Word life.

Its been a minute or two since I last posted on here. I've had a lot going on lately, been busy with school, making  sure I survive, uh, thats about it. Honestly the road to Graduation is pretty hard. I'm struggling a bit and had a moment this week where I look out the window and thought, is it too much? can i make it? and that thought stayed with me all day, it wasnt annoying it was more like i whisper that i had to look back at and be like 'shut up dood, you may be right but seriously, shut up'. other than that, heres some pictures.

(Click to enlarge)

(worth a look)

(really, I even clicked just to see)

(Amazing.)

<3 Metal Gear Solid <3

I would suggest listening to this album. Its Hip Hop on a different level. 

Either your reaction after looking those pics, or you just realized you love this blog!

Peace, love and harmony

Rob Gnar

be this would who existed never I If

"You would be amazed at how far a person can fall, then pick himself up, climb even higher then decide its time to fall again. Why? Cause he's stupid. I often wonder if theres something wrong with this cat cause he's always doing something to hold him back, mostly out of fear but sometimes, just cause. Its hard to explain but its seems like he lets the little things float off into oblivion never to be thought of again, only to fall victim to overwhelming problems that seem to exist at all times. Its even weirder to think the little problems he faces are what most would consider 'big problems and these big problems, are ones his mind often feeds, which in case you havent noticed, is a work in itself. The locomotive always moving, always going, never ceasing to stop for anything except when its a stop he advises, cause well, he wanted it. I've never been one to talk about someone in such a way but in this case it seems only formal I let you in on a secret, he's not as bad as you would think, well, maybe but he can damn sure make you smile and in this age of war and high gas prices I think its something he ought to be proud of. I know hes going to read this but I hope he knows hes a good person and even if its for the soul fact of just brining himself up, at least he knows he has a blog to do it on and do it on proudly. So I say to you friend, smile live laugh love and have a good fucking day."

                                                                                           - Rob Black Bear

Oh Rob, I'm sure I will. I'm sure I will. 

Peace love and insanity

Rob Gnar

I have a few things I would like to say

First of, thanks to everyone who check out the blog and read the interviews, looked at pictures and made sure my views went up and I was feeling good.
Second, fuck you to those who dont like it and think I'm wasting my time with 'that frank waln guy'.
Third, fuck you again to those who dont like what im doing here
and lastly, big big thank you to Frank Waln for hooking me up with an interview like that, it honestly made me feel like I was doing something awesome and important, for the both of us.
Its been awhile since I got on a website of any kind and just spoke my mind but today it seems like the time is right to get some things off my chest.

In May I hope to graduate High School, which for me is a big accomplishment considering what has happened in school and how my life has been going. This is my first major goal I see accomplishing and just the the thought 'possibly' makes me smile and want nothing more than to see it happen. Now some of you might be thinking 'High School?! Really Rob?' and Yes its is what it is but what most people dont know is this time last year, I quit going to school, I never officially dropped out but  I left after school one day and told myself there was no way I was going back for anything. Ever.
Come around in August and I'm sitting in Jail and I catch a glimpse of myself in the one way window and see a reflection of a man I didnt know. He was in a orange jumpsuit, he looked mad, sad and kinda scared. He stared at me for a long time then kinda smirked and thought 'What the fuck are u doing in here kid? This is the last place you should be.' then a few moments later a thought entered his head that kinda surprised him 'You know, schools starting next week..' but it quickly left, possibly never to return.
I round out August by taking a trip to Minnesota/Wisconsin with my brother James and Uncle. We spend 6 days there but it felt like 6 months. Everyday was a revelation about my life and what I needed to fix. I had some seriously life altering moments at that place and never felt any closer to a higher power than then. I was nearly brought to tears several times thinking about how far I had fallen this year (2010) and wanted nothing more than a second chance to prove not only to my family, but to myself that I could do whatever I wanted and vowed that whatever I got into it would only be for the good of me and family. I also gave myself a new set of goals, more realistic ones that a person like me could accomplish. It was a great and refreshing trip that sparked new ideas and gave me a new outlook on life.
I came home in a fit of rage a few days later mostly due to not wanting to leave such a beautiful place. I hated everything White River was and stood for and wondered why life was taking me back to such a God forsaken place. I eventually realized its a place like this that breeds greatness like me (No ego) I saw the potential of growing above and beyond White River and its inhabitants (ego)
The next few months were spent in frustration but mostly in thought then one day I woke up and it hit me 'Rob, you have to go back to school'. The thought bothered me for a few days and I tried to get rid of it but it kept coming back. Finally, I decided I couldnt deny myself this. I went and talked to Mr. Schumacher and got everything lined up. I started at the end of November with 12 credits and a sliver of hope.
Today,  I am closer than I ever was to graduating (I still have a few credits to get)
I am cutting it close but I have a good feeling its what I need to finish up. I say this cause I've never really talked to anybody about my current schooling situation and felt like I needed to, not only to show how far I've come but to see that if I give up now, whats that say about other goals and dreams I have?
I know this is the door to many great things happening, I just have to pass the test Life has set fourth in front of me and show it I got what it takes to get where I want. I may have to work 10x as hard but the reward looks to be 10x greater than someone who doesn't and I know most of the gain comes mentally and spiritually, which ive grown to love and respect even more.
On the real though, some days I feel to old for school, some days I feel like I should just go home and get a GED, other times though, I feel good about what I'm doing and hope others who have chances at doing this do. Its a good feeling.
I have to say, this roster full of kids, from the freshmen to the seniors, is the best group of people I've ever gone to school with. From lunch time football (GO RANCHERS!) to me making a few lame jokes and hearing the room come alive with laughter, you guys make school very very enjoyable for me, which hasnt happened, pry since elementary.
I know a few students read this, and maybe even some teachers. I just want you guys to know its been a hell of a time and I can def. say this is my Senior Year at White River High School, no matter what happens.
Real 'MF'ing' Talk.

Peace, Love, Harmony
Rob Gnar

I DOUBT it sucks

This track recently dropped by a friend of the blog

Frank Waln and his group

NAKE NULA WAUN

Its called 'Doubt' and now its on the blog

Enjoy. 

Frank Waln Interview Part 2

Many apologies for taking this long to get it posted. I am posting it quietly cause I think hyping it would be meaningless at this point. Here it is, the second part to the epic Frank Waln interview.

Can I get another free CD? I still got those other ones you gave me. 
I will mail your autographed S&B next week and that is a promise. Been going thru some things lately that have thrown me off track.

What do you like to do when you have some free time?
I rarely have free time but when I do I either make some more beats, read, or play piano. I am trying to start up running again.

 The bathrooms are that way!

What kind of music do you listen to that most people would be surprised to find out? 
This question is fun...I rarely listen to Hip-Hop anymore. The Hip-Hop I do listen to is NNW or weird underground, strange, insanely lyrical type shyt that most people would get bored with. I love Kanye's albums for the production value and I also Love Lupe and Kudi. I also just got into Yelawolf and Kendrick Lamar. Kendrick Lamar is insane

I listen to a lot of alternative and old school rock. I fukkin love Radiohead and their moody ass soundscapes. I will always bump The Beatles. I LOVE Adele. Die Antwoord and Ratatat. Pretty much anything Danger Mouse has produced I listen to. Danger Mouse is my producer idol. I listen to a lot of weird shyt that I once heard called "moody downer music"...but I don't really care cuz I am something like a music junkie. I am always on the look out for new, fresh and inspiring music. 

What are you going to school for?
I was going to Full Sail online for Recording Arts before my gates scholarship evaluated my file about 3 months late and told me that can't pay for that type of school after I already started classes. so I just recently had to withdraw and now have to find another school that Gates will pay for. I will study some form of audio or music production. 

Can we really get that Special Deluxe Chopped and Screwed Fan Edition of Scars and Bars? 
Maybe. I was never really into chopped and screwed albums. i found them annoying because they effects took away from what the music was in the first place..idk i am just weird like that

I'm pretty sure hes shoutin me out here. 

You seem so calm, cool and collected at all times, what's your secret?  That smile your always rocking never seems to leave your face (lol)I don't think I am very cool at all. I am a very insecure person but when I am around ppl that know me and can make me laugh I enjoy their presence. So i guess in turn they enjoy my presence. I am rocking a big smile most of the time because I am joking helps me forget all the bullshyt. When I am alone at home I am usually down and depressed because of all the shyt that comes my way but as soon as I get in public it's like my "social light" is switched on and I can laugh and joke with ease. IDK if I just defined someone who is bipolar or what but I am pretty sure I have some chemical imbalances in my brain..lol..and this is just recently. I used to always be happy and full of life. now it is just on occasion and those occasions tend to be in public.


Where can we find your music?
Facebook band page search: Nake Nula Waun
Youtube, reverbnation.com, itunes, rhapsody, amazon.com, napster, AllStop, Gus Stop (Basically any kind of stop on the rez), Radioshack in Mish, SWAGG (Soldier Woman Art and Gift Gallery), Stadium Sports, Prairie Edge and Ernie November's in Rapid, ummmm that's about it...or you can hit me up on Fbook for a CD

Not shown: The dead that were in his way to the exit. 

Give a few tracks for those who dont know.
Pretty Much "Heavy", "Always On My Mind" and "Heart is On Fire"

Give a few tracks for those who might a thing or two about NNW!
"Bend Them Corners" (My first ever song), "Nake Nula Waun" (off our '09 mixtape, it's a dark gem), "All I Ever Need" (off our '09 mixtape, the first time I ever effectively combined my lyricism with song concept), "Dedication" (off S&B. I think it's a highly underrated song. the beat is one of my favs)...any track off our next album. it's going to seriously be on another level. if we don't get big time attention off these songs then idk what else I can do.


Shout-outs?
Shout-out to you Rob Gnar for being one smart, funny ass mofo with undertones of genius. Shout-out to the whole old skool WR crew: Curt Dawg, Freemont, C-Money Da Hustla, Tommy C., Jimmy P., Louie K., basically all the REAL Natives that helped me have a good time while I was in WR...O yeah and shout-out to John Gross for being John Gross. Shout-out to my momma and NNW and to the Creator and most importantly the FANS!! and lastly a shout-out to shout-outs for making things unnecessarily long.

Last words?
ALWAYS READY

Oh shii dude, they really did call the cops...

The Frank Waln Interview Part 1

Ladies and Gentlemen, children of all ages, cats, dogs and other animals that are used for pets!
Today marks the start of something awesome
A rebirth of sorts for something that wasnt that old to begin with.
The RobijuanArt blog.

The following interview has been in the works for sometime but is done and is now ready for the masses to lay their eyes upon it and get a glimpse into the mind of a man I consider a genius and an all around GREAT guy.

Hes been interviewed my a multitude of people for his talents and his skill as a musician Some of those people own radio shows, newspapers, magazines or even TV programs. So what makes this special for me (REAL TALK WARNING) is that I see this guy as a celebrity of sorts, people in my town and towns surrounding it know of or have at least heard of him and his music.
I was fortunate enough to go to High School with him and see how he steadily became a widely popular guy with everybody and everything around him and now I got an interview this him and can honestly say its been something Ive been waiting for and am very happy it is here now.
His name is Frank Waln, and this my friends, is THE interview, Part 1. Enjoy.

The man, the myth and soon to be legend

For those who dont know, who are you and what do you do?
Put very simply, I am but a man, named Frank Waln, and I make music.

For those who know, how long have you been making music?
Ever since I got a battery powered keyboard in the 3rd grade I been banging out lil melodies. Ever since I watched 8 Mile in 6th grade I have been rapping. Ever since I got drum machine with no manual when I was 15 I have been making beats. Ever since I got music recording programs my soph yr of high school I have been officially recording and making tracks.

What got you interested in Hip Hop?
2 things:
1. When I was in the fifth grade, I was walking the gravel roads of He Dog with my mother one summer and I seen something glimmering and shiny on the side of the road. I walk over to it and it was a CD, Eminem's Marshal Mathers LP. It looked scratched to shyt like it wouldn't play. I took it home put it in my CD player and was in love with Hip-Hop from that moment on.
2. When i first heard the song "One Mic" by Nas. That shyt gave me goosebumps it was so epic and heartfelt. I guess those two influences are why I try to make lyrical, heart-felt hip-hop.

Was there a single person or was it a group of people that got you wanting to make your own music?
I pretty much answered this question above. It was Eminem and Nas mostly, but Kany West showed me and underdog producer can become a great rapper with a lot of confidence, persistence, and hard work. Kanye may be a dick but NO ONE, not even Jay or Dame, took him seriously as a rapper until he dropped his album. I can relate to that because NO ONE ever took me seriously about rapping. It was always "Hey you got good beats" until the Scars and Bars dropped. 

What is Nake Nula Waun?
Nake Nula Waun is first and foremost a Lakota phrase meaning "I am always ready, at all times, for anything" it was used to describe warriors before they went into battle. it is also a state of mind that Lakotas must have before they go on the hill to pray during Humbleceyapi because anything can happen when you on that hill. It's the closet we get to the spirit world without dying. So ultimately you could die while you are up there so you have to be ready for anything. 

Who is in NNW?
Nake Nula Waun is a Hip-Hop group from the Rosebud Reservation consisting of myself, my cousin-in-law Dre, our brother in arms Thomas Schmidt AKA JS, and the songbird of our generation Kodi DeNoyer. I founded this group and it is my life's work so far.

'Damn dude, you see those gas prices?'

'I'm trying not to.'

When did you start taking music making seriously? or were you always this B.A? 
I always did music on the side no matter what I had going on in life. It took me a long time to realize this is because I truly love music and it is what I was born to do. SO many things in my life have come and gone but music was the only constant. I decided to take music making seriously this summer when I decided to leave college and put everything into music. The moment I decided to put everything into it is when the awards, attention, and love came. it kind of verified to me that I finally chose the right path even though it isn't an easy path at all.

What inspired you early on?
Early on in my youth, i was inspired by the rappers i listened to. I wanted to sound as cool and fresh as they did. I only listened to HIp-Hop so my scope was limited. my freshmen year of college i hit sort of a musical awakening. I started listening and loving any and all kinds of music. I fell in love with artists like The Beatles, The Black Keys, Radiohead, etc. Real weird and out there type of music pulls me in. Soon I was inspired to not sound like anyone but to try to combine everything i love about music into the music i was making. I am still working on this.

What inspires you now?
NOW I am inspired by the musical masterpiece I hear in my head but can't ever really release to this world. I am still perfecting it but my ultimate is to make fresh, never before heard music that bends genres. Ultimately I just want to make music I would listen to if I wasn't the one making it. I also want to be the first to make it at least semi big time around here so I can show my people and the world that Natives and SD has something to say. Some of us can make good music.

What will always inspire you?
I believe I answered this above. The desire and need to make music I would listen to if I wasn't the one making it. AND I feel like i have this great music potential inside of me that i need to fulfill. I am always looking toward the next song or sound.

Is there really a music scene on the Rez? 
HELL NO...there are no resources and there is no modern music culture of any kind. there is the pow wow scene and traditional music but that is where it ends. You do a show here and ppl stare at you like they are watching a movie. You do a show where there is a music scene, even a small one like Sioux Falls, and people get into it, react, and vibe with you. Performing is a two lane road. We throw our energy out to the crowd and it's best when the crowd throws their energy back at us. It meets in the middle and become something bigger than the both. Thats when you can really see the power of music.

Would you consider yourself the 'flag-bearer' of this possible said music scene?
I would hope so because I am trying to do it in the best and most unique way. But who knows. this business is crazy.

How did you feel when you found out were nominated for a NAMMY?
I was pumped up. I called everyone I knew that would give a shyt but sadly not a lot of ppl around here know how big the NAMMYS are or even WHAT the NAMMYS are. I felt like I was granted this great gift that only I knew the true value of. I never in a million yrs thought I would be nominated for a NAMMY this early. In the first song off our Summer '10 mixtape ("Introducing") I said "Producer of the Year" before I dropped into my verse. I was totally fukkin around and this was way before we even thought we would submit to the NAMMYS. Turns out I was Producer of the Year off that very mixtape

How did you feel winning it?
I felt like I was in a dream. They announced it liek 5 min before our performance so i was backstage with Dre. I was so nervous for everything then after I was announced the winner it was like there was a change of emotions from nervous to this attitude that I can do anything because I proved myself to my music peers. We performed hard as shyt after that and have never looked back since. It made all those years of making music that no one cared about but me worth it.

You never forget your first

You plan on winning a few more? 
I hope we are lucky enough to. I submitted S&B to the 2011 NAMMYS in 8 categories. Best Group, Album of the Year, Best Hip-Hop Recording, BEst Single ("Heavy"), Best Pop ("Always On My Mind"), Best Producer (myself), Best Song Writers (Dre and myself), and Native Heart Award (Dre)...SO WE WILL SEE


Check back tomorrow for the second part of this interview. Thanks for reading. 

Pussy Woompkins

Hey, Its been awhile since I posted anything here..holy shit.
Ive been waiting for an interview and never got to writing other ones..
Either way, heres a new batch of photos for you to enjoy.
Expect more posts soon..
I said that last time...