By Jeff Murphy,
January 31, 2024
Shown wearing tribal regalia that he incorporates into his live concerts to educate
his audience on Native American traditions, Supaman, will perform at the University
of Central Missouri on Feb. 19 during the 10th Annual Trading Moon American Arts Festival.
WARRENSBURG, MO 鈥 Part of the 10th annual Trading Moon Native American Arts Festival,
the performing artist professionally known as Supaman brings his unique blend of hip-hop
music, comedy and dance to the 欧美视频 at 7 p.m. Monday, Feb.
19. The live, free concert introducing Native American culture to the campus community
takes place in Hendricks Hall.
Supaman is making his second visit to UCM since his first performance at the Trading
Moon Native American Arts Festival in November 2022. His concert at UCM is an opportunity
for students, faculty, staff and community members to enjoy a one-of-a-kind experience
that is not only entertaining but helps to educate the audience about Indigenous people
and culture through innovative melodies and lyrics shared by the award-winning performer.
Supaman鈥檚 appearance at UCM is sponsored by the university鈥檚 Division of Music, Office
of Student Experience and Engagement, and the Center for Multiculturalism and Inclusivity.
It is made possible through a Missouri Arts Council grant, and supported by the National
Endowment for the Arts.
Born in Seattle, Washington, Supaman鈥檚 given name is Christian Parrish Takes the Gun.
He is a member of the Aps谩alooke Nation, and makes his home on a reservation near
Billings, Montana.
In interviews conducted by a variety of news organizations across the United States,
including NPR, Supaman has spoken about his childhood and the challenges of growing
up with parents as alcoholics, struggles with poverty and issues created by being
a young wannabe rapper enchanted with the more negative aspects of hip-hop. After
a rough start in life, and becoming a father in his early 鈥20s, his focus turned toward
using his abilities to provide a more positive message to significantly engage with
Native American young people. He has continued to follow that path, and today Supaman
is one of the best鈥搆nown Native American hip-hop acts. In addition to his music, his
performances include dressing in full tribal regalia, not as a costume but as a tool
to help educate people on Native American traditions, including showing his audience
the kind of fancy dancing regalia that is worn during Native American celebrations.
Supaman founded the Native American hip-hop group Rezwrecktion in 2003, which received
the Native American Music Award in 2005 for its first album, 鈥淚t鈥檚 Time.鈥 Now working
as a solo artist, he has since released four more albums, and has performed with artists
such as Dave Matthews and the Black Eyed Peas, and in 2017 won an MTV Video Music
Award for Best Video with a Social Message. He was nominated and received multiple
awards for his work as a DJ, singer, rapper and a fancy dancer. This includes the
Tuney Award which he won seven times, the Aboriginal Peoples Music Choice Award, and
the North American Indigenous Music Award. In 2013, his music and dancing skills were
featured on a float during the Macy鈥檚 Thanksgiving Day Parade in New York City.
For more information about Supaman鈥檚 live concert at UCM, please contact Shari Bax,
Ph.D., vice president for Student Experience and Engagement at UCM, at bax@ucmo.edu.