When Tribe Artist Society takes the stage at Block Heater Festival on January 30, they’ll be bringing audiences more than just a hip-hop set; they’ll be carrying the energy of a grassroots movement that’s been quietly reshaping Calgary’s music and community spaces.
Part artist collective, part nonprofit, Tribe Artist Society blends performance with purpose. They lay down gritty, powerful hip-hop onstage, while creating opportunities for emerging voices through their community programs. This two-pronged approach is paying off, creating a vibrant, Indigenous-led hub within Calgary’s hip-hop scene.
Tribe Artist Society came together as artists with a one-off idea that quickly took on a life of its own.
“We made our first song together for a showcase in Lethbridge,” recalls Dwight Good Eagle Farahat, founder, executive director, and emcee of Tribe Artist Society. “We were all going down as independent artists and thought, ‘Wouldn’t it be cool if we had a song together?’ That became ‘Tribe Anthem.’”
At the time, there were no long-term plans attached to it. “We didn’t think much of it at first,” says Farahat. People loved it. Then, Farahat says, “we just kept doing it, and we’ve been performing consistently ever since.”
Today, a Tribe Artist Society show brings energy reminiscent of Wu-Tang Clan, complete with an enormous crew of artists rotating in and out onstage. The performing crew features Farahat, Eazy G, Luke Little Chief, Sarah Good Medicine, Nasty G, Bucho Sugar, and Redfoot, along with a revolving cast of participants from Tribe’s community programs.
“Because we get these opportunities to perform, we’re able to bring along our participants from the charity and give them opportunities on stages they might not otherwise get,” says Farahat.
Off the stage, Tribe Artist Society offers a comprehensive range of programs and events for participants of all backgrounds, with many being held at the Werklund Centre in Calgary. Despite operating with just one and a half full-time staff members, the organization maintains a packed calendar, hosting close to 200 community events a year.
“When we created Tribe, we were asking, ‘What would Calgary look like if Indigenous folks staffed, owned, and ran all the helping agencies, and all the fun things too?’” Farahat recalls. The “fun things” now include a Monday Rap Night, Mixtape Club, and weekly drum circles, all open to anyone willing to participate in a sober, inclusive community.
“We wanted to become a pillar in hip-hop in Calgary,” Farahat says, “for people to see us as a resource, not as a needy people.”
Looking ahead to Block Heater, Tribe Artist Society is looking forward to sharing their message with new audiences, especially those who have yet to fall in love with hip-hop.
“If we can win over a crowd that didn’t think they loved rap, that’s everything,” Farahat says. “That’s what people are going to get—they’re going to get to know us, and the experiences of the original people from around here.”
Catch Tribe Artist Society at Block Heater Festival at Eau Claire Plaza on Friday, January 30 at 8:45pm MT.
Learn more about Tribe Artist Society’s community programs here.
