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May 2007
Buggin Malone
Oneida Nation, Wisconsin
Native Hip Hop
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Enjoy Music from Buggin
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Artist Buggin Malone
creates political hip-hop
by Jamison Mahto, IICOC
The lyrical prophets and lorespinners of today are standing on the shoulders of other giants; musicians yes, but also the rebels and warriors of AIM, who shaped our history, and who fought, suffered and died for Native autonomy.
Buggin Malone won’t forget. He already knows where he’s been, where he’s coming from, where he wants to go. It isn’t easy going to that place but he’s getting ready.
It is unique when an artist is able to stay true to his roots as an Indigenous man in the contemporary world; to paint musical stories in sound while utilizing the various genres at his disposal. In his music, you can hear the traditional Indian singing and drumming seamlessly blended with the hot contemporary rhythm and blues backbeats. The lyrical content speaks to the issues we all face as indigenous people as we try to raise our children in the US of KKK.
Buggin’s CD “Spirit World” released in August, 2005 has some outstanding lyrics backed with music that happens when someone has been paying attention to their peers. Music that happens when you’ve got heart.
It shows respect when you sample Vernon Bellecourt for your intro with a tasty level of reverb on it. Some highlights of Spirit World include:
- Koncrete Rootz: A track that honors the Eagles country-rock band by sampling “One Of These Nights” as Buggin lyrically explores his life experience on the streets. It is interesting with a familiar internal rhyme scheme and enough alliteration to please any wordmonger’s poetic ear. It may be a stretch to consider the Eagles ‘roots music,’ but if you consider sounds that are popular over an extended time ‘roots,’ that’s what they are to the Native community.
- Out There: Homegrown local Native hip-hop that uses local shinnob vernacular dialect (e.g. ho-wah!, cheesy, nigi'z). Buggin takes a stand as a warrior poet. I have no problem with the notion that the struggle can be waged by being intelligent and using the enemy’s own language against him and his policy-making government.
- Hard Timez: “I like hard timez, I was raised on that shit!” spits Buggin. Being bad is a lifestyle that’s real and being real is what makes you bad.
- Dat’s Gangsta: This song breaks down the gangsta image, demystifying the mythology of it.
- Letter 2 God: A poignant message to the young about the consequences of the gangster lifestyle, questioning the justice of a God who can’t or won’t alleviate the suffering in the world. Alternately it is also a prayer for God’s help in dealing with the tragedies of life. Nice acoustic guitar work.
- Stompin’ in My Mox: Buggin says “my cd’s goin’ platinum and yours is gonna rust!” This track is hip-hop as contest powwow, and simultaneously a song about how to be a warrior poet in contemporary times.
- Method to My Madness: A song about making the move to turn his life experience from the streets into a paycheck without losing his integrity. Is he successful? Buggin does all right.
- The Beat Goez On (Peltier): The best cut on the cd; Buggin pays homage to Leonard Peltier’s spiritual strength and his journey of selfless sacrifice to the movement. Includes some beautiful traditional singing. Buggin opens up the possibility of reconciliation and forgiveness when he says, “You think I hate your people just because you hate mine?” A great track on many levels.
- Spirit World: I like the acoustic piano included because a picture is being painted here and the picture is one of peace and faith. In order to be a man of faith and spirit you must question the universe we live in, as hard as that might be.
It’s indeed a pleasure when I am introduced to a fresh new talented musician within the Native community. Buggin Malone is a winner; it shows from the attitude he displays in his work. He has integrity. He has talent. There are certain shortfalls, but Spirit World as a work is wonderful, not only for the nostalgia that it brings in such tracks as “The Beat Goes On (Peltier)” but for the other lyrical highlights as well.
I’m a rock-n-roll kind of guy, so the way that I relate is I remember the AC/DC cut “It’s A Long Way To The Top If You Want To Rock and Roll.” The Hip-Hop biz can’t really be that much different. The Beat does indeed go on!
Buggin Malone’s third CD release “Sacrifice” is due out soon. If you didn’t catch the flow at the Indigenous In Music show in Minneapolis in April, he also has a gig coming up June 9 in Schaumburg, IL. Just check myspace for further information. |
NAMMY - Best Rap-Hip-Hop Recording
ISMA Music Award 2006 |
Buggin Malone - This Nammy Award Winner shares his Nammy experiencs:
A few days before, I was a little nervous because of the flying part, lol. It was on a Wednesday June 7th that my wife and me headed to Florida. We were greeted in Fort Lauderdale by transportation from the Seminole Tribe. We arrived at the Hard Rock Hotel and Casino again, I say again, because last year we did this for my nomination for my 1st release “Birth of a Warrior” and it was a little depres sing on the way back. This year I was nominated for my 2nd release “Spirit World”, but had more faith this year, because I put true emotion and spiritual feeling behind it.
Anyways, we enjoyed the immaculate casino the Seminoles have. Upon waking up, I had to be at dress rehearsal and go over the evening’s agenda. I was just laid back with a few other nominees and my main man John Trudell. Later that evening the ceremonies began: we got the red carpet treatment and everyone was dressed to impress. Some of the artists were all traditional style, which was nice to see. The Nammys began and the performances were awesome: Pure Fe, Wade Fernandez, and a killer performance from Micki Free with Pearl Jam’s drummer, Steve Salas from Mick Jagger and a guy from Cheap Trick, (can’t remember his name, lol). With Buddy Big Mountain and his puppet partner, Wendall, there was too much going on at once, I was a space case.
I presented the Best Long or Short Form Video award. Before intermission, the teleprompter stopped working and they had to announce the nominees without their music. The rap category was a few after the intermission and the teleprompter was still not working, so I knew they were not going to play the rappers’ music. It was kind of a bummer, because it was being broadcasted live through the Internet. When they got to the rap/hip-hop category they started announcing the nominees . . . well while they did this, the mic went dead and did not announce Night Shield and I, just the other 3 nominees and their songs. While I was complaining to my wife and I looked at Night Shield shaking my head like “that’s messed up” they must have said “and the winner is . . .” All I remember is my wife saying “oh my god” and I heard the tail end of “Malone” and realized they just announced “Spirit World” “Buggin Malone” I jumped up and climbed the steps with the quickness, grabbed the award, said real loud into the microphone “ahoooo” and sent shouts to the Creator, shouts to the other nominees in my category, shouts to my Mom, to my Aunt, and my friends and fans. Then I dedicated the award to my grandmother (who I take care of), who is dying from cancer: I said “this is for you goko (grandma) I love you” and walked off the stage.
Here’s the craziest most talked about thing that evening. They started to announce the next category, and I was so excited and shaking, and did not want to forget my grandma, that I forgot my wife! OOPS! I ran back out there and interrupted the “voice”(the show announcer) and said “and to my beautiful wife, I love you baby”. Talk about a close call to a long trip back home, whew! Well all I know is I owe it all to my people who believed in me and voted for my song “Letter To God”, and to the Creator who blessed me with a beautiful talent.
My acceptance speech was small, there were 3 others featured on my CD, but “Spirit World” was written, rapped, arranged, mixed, and mastered by me . . . out of my living room with a $200.00 beat machine, a sampler, turntables and records, a microphone, and a 16 track recorder. So the win was even a better feeling, because it was my blood, sweat, and tears! I got to throw down on the mic at the V.I.P. party, which was “off the chain”. Me and Quese (from Culture Shock Camp) jumped on stage with Keith Secola and John Trudell. Micki Free from the Grammy-winning group Shalimar played the guitar, Quese played the congas, and I played these drums, native style of course! During John Trudell’s poetry, we grooved. After he was done, Keith Secola told me to grab the mic (and I did), rocking my Leonard Peltier song. It had everyone hollering and giving feedback, as me and Quese passed the mic back and forth! We had them dancing and getting down, it was a lot of fun.
Now I’ve found out that I was nominated again for Best Rap/Hip-Hop category at the 3rd Annual Indian Summer Music Awards, in Milwaukee Wisconsin, September 8th 9th 10th the awards at 6:30pm on September 9th I can’t wait for that, cause it is in my hometown!
2006 - Red Honey Magazine
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