Chief Rock The Relentless Warrior
Twelve years ago in the dingy reaches of Canada's most industrialized centre, Chief Rock began his performing career. What was once a sprawling Iroquoi heartland of the Six Nations, Hamilton now seems the most unlikely setting to re-cultivate the trampled Native culture... but this hasn't stopped Rock from donning his head dress. His earliest high school performances were rough. He hadn't yet received any formal training, but the experience of playing to a live audience proved immediately addictive. Consequently, Chief Rock joined the Kanata Native Dance Theater where he mastered, not only 4 different styles of traditional Native dance, but also stage awareness and physical 'storytelling'. Shortly thereafter the internationally renowned Red Thunder dance group invited him to join their tour. Since this time the Hamilton native has been bringing his flair to most parts of North America and even far away lands such as Guyana and Taiwan. Above and beyond his touring accolades, Chief Rock has also danced in three music videos for EMI, including Tom Cochraine's "I Wonder" and Susan Aglukhark "One Hand Turns Another". As strong as his background in traditional Native culture may be, Chief Rock will be the first to declare that his passions extend far beyond the ancient rituals of the pow wow. Long before he had dawned the traditional beads and feathers, Rock was scuffing his sneakers as a B-Boy. With thousands of hours logged on the cardboard in Powell Park, his moves now attest to an authentic breed of break dancing. And he owes his well-earned break dancing reputation in the Hamilton and Toronto hip-hop club scenes largely to his proficient footwork. Albeit that Chief Rock can tell a compelling story with his body, his current mission is to spread a message with his voice. A founding member at large of S -n- S Steel Squadron, Chief Rock writes and produces all of his own material. The beckoning aura of his instrumental arrangements, overlaid with his sobering lyrics offer an intriguing primer on Canada's immediate cultural climate. If the momentum this young man has enjoyed to date is any indication of his future direction, commercial success is within his grasp. Having recently been nominated for a Native American Music Award, in the Best Rap/Hip Hop category. His clever blend of traditional Native culture with the hottest contemporary musical genre could easily be the new combination to catch the attention of today's young people.
Tell me about your history? How did you get where you are now?
Imma get back to you on this
still gotta work up all we have done
Have you performed live in front of an audience? Any special memories?
I like playing live in clubs in Toronto. We have done alotta shows out in NYC. I did my solo tour in South American in Guyana. We been too alotta venues and we are very diverse.
Your musical influences
just Hip Hop...we all been in love wit the music since we all were young. We just happend to be alot better then most other
What equipment do you use?
We try and have a live band if we can ever get out ppl together to practise, most time we go off a cd
Anything else?
Look we are live ...no really need to say much and brag cause our music does the talking . ..no need for hype here we are for real ...the real deal in the town of steel,,
BIG shouts to Stainless Steel,Backalley,Spades camp, Dice entertainment
