Q052, the revolutionary Mi’gmaq rapper and activist, blends hip-hop, grunge, and alternative rock into a raw, politically charged sound, with his latest single ‘Space Invaders’ that dropped on May 6, 2025, via Musique Nomade, as the lead track from his upcoming October 2025 album. Hailing from Gesgapegiag, Quentin Condo—whose stage name nods to his reserve number—has earned accolades like Best Male Hip-Hop Artist at the 2023 International Indigenous Hip-Hop Awards, alongside nominations at the 2021 ADISQ Gala and 2022 Teweikan Gala. His electrifying performances have lit up stages at FEQ, Innu Nikamu, FME, and Festival Kwe!, sharing bills with legends like Cypress Hill, while his voice resonates on Radio Canada and TVA’s La Tour, cementing his role as a fierce advocate for Indigenous rights.
We had an interview with Q052 that answered some of the burning questions we had! Check out the interview below:
Tell us about your year so far, are there any highlights?
My year has been a freaking rollercoaster ride so far! I feel like I’ve been living in a fog for the last two years on a personal level, but in terms of art and creation, I feel like I can see right through it. My heart was broken and my spirit grew stronger, and to be honest, I’ve had so many highlights that I can’t pick one to showcase!
Describe your latest release.
My latest release is a full-on mockery of those fakes and frauds who pretend to be Indigenous to try and advance their personal careers and gain access to programs and services that are meant for actual Indigenous people. We refer to those sick crooks as “Pretendians,” “Race-Shifters,” “Space Invaders,” and a few other colorful terms! Canada is polluted with these frauds! You can find them taking space in universities, political positions, institutions, and inside the entertainment world as well. POLLUTED!!
How do you balance staying true to your roots with reaching a broader Audience?
It’s not easy to dance on the bridge that connects the worlds. I tell stories about the Indigenous reality with the hope that the rest of the world can understand the current events that we’re faced with. We need to collectively address the problems that exist so that maybe we can find the solutions to those problems. Let’s talk about it!
Do you allow current events to impact your creativity or do you prefer to focus on the abstract?
Current events — or ongoing events — are exactly what inspire me to create. Hip-hop artists are street journalists, and I feel the absolute need to report back to the population about what is happening right now. As you know, mainstream media is not reporting about Indigenous reality.
What’s one issue you haven’t tackled yet in your music that you’re burning to address?
I’ve been holding back for so long… about how much I absolutely despise the music scene here in Quebec and Canada! Why the f**k isn’t there an Indigenous quota for Indigenous content on the radio in this country? Why in the f**k do non-Indigenous industry people only consider Indigenous language content as Indigenous music? An Indigenous story is an Indigenous story, no matter what language it’s told in!
What is the boldest thing that you have ever done?
The boldest thing that I’ve ever done? Hard to say. I’ve blocked roads and railway tracks. I’ve insulted the Quebec Minister of Indian Affairs on live television during a talk show. I kinda feel like the boldest is yet to come.
Describe your relationship with your fans.
The whole concept of having fans is strange to me. I feel more like I have a bunch of friends who want systemic change as much as I do — like we’re all in this gathering to protest together.
What can we expect from you in the months to come?
In the coming months, I’ll be on the set of Bon Cop Bad Cop: The Series, which will be released on Crave in 2026. I’ve been working as a scriptwriter, consultant, and scenario consultant for a couple of years now. I’ll be making my acting debut as well! Then I’ll be on the catwalk inMontreal and Quebec City to showcase some clothing that I designed with Jean Claude Poitras, which was organized by the Kwe Festival. You can expect a few more single releases and then an album launch in October. I try to keep busy… idle hands are the devil’s playground!
How did growing up in Gesgapegiag shape the way you weave your Mi’gmaq identity into your music?
If my identity were a basket, the weavings would consist of fishing, harvesting, crafting, surviving, and fighting to protect who we are as a people. I sing about that basket in my music. Gesgapegiag is my song.
Space Invaders’ hits hard on cultural appropriation—what fired you up to write it, and what do you want people to feel?
The song “Space Invaders” was inspired by these ridiculous “Race-Shifters” like Buffy. It’s the worst form of colonialism since colonization. Indigenous people have been displaced, and their languages, cultures, and traditions removed or destroyed by the Indian Residential Schools. We’ve survived cultural genocide, and now these creeps want to come in and take the one thing they cannot have… our f*****g identity!! I want to expose all of these crooks for the whole world to see. I want those frauds to feel the shame they deserve to feel. But mostly, I want actual Indigenous people to have that space to tell their stories.
Stream ‘Space Invaders’:
HERE
Follow Q052:
Instagram – Facebook – Soundcloud – Youtube – Spotify