DJ Kookum, Eekwol, and JB the First Lady share their top three

On March 29 at the AGO, four Indigenous hip-hop artists -- DJ Kookum, Eekwol, JB the First Lady and T-Rhyme -- are set to take the stage in Walker Court for what promises to be an energetic evening of storytelling and performance. Indigenous Women in Hip-Hop: A Night of Performance and Storytelling is presented in partnership with the Urban Indigenous Education Centre (UIEC).

To learn more about the artists behind the rhymes and beats, we were curious about what influenced them to make music in the ways they do -- embedded and inspired by Indigenous histories. Three of the evening’s performers shared the top three influences on their craft, from albums, songs, and fellow DJs to more personal bonds like family, friends and community. 

Eekwol 

My first influence is my family. I was born into a family of musicians, and my dad was always and still is in a band. We always had big family gatherings on the rez. They were all about guitar and singing. Songwriting and melody-making were taught to me since conception. 

The second is the underground hip-hop scene in California in the '90s and 2000's. I started performing on stages in the early 2000s and often opened for artists like the Living Legends, Aceyalone, Atmosphere, Medusa, and Pigeon John, who all inspired me to be original to my identity and creativity - not to mimic or posture. 

The last yet most important influence on my craft is my babies. When I gave birth to them, I also gave birth to a new way of creating music and performance. It's no longer about me. My idea of success changed from making it in the industry to being a voice for my kids and future generations.

Eekwol (Lindsay Knight) is an award-winning hip-hop performing artist living in Saskatoon, Treaty Six Territory, originally from Muskoday First Nation. Her fifth full-length album, Good Kill, was released in 2017, and the single “Pitiful feat. 2oolman” made it to the #1 spot on the National Aboriginal Music Countdown and numerous streaming playlists. In 2019, she received a Canada Council grant and completed a concept project with fellow lyricist T-Rhyme, titled For Women by Women. She is working on a new album funded by the Canada Council for the Arts, set to be released in 2023.

JB the First Lady 

Very Necessary (1993) by Salt-N-Pepa 

Tribal Wisdom (Native Youth Movement) - a Vancouver-based native hip-hop showcase

The Miseducation of Lauryn Hill (1998) by Lauryn Hill 

DAMN. (2017) by Kendrick Lamar 

Everything by Buffy Sainte-Marie.

JB the First Lady (Jerilynn Snuxyaltwa Webster) is an Indigenous hip-hop and spoken word artist, emcee, beat-boxer, activist, cultural dancer and youth educator from the Nuxalk and Onondaga Nations. She lives in Vancouver, British Columbia. JB sees her music as a way of capturing oral history and often writes lyrics about challenging subjects such as the Canadian Indian residential school system and missing and murdered Indigenous women. She sees hip-hop as a tool of Indigenous empowerment and is a prominent voice for decolonization and inspiring Indigenous women and youth.

DJ Kookum 

Uniiqu3 – DJ/Producer from New Jersey 

I love Uniiqu3’s style of music. It hits hard and brings me back to my earlier raver days when I was inspired to be a DJ. I met her years ago at a show we both were on and now I see her doing big things and taking over in the producer world.   

Creeasian – DJ/Producer from Edmonton 

Creeasian was the first Indigenous DJ I ever met way back in the day. I was so proud to see a native DJ; it gave me hope. He’s been an inspiration ever since. He is a man of many talents, has a unique style of music, and has always believed in me and my journey in music.   

Whipped Cream – DJ/Producer from Nanaimo 

I did a show with Whipped Cream eight years ago. Since then, I’ve watched her make her way to the top in the EDM music world, playing big festivals worldwide, signing to record labels and gaining an audience of heavy hitter producers. Her dedication to making music and taking up space in the EDM scene has been inspiring.  

DJ Kookum (Cheyanna Kootenhayoo) is a DJ and multimedia maker from the Alexis Nakota Sioux Nation and Cold Lake First Nations, their maternal Denesuline traditional territory. Kookum is an open-format DJ inspired by EDM and hip-hop music. Based out of Vancouver, British Columbia, Kookum has been making a name for themselves across the country and is no stranger in the community. 

Don’t miss Indigenous Women in Hip-Hop live at the AGO’s Walker Court on March 29. Tickets to the performance are free and included in Free Wednesday Night admission.