This is not an official or approved site. I'm not connected to him in any way (other than organizing one benefit show he performed at, which I owe him for big time.) I'm just a big fan of his music.- Daniel.
His Filmography (Moccasin Flats, Renegade Press
Journey Of Robin Favel, documentary trailer on Youtube.
Rapper reflects the harsh realities of gang life
Last Updated: Tuesday, March 22, 2005
CBC News
It's a raw and sometimes chilling portrait of gang life that's in the music of a 24-year-old Regina man.
Robin Favel is, as he puts it, keeping it real.
Favel, who writes and produces his own music with a group named Dogz Lyfe, is making a name for himself with gritty raps about gang life from the gang members' perspective.
"You really don't got to look that far in this city," he said. "Everybody I grew up with is gang members."
On stage, the 24-year-old rapper goes by 'Burden'
He talks about initiations that gang members endure, including beatings from groups of young people. He matter-of-factly discusses the crimes new members are given to perform – thefts, robberies, assaults – as part of the initiation.
In his world, it's considered normal to get a girlfriend to sell herself on the street and then take the cash, perhaps using it to finance drug-dealing.
He knows first-hand where the activity can leave a young person – behind bars.
He says he's spent several stints behind bars himself – including one stretch at a federal penitentiary.
Favel also unapologetically provides some insights into why kids get into gangs: money, protection, and a sense of belonging.
"I'm not going to deny it. I love gangs," he said.
"A lot of these people have more heart than Evel Knievel. They've got more heart than that. I've seen the littlest guys shanking the biggest dudes...it's all about heart."
He sees the police as the enemy and blames them and the correctional system for creating more gang members.
"The police organize us," he said. "We're all aboriginal and they all stick us in one place." For those who worry about the growth of gangs in Regina and other cities, he has no words of comfort.
"Gangs out there have hundreds of soldiers out there on the street initiating kids," he said.
Favel is now trying to start his own music company and working closely with youth workers in the community.
According to a recent report by Criminal Intelligence Service Saskatchewan, a coalition of police agencies, Saskatchewan now has the largest number of aboriginal street gang members per capita in Canada.
Bob Bazin, a spokesperson for the organization, said some of Favel's comments are "bravado" but many of the gang activities he talks about ring true.
The province needs to put more resources into dealing with gangs. If nothing is done, some communities will eventually be completely controlled by gangs, he said.
"It's a growing problem," he said. "We need to get a handle on it."
Rapper gets prison sentence
Last Updated: Thursday, June 30, 2005
CBC News
A promising Saskatchewan rap artist is headed to prison.
On Wednesday, Provincial Court Judge Linton Smith sentenced Robin Favel, 24, to two years for assaulting his former common-law wife last year, a report in the Leader-Post newspaper said.
Favel, who writes and produces his own music and with a group named Dogz Lyfe, had built his musical reputation with gritty raps about gang life.
In an interview with CBC earlier this year, Favel spoke openly about his time in jail and prison and about the experiences of First Nations youth in the criminal justice system.
Court heard Wednesday he has 24 previous convictions.
Favel was charged after hitting his former common-law wife in the face in December 2004. At the time, he was serving a conditional sentence that required him to keep the peace and be of good behaviour.
Regina rapper taken into custody after standoff
Police were responding to report of man with gun
Last Updated: Friday, August 17, 2007
CBC News
A Saskatchewan rapper who's the subject of a video documentary was taken into police custody Friday after a three-hour standoff.
Robin Favel, 26, of Regina, was one of three people taken into custody after police received a report of a man taking a gun into a house.
Police went to the house on the 900 block of Athol St. in Regina's north-central area and learned there were seven adults and three children inside.
The incident ended peacefully when the adults left the house and were met by police. Four of the adults were questioned and released, but three remained in custody Friday afternoon.
Police said a shotgun was seized from the house.
Favel, who sometimes sings under the name Burden, is also an actor who has appeared on the Regina-made television drama Moccasin Flats.
A filmmaker involved in the documentary, Cory Generoux, was there when the incident began. He said he had earlier received a call from Favel alleging police were threatening to kill him. Favel wanted Generoux to film what happened.
Instead, he convinced Favel to give himself up, Generoux said.
"One of my concerns is what pushed him that far," Generoux said. "That night he was telling me that something is going to happen."
Favel has a history of conflict with the law. In 2005, he was sentenced to two years behind bars for domestic assault.
Police said they're investigating Friday's incident. So far, no charges have been laid.
Regina rap singer released; trial on hold
Last Updated: Monday, October 22, 2007 | 5:17 PM CT
CBC News
A Regina rap singer facing a number of weapons charges was released from jail Monday after most of the witnesses in his trial failed to show up.
Robin Favel has been in custody since mid-August when was arrested after a three-hour standoff with police at a Regina home.
Following a hearing in the summer, he was denied bail.
However, on Monday, a provincial court judge agreed to release him under certain conditions when his scheduled trial couldn't proceed. Most of the Crown's witnesses, with the exception of police officers, were no-shows.
Favel, a hip-hop artist who has been recording and performing for several years, was all smiles as he walked away from the courthouse accompanied by family and friends.
"Feels good to go home, man," Favel said. He is facing charges on a number of firearms-related offences, along with charges of breaking and entering, possession of crime money, and two probation breaches.
He said he wasn't surprised to be released.
"There's no case there, man," he said. "They got nothing."
Favel will have to wait weeks, perhaps months, for a new trial.
In the meantime, he must follow a curfew, report to police once a week, keep the peace, and display good behaviour.
His lawyer Bob Hrycan said the time at home will be good for him.
"He's now able to reside with his girlfriend and they're expecting a child. He's able to pursue employment," Hrycan said.
Arrest warrants have been sent out for the six witnesses who failed to appear.
Favel and his co-accused, Ryan Varley, are due back in court Oct. 30.
A new trial date will be set then.
Regina Rapper Commits Numerous Crimes While Crew Captures It On Film
Monday August 20, 2007
From ChartAttack.com
Burden, a member of Regina rap group Dogz Lyfe, is facing a number of charges after a police standoff on Friday.
Burden (real name Robin James Favel) has been charged with breach of probation, pointing a firearm, using a firearm in the commission of an offence, possession of stolen property, break and enter, and possession of a firearm contrary to a court order.
Regina police received a call at 6:20 a.m. on Friday that a man with a gun was entering a house. The incident was recorded by people filming a documentary on the 27-year-old rapper, who has a history of gang involvement.
Officers surrounded the house and crisis negotiators helped bring about a peaceful end to the standoff. Seven adults and three young children left the house.
Another man, 22-year-old Ryan James Varley, faces charges that include pointing a firearm, possession of stolen property and using a firearm in the commission of an offence.
While Burden has earned a reputation as one of Saskatchewan's most talented First Nations rap artists and has recorded, produced and appeared in television shows, he also has more than two dozen convictions for crimes ranging from joyriding to robbery. He was most recently sentenced to two years in a penitentiary for a December 2004 assault on his common-law wife.
Several charges stayed against Regina rapper involved in standoff
Heather Polischuk, Leader-Post
Published: Wednesday, March 26, 2008
REGINA -- Robin James Favel will not be "burdened" with the possibility of convictions stemming from an August standoff.
The well-known Regina rapper, who performs under the name "Burden," appeared in custody in Regina Provincial Court on Wednesday for what was supposed to be his trial on charges that had mainly stemmed from an incident in August.
Instead, Crown prosecutor Michael Morris said he was staying virtually all of the charges against both Favel, 27, and his co-accused on most matters, 23-year-old Ryan James Varley.
"The Crown was unable to compel its key witnesses to give evidence today," Morris explained outside of court.
The same issue had arisen Oct. 22, the previous time the matter was set for trial. At that time, the Crown agreed to release both Favel and Varley when witnesses didn't show up to testify. The pair was supposed to go to trial on several firearms charges, as well as break and enter and possession of proceeds of crime.
The charges had stemmed from an incident on Aug. 17, when police were called to a house in the 900 block of Athol Street for a report of a man with a gun. At the time, armed officers surrounded the house while crisis negotiators and a documentary filmmaker worked to negotiate an end to the situation. Over the next few hours, seven adults and three children left the house and Favel and Varley were arrested.
The incident was captured on film by Cory Generoux, whom Favel had phoned during the standoff. Generoux had been filming a documentary on Favel -- who has earned a reputation as one of the province's most talented and troubled First Nations rap artists.
Varley, who was not in custody, walked out of court with a smile and a nod to Favel after receiving the news that all charges against him had been dropped. He returned moments later with a friend to hear what would happen to Favel, who pleaded guilty to only two charges, both breaches of court conditions. He was given a sentence of time served.
Favel pleaded guilty to breaching a curfew conditions of his undertaking on Nov. 9. He also pleaded guilty to breaching a condition of his probation order that he not have contact with an individual. Police caught him travelling in the same vehicle with that person on July 16.
Judge Linton Smith found Favel had spent the equivalent of six months in custody since the charges were laid, leading to the sentence of time served.