‘Growth’ features collaborations with Reuben Crowfeather Sr., Sheena Shandea, AntoineX, ZayIsLike, DestroyKasmin, Kitto, Spur Pourier and Ekichetu
The Oglala Lakota, Omaha and Navajo hip-hop artist Nataanii Means has recently released a 16-track hip-hop album titled ‘Growth.’
The album is a collaborative effort with eight other artists, including Reuben Crowfeather Sr., Sheena Shandea, AntoineX, ZayIsLike, DestroyKasmin, Kitto, Spur Pourier and Ekichetu.
Means told Native Viewpoint that the collaboration was with a group of very well-established artists across the country. “It features a wide variety of Native artists from all over, and the intro and outro were done by Reuben Crowfeather Sr.”
Means also shared his process of working on his latest project.
‘Growth’ on Spotify
(If Spotify album list does not show below – link to Spotify album is available here)
“Growth is something I’ve been working on for the past 2 years, which has been since the start of the pandemic. It’s a look into who I am in the 2020s,” he said. “I’m an artist that feels as if I’ve matured and I’ve grown musically and as a spiritual person in my traditional life as a Lakota, Diné and Omaha man.”
Means says his life has been more than tough at times, and this struggle is reflected in his music.
“I’ve lost best friends to drug overdose and suicide, and I touch on that in the song ‘Drowning.’ But I’m still a lyricist who can rap with the best of them on hard beats, as shown in the album’s first half. ‘Dying (interlude)’ is actually a track about rebirth. It’s a switch in the project where I show my growth as an artist,” says Means.
Video: “Without you” featuring Spur Pourier
Means says the album is already showing impressive numbers.
“My album ‘Growth’ is my third project, and done independently and with the help of all Indigenous producers, engineers, and studios. In the first 2 weeks, it gained over 60,000 streams.”
‘Growth’ is available wherever albums can be accessed and/or purchased to include Apple Music, YouTube Music, Amazon, Tidal and more.
Vincent Schilling, Akwesasne Mohawk, is the founder and editor of Native Viewpoint. With nearly 20 years of experience as a Native journalist and former member of the White House Press Pool, Vincent works to uplift underrepresented voices in the world of media and beyond. Follow Vincent on YouTube.com/VinceSchilling, on Twitter at @VinceSchilling or on any other of his social media accounts by clicking on any of the icons below.
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