The multi-award-winning Indigenous hip-hop duo Snotty Nose Rez Kids is getting ready to release their latest album and treating their listeners with an all-new single, BBE (Big Braid Energy), complete with a visually stunning and electrifying music video. The single is filled with pride for Native culture, celebrating the cultural values behind braids, and acts as an exciting preview for more to come from this talented duo.
Snotty Nose Rez Kids is made up of Darren “Young D” Metz and Quinton “Yung Trybez” Nyce, both hailing from the Haisla Nation in British Columbia. The pair launched onto the scene with the self-titled album Snotty Nose Rez Kids followed by The Average Savage. Since then, they’ve released several other albums and accumulated a variety of awards and accolades for their music, including the 2023 Prism Prize.
Recently, the duo achieved another milestone in their journey, signing with Sony Music Entertainment Canada, an accomplishment both members have been ecstatic about. “There was a lot that went into that process, but once we all got on the same page, it was amazing. We felt like we’ve done all we could independently, and felt that now was the time to make that partnership. It was quite the journey, six albums in the making,” said Metz.
Marking this newest development is the release of another album later this year, for which the duo has been releasing singles, their latest being BBE. The song, like many others of the duo’s work, is a celebration of Native culture and identity, highlighting what makes them feel proud and able to represent who they are. Nyce said “Big braid energy, for us, means being able to navigate this world with confidence, self-love, and to know your worth. It’s a celebration of Indigenous excellence, where we are right now, and seeing everybody thrive in our lives.”
BBE is an idea the pair has had for a while now, an example of the concepts they keep during their collaboration process, finding a natural flow when it comes to deciding on a beat and what stories they want to tell with their music. The music video was put together by an excellent team of artists, designers, stylists, and actors, creating a visual treat that’s the perfect pairing for the featured song.
Visually, the video was inspired by futuristic and sci-fi elements, both of which are seen incorporated into the clothing and imagery throughout. These themes were not only a stylistic choice but one that reflects the album’s place in the duo’s discography. “Some of our projects have been a trilogy, Snotty Nose Rez Kids, Trapline, and Red Future. Trapline was past, Snotty Nose Rez Kids was present, and this one is future. It tells the story of who we are, where we’re from, and where we’re going,” said Nyce.
The duo aim for the spacey and out of this world visuals to uplift their viewers, accompanying the song’s culturally-rich message and themes that join their long list of projects that honor and encourage Native pride.
The video and song are out now, which you can check out for yourself here, and keep up with their other developments on Instagram @snottynoserezkids