickets are available at .