Stella Standingbear

Stella Standingbear
Stella Standingbear Live in Concert at Toyota Center Arena Sep 12th 2025.
Stella Standingbear Live in Concert at Toyota Center Arena Sep 12th 2025.
Background information
Born
Esparanza Stella Standing Bear

March
Salt Lake City, Utah, U.S.
Genres
Occupations
  • Rapper
  • singer
Years active2022–present
Label
  • Stella Standingbear LLC
Websitewww.stellastandingbear.com

Stella Standingbear (born Esparanza Stella Standing Bear) is a Native American rapper, singer, and songwriter.[1] An enrolled member of the Oglala Lakota Nation, Standingbear is recognized as a contemporary Indigenous hip-hop artist.[2] Though she was born and raised primarily in Salt Lake City, Utah, she currently resides on the Pine Ridge Reservation.[3][4][5]

Standingbear's music incorporates alt-rap, R&B, and pop.[4][6] Lyrically, her work aligns with conscious rap, focusing on themes of healing, empowerment, and social justice, and she is an advocate for the Missing and Murdered Indigenous Women movement.[3][7][8]

In 2023, Standingbear became the first Lakota artist to achieve two wins at the International Indigenous Hip-Hop Awards (IIHA) in Vancouver, Canada, where she won Best Female Hip-Hop Artist and Music Video of the Year for her debut single, "Home Runs".[2][8][9] She is a two-time Native American Music Awards (NAMMY) winner,[4] and has been profiled in publications including Teen Vogue and Dazed Digital.[1][10] Commercially, her debut single, "Home Runs", attained the number one position on the NCI FM Indigenous Music Countdown, broadcast on SiriusXM.[4][11]

Early life and background

Childhood and education

Stella Standingbear, whose birth name is Esparanza Stella Standing Bear, was born in the Salt Lake Valley.[1] Her early life was rooted in Utah, where she attended Eisenhower Jr. High and Granger High School, before completing her secondary education at Taylorsville High School (THS).[1] During her final year at Taylorsville, she wrote music reviews for her school newspaper.[1]

Standingbear began writing poetry in the fourth grade and recorded her first song at age 14, before her last year of high school.[1] Although she took guitar lessons for a single semester, she considers herself mostly self-taught.[1]

Cultural immersion and activism

Although Oglala Lakota, Standingbear grew up largely removed from daily life on the reservation.[2] Following a trip to the Pine Ridge Reservation in early 2022 that provided cultural inspiration, she relocated permanently to the Pine Ridge Reservation in Porcupine, South Dakota.[3][11]

This move emphasized her commitment to cultural advocacy, which became central to her music.[3] She filmed the music video for her debut single, "Home Runs", on Pine Ridge, dedicating the project to the MMIW movement.[2] She has stated that her goal is to leverage her music to "be a voice and an inspiration needed here on the reservation" and to serve as a positive role model for the younger generation.[2][3]

Artistry, style, and themes

Musical style and influences

Standingbear's music is recognized for its combination of melodic alt-rap, R&B, and pop.[4][6][11] Her production frequently uses alternative trap beats, balanced by her melodic vocals.[7] She operates within the sphere of conscious rap, drawing direct influence from figures such as MF Doom.[7]

Her lyrical content focuses on optimism, empowerment, and healing.[12] Her EP, Still Standing, addresses generational trauma and mental health.[7] Her single "Mmhmm" (2025) was released as a confident anthem celebrating her journey and resilience as an Indigenous woman in the music industry.[13]

Critical reception and media framing

The blend of contemporary musical aesthetics with cultural messaging has drawn critical attention. Following her profile in Teen Vogue, the article "Hip-Hop Artist Stella Standingbear is Shattering Stereotypes about Native American Sound" established a narrative that her work challenges media expectations of Indigenous artists.[1][8] The magazine noted that her debut track "Home Runs" serves as an "affirmation anthem" for Native Americans facing societal obstacles such as discrimination and poverty.[8]

Following her viral appearance on On the Radar Radio, Dazed Digital offered a critical description of her sound: "Like Drake on a peyote trip (complimentary)."[10] This characterization stemmed from Standingbear's integration of her Oglala Lakota heritage, which included wearing a black bear headdress and featuring traditional dancers.[10] The publication noted that this fusion created the sensation of encountering "something genuinely new" within the hip-hop landscape.[10]

Career

Breakthrough success with "Home Runs"

The release of her debut single, "Home Runs", in 2022 coincided with Native American Heritage Month.[3] The song, which she described as an affirmation anthem, became central to her early success.[8] The track, filmed on the Oglala Lakota Nation and dedicated to the MMIW movement,[2][11] achieved commercial traction, reaching the number one position on the NCI FM Indigenous Music Countdown (SiriusXM).[11][12] This success led to her two historic wins at the 2023 IIHA.[8]

Crossover recognition

Standingbear has demonstrated crossover appeal. Her remix, "Skoden", attained viral traction across social media platforms including Facebook, Instagram, and TikTok.[4][11] Her single "Pray 4 U Freestyle" earned placement on MTV Spankin' New and attention across multiple Apple Music editorial playlists.[4]

Standingbear, an independent Recording Academy artist,[4] has amassed a social media following exceeding 500,000 users[4] and has toured across the U.S. and Canada.[9] She has shared stages with artists such as Kirko Bangz, Montana of 300, Futuristic, Kyle, and Bizzy Bone.[11][12]

Critical acclaim and awards

Standingbear's accomplishments have been formally recognized by major institutional bodies focused on Indigenous music.

International Indigenous Hip-Hop Awards (IIHA)

In 2023, Standingbear became the first Lakota artist to win at the International Indigenous Hip-Hop Awards show in Vancouver, Canada, where she was the only artist nominated in three categories that year.[2][8] She won two awards:

She was also nominated for Best Collaboration for her song "Blessings" with destroykasmin.[2]

Other recognition

Standingbear is a two-time winner of the Native American Music Awards (NAMMY).[4]

The following table summarizes her major institutional recognitions:

Year Award ceremony Category Work Result
2025 Native American Music Awards (NAMMY) Best Rap Recording "Blessings" Won[14]
2023 International Indigenous Hip-Hop Awards (IIHA) Best Female Hip-Hop Artist N/A Won[2][6]
2023 International Indigenous Hip-Hop Awards (IIHA) Music Video of the Year "Home Runs" Won[2][6]
2023 International Indigenous Hip-Hop Awards (IIHA) Best Collaboration "Blessings" (with destroykasmin) Nominated[2]

Live performances and public advocacy

Standingbear has toured extensively across the U.S. and Canada.[9] She has performed at festivals and community events including the Indigenous Tattoo and Music Festival in Gila River, Arizona,[15] the Mind The Gap Festival in Salt Lake City,[16] and the LNI Girl Basketball Half-Time in Rapid City, SD.[3][16]

Cultural integration and visibility

Standingbear uses her live performances to promote cultural visibility. Her freestyle on *On The Radar Radio* gained attention due to the inclusion of traditional dancers and elements of her Lakota heritage alongside her contemporary rap.[4][11] This integration of traditional elements onto high-visibility media platforms has been noted as a significant display of her heritage.[10]

Advocacy

Standingbear is devoted to social issues affecting the Lakota Nation, particularly the MMIW movement.[3] Her television debut on Fox13 News' Good Day Utah in 2022 was utilized to speak about her background and the MMIW movement, reflecting her goal to be an effective voice for her community.[3][8]

Discography

Standingbear's discography includes singles and two long-form projects, the EP Still Standing and the forthcoming album *Rap Star*.

Selected discography

Title Year Type Notes Reference
Rap Star 2025 EP Lead single is "Mmhmm"; released on November 14, 2025. [13][17]
"Mmhmm" 2025 Single Lead single for the album Rap Star.[5] [13]
"Let's Ride" 2024 Single [13][17]
"Rock the Boat" 2024 Single [13][17]
"Paradise" 2024 Single [13][17]
Moonstruck 2024 EP [18]
"Skoden" 2024 Single [13][17]
Bear Spirit 2023 EP [18]
Crossing Over 2023 EP [18]
Stuck on You 2023 EP [18]
Sound Check 2023 EP [13][17]
"Home Runs" 2022 Single IIHA Music Video of the Year Winner; #1 NCI FM Indigenous Music Countdown (SiriusXM); Dedicated to MMIW. [2][8][11]
"Skoden" (remix) N/A Track Gained viral traction on Facebook, Instagram, and TikTok. [4][11]
"Pray 4 U Freestyle" N/A Track Featured on MTV Spankin' New and Apple Music editorial playlists. [4]
"Blessings" (ft. destroykasmin) N/A Single Nominated for 2023 IIHA Best Collaboration; NAMMY Winner. [2][18]

Other released tracks

Standingbear has released numerous other tracks, which include:

References

  1. 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 Fauver, Carl (2025-01-03). "Taylorsville High School graduate Stella Standingbear is a rising music star". Taylorsville Journal. Retrieved 2025-11-02.
  2. 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 Schafer, Amelia (2023-08-25). "Rising Lakota musician 'Hittin' Home Runs'". ICT. Retrieved 2025-11-02.
  3. 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 Bear, Brittany Poor; Contribute, Lt (2023-04-05). "Lakota Artist Has uplifting Music messages". Lakota Times -. Retrieved 2025-11-02.
  4. 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 "Stella Standingbear". Stella Standingbear. Retrieved 2025-11-02.
  5. 1 2 "Stella Standingbear Says "Mmhmm" to Success with New Single and Press Tour". The Magazine of Hip Hop Music, Culture and Politics. 2025-10-09. Retrieved 2025-11-02.
  6. 1 2 3 4 5 6 "Stella Standingbear". Playing For Change Foundation. 2023-02-07. Retrieved 2025-11-02.
  7. 1 2 3 4 "Episode #411 – Stella Standingbear". SLUG Magazine - Salt Lake UnderGround. 2023-03-17. Retrieved 2025-11-02.
  8. 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 "press". Stella Standingbear. 2023-08-29. Retrieved 2025-11-02.
  9. 1 2 3 "Lakota artist Stella Standingbear on the messages she wants to convey with her songs". YouTube. 2024-03-06. Retrieved 2025-11-02.
  10. 1 2 3 4 5 "Stella Standingbear is putting her tribe on the map". Dazed. 2024-12-24. Retrieved 2025-11-02.
  11. 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 "Stella Standingbear". authenticallyindg. 1970-01-01. Retrieved 2025-11-02.
  12. 1 2 3 "Stella Standingbear". Levitt at the Falls. 2024-06-11. Retrieved 2025-11-02.
  13. 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 Dee, Mac (2025-10-22). "🔥 Stella Standingbear Drops "Mmhmm" And Announces New Album "Rap Star"". Yo! Raps. Retrieved 2025-11-02.
  14. ↑ "WINNERS ANNOUNCED". NATIVE AMERICAN MUSIC AWARDS. 2025-07-14. Retrieved 2025-11-02.
  15. ↑ "Gila River Nation (Performance Recap)". YouTube. 2024-03-06. Retrieved 2025-11-02.
  16. 1 2 "EVENTS (Copy)". Stella Standingbear. 2023-04-14. Retrieved 2025-11-02.
  17. 1 2 3 4 5 6 "Stella Standingbear's "Mmhmm" is an Anthem of Indigenous Triumph". AllHipHop. 2025-10-08. Retrieved 2025-11-02.
  18. 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 22 23 "Download Stella Standingbear album songs: Still Standing". Boomplay Music - WebPlayer. Retrieved 2025-11-02.
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