Red Cloud (rapper)

Last updated

RedCloud
Pigeon John and RedCloud, Hawthorne's Most Wanted 2004 (68556179) cropped.jpg
RedCloud performing in 2004
Background information
Birth nameHenry Andrade
Also known asRedCloud
Born (1978-11-18) November 18, 1978 (age 44)
Hawthorne, California, U.S.
Genres Christian hip hop, underground hip hop
Occupation(s)Singer, songwriter
Instrument(s)Vocals
Years active2000–present
LabelsSyntax, 1491 Nation
Website teamlightningcloud.com

Henry Andrade (born November 18, 1978), known professionally as RedCloud, is an American rapper based in Los Angeles, California [1] who creates hip hop tracks recognizably influenced by his spiritual and Indigenous heritage.

Contents

Early life

Henry Andrade [2] [3] was born on November 18, [4] 1978 [3] in Hawthorne, California. [3] He is of Indigenous Mexican heritage ( Wixáritari). He became a confessed, or "born again" believer in Jesus Christ in 1991 while in the eighth grade and at that time repented from being a gang member. [5]

Music career

Moving from gangs to hip hop and gospel in the early 90s, RedCloud signed with Syntax Records in 2000 [6] [7] and recorded his first studio album Is This Thing On? which was released in April 2001. [8] [9] This album received two four and a half star out of five reviews by AllMusic's Jo-Ann Greene and Scott Fryberger of Jesus Freak Hideout, [8] [9] yet The Phantom Tollbooth's Brian A. Smith rated it three clocks out of a possible five. [2]

His second release, Traveling Circus, was released on December 16, 2003 with Syntax. [10] [11] The album received a five star review from Jesus Freak Hideout's Scott Fryberger, [10] while attaining a four star rating from Jo-Ann Greene at AllMusic. [11] While Cross Rhythms' Tony Cummings rated it a nine out of ten, [12] Rapzilla rated it three and a half R's. [13] Tony LaFlanza, indicating for The Phantom Tollbooth, rated the album a four out of five clock release. [14] His most recent album, Hawthorne's Most Wanted, was his third studio album with Syntax Records that came out on May 22, 2007. [15] [16] Scott Fryberger rated the album four stars, [15] while Jo-Ann Greene rated it four and a half stars. [16] Wayne Gough, rated the album nine out of ten for Cross Rhythms, [17] and The Phantom Tollbooth's Bert Saraco rated it four clocks. [18] RedCloud released a mix tape in 2006, The Warriors Society, again with Syntax Records. [19] RedCloud moved more than 50,000 units of his releases in his decade with the label. He toured with KRS-One, Immortal Technique, Evidence, Tech N9ne, and Murs, among others.

After splitting with Syntax Records in 2010, he formed the independent 1491 Nations record label and released his underground mix tape, 1491 Nation Presents: MC RedCloud (2011). The following year, RedCloud subsequently redefined his music with the help of collaborators Crystle Lightning and DJ Hydroe, creating a performance crew known for its electro-house/hip hop fusion featuring RedCloud’s underground spit. Called LightningCloud, Sam Slovik of the L.A. Weekly called the crew, "a near-earth object inventing new realms of the Electro-House-Hip-Hop revolution on the planet. Urban futurist[s], MC RedCloud and Crystle Lightning are L.A.’s subterranean Bonnie and Clyde." Their self-titled debut (2012) is an eclectic mix of straight hip hop (“Burn It Down”), the digital groove of electro house dance styles (e.g. “Zoom,” or “Gravitron”), hip hop inflected French yé-yé (“Hang It Up Daddy”), with a twist of B-movie slasher flick tango (“Zombie Love”). He travels North America as a performance artist and is known for songs that travel the globe in geography, message, and experience. His collaborative LightningCloud album (2012) features the work of time-honored collaborators, including Pigeon John, DJ Wise, and producer Greg “DJ Ei8ht” Leonti. The LightningCloud album received recognition from the Aboriginal Peoples Choice Music Awards (APCMA) for Best Hip Hop Album in November 2012.

In 2013, RedCloud battled against MCs across Southern California to win the “Who’s Next: Battle for the Best” contest on the number one hip hop station in the United States, Power 106. [20] As winners, his LightningCloud crew received a cash prize, a performance with Kendrick Lamar, and represented west coast hip hop against Hot 97’s Brooklyn-based, east coast representative Radamiz in a freestyle battle in Austin, Texas on March 15, 2013. After winning that MC battle, [21] LightningCloud received the opportunity to use a beat produced with Timbaland for a subsequent track called Sake Bombs.

RedCloud’s rhyme connects to Native American hip hop, a musical genre popular with American and Canadian Indigenous peoples. Like comparable MCs old and new (including Litefoot, RezOfficial, Joey Stylez, and War Party, among many others), RedCloud raps about Native issues, politics, and social consciousness. He also fuses traditional Native musics to contemporary hip hop style and provides workshops and performances to raise the Indigenous consciousness of Tribal youth.

In 2014, RedCloud broke the Guinness World Record for freestyle rapping that was previously set at 17 hours, and he went 18 hours one minute and 14 seconds. [22]

Discography

Studio albums

Related Research Articles

<i>Turn the Tides</i> Album by 38th Parallel

Turn the Tides is the only studio album by 38th Parallel.

<i>Dichotomy A</i> 2004 studio album by GRITS

Dichotomy A is the first album in a two-part series of albums released in 2004 by the Hip hop group GRITS. The second album is Dichotomy B. The song "Hittin' Curves" won the group's second Dove Award for "Rap/Hip Hop Recorded Song", awarded in 2005.

<i>Dichotomy B</i> 2004 studio album by GRITS

Dichotomy B is the 2004 follow up the GRITS previous effort, Dichotomy A.

<i>The Art of Translation</i> 2002 studio album by GRITS

The Art of Translation is the fourth studio album by Christian hip hop duo GRITS. It was released in 2002 on Gotee Records and earned the honor of the Dove Award for "Rap/Hip Hop Album of the Year" and was nominated for a Grammy Award in 2003.

<i>GRITS 7</i> 2006 studio album by GRITS

GRITS 7 is the musical group GRITS' Seventh Album. It was released in 2006 by Gotee Bros. The majority of the songs come from previously released albums, heavily from the Dichotomy albums, but there are three new songs: "Changes", "I Try", and "Time to Pray".

<i>Redemption</i> (GRITS album) 2006 studio album by GRITS

Redemption is the seventh studio album released by American Southern rap duo GRITS for the contemporary Christian music market. It was co-produced by GRITS.

<i>For the Love of the Game</i> (album) 2008 studio album by Pillar

For the Love of the Game is the fifth studio album from Christian metal group Pillar, which was released on February 26, 2008. According to their website, Pillar defines the title as: "For the love of" = the passion of, and "The game" = the pursuit of Christ. This is the last album to include longtime drummer, Lester Estelle, and bass player and founding member, Michael Wittig until they rejoined the band in 2012. During live performances of "Smiling Down", Rob Beckley plays acoustic guitar.

<i>Closer</i> (Shawn McDonald album) 2011 studio album by Shawn McDonald

Closer is the fourth studio album by American Christian singer-songwriter Shawn McDonald. The album was released on March 22, 2011 by Sparrow Records, and was produced by Christopher Stevens. The album saw commercial success and positive reception.

<i>Oh for Joy</i> 2011 studio album by David Crowder Band

Oh for Joy is the first holiday studio album and tenth album overall from Christian rock group David Crowder Band, and was produced by the band as well. The album was released on October 4, 2011 by sixstepsrecords, and has attracted generally positive critical attention.

<i>Crimson Cord</i> Album by Propaganda

Crimson Cord is the fifth studio album from Christian hip hop recording artist Propaganda. The album was produced by Beautiful Eulogy and released by Humble Beast Records on April 29, 2014. It met with commercial and critical success.

<i>Blanca</i> (album) 2015 studio album by Blanca

Blanca is the first studio album by Blanca. Word Records released the album on May 4, 2015.

Victor Manuel Oquendo, who goes by the stage name Liquid, is an American Christian hip hop musician and Christian R&B recording artist. His only album, Tales from the Badlands, was released by Gotee Records, in 2005.

Circleslide are an American Christian alternative indie rock band from Nashville, Tennessee, and they were formed in 1999. Their members are lead vocalist and guitarist, Gabe Martinez, bass guitarist, Eric Vickers, lead guitarist, Jonathan DeAnda, and drummer, Lee Yoder. The group released, Connectology, an extended play, with Centricity Music, in 2004. They released, Uncommon Days, with Centricity Music, in 2006, as their first studio album. The band released, Echoes of the Light, their second studio album, in 2010, by Save the City Records.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Heath McNease</span> American Christian hip hop/folk rock musician

Heath Daniel McNease is an American Christian hip hop and folk rock musician who is primarily a worship musician in the Christian music movement. He released four albums with 7Spin Music, two of those hip hop releases, The Heath McNease Fanclub Meets in 2007 and The Gun Show in 2010, while he released two folk rock roots releases, The House Always Wins in 2010 and Shine On in 2010. The remainder of his albums have been released independently. He released four hip hop albums, Straight Outta Console: The Nintendo Thumb Mixtape in 2011, Thrift Store Jesus in 2012, Jesus Shuttlesworth: The Mixtape and The Weight of Glory: Second Edition in 2013, and Among Thieves in 2014, while two were folk rock roots releases, The Weight of Glory - Songs Inspired by the Works of C.S. Lewis in 2012, and Fort Wayne in 2014.

Douglas William Krum, Jr., who goes by the stage name Krum, is an American hip hop musician. He's released nine studio albums, one extended play, and three mixtapes in his career.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Joey the Jerk</span> American rapper

Sarpong Siriboe Boateng, also known by the stage name Joey the Jerk and formerly Joey Lawrence and Joey's Dream, is an American Christian hip hop musician. He has released two studio albums, Average Joe in 2003, and, Catch Me if You Can in 2015. He began his career as a founding member of the acclaimed Christian hip hop collective LA Symphony.

Christopher Jose Cooper, professionally known as Soup the Chemist, and Super C, is an American Christian hip hop musician, and a pioneer of the Christian hip hop movement. He was a member of the hip hop group Soldiers for Christ, also known as S.F.C., and, as a solo artist, has released two studio albums, Dust, in 2000 through BEC Recordings and Eargasmic Arrangements, in 2003 through his own Beesyde Records label. He published an autobiography, Through My Windows, in 2014, through Dimlights Publishing.

<i>Back to Dust</i> 2007 album by Sev Statik and DJ Dust

Back to Dust is a studio album by Albany, New York-based rapper Sev Statik and Atlanta-based producer DJ Dust, originally released on October 9, 2007, through Rawkus Records. It was the fourth studio release by Sev Statik and the second studio release for DJ Dust. Back to Dust features numerous guest appearances, including Manchild and Playdough of Deepspace5, Theory Hazit, Supastition, LMNO of The Visionaries, and Raphi, Griffin, and Triune of Tunnel Rats. The album was selected by Rawkus for inclusion in its "Rawkus 50" promotional campaign, and was released as a digital download. A physical version of the album was released on July 7, 2008, through Braille's Hip Hop IS Music label. Back to Dust met with critical acclaim. In 2010, Theory Hazit released a remixed version of the album.

References

  1. ↑ (May 16, 2013). "Saginaw Grant and Other Hollywood Natives Come Together for Idle No More PSA". Retrieved July 17, 2013.
  2. 1 2 Smith, Brian A. (June 10, 2001). "RedCloud - Is This Thing On?". The Phantom Tollbooth. Retrieved March 1, 2015.
  3. 1 2 3 California Birth Index. "Henry Andrade, Born 11/18/1978 in California". California Birth Index. Retrieved March 1, 2015.
  4. ↑ RedCloud (November 18, 2012). "It's my Birthday, ill grow out my mustache if I want to". Twitter . Retrieved March 1, 2015.
  5. ↑ Syntax Records. "RedCloud". Christian Broadcasting Network. Retrieved March 1, 2015.
  6. ↑ Jesus Freak Hideout. "RedCloud Profile". Jesus Freak Hideout. Retrieved March 1, 2015.
  7. ↑ Jeffries, David. "RedCloud Biography". AllMusic . Retrieved March 1, 2015.
  8. 1 2 3 Fryberger, Scott (May 27, 2008). "RedCloud, "Is This Thing On?" Review". Jesus Freak Hideout. Retrieved March 1, 2015.
  9. 1 2 3 Greene, Jo-Ann. "Is This Thing On? - RedCloud". AllMusic . Retrieved March 1, 2015.
  10. 1 2 3 Fryberger, Scott (November 8, 2008). "RedCloud, "Traveling Circus" Review". Jesus Freak Hideout. Retrieved March 1, 2015.
  11. 1 2 3 Greene, Jo-Ann. "Traveling Circus - RedCloud". AllMusic . Retrieved March 1, 2015.
  12. ↑ Cummings, Tony (April 13, 2006). "Review: Traveling Circus - RedCloud". Cross Rhythms . Retrieved March 1, 2015.
  13. ↑ Rapzilla. "Review - RedCloud 'Traveling Circus'". Rapzilla . Retrieved March 1, 2015.
  14. ↑ LaFlanza, Tony (October 8, 2003). "RedCloud - Traveling Circus". The Phantom Tollbooth. Retrieved March 1, 2015.
  15. 1 2 3 Fryberger, Scott (May 13, 2007). "RedCloud, "Hawthorne's Most Wanted" Review". Jesus Freak Hideout. Retrieved March 1, 2015.
  16. 1 2 3 Greene, Jo-Ann. "Hawthorne's Most Wanted - RedCloud". AllMusic . Retrieved March 1, 2015.
  17. ↑ Gough, Wayne (July 25, 2007). "Review: Hawthorne's Most Wanted - RedCloud". Cross Rhythms . Retrieved March 1, 2015.
  18. ↑ Saraco, Bert (July 19, 2007). "RedCloud - Hawthorne's Most Wanted". The Phantom Tollbooth. Retrieved March 1, 2015.
  19. ↑ Jesus Freak Hideout (May 13, 2007). "RedCloud, "The Warriors Society Mixtape" Review". Jesus Freak Hideout. Retrieved March 1, 2015.
  20. ↑ (February 25, 2012). Who's Next @ 2. Retrieved March 12, 2012.
  21. ↑ (March 19, 2013). LightningCloud Win Best of the Best at South By Southwest. Retrieved March 18, 2013.
  22. ↑ Dominguez, Karina (December 14, 2014). "Red Cloud Breaks Guinness World Record For Longest Freestyle Rap". HipHopDX . Retrieved March 1, 2015.
This page is based on this Wikipedia article
Text is available under the CC BY-SA 4.0 license; additional terms may apply.
Images, videos and audio are available under their respective licenses.