Christian Parrish Takes the Gun, known professionally as Supaman, is an Apsáalooke rapper and fancy war dancer who grew up in Crow Agency, Montana.[1]
Supaman | |
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| Background information | |
| Birth name | Christian Parrish Takes the Gun |
| Also known as | Billy Ills |
| Origin | Crow Agency, Montana |
| Genres | Native American hip hop |
| Formerly of | Rezawrecktion |
| Website | www |
The child of parents who struggled with alcoholism, Supaman spent part of his childhood in foster care before being raised by his mother. He began DJing in the 90s after hearing a Litefoot song (with the two touring together in 1999),[2] In the fourth grade, Christian began dancing at powwows.[3] While in elementary school, he began to write poetry and later began to rap.[1] He related to rap music because he felt he was going through the same issues that most artists were rapping about.[1] Taking the name "Supaman" at the spur of the moment in a DJ competition,[1] he began rapping in a more original style until he had a spiritual encounter that told him to live a better lifestyle and rap about more meaningful and inspirational topics. In the spiritual encounter, Supaman said his creator "let [him] know [he] was to do everything on [his] own."[1]
In 2003, Supaman founded the Native American hip-hop group Rezawrecktion,[4] whose first album, It's Time, won a Native American Music Award in 2005.[1] Since then, he has released four solo albums and received coverage and plaudits for the song "Why?" featuring Acosia Red Elk.[5] In his hit track, "Prayer Loop Song", Supaman utilizes various instruments including the drum and the ute all while beatboxing, rapping, and remixing different Native tracks.[6] His reasoning for the song and video was an audition tape for America's Got Talent.[clarification needed][1] Alongside rapping, he also tours schools, where he educates students about Native American history and culture.[7] He performed on the live music MTV show Wonderland.[8] In 2013, his music and his fancy dancing skills were featured on a float for the Macy's Thanksgiving Day Parade.[3] Supaman is known for performing his music while wearing his traditional fancy dance outfit. He started doing this by accident when he was forced to do his musical performance right after he had performed a fancy dance while at a show for a school.[9] Supaman typically fuses spiritual concepts and ideas with his rap music.[10] Supaman creates all of his albums by himself, doing everything from singing and writing the music to creating and designing the covers.[1]
Supaman is a supporter of the Dakota Access Pipeline protests, frequently visiting Standing Rock to perform and speak.[8][11] He is featured alongside MAG7 in the Taboo video "Stand Up / Stand N Rock #NoDAPL" which won the MTV Video Music Award for Best Video with a Social Message in 2017.[8][12] He has also been nominated for and received multiple awards for his work as a DJ, singer, and rapper, and a fancy dancer including the Tuney Award which he won seven times, the Aboriginal Peoples Music Choice Award, and the North America Indigenous Music Award.[13]
In January 2018, Supaman released his fifth album, Illuminatives.[14] In May 2021, he released his album Medicine Bundle.[15]
Discography
edit- It's Time (2005, with Rezawrecktion)
- Honest to God (2007)
- Crow Hop (2008)
- Deadly Penz (2009)
- Gorilla (2013)
- Illuminatives (2018)
- Medicine Bundle (2021)
References
edit- ^ a b c d e f g h "Rapper Supaman Flies Solo with Lyrics of Reservation Life - Native Peoples - November-December 2014 - Native Peoples". Native Peoples Magazine. Archived from the original on 2015-02-24. Retrieved 2017-11-28.
{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: unfit URL (link) - ^ "Supaman: the rise of Crow hip-hop". Mountain Outlaw Magazine. December 21, 2015. Retrieved 2017-11-28.
- ^ a b Webb, Jaci (Nov 27, 2013). "Crow dancer showcased in Macy's Thanksgiving Day Parade". Billings Gazette. Retrieved 2017-11-28.
- ^ Larry, Mayer (Jan 21, 2005). "A time for Rezawrecktion: Montana hip-hop group in finals for national award". Billings Gazette. Retrieved 2024-11-01.
- ^ Jawort, Adrian (2015-09-11). "It's a Bird! It's a Plane! It's Supaman, a Native Hip-Hop Hero!". Indian Country Today. Retrieved 2024-11-01.
- ^ Gilbert, Helen (2017). In the Balance: Indigeneity, Performance, Globalization. [S.l.]: Liverpool University Press. ISBN 9781786940346. OCLC 988755067.
- ^ Simonson, Jordan (Nov 17, 2015). "Parrish Takes The Gun takes the stage as 'Supaman' at Morehead State". The Trail Blazer. Retrieved 2024-11-01.
- ^ a b c Mueller, Matt (Nov 16, 2017). "Rapper Supaman talks Standing Rock and mixing Native traditions with new beats". OnMilwaukee. Retrieved 2017-11-28.
- ^ "Doing the Robot in Regalia: Supaman Fuses Fancy Dance, Flute, Hip Hop - Indian Country Media Network". Indian Country Today. Feb 21, 2014. Retrieved 2017-11-28.
- ^ Prinzing, Scott (2009). "American Indian Music: More Than Just Flutes and Drums" (PDF). Montana Office of Public Instruction. Retrieved 2024-11-01.
- ^ Yates, Kieran (2017-05-02). "Supaman, Prayer and Protest". The Fall Magazine. Retrieved 2024-11-01.
- ^ Webb, Jaci (2017-08-31). "Crow hip hop artist Supaman among group that won big in MTV award show". Billings Gazette. Archived from the original on 2017-08-31. Retrieved 2017-09-05.
- ^ Schilling, Vincent (Sep 8, 2015). "Check out Supaman's "Why" featuring Jingle Dance Champion Acosia Red Elk". Indian Country Today. Retrieved 2017-11-28.
- ^ Webb, Jaci (2018-01-12). "Crow hip-hop artist Supaman records new album featuring the popular 'Prayer Loop Song'". Billings Gazette. Retrieved 2024-11-01.
- ^ "Supaman – "Medicine Bundle"". UndergroundHipHopBlog. 2021-05-21. Retrieved 2024-11-01.