Ojibwe First Nation artist Alja discusses his new track & what it feels like to be “Outnumbered” – HipHopcanada.com
North Bay, ON – Earlier this summer Ojibwe First Nation artist Alja released a brand new nine-track mixtape entitled C.H.I.E.F, which features Alja’s latest single “Outnumbered”.
“Outnumbered” was written after a particularly tough period of time where Alja was looking for work. And people on his reservation were looking for work. But for some reason, people who weren’t even part of his reserve were getting all the jobs on the reservation. And although the track isn’t shy about calling out the state of affairs, it’s an incredibly uplifting and empowering song. Because it serves as Alja’s own mission statement to prevail.
Artistically, Alja is very much a storyteller. He grew up on the reservation of Shawanaga, and uses his craft to share his experience and identity as well as to explore solutions to the systemic problems plaguing the First Nations communities. It’s a voice that’s needed in the Canadian music industry right now, and especially within the hip-hop community. Listen to “Outnumbered” below, take in the C.H.I.E.F mixtape, and scope our interview with Alja after the jump.
