Frank Waln

Sicangu Lakota · musicians

Frank Waln is a Sicangu Lakota hip-hop artist, producer, and activist from the Rosebud Reservation in South Dakota. His music tackles pressing issues facing Native communities including treaty rights, environmental justice, missing and murdered Indigenous women, and the legacy of boarding schools.

Waln earned a scholarship to attend Columbia College Chicago, where he studied audio arts and acoustics. His debut EP "AbOriginal" put him on the map, and he has since released multiple projects that blend Lakota language and traditions with contemporary beats and production.

He has been featured on MTV, BET, and NPR, and was named one of MTV's Artists to Watch. His song "Oil 4 Blood" became an anthem for Indigenous environmental movements, and he has performed at major festivals and venues across the country. Waln uses his platform to amplify Indigenous voices and challenge stereotypes about Native Americans in popular culture.