Local rapper earns nod for Indian Grammy

Robert Morast
Argus Leader

published: 1/4/2005

Gabriel Night Shield has just been nominated for one of the highest honors in Native American music.

The Sioux Falls rapper and Rosebud native found out Sunday evening that his album "Kataztrophik" has been nominated for "Best Rap/Hip Hop Recording" in the seventh annual Nammy awards.

The winners for the Native American Music Awards - or Nammys - will be announced Feb. 10 at the Seminole Hard Rock Hotel and Casino in Hollywood, Fla.

"It's cool," Night Shield said Monday afternoon. "It's just always good to get recognized for the work you've done."

Some would say it's about time the Nammys nominated Night Shield, a rapper who works out of his home and often paints his bouncy beats with R-rated rhymes.

"They snubbed him on the 'Hostile Takeover' album," says Vaney "V" Hariri, a member of local rap group The Young Nobles, and a Night Shield collaborator.

Hariri, who is African-American, says that Night Shield's willingness to work with non-Native American rappers sometimes hurts his credibility for exclusive groups like NAMA.

"I think it keeps him from getting the type of shine he deserves," Hariri says. "If he worked with just Native cats he would get a lot more shine."

Regardless, Night Shield wasn't really shooting for the Nammys.

"It's not something you think about when you're making albums," Night Shield says.

But, he says, "It's good that they're recognizing our own artists and we're recognized under our own form because we get ignored out there."

Nominated alongside Night Shield is Shadowyze, a rapper who actually appeared on "Kataztrophik."

Reach reporter Robert Morast at 331-2313.

Online

Download music by Night Shield at www.night shield.net.