| Wolf Castle, the solo project of the New Brunswick Indigenous rapper/producer Tristan Grant, has announced his upcoming EP, Da Vinci’s Inquest, and is sharing the new single ‘Welfman’ following the track ‘Gunna’ earlier this year. “Welfman is a de-colonial, working-class banger all about being dope, stylish and intelligent,” says Grant. “Doesn’t matter if I came from a rough spot, all of us are strong, thrifty and know how to do things because we had to find any way to keep going and move forward no matter what.” Da Vinci’s Inquest follows on from his 2020 EP Gold Rush – which scored Grant nominations for two East Coast Music Awards: Rap/Hip-Hop Recording of the Year and Indigenous Artist of the Year – as well as earlier releases in his series of “Da Vinci Chronicles” EPs. – Listen to Welfman // Order Da Vinci’s Inquest on 180g LP, CD, or Digital – “Doesn’t matter if I came from a rough spot, all of us are strong, thrifty, and know how to do things because we had to find any way to keep going and move forward no matter what,” explains Grant. “Welf” was an insult when I was in school, short for “Welfare” used to make fun of people who were poor. My family has had their struggles and so have a lot of other people where I’m from, so I wanted to make a song that said it was okay to be from that and to do what you had to do to get by. It was my way of saying “Screw you” to those people. The insult ironically also sounds like “Wealth” and I also wanted to abbreviate it to “W.E.L.F” standing for “Working Everyday Living Famous”. |
 | listen // order 12″ LP // order CD “a truly killer hip hop song” – If It’s Too Loud “refreshing talent” – UK Hip Hop Talk “bumpin’ rap and hip-hop” – PhotogMusic |
| Hailing from Pabineau First Nation in Mi’kma’ki (New Brunswick), the 24-year-old Wolf Castle, aka Tristan Grant, is a true renaissance artist. Gifted with a DIY spirit thanks to being raised on the reservation by a family of artists, musicians, and filmmakers, Grant taught himself to write music and play piano at the age of 11, and has released new projects—written, recorded, and produced mainly by himself—every year since he was 17. As a student of art history and fashion, his spitfire flow and precise production are as carefully constructed as haute couture, and every bespoke beat, rhyme, and hook has the flourish of a master craftsman, stitched together under the House of Wolf Castle. “Heart on my sleeve,” he declares. “Wear it as a war bonnet.” July 24 – Saint John, NB: Area 506 waterfront concert series w/ Classified // info/tickets August 27 – Tatamagouche, NS: Tatafest // info/tickets |