D.RAIDA PACK: FIRST OFF WE WOULD LIKE TO THANK YOU FOR TAKING TIME OUT TO DO THIZ RAIDA PACK INTERVIEW. WHY DONT YOU GIVE PEOPLE A LITTLE HISTORY ABOUT YOURSELF AND YOUR CAREER SO FAR, FOR THOSE THAT DONT KNOW.

NIGHTSHIELD: My name is Gabe Night Shield, I'm 22 and I am C.E.O. of Night Shield Entertainment, a Native Owned and Operated Label that is currently based in South Dakota. I run the label with my Vice President Wizipan Garriott and we both grew up on the Rosebud Reservation. We released our first album in May of 2001, a compilation album titled "The Nation". It was titled "The Nation" because it featured artists from around the United States and also artists from Canada & Germany. The album also served as the introduction to who we were as a family of artists. The core of artists that I work with would be Cinista Cin'Natra, Silver Shadow D & Overflow and they were heavily featured on the album.

D.RAIDA PACK: WHEN AND WHAT MADE YOU GET INTO THIZ MUZIC THING-THING?

NIGHTSHIELD: Well, I started out just DJ'ing and stuff when I was in High School, around 1995-1997, nothing major really, but I really liked to do it and I liked having an influence over other people's fun, you could tell if folks were having fun if they stayed dancing so I always tried to play the hot stuff to keep everyone on the floor. After awhile I just got tired of playing other people's shit and started writing my own music. I started recording music in 1997 when I went to college in Seattle and I was just having fun with it. Recording little songs here and there with my first rhyme partner, Big Uni, along with CinNatra who was 2Face back then and Overflow, those will stay in the vaults where they belong but it is funny to sit back and listen to them every once in awhile and see the growth as artists over the years. I didnt really start to get serious with the rapping and business until like mid 1999, I decided I was going to really start setting up the label I always planned. I remember waking up one morning and just being like Lets Do It. Ever since then its been full steam ahead, keep progressing and moving shit to the next level. I look back and see all that I have accomplished so far in about 2 years and its pretty crazy.

D.RAIDA PACK: WHAT WOULD YOU FEEL INSPIREZ YOUR PROJECTZ WHEN YOU SIT DOWN TO BLAZE NEW ISH?

NIGHTSHIELD: I let the beat guide me, I vibe with the beat for awhile and just see where it takes me. Basically I just try to stay true to self, and rep for my natives, I always gotta represent , whatever is on my mind at the time is what I write about.

D.RAIDA PACK: WHAT IZ YOUR LATEST PROJECT? AND HOW WOULD YOU DESCRIBE THE PROJECT AS FAR AS PRODUCTION, FLOW AND TEXT? AND WHAT IS YOUR FAV. TRACK ON IT?

NIGHTSHIELD: Well, Actually we are working on 3 projects right now, Im helping Silver Shadow D release his new album, thats titled Manic Epiphany, people are gonna be real surprised with this album, Its definetly on some next level shit, beats, lyrics, its a knock so far. That should hitting shelves real soon, My favorite track on this album is V.I.P..
The first solo act from the label Cinista CinNatra is also working on his debut album, CinNatra Status. This is the album that is just gonna take Night Shield Entertainment to the next plateau. CinNatra is the secret weapon in the game, Im hipping yall now so dont say I didnt tell ya. That should see release sometime in the spring. Favorite track off this album so far is Funk Keeps Me Stressing, CinNatra is really dropping some knowledge on this one.
Plus we are working on the follow up to The Nation, another compilation album titled Night Shield Presents The Hostile Takeover this album features the whole click, new music from Night Shield, CinNatra, Overflow, Silver Shadow D, everyone, its gonna be real tight!! We also have a few surprises for this album I dont really wanna give away just yet, youll seeId say my favorite track on the album right now is Retaliation that features Myself & CinNatra, its gonna be a heater no doubt!!
All 3 of these albums should be out by next summer

D.RAIDA PACK: HOW CAN OUR READERZ GET A COPY OF YOUR PROJECTZ OUT?

NIGHTSHIELD: Right now if you live in South Dakota or Nebraska you can get copies of The Nation in a few stores across the state. If you live outside of that area you can order the album thru the mail for just $9. You can mail check or money orders to:
Night Shield Entertainment
P.O. Box 90745
Sioux Falls, SD 57109-0745
www.nightshield.com

D.RAIDA PACK: DESCRIBE WHAT YOU FEEL ABOUT THE NATIVE HIP HOP MOVEMENT GOING DOWN RIGHT NOW, AND WHAT DO YOU SEE FOR NATIVE RAPZ FUTURE?

NIGHTSHIELD: Im loving it, I think we are on the verge of something big. It seems like everyone is getting along well and really trying to help one another out. I said some shit in the past I prolly shouldnt have and I have since talked to that person and ironed it out. I can only see big things for us in the future, its not really a question of if anymore its more of a question who and when. And when that first person breaks through, look out cause the floodgates will really crash then. I think people are finally starting to hear the noise we are making in the underground.

D.RAIDA PACK: HOW WOULD YOU DESCRIBE THE TRADITIONAL NATIVE HIP HOP SOUND?

NIGHTSHIELD: I wouldnt say there is a real traditional Native Hip Hop sound, just everyone is doing they own thing, and that is definetly a good thing. You cant really just pop in a CD and say, hey that sounds like Native Hip Hop, as far as I know anyway.

D.RAIDA PACK: WHAT OTHER EMCEEZ DO YOU BUMP?

NIGHTSHIELD: Ive been a big Bone Thugs N Harmony fan since they first dropped, the last few years havent been to good for them music wise but I still bump their old shit alot. Im also a big fan of Gangstarr, Kurupt, Master P, 2 Pac, Notorious B.I.G., Dr. Dre, Jay Z, Outkast & Snoop Dogg. I like all types of hip hop, regardless of coasts or whatever

D.RAIDA PACK: DO YOU HAVE ANY GUEST APPERANCES OR NEW PROJECTZ BEING WORKED ON?

NIGHTSHIELD: Yeah, actually Im gonna be featured on Red Hip Hops Savage Blood Compilation, that will be coming out soon, plus Ill be popping up on CinNatra Status as well being heavily featured on the next compilation album.

D.RAIDA PACK: WHAT DOES NIGHTSHIELD MEAN TO YOU? WHO IS HE AS AN ARTIST? AND WHAT WOULD YOU SAY IZ HIZ STYLE?

NIGHTSHIELD: Night Shield is just me, I dont try to be anyone but myself, I try to just represent me and who I am. As an artist Id say hes just one tight native on the mic whos just gonna flip it every time he spits shit, as far as my style, Id say it has a cross between a West Coast & Down South feel to it.

D.RAIDA PACK: WHO WOULD YOU LIKE TO WORK WITH IN THE INDUSTRY? (DEAD OR ALIVE)

NIGHTSHIELD: This one is easy, the greatest rapper of all time, the legendary Tupac Shakur. Id love to work with Krayzie Bone or Kurupt too.

D.RAIDA PACK: DO YOU HAVE ANY SHOUTOUTZ TO BLAZE INTO THE CYBER WIND?

NIGHTSHIELD: Yeah, I'd like to show love to my folks, Cinista Cin'Natra, Wizi Garriott, Overflow, Silver Shadow D, 2 8 Tha Native, Mobius, Windreamer, Big StormBird and all other Natives in the rap Game doing it, Keep representing!!