By Tim Collins

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

The duo of Darren 害羞草研究所淵oung D害羞草研究所� Metz and Quinton 害羞草研究所淵ung Trybez害羞草研究所� Nyce, originally from Kitamaat Village, 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.

害羞草研究所淭he greatest award we could get is that the next generation hears our music and gets inspired to be the best versions of themselves,害羞草研究所� Metz said.

害羞草研究所淲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 there害羞草研究所檚 always love there too.害羞草研究所�

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 are now based in Vancouver, but it害羞草研究所檚 the 害羞草研究所渞ez害羞草研究所� that molded these remarkable artists into who they are today.

害羞草研究所淣o matter where we are, we always carry the rez with us,害羞草研究所� Nyce said. 害羞草研究所淭here害羞草研究所檚 a real sense of community (on the reservation) and everyone takes care of one another. We害羞草研究所檙e one big family.害羞草研究所�

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.

害羞草研究所淚t害羞草研究所檚 not all about street life, and it害羞草研究所檚 not all about anger. There害羞草研究所檚 love and compassion there. It害羞草研究所檚 about life experience,害羞草研究所� Nyce said. 害羞草研究所淚f you live on the street, you express that, but if you害羞草研究所檙e and artist and you have love in your heart, you express that as well.害羞草研究所�

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

害羞草研究所淥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,害羞草研究所� Nyce said.

Metz said when they put out an album, 害羞草研究所渋t害羞草研究所檚 like us checking in on the world.害羞草研究所�

That was certainly the case when the group released their 害羞草研究所淟ife After害羞草研究所� album in 2021.

害羞草研究所淭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.害羞草研究所�

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.

害羞草研究所淲e do about 80 to 120 shows a year and we害羞草研究所檝e toured all over North America, and we害羞草研究所檝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 we害羞草研究所檙e definitely branching out,害羞草研究所� said Nyce.

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

害羞草研究所淚害羞草研究所檇 never travelled outside B.C. before and now we害羞草研究所檝e been all over. But no matter where we go, we try to find the best of the situations and we grow and mature. It害羞草研究所檚 like our education.害羞草研究所�

That education began, however, back on the 害羞草研究所渞ez.害羞草研究所�

害羞草研究所淲e definitely grew up at a young age,害羞草研究所� said Metz. 害羞草研究所淎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.害羞草研究所�

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

害羞草研究所淚 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,害羞草研究所� said Nyce. 害羞草研究所淭he truth is that now is a good time to be an Indigenous artist, in part because of the work that we害羞草研究所檝e all put in before. Rez dogs roll in packs, and so do we.害羞草研究所�

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

害羞草研究所淚 feel that what we害羞草研究所檝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,害羞草研究所� said Metz. 害羞草研究所淚t害羞草研究所檚 like a modern-day medicine ceremony 害羞草研究所� all good vibes. If it害羞草研究所檚 healing for us, then we know it will help others too.害羞草研究所�

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