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Arts·Q with Tom Power

Snotty Nose Rez Kids share their vision for a Red Future

The Indigenous hip-hop duo are back with their sixth studio album, Red Future. Yung Trybez and Young D sit down with Q’s Tom Power to talk about the concept of Indigenous Futurism and why they believe this record is their magnum opus.

In a Q interview, the Indigenous hip-hop duo explain why their latest album is their magnum opus

Vivian Rashotte · CBC Arts ·
Snotty Nose Rez Kids posing with a large cut-out of the letter Q.
Young D, left, and Yung Trybez of Snotty Nose Rez Kids in the Q photo studio in Toronto. (Shuli Grosman-Gray/CBC)

Snotty Nose Rez Kids are calling their latest album, Red Future, their magnum opus. The Indigenous hip-hop duo, made up of Darren "Young D" Metz and Quinton "Yung Trybez" Nyce, are known for making music that tackles hard subjects with levity and humour.

In an interview with Q's Tom Power, Young D and Yung Trybez say that Red Future — their sixth studio album and first on a major label — took them four years to create. The record takes on the concept of Indigenous Futurism, which is about imagining a way forward from colonialism.

"I think that Red Future, to us, it just means being able to see yourself in the future," Yung Trybez says. "For Native people, you have to think seven generations down the line. You got to think about your lineage."

WATCH | Snotty Nose Rez Kids' full interview with Tom Power:

"Yeah, it's not about how far we came, it's about how far we can go," Young D adds.

For Snotty Nose Rez Kids, the goal has always been to break down barriers for the next generation of Indigenous artists. The duo first met in high school and released their self-titled debut album in early 2017. Since then, they've found huge success, racking up a Juno nod as well as several Polaris Prize nominations.

On Red Future, Snotty Nose Rez Kids wanted to shine a light on their peers. The album features 12 other Indigenous artists, including Jeremy Dutcher, Princess Nokia and Travis Thompson.

"We struggled so the people coming up after us can have it a little easier," Yung Trybez says. "Right now the world is watching [Indigenous artists]."

Over the last several years, the duo says the concept behind the album just kept growing. They also believe Red Future marks their evolution as artists. "It's the greatest thing we've made to this day," Young D says. "This is the record where we truly kind of figured it out."

WATCH | Official video for Red Future:

The full interview with Snotty Nose Rez Kids is available on our YouTube channel and on our podcast, Q with Tom Power. Listen and subscribe wherever you get your podcasts.

Interview with Snotty Nose Rez Kids produced by Kaitlyn Swan.

ABOUT THE AUTHOR

Vivian Rashotte

Vivian Rashotte is a digital producer, writer and photographer for Q with Tom Power. She's also a visual artist. You can reach her at vivian.rashotte@cbc.ca.

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