Team Rezofficial was a Canadian aboriginal hip hop group (primarily Cree from First Nations surrounding Hobbema, Alberta). Founded by former members of War Party, the group included musicians Karmen "Hellnback" Omeasoo, Drezus (Jeremiah Manitopyes), Jay Mak, Big Stomp, Lakes Aqui, Tomislav Milardovic and Big Slim.[1]
Team Rezofficial | |
|---|---|
| Origin | Hobbema, Alberta |
| Genres | Canadian hip hop First Nations music |
| Years active | 2003-2010 |
| Labels | Arbor Records |
| Members | Hellnback Drezus Jay Mak Big Stomp Tomislav Milardovic Lakes Aqui Big Slim |
| Website | http://www.rezofficial.com/ |
History edit
The Group was formed in 2003. Their first album The Foundation[2] won the Canadian Aboriginal Music Award for Best Rap / Hip-Hop album in 2004.[3] In 2005 and 2009 the group was nominated for a Western Canadian Music Award[4] and in 2007 they were nominated for an Aboriginal Peoples' Choice Award and another Canadian Aboriginal Music Award.
In 2009, the group released their second album The World (And Everything in It).[5][6] The album's first single, "Lonely", became the first song from an aboriginal group to go to number one on Much Music's RapCity.[7] The album garnered a nomination for Aboriginal Recording of the Year at the Juno Awards of 2009.[8][9]
In February 2010, the band performed at the Aboriginal Pavilion at the 2010 Winter Olympics in Vancouver.[10]
The band members then went their separate ways. Drezus went to prison.[11][circular reference] Milardovic became a pastor.[12] Jay Mak continues to release music on the Rezofficial website.
References edit
- ^ "Team Rezofficial :: The World (And Everything in It)". Rap Reviews, Matt Jost
- ^ "Team Rezofficial – The Foundation". discogs.com. Discogs. Retrieved 20 December 2021.
- ^ "We're winning, we ought to be hosting". Winnipeg Free Press, December 02, 2004 - Page 41
- ^ "Manitoba artists could dominate at WCMAs". Winnipeg Free Press,
- ^ "Team Rezofficial – The World And Everything In It". discogs.com. Discogs. Retrieved 20 December 2021.
- ^ "Team Rezofficial The World (And Everything in It)". Exclaim!, By Neil Acharya Jun 20, 2008
- ^ "Rezofficial hit number one on Much Music Rap City". Sweetgrass, September 2008
- ^ "Nominee, Team Rezofficial". junoawards.ca. Juno Awards. Retrieved 20 December 2021.
- ^ "Manitoba artists up for 11 Junos". Winnipeg Free Press, March 28, 2009 - Page 37
- ^ "Aboriginal Music during the 2010 Winter Olympic Games, Feb 2010". indigenousmusic.ca. Indigenous Music. Retrieved 20 December 2021.
- ^ Manitopyes, Jeremiah. "Drezus". wikipedia.org. Wikipedia. Retrieved 20 December 2021.
- ^ Koster, Laura. "Canadian hip hop artist Tomislav Milardovic...Nov 2018". chvnradio.com. CHVN95.1FM. Retrieved 20 December 2021.