War Party

War Party was founded by Rex Smallboy to represent the Native voice in the rap music industry. Known for having a positive vibe and powerful message of overcoming adversity War Party made music history as the first native rap group to have a music video (Feeling Reserved) air nationally on Much Music Canada.
Inspired by the revolutionary forces of rap and driven by the untold injustice inflicted on the American Indian, the music and message of War Party tells a remarkable and heroic story of hip-hop, courage, honesty and determination.
Easily one of the most important rap groups of their time, War Party focuses on the trials and tribulations of coming from a socially, politically, and economically deprived environment such as the First Nation’s reserves of North America.
With a strong reputation for ground breaking accomplishments, War Party has also gained national recognition for their music from The Canadian Broadcasting Corporation (CBC) and the Aboriginal People’s Television Network (APTN).

War Party has received international attention performing at the Indigenous Language Conference in Nagoya, Japan and from sponsorship by the world renowned clothing designer Tommy Hilfiger at the 2002 Telus World Ski & Snow Boarding Music Festival.
The group also received coverage from MSNBC News for their performance in Washington DC at the First Americans Festival hosted by the world famous Smithsonian Museum.
War Party recorded their first album titled “The Reign” in 1999 independently releasing the debut CD late 2000 and winning the 2001 Canadian Aboriginal Music Award for Best Rap or Hip-hop Album. War Party also won the 2001 Canadian Aboriginal Music Award for Best Music Video for a remix of the song Feeling Reserved.
War Party also released an independent EP titled “Exclusive Rez Cuts” winning the 2002 Canadian Aboriginal Music Award for Best Rap or Hip-hop Album.
War Party’s 2nd full length independent release titled The Greatest Natives from the North went on to receive nominations for the 2003 Native American Music Awards and the Canadian Aboriginal Music Awards.

War Party has worked with Chuck D from Public Enemy, (Featured on their latest release The Resistance) and have had their music featured in the major motion picture Dream keepers.

War Party is now a duo consisting of Rex and Cynthia Smallboy.
3 Time Canadian Aboriginal Music Award Winners
Founded by Rex Smallboy to represent the Native voice in Rap. War Party made music history as the first native rap group to have a music video (Feeling Reserved) air nationally on Much Music Canada. (Rap City)

War Party also made another ground breaking accomplishment featuring legendary Rap icon Chuck D from Public Enemy on their album The Resistance.

Considered to be the pioneers of the native rap scene in Canada some of War Party's performances include the World Expo in Nagoya, Japan and the First Peoples Festival at the Smithsonian Museum in Washington, DC.

Over the years War Party has received considerable attention from such media as APTN, CBC, MSNBC, AVR, NCIFM and CFWE. War Party's music has also been featured on Aboriginal films Dreamkeepers and Stryker.

War Party originally started as a group now consists of Rex and Cynthia Smallboy performing as a duo and Rex also performing as a solo act.

Rex Smallboy is currently writing and producing his first solo album titled BRAVE. No official release date has been set.

Drawing from his accomplishments in the music business Rex Smallboy also dedicates his time to conducting youth out reach empowerment workshops in First Nations communities.

INTERVIEW

Why this name?

It was based on the Indians from old John Wayne movies

Your influences?

Now Kanye, Lupe, 88-Keys

Favorite spot?

Hobbema and Vancouver

Equipment used:
Cubase and Hypersonic 1 and 2

Official Website: http://www.warparty.ca/