Northern rappers use music to spread positive message

Two young rappers from the Listuguj First Nation, near Campbellton, want to use their music to fight hopelessness and disrespect on their northern reserve.

Galveston Barnaby, who raps under the name ill-Logic, and Dustin Issac, who goes by Waldo, have made a music video of their latest song, All We Need is Change.

The musicians are sharing a positive message about life in their northern community that they say too often goes undelivered.

Barnaby, 17, started writing rhymes just about a year ago around the same time that he teamed up with Isaac.

In their small community, Isaac said it's more important than ever to spread a positive message.

"I find it's more community-wise, and staying off of drugs and not abusing it, I guess. Making sure people can just listen to the song and feel good about it," Barnaby said.

While they live across the Quebec border in Listuguj, Isaac walks across the bridge everyday to use the skateboard park in Campbellton.

He said the ramps in Listuguj are rusted and beat up, littered with beer bottles, another sign of disrespect in the community of roughly 3,100 people.

Barnaby said that's why they are using their music to speak up about issues they feel are important.

"I know a lot of people who feel the same. I just want to be the one who ... you know how like everybody has something to say and there's that one person who will say it? I just want to be that one person," he said.

Barnaby is finishing the school year and writing his exams at Sugarloaf Senior High School in Campbellton.

The two are trying to build hits on their music video, working on songs and just hoping they get heard by a larger audience.

"I just want to be heard by everyone and have, like, a positive message for a bunch of people and hopefully it gets me further and I get better at it," he said.

"I put a lot of work into it. I'd like to be heard by a lot of people."