BY TERRY BOWMAN
NAVAJO TIMES
WINDOW ROCK — Inspired by music and his work as a producer, one Diné rapper has “big plans” for 2017.
Ryan Hardy, a.k.a. King Blizz, sits, wearing a grey sweat jacket, grey sweatpants, an Arizona Cardinals beanie and leather Converse All Star sneakers. He talks about his big year of 2017, with the release of a new album and a couple of new music videos.
His new album “Dark Shades Bright Future” will be released later this year during the fall. It will feature local artists as well as out-of-state artists. King Blizz will also release new music videos of each single to be released over the summer and fall months.
His new single, “Forgive Me,” is out now on iTunes and Spotify.
“I have a lot going this year,” said King Blizz in the Navajo Times newsroom. “I’ve been promoting and marketing all week.”
As an independent hip hop artist, King Blizz is his own manager, booking his own shows, setting up tours, managing his social media accounts, booking studios, releasing and promoting his own music as a solo act.
“Stay independent, it allows me to have control of what I do,” said King Blizz, adding he has had a lot of managers in the past, but none who saw eye-to-eye with the rapper.
He released his first official album “Patiently Awaited” in 2014 and has since grown a local fan base around the Navajo Nation and Phoenix.
He released his mix tape “Day One Native” in 2015, recruiting local artists around the Navajo Nation to showcase and perform.
His SoundCloud account has a variety of tracks from his releases.
“I still like to do some producing,” he added.
Growing up in Ganado, Arizona, King Blizz was inspired by hip hop and rap music at an early age, drawing influences from West Coast rap of the 1990s.
He began his career first as a producer, making beats and rhythms for other artists including his friends and hip-hop artists J. Bryan and Yung E.
“I started off producing, making beats for my friends
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Rapper King Blizz has a new recording and tour in the works, which includes a stop in Gallup, New Mexico.