Drezus facts for kids

Drezus (drē-zəˈs), born Jeremiah Manitopyes on August 28, 1982, is a Plains Cree rapper and activist. He is based in Calgary, Alberta, Canada. Drezus has achieved many great things in music. He has won awards for Best Music Video, Best Producer/Engineer, Best Rap/Hip Hop Album, and Indigenous Entertainer of the Year. These awards came after his successful album, Indian Summer, which was released in 2014.

Jeremiah Manitopyes has used his music to share his life story and inspire others. He has shown how powerful music can be in helping people connect with their heritage and make positive changes.

Early Life and Beginnings

Jeremiah Manitopyes was born in Saskatoon, Saskatchewan on August 28, 1982.

Music Career Journey

Starting Out in Music

A well-known Native hip-hop group from the 1990s, War Party, was very impressed with Drezus. He performed a long freestyle rap for them. One member, Big Stomp, was especially amazed. He said that Drezus was "a diamond in the rough." This meant Drezus had a lot of natural talent. He could rap perfectly with the music and keep a great flow.

Rezofficial and Early Success

Drezus was invited to help start a new group called Rezofficial. This group included some former members of War Party. Their first album, The Foundation, won the Canadian Aboriginal Music Award for Best Rap/Hip-Hop album in 2004. They had a big chance to perform at the 2010 Vancouver Winter Olympic Games. However, Drezus faced some challenges during this time and was unable to attend.

Finding His Path

After some difficult times, Drezus began to learn more about his Native heritage. He started to care deeply about his identity as a person. This was a very important moment for him. He decided to make big changes in his life. He moved back to Calgary, where his family was waiting for him. This included his young son. He started to feel a strong connection to his community.

This new outlook changed his music. In 2013, he released the album Red Winter. This album helped Drezus win many awards. He was also invited to speak to young people and share his inspiring story.

Since Red Winter, Drezus has continued to make music that tells his truth. He knows that some of his songs, like Warpath, might not be played on the radio. But he feels he is exactly where he should be. In 2017, he started working with Taboo from the Black Eyed Peas. They even won an MTV VMA for "Best Fight Against The System" in Summer 2017. In August 2019, Drezus also appeared in the TV show Yellowstone (American TV series) (Season 2, Episode 8).

Musical Style and Influences

Drezus has compared his music to artists like Public Enemy and N.W.A. His biggest influence is Ice Cube. Other artists who have inspired him include Notorious BIG, Red Hot Chili Peppers, Wu-Tang Clan, Dr. Dre, and Run-DMC.

His early music was similar to War Party, focusing on street life. But as he grew older and faced challenges, his music changed. He began to tell his personal story, connecting it to his Native life and history. His songs now often share messages of hope and overcoming difficulties.

Community Activism

With his recent success, Drezus has focused on giving back to his community. He leads workshops for young people and gives speeches about his journey. He hopes that others can learn from his experiences. He wants to inspire them to achieve their own goals and push their limits.

He often shares a powerful message: "I would tell them that they are all young warriors and have a special place in this world as light givers. Put the phone down and go shoot some hoops, feel the sun, snow, rain or whatever and just be thankful to be alive. There is always a way out of whatever seems to be bothering you or preventing you from being happy. Be yourself, love hard and work harder. Be proud to be. One day while you’re out chasing your dreams that light will find you and it will show you a whole different world full of opportunities and goodness. Go get it."

Discography

• Indian Summer
  • Solomon's Prayer
  • The Sequel
  • Like This
  • Cruisin' (ft. Lightningcloud)
  • Say (ft. Inez)
  • All I Can Be (ft. K-Riz)
  • Free
  • Free Part II (ft. Fendercase)
  • Nehiyah Girl (ft. Joey Stylez)
  • Warpath
  • High Note (ft. Merkules, Nato & Sese)
  • Reminisce (ft. Hellnback & Big Slim)
  • What You Need (ft. Fayliesha)
  • The Morning After
  • Out My Window (ft. Young Kidd)
• Red Winter
  • Intro
  • Day of Action (ft. Main Flow)
  • Red Winter
  • Big Dreams (ft. Nato)
  • Feel's Good (ft. Brooklyn)
  • Me & U (ft. Inez Jasper)
  • Lose Control
  • Don't Give Up On Me
  • Rose

Awards and Nominations

• Indigenous Music Awards:
  • Best Music Video: Warpath
  • Best Producer/Engineer: Indian Summer
  • Best Rap/Hip-Hop Album: Indian Summer
  • Indigenous Entertainer of the Year
• Canadian Aboriginal Music Awards:
  • Best Rap/Hip-Hop Album: The Foundation
• MTV Video Music Award:
  • Best Fight Against the System with Mag7
• The SOCAN Awards:
  • Vince Fontaine Indigenous Song Award