Tufawon (2 for 1) is a Dakota/Boricua hip hop artist from Minneapolis, Minnesota. His name is a representation of his mixed identity, and his music is an honest reflection of his life experiences and personal struggles, his hopes and dreams for the future, spirituality and connectedness to the land, love, and the realities of the world we live in. He has put his life on the line to protect water and our planet. His style is an embodiment of intricate lyricism with complex vocabulary balanced by a very clear, smooth, and concise delivery. With a socially aware approach, he touches on topics such as Indigenous resiliency, politics, health, defending Mother Earth, and fighting against oppressive systems. Another common vibe in his music is humor and lighthearted fun, catchy songs that are intended to bring a level of happiness to the listener. The underlying message in his music is always connected to freedom.
The past few years have been incredibly active for the hip hop artist and activist. He was recently awarded the Jerome Hill Artist Fellowship, one of his biggest accomplishments to date. He participated in the inaugural First Nations SongHubs, where he recorded with Indigenous artists from around the globe at the world famous Abbey Road Institute in Melbourne, Australia. He was also featured on the Breakfast Club and Hot 97 Ebro In The Morning speaking on issues that effect Indigenous communities. He completed his first headlining hip hop tour in Europe "Resilience", and he continues to stay active in his community. From fighting the Dakota Access Pipeline at Standing Rock to organizing efforts to Stop Line 3, to speaking at the United Nations in Geneva, Switzerland, and doing several hip hop tours around the world, Tufawon continues to live out his message and impact the world in a profound way.
Tufawon has been actively releasing a monthly single as a part of his Dream Release project. He has been keeping a dream journal for the past year, and the songs are themed around the dreams he logs. Some are literal translations, and some are simply influenced by the energy of any given dream. Some of them are even related to his day dreams. Step inside the mind of Tufawon as he shares a side of himself that would likely be forgotten without this journal. Through his art, he preserves his visions.
