Drezus Reclaims His Voice With Powerful New Album “Nagamo”

Nêhiyaw and Anishinaabe hip-hop artist Drezus is making a commanding return with Nagamo, an ambitious new album that brings together razor-sharp lyricism, hard-hitting production, and deeply personal storytelling.

Following more than a decade away from music, the Saskatchewan-born MC returns with a renewed sense of purpose, delivering a record that confronts his past while reminding listeners exactly why his presence in hip-hop matters.

Drezus first gained recognition with pioneering collective Rezofficial before establishing himself as a solo artist with 2014's Indian Summer, earning multiple Indigenous Music Awards and a JUNO nomination. His journey since then has been far from straightforward, with experiences involving addiction, incarceration, and personal loss ultimately leading him toward ceremony, cultural reconnection, and a return to music.

The album's title comes from an Ojibwe word meaning “sing your song,” a message an elder encouraged Drezus to embrace during one of his most difficult periods. That encouragement became the foundation for Nagamo, a project that explores survival, accountability, fatherhood, and identity without sacrificing the confidence and competitive spirit of hip-hop.

Musically, the album refuses to stay in one lane. Featuring collaborations with WOWGR8 of EARTHGANG, AJ McQueen, Snotty Nose Rez Kids, Sebastian Gaskin, Renata Flores, and Jully Black, Nagamo moves between bass-heavy anthems, melodic arrangements, and emotionally charged verses.

A standout moment arrives with “Sweetgrass on the Dash,” produced alongside Ski Mask Dave. Combining infectious melodies with personal reflections on addiction and second chances, the track uses sweetgrass as a symbol of protection, prayer, and cultural connection.

What makes Nagamo particularly compelling is that Drezus doesn't allow his difficult experiences to overshadow his abilities as an MC. His intricate flows, commanding delivery, and lyrical precision remain central to the record, proving that vulnerability and technical excellence can coexist.

Нagamo is a significant return from an artist with plenty left to say. Drezus has transformed years of lived experience into a record that celebrates survival without romanticizing the struggle, and his renewed creative fire is impossible to ignore.