Sicangu Lakota rapper Frank Waln is bringing Indigenous culture to the American music scene. Weaving Indigenous culture into American musicWaln was 7 years old when he found himself mesmerized by an old black piano sitting in his second grade classroom. He centers nearly every song around the instrument, and often the drums, both fundamental components of Indigenous music. “I want to create my own genre that’s rooted in Native music, Native culture and Native sound, that also becomes a space for other Native musicians who don’t have a place in American entertainment and music culture,” he said. Deanna Dent/ReutersDespite his extensive accomplishments – including three Native American Music Awards – Waln measures his success differently.

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Persons: Frank Waln, “, ” Waln, Mita, Tara Rose Weston “, Waln, I’ve, Nas –, doesn’t, don’t, ”, I’m, Leslie Frempong, ’, Peter Pan ”, Fleetwood Mac, Deanna Dent, Teca Organizations: CNN, “, Lakota, Harvard University’s Peabody Museum of Archaeology, White, US Department of, Harvard University, Smithsonian National Museum of, Columbus, Reuters Locations: South Dakota, Lakota, American, America, United States, “, Waln’s, White American, Boston