{{Infobox album | name = Nation II Nation | type = studio | artist = A Tribe Called Red | cover = Nation_II_Nation,_The_Halluci_Nation,_Album_Art_2013.jpg | released = {{Start date|2013|05|07}} | genre = Electronic, hip hop, Aboriginal music of Canada | length = {{Duration|m=40|m}} | label = Radicalized Records | prev_title = A Tribe Called Red | prev_year = 2012 | next_title = We Are the Halluci Nation | next_year = 2016 }} '''''Nation II Nation''''' is the second studio album by Canadian electronic music group The Halluci Nation, released on May 7, 2013, by Radicalized Records, an imprint of Pirates Blend Records.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Nation II Nation |url=https://thehallucination.com/releases/nation-ii-nation/ |access-date=2023-11-27 |website=The Halluci Nation |language=en-US}}</ref>
== Background ==
At the time, the group was still performing under the name A Tribe Called Red. The album builds on the musical foundation of their self-titled debut album, combining powwow vocals and drumming with electronic music genres like electronica, techno, and dubstep.<ref name=":3" />
The album features many collaborations with powwow drum groups and dancers from across North America. Groups featured include Black Bear, Sitting Bear, Chippawa Travellers, Smoke Trail, Northern Voice, Eastern Eagle, and Sheldon Sundown.<ref name=":3" /> Canadian hip hop artist Northern Voice is also featured on the track "Sisters".{{Citation needed|date=September 2025}}
== Critical reception == ''Nation II Nation'' received positive reviews from music critics. At Metacritic, which assigns a normalized rating out of 100 to reviews from mainstream critics, the album has received an average score of 80, based on 5 reviews, indicating "generally favorable reviews".{{Citation needed|date=September 2025}}
Reviewers praised the album's ability to blend modern musical styles with traditional Native vocals and drumming. ''Exclaim!'' called it "an inspired mix of cultures",<ref>{{Cite web |last=Dacks |first=David |date=2013-05-07 |title=A Tribe Called Red, Nation II Nation |url=https://exclaim.ca/music/article/tribe_called_red-nation_ii_nation |access-date=2023-11-29 |website=Exclaim!}}</ref> while AllMusic wrote that "these cuts blaze the trail between modernity and ancient traditions."<ref>{{Citation |title=Javier Arnal González, Salvador Brotons, Symphony Orchestra De Balears Ciutat De Palma - Salvador Brotons: Symphony No. 5 "Mundus Noster"; Oboe Concerto Album Reviews, Songs & More |publisher=AllMusic |url=https://www.allmusic.com/album/nation-ii-nation-mw0002553408 |access-date=2023-11-29 |language=en}}</ref> Critics also highlighted the album's political messaging, with ''Now ''stating that "...the trio tackle First Nations issues head-on over hard-hitting bass and crackling electronics."<ref>{{Cite web |last=Boles |first=Benjamin |date=2013-05-02 |title=A Tribe Called Red - Nation II Nation |url=https://nowtoronto.com/a-tribe-called-red-nation-ii-nation/ |access-date=2023-11-29 |website=NOW Toronto |language=en-US}}</ref>
== Track listing == {{Track listing | all_writing = The Halluci Nation | title1 = Bread & Cheese | note1 = featuring Black Bear | length1 = 4:23 | title2 = Ndn Stakes | note2 = featuring Sitting Bear | length2 = 4:17 | title3 = The Road | note3 = featuring Black Bear | length3 = 3:05 | title4 = Different Heroes | note4 = featuring Northern Voice | length4 = 3:45 | title5 = Sisters | note5 = featuring Northern Voice | length5 = 4:32 | title6 = Electronic Intertribal | note6 = featuring Smoke Trail | length6 = 3:42 | title7 = Pbc | note7 = featuring Sheldon Sundown | length7 = 4:15 | title8 = Red Ribbon | note8 = featuring Eastern Eagle | length8 = 4:03 | title9 = Tanto's Revenge | note9 = featuring Chippewa Travellers | length9 = 4:00 | title10 = Sweet Milk Pop | length10 = 3:32 | total_length = 40 min }}
== Impact == The group made history as the first Indigenous group to win a Juno Award in the Best Breakthrough Group category in the 2014 Juno Awards.<ref name=":1">{{Cite web |last=Staff |first=I. C. T. |date=2014-04-01 |title=A Tribe Called Red, George Leach Win Juno Awards |url=https://ictnews.org/archive/a-tribe-called-red-george-leach-win-juno-awards/ |access-date=2025-09-23 |website=ICT |language=en-US}}</ref><ref name=":2">{{Cite web |last=Stevens |first=Samantha |date=2016-06-17 |title=Music Review – A Tribe Called Red |url=https://www.voicemagazine.org/2016/06/17/music-review-a-tribe-called-red/ |access-date=2025-09-25 |website=The Voice Magazine}}</ref> Additionally, ''Nation II Nation'' was nominated for Electronic Album of the Year the same year,<ref name=":1" /> losing to ''Guilt Trips'' by Ryan Hemsworth.<ref>{{Cite web |title=A Tribe Called Red |url=https://junoawards.ca/artist-profile/a-tribe-called-red/ |access-date=2023-11-27 |website=The JUNO Awards |language=en-US}}</ref>
''Nation II Nation'' was a shortlisted nominee for the 2013 Polaris Music Prize.<ref>{{Cite news |date=2014-07-18 |title=A Tribe Called Red's original lineup splits, new producer replaces DJ Shub |url=https://ottawacitizen.com/entertainment/local-arts/is-a-tribe-called-red-splitting-up-report |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20181120031709/https://ottawacitizen.com/entertainment/local-arts/is-a-tribe-called-red-splitting-up-report |archive-date=2018-11-20 |access-date=2025-09-25 |work=Ottawa Citizen |language=en-US}}</ref><ref name=":2" />
The album was nominated for 5 Aboriginal Peoples Choice Music Awards and received of Best Group, Best Produce, Best Album and Best Cover.<ref name=":3">{{Cite journal |last=Montiel |first=Anya |date=2013 |title=A Tribe Called Red: DJS and Decolonizing |url=https://www.americanindianmagazine.org/story/tribe-called-red-djs-and-decolonizing |journal=American Indian Magazine |publisher=Smithsonian's National Museum of the American Indian |volume=14 |issue=4}}</ref><ref name=":2" /><ref>[http://music.cbc.ca/#/blogs/2013/8/A-Tribe-Called-Red-George-Leach-and-Nathan-Cunningham-big-winners-at-Aboriginal-Peoples-Choice-Music-Awards "A Tribe Called Red, George Leach and Nathan Cunningham big winners at Aboriginal Peoples Choice Music Awards"] {{webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160301002442/http://music.cbc.ca/|date=2016-03-01}}. CBC Music, August 19, 2013.</ref>
== Further reading ==
* Woloshyn, Alexa. A Tribe Called Red's Halluci Nation: Sonifying Embodied Global Allegiances, Decolonization, And Indigenous Activism
== References == {{reflist}}
== External links == *[https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vSlONMyHgO4 A Tribe Called Red on The 2014 JUNO Awards Red Carpet] *[https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=orvaCZ8S9Iw 2014 A Tribe Called Red "Breakthrough Group of the Year" Winning Speech] *[https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PJRZ4_rXAzE Q with Tom Power Interview on Nation II Nation]
Category:2013 albums Category:The Halluci Nation albums