Rez Official

Team Rezofficial Biography

The birth of Team Rezofficial is the culmination of events that began in late 2002. Big Stomp had just left the hip hop group "War Party" to concentrate on his own independent production efforts. At the same time, J Mak (Jason Makinaw) was honing his skills crafting beats for his friend L's-Aqui (Cam Farley). Both producers started out with very humble studio set-ups, but made the best with what they had. It was at this time that while working on separate demo projects, the two decided to team up and move under the production umbrella "Rezofficial".
The duo quickly planned a compilation-style mixtape as their introduction to the urban music industry. "HARD WORK AND HUSTLE" was released as a showcase for their production skills and to spotlight the talents of their peers in the music industry, namely, Hellnback (formerly Kool-Ayd The Chubby Cree)(Karmen Omeasoo), Big Slim (Nate Joyner), JOHNNY JEEX and LUNACY of TRU REZ CREW, and feisty newcomer Dro (Jeremy Manitopyes). The group of producers and emcees clicked so well during the creation of the first CD that forming a larger team was inevitable.
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Over the next few months, the loosely-formed unit of emcees and beat makers practically lived in their home studio, finishing HELLNBACK's first solo EP "THEM CHIEF WAHOO CAPS" at breakneck speed, and producing several mixtapes in the process, thus garnering more and more attention on and off the reserve. After a long "sit-down" in February of 2004, TEAM REZOFFICIAL came to be. Big Stomp and J Mak would be the primary beat-makers while solo artists Hellnback, Dro, Big Slim, L's-Aqui, and Tomislav (Tomislav Milardovic) would handle the emcee duties.

Now, with three successful independent releases under their belts - "HARD WORK AND HUSTLE", Hellnback's "THEM CHIEF WAHOO CAPS" EP, and the Team Rezofficial full length "THE FOUNDATION" - Rezofficial is quickly becoming a force to be reckoned with in the Canadian Urban Music Industry.

"THE FOUNDATION" - Team Rezofficial's latest release - showcases the diverse style of each member of the team. The purpose of it all is to showcase the producers and to give talented emcees the opportunity to be heard. "THE FOUNDATION" encompasses all this, crossing borders and crushing boundaries in the process.

It's easy to hear the different life experiences that each member of Team Rezofficial brings in the music that they create. Hellnback, Big Stomp, and J Mak all hail from the First Nations surrounding Hobbema, Alberta, while Dro represents Saskatoon, Saskachewan/Calgary, Alberta. Then there is Big Slim representing the streets of Pasadena, California (USA), L's-Aqui holding it down for New York/Ohio (USA), and Tomislav representing the gritty streets of Winnipeg, Manitoba.

Capturing the essence of reservation life and mixed with urban flavour, this is by far one of the best things to come out of The Rez. REZOFFICIAL is the team and the team is REZOFFICIAL.