PHOTO BY CLARE JENSEN

Hip-hop performers from the Super Human Power Tour made a stop at the Puyallup Tribal Youth Center Oct. 7. The line-up included several Native American artists who aim at relating to and connecting with tribal youth. Rapper Propaganda (inset photo) and DJ Episode (main photo) are shown above.

Super human hip-hop tour hits Puyallup

By Clare Jensen

The Super Human Power Tour, featuring several Native American hip-hop artists from along the West Coast, made its stop on the Puyallup Reservation Oct. 7 as one of its last stops on the month-long tour.

Acclaimed free-style rapper RedCloud and fellow hip-hop artists Propaganda, Mic Titan and Kahlee performed at the Puyallup Tribal Youth Center, to a small crowd of children, adults, tribal members and fans of the artists who came from around the Sound.

Puyallup tribal members Ella Rose and Jeremy Miller opened the performance for the national acts.

The Super Human Power Tour made stops in reservations along the West Coast, through California, Arizona, New Mexico, Texas, Oklahoma, Idaho and Canada.

Hitting mainly youth-related functions, such as reservation schools and juvenile detention facilities, performers aimed to inspire youth to follow their dreams in one way or another.

Many of the artists on the tour have gang or substance abuse backgrounds, but have overcome their struggles and now express themselves through their art of choice, rap and hip-hop music.

They agree that they hope youth can see the potential for themselves as artists, or as generally healthy, productive adults.

“The same good news and encouragement that helped me can help them,” Propaganda said.

Mic Titan, a Kwat’san Indian from California, was touring for the first time with the Super Human Power ensemble.

He said he hoped his lyrics, often about overcoming depression, and in general being a youth on an Indian reservation, would speak to the young Indians the tour encountered.

“They’re looking at me as a positive influence,” Mic Titan said. “I would like for Native kids to say – ‘hey, I can overcome everything’… whether it be depression, suicide or drugs and alcohol.”

Mic Titan noted that when he was a youth, he turned to hip-hop and writing lyrics as an outlet for much frustration he faced.

“I can retaliate in my music. You can make fun of the way I look – but can you write as good of a song as me?” He said he hoped his personal story would shine the light on positive behavior, such as art, over physical violence or substance abuse as a way to cope with personal issues.

Propaganda noted he worked with youth through other venues. He noted how he has been surprised to realize how much he can relate to youth, and youth to him.

“A struggle is a struggle,” he said. “I was excited…I could say more to them than I thought.”

For more information on the artists featured on the Super Human Power tour, check them out online.

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