Manitoba's new premier-designate is a former rapper: NDP politician Wab Kinew, who won the general election that took place yesterday (October 3), is set to become the only First Nations premier in Canadian history so far.
Kinew has led the Manitoba New Democratic Party since 2017, but before that, he had a musical career. He was a member of the hip-hop groups Slangblossom and the Dead Indians, and subsequently released two solo projects.
His 2009 solo debut Live by the Drum won an Aboriginal Peoples Choice Music Award. The follow-up, the Mide-Sun mixtape, came out in 2010. Neither project is on streaming services, but several music videos are still online. Watch the clips for the Mide-Sun track "Good Boy" and the Live by the Drum cut "Last Word" below.
Kinew has also worked as a CBC broadcaster, and he guest-hosted Q for two weeks in 2014 while the show was trying out new hosts. He's written four books for Penguin Canada.
Manitoba has had Progressive Conservative premiers since 2016. Kinew won enough seats to form a majority government.
Kinew has led the Manitoba New Democratic Party since 2017, but before that, he had a musical career. He was a member of the hip-hop groups Slangblossom and the Dead Indians, and subsequently released two solo projects.
His 2009 solo debut Live by the Drum won an Aboriginal Peoples Choice Music Award. The follow-up, the Mide-Sun mixtape, came out in 2010. Neither project is on streaming services, but several music videos are still online. Watch the clips for the Mide-Sun track "Good Boy" and the Live by the Drum cut "Last Word" below.
Kinew has also worked as a CBC broadcaster, and he guest-hosted Q for two weeks in 2014 while the show was trying out new hosts. He's written four books for Penguin Canada.
Manitoba has had Progressive Conservative premiers since 2016. Kinew won enough seats to form a majority government.