We Are the Halluci Nation

We Are the Halluci Nation is the third studio album by Canadian electronic music group A Tribe Called Red, released on September 16, 2016 by Radicalized Records, an imprint of Pirates Blend Records.[1]

We Are the Halluci Nation
Studio album by
A Tribe Called Red
ReleasedSeptember 16, 2016
GenreElectronic, hip hop, Aboriginal music of Canada
Length50:08
LabelRadicalized Records
A Tribe Called Red chronology
Suplex (EP)
(2015)		 We Are the Halluci Nation
(2016)		 Stadium Pow Wow (EP)
(2016)

Background

We Are the Halluci Nation is a concept album built around the "Halluci Nation", inspired by late Native American rights activist, musician and poet John Trudell. The Halluci Nation aims to "[promote] inclusivity, empathy and acceptance amongst all races and genders in the name of social justice. They believe that Indigenous people need to define their identity on their own terms."[2][3][4] Trudell was in the process of collaborating with the group prior to his death,[5] and is featured on two tracks.

A Tribe Called Red was inspired to create a concept album featuring the stories of Aboriginal voices, addressing the impact of colonization on indigenous people in the modern world. Among these voices was the story of Chanie Wenjack, an Ojibwe (Anishinaabe) First Nations boy who attempted to escape his residential school and died of hunger and exposure. This was inspired originally by Gord Downie, the lead singer of The Tragically Hip, who brought public attention to Wenjack's story in 2016 with his solo album Secret Path. Ian Campeau spoke about the band's involvement in the Wenjack project in an interview for Q, noting Joseph Boyden's involvement with Wenjack.[6]

Critical reception

The album received acclaim upon reception. We Are the Halluci Nation was nominated for CBC Music's Best Canadian Album of the Year.[7] Pitchfork assigned the album a rating of 8.1 out of 10, calling it "politically thrilling and immediate."[8] Exclaim!'s David Dacks praised the "dancehall-indebted polyrhythms and creative beatmaking",[9] and Now described it as "powerful protest music set to pounding beats."[10]

A Tribe Called Red was recognized with the Jack Richardson Producer of the Year Award at the Juno Awards of 2017 for their work on We Are the Halluci Nation.[11][12]

The album was a shortlisted nominee for the 2017 Polaris Music Prize.[13]

Track listing

All tracks are written by A Tribe Called Red.

No.TitleLength
1."We Are the Halluci Nation" (featuring John Trudell & Northern Voice)2:44
2."R.E.D." (featuring Yasiin Bey, Narcy & Black Bear)3:29
3."The Virus" (featuring Saul Williams & Chippewa Travellers)3:50
4."Before" (featuring Joseph Boyden)1:50
5."Sila" (featuring Tanya Tagaq)3:08
6."The Light" (featuring Lido Pimienta)4:11
7."Maima Koopi" (featuring Oka & Chippewa Travellers)4:14
8."JHD" (featuring Junior Ottawa)3:38
9."Eanan" (featuring Maxida Märak)2:41
10."The Muse" (featuring Jennifer Kreisberg)4:37
11."Indian City" (featuring Black Bear)3:37
12."How I Feel" (featuring Leonard Sumner, Shad & Northern Voice)4:21
13."For You (The Light, Pt. 2)" (featuring Lido Pimienta)3:43
14."Alie Nation" (featuring John Trudell, Lido Pimienta & Tanya Tagaq)2:03
15."Soon" (featuring Joseph Boyden)2:02

Charts
Chart Peak
position
US Top Dance/Electronic Albums (Billboard)[14] 7
US Heatseekers Albums (Billboard)[15] 17

References
  1. "A Tribe Called Red". Pirates Blend Records.
  2. "A Tribe Called Red plants a flag for the Halluci Nation - Macleans.ca". Macleans.ca. 2016-11-21. Retrieved 2017-04-17.
  3. "5 albums that influenced A Tribe Called Red's We Are The Halluci Nation". NOW Magazine. 2016-11-30. Retrieved 2017-04-17.
  4. "A Tribe Called Red The Halluci Nation Is Real". Retrieved 2017-04-17.
  5. "Year of Trudell - Native Peoples - July-August 2015 - Native Peoples". www.nativepeoples.com. Retrieved 2017-04-17.
  6. "A Tribe Called Red bring 'We Are the Halluci Nation' to Studio q". CBC Radio. Retrieved 2017-04-17.
  7. "25 best Canadian albums of the year". CBC Music. Retrieved 2017-04-17.
  8. "A Tribe Called Red: We Are the Halluci Nation Album Review | Pitchfork". pitchfork.com. Retrieved 2017-04-17.
  9. "A Tribe Called Red We Are the Halluci Nation". Retrieved 2017-04-17.
  10. ">>> A Tribe Called Red's We Are The Halluci Nation sets powerful protest music to pounding beats". NOW Magazine. 2016-10-05. Retrieved 2017-04-17.
  11. "A Tribe Called Red earns rave reviews for Juno opener". CBC News. Retrieved 2017-04-17.
  12. Media Release. "Anishinabek Nation celebrates Juno Award winners and nominees | SaultOnline.com". saultonline.com. Retrieved 2017-04-17.
  13. "Gord Downie, Tragically Hip both make cut as Polaris Prize long list revealed". Toronto Star, June 13, 2017.
  14. "A Tribe Called Red - Chart history - Top Dance/Electronic Albums". Billboard. Retrieved July 15, 2017.
  15. "A Tribe Called Red - Chart history - Heatseekers Albums". Billboard. Retrieved July 15, 2017.
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