XIUHTEZCATL, 17-year-old Indigenous rapper and activist who's leading the charge in the current lawsuit against the Federal Government, Youth v. Gov today (2/1) has released "Blu Ink (ft. Isa)." The lead single is a featured track off his forthcoming debut full-length album, BREAK FREE, set for release this spring (release date TBA).
BREAK FREE was co-produced by XIUHTEZCATL and notable producer Brian Hardin (whose credits include Quincy Jones, Guns N Roses and India.Arie, among many others), along with up-and-coming producers Xi-Tika and Richard Vagner. The coming-of-age album is the self-told story behind the outspoken, Indigenous-American and features guest artists, including Jaden Smith and Teo on "Boombox Warfare," Nahko on "Young," Stic of Dead Prez on "Sage Up" and the above-mentioned Isa on "Blu Ink" and "One Day." In the song "Blu Ink," XIUHTEZCATL raps: "Blu ink, scribbled on my page/Pray my light won't die when the sun fades/Blu ink, written in my veins/Written for this love of the music I've made."
As he prepares for the release of BREAK FREE, XIUHTEZCATL will hit the road for a 10-date run of tour dates supporting Nahko and Medicine for the People, with whom he performed alongside of at Red Rocks Amphitheatre in his home state of Colorado this past September. The tour dates--which will feature X performing with band members Richard Vagner (strings), Isa (vocals) and Jaiia (drums)--begin February 28 in Burlington, VT and will stop inSyracuse, Charlotte, Charleston, New Orleans and Fort Lauderdale, among other cities. See below for upcoming tour dates.
Now 17, XIUHTEZCATL's voice has been pivotal to organizing an international youth movement that has banned fracking in the state of Colorado, sued the federal government, and gained support from prominent figures and artists including: Chali 2na and Jurassic 5, Stic of Dead Prez, Raury, Ozomatli, Chance the Rapper, Leonardo Dicaprio, Willow Smith, and James Cameron. An old soul with a young heart, XIUHTEZCATL is taking on the world and waiting for no one.
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