tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-69285805609622187242024-02-29T04:44:00.104-08:00Hip Hop Lives: Traditions of Filipino Performance"Hip and hop is more than music. Hip is the knowledge. Hop is the movement." Hip hop culture is one of many creative traditions of Filipino/as. This blog is dedicated to recording, debating, and creating this part of Filipino/a cultural production... Like Krs-One says above, our community needs to get hip to the knowledge as we hop to the movement.MVhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03187883523022766262noreply@blogger.comBlogger259125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6928580560962218724.post-85497591150498956082014-05-04T23:13:00.003-07:002014-05-04T23:16:10.212-07:00Empire of Funk taking off!<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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It's been a while. More than a whole year! But this is what we've been working on while we were gone. Please visit <a href="http://www.empireoffunk.com/">www.empireoffunk.com</a> for more information! We have some crazy events coming up! Come meet the authors and artists of <i>Empire of Funk</i>!</div>
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<a href="http://www.empireoffunk.com/"><b>www.empireoffunk.com</b></a></div>
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MVhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03187883523022766262noreply@blogger.com9tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6928580560962218724.post-30337944337348754642013-04-16T23:56:00.002-07:002013-04-17T08:20:11.381-07:00Brown Mass Hysteria: Filipino Americans patronized by a diverse audience <table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjRcInjFwbMFC0EPEfsuvMCJtr0ahMUf0_RZnxg3KOG8AI2ZokM-OFaXSHvu8v9qojqxkFDSMJCPYsqVm4mLP1H0fuMJQgHBscR6IGbaQJ-1kQDWx8x1kz59OynP2AWYFP_t0cvtPBE4aYm/s1600/bambu+joseph+pic.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjRcInjFwbMFC0EPEfsuvMCJtr0ahMUf0_RZnxg3KOG8AI2ZokM-OFaXSHvu8v9qojqxkFDSMJCPYsqVm4mLP1H0fuMJQgHBscR6IGbaQJ-1kQDWx8x1kz59OynP2AWYFP_t0cvtPBE4aYm/s320/bambu+joseph+pic.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Bambu rocking a sold-out The Echo in Los Angeles on Friday. The crowd was probably predominantly Chicano/Latino and Filipino. (Photo by Joseph Alvaro)</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiiYgKddy3949kzbFFAlgLfwPg8pj1Xg4bFdc3RN74cJQyQ9PgrOZ83RM1URHVBCBE52-IcED1yXPnsQDgbc8vLbMo2Hxcvos3GSFegP8hqBVmJesMdZ65ksrvMOn-VpQL_-i7O3kj9VFVg/s1600/odessa+audience.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiiYgKddy3949kzbFFAlgLfwPg8pj1Xg4bFdc3RN74cJQyQ9PgrOZ83RM1URHVBCBE52-IcED1yXPnsQDgbc8vLbMo2Hxcvos3GSFegP8hqBVmJesMdZ65ksrvMOn-VpQL_-i7O3kj9VFVg/s320/odessa+audience.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Filipino/Mexicano emcee Odessa Kane representing "Cuetes and Balisangs" for Southeast San Diego. (Photo by Joseph Alvaro)</td></tr>
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Travel writer Pico Iyer once wrote about Filipinos' uncanny ability to be great imitators. What is implied is that Filipinos do not have an original culture, and as such their music in contemporary times is sometimes regarded as xerox-copies of American music. Hence the perpetual struggle for Filipino artists in the Philippines to carve a viable niche of "Original Pinoy Music" to sell to their audiences. <br />
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In the United States, Filipino American hip hop artists have had better results in finding a captive public in hip hop compared to their counterparts in the Philippines. Many (not all) Filipino American hip hop artists, especially on the West Coast, know very well that many Filipino Americans will support them at shows, patronize their music, and buy their merchandise. <br />
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<b>But, what happens when Filipino American artists' audience move beyond a predominantly Filipino American audience? </b> On Friday night, a whole posse of Filipino American male emcees (Double Dosage, Kixxie Siete, Odessa Kane, and Bambu) rocked a sold-out crowd at The Echo in Los Angeles. Sure, there was the usual Filipino American fans, but I would be confident in saying that the house was loaded with young Chicanos and Latinos who may have outnumbered the Pinoys. <b>And just like the Pinoys, these folks were mouthing the lyrics of the performers on stage and pumping their fists just as high. </b><br />
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Kixxie's Hawthorne/South Bay fanbase, Odessa Kane's Filipino/Mexicano-centered lyrics, and Bambu's Soul Assassins affiliation (the crew of Cypress Hill) can certainly attribute to the very distinctly Los Angeles hip hop demographic. At one point, Bambu yelled out: "We were all colonized by the same people anyway!"<br />
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="font-size: 13px;">Bambu performs for the last time with the new daddy-o DJ Phatrick. (Photo by DJ Phatrick)</td></tr>
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If you patronize the music of the most prominent Fil Am emcees, you are aware that their material has unmistakeable Filipino-relevant material--ranging from leftist Philippine nationalism, indigenous spirituality, critiques of colonization, to lifestyle and conditions of Filipinos living in the U.S. (and globally). In all of his albums, Bambu drops Tagalog lyrics in a few of his songs. As well, Fil Am emcees address a range of topics that are not Filipino specific and tend to cross borders, especially when it comes to people of color politics such as gentrification, critiques of militarization, police brutality, Third World feminism, and working/(lumpen)proletariat class angst. <br />
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<b>And, for some reason (even though I am not surprised), I am curious as to the meanings of non-Filipinos who are drawn towards/indulge in/recite/embrace Filipino American-accentuated music and culture. </b> What happens when Filipinos have a non-Filipino audience? Are they attuned to the Filipino-related lyrics? Do they identify with Filipinos? Do they hang out with Filipinos? If not, how are Filipinos relevant in their lives? Where do Filipinos appear in their imagination within a field of racial and ethnic power? <b>How are Filipinos made legible to the non-Filipino cultural imagination aside from this music? </b><br />
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<b>For the Asian Americans (non-Filipino) in the crowd: How do Asian Americans identify with Filipino Americans? </b>If Filipino American hip hop artists have become (or have always been) dominant in music relative to other Asian American groups, what kind of identity-labor is done to align with Filipino issues? If Filipinos are marginalized culturally, politically, and academically (except for recent anti-imperial scholarship) when it comes to the pan-Asian American umbrella, what kind of value do Filipino American hip hop artists retain as cultural/racial "border crossers" who magnetize non-Filipino Asian Americans? <b> Could/should/can Filipinos be embraced for their cultural value, and still be marginalized in other realms of Asian American power? </b><br />
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Or maybe that's it: Filipino American artists have a certain draw (power) because they are so flexible. They can somehow touch the souls of people of many backgrounds.<br />
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And that seems to be the ongoing trope: Filipinos somehow appear nowhere and yet appear for everyone at once. A Filipino is invisible in the larger schema of our cultural imagination, yet she/he is also right there all along.<br />
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Like famous Manila tour guide/activist/performer Carlos Celdran says: "Filipinos have little unique about them. And that's precisely what makes them so unique!"<br />
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Being unique yet broadly resonant seems to be a formula working for the fast-growing scene of Filipino American artists in hip hop. <br />
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<br />MVhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03187883523022766262noreply@blogger.com5tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6928580560962218724.post-80141938408110633352013-02-27T20:52:00.000-08:002013-02-27T20:56:43.241-08:00Hip hop on the mainstage in the Philippines!<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://www.facebook.com/Road2Araneta"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEincdCK3lV0bTyHx8WcVOBEDGiT76UXBa55UtxFzYoAnM_7aG6esRkXqGMGZA61Mw5yDNWVe-Efr_OvigrXClvJvuLGbZbouAvr6Y6SjnK9QGP_d5QVirWCmilzKRPYN3GplMhGOBihPlPX/s400/Pinoy+hip+hop+araneta.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
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It's almost here! Looked down upon for so long, Philippine hip hop finally has a mainstream, "legit" stage to showcase its talent at the Araneta stadium. The acts are excited to take Pinoy hip hop to the next level. Bubbling just beneath the attention of the public and given a valiant push in recent years by homegrown artists, will Pinoy hip hop finally erupt and become embraced by the masa? Will Original Pinoy Music put hip hop center stage?<br />
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Lezgoo!!<br />
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<br />MVhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03187883523022766262noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6928580560962218724.post-6175759546495724992012-11-12T23:05:00.001-08:002012-11-12T23:07:10.793-08:00Not Giving In: Beautiful slum x bboy uplift <div style="text-align: center;">
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Hello again world! I've been doing other projects lately, but I just had to post this beautifully done Philippine bboy uplift and escape narrative featuring the music of Rudimental. The shots are artfully done, and it seems they have a balloon or a helicopter camera. The acting is superb.</div>
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The neorealistic video tells the story of Ereson Catipon aka Mouse a bboy from the harcore slums who dodged many obstacles to become a Philippine bboy champion. He moved to UK in 1996 and continued to win championships in UK and worldwide. </div>
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The guys at <b><a href="http://www.ustream.tv/channel/epicenter-bboy-broadcast-network">Epicenter</a></b>--the "Sports Center" for Bboys and Bboy culture--had a chance to interview Mouse at the beginning of their 6th episode. You can listen to this interview here, beginning around 10:50-30:20:</div>
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<a href="http://www.ustream.tv/recorded/26260638">http://www.ustream.tv/recorded/26260638</a></div>
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Special thanks: Chesca and Chris Woon!</div>
MVhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03187883523022766262noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6928580560962218724.post-31960756573647621222012-08-28T17:34:00.003-07:002012-08-28T23:57:41.409-07:00Tastemakers of the Metro? Philippine hip hop DJs shape hip hop's "soul"<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjCCVregub3IPv8nqfUjQI_yNhW7sqIclNdm54zlz4JlBUlhTrBx6uEm4cyL0dHrD6396rWzJwzvRsLezmFOSgAUWs8TtEZipLYdTEKM6a05DZfomilj1LlkCAhWcfGhFweRsyCfIicrH92/s1600/Arbie1.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="306" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjCCVregub3IPv8nqfUjQI_yNhW7sqIclNdm54zlz4JlBUlhTrBx6uEm4cyL0dHrD6396rWzJwzvRsLezmFOSgAUWs8TtEZipLYdTEKM6a05DZfomilj1LlkCAhWcfGhFweRsyCfIicrH92/s400/Arbie1.JPG" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">DJ Arbie Won diggin in the crates at his record store<span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<span style="font-size: large;"><b>Creative Control</b></span> <br />
<br />
<span style="font-size: large;"><b>A</b></span> flourish of guitar strings, the clap of crisp snares, and the boom of kick drums drive the beat as a vocalist croons a sultry melody. This musical ambiance accompanies the decor of <a href="http://www.arbiewon.blogspot.com/">DJ Arbie Won's</a> record shop, which stands as a testament to a particular hip hop sensibility. Iconic hip hop imagery such as Run DMC posters decorate the walls, stacked crates of rare vinyl hug the sides of the room, a photo of an Egyptian pyramid dangles below the air conditioner unit, and a number of turntables and beat machines lay around. A customer "digs" in a crate of soul records.<br />
<br />
As we chat, samples of Arbie Won's upcoming album <i>United Freestyles 3 </i>plays in the background. The music can easily pass as "state-side" independent hip hop except for the occasional Tagalog rap performed by local emcees, some veteran and some up-and-coming. Arbie's beats sound smooth and refined, almost like 70s soul with a hip hop snap.<br />
<br />
<div style="text-align: center;">
<img border="0" height="327" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj6sMUxYLqDFCHqF8MXs_Uw3EAPMSp2VZaExVRecYkwvC0FZGjNpUrzqkXNUNrrYaZ-RLEoOpQNxku722YmV96RlGMDNuFZgiZ7s9IXv44FbjvxZOQoqJyCoDb0SOFtf7jvb95QIML7vpPI/s400/album+of+the+year.JPG" width="400" /> </div>
<br />
He explains that <i>United Freestyles 3</i> is the third edition of his famed <i>United Freestyles </i>series, the first which was a rough and rugged "one take" freestyle cipher with thirty emcees. This fabled album, recorded at the height of Philippine hip hop in 1999, was followed by the second edition in 2005, which received the First Annual Philippine Hip Hop Music Award album of the year. (<a href="http://youtu.be/HqYLrlHlBWo">Click here to hear "Taken In" from this album</a>). <br />
<br />
In a music-oriented nation with an array of genres, DJ Arbie Won's particular hip hop taste is shared by many Filipino music fans. As seen by the collection of emcees featured in the <i>United Freestyles </i>series and the growing independent hip hop scene in the Philippines, hip hop culture boasts fierce creative circles, where both original Pilipino hip hop and state-side knocks are celebrated.<span style="font-size: large;"><b> </b></span><br />
<br />
<span style="font-size: large;"><b>Groove Blocked</b></span><br />
<br />
But according to some DJs, this type of music would probably not be heard in typical Metro Manila dance clubs.<br />
<br />
"People are close-minded with music here," DJ Thea says. She
believes many club promoters misunderstand hip hop, usually
dismissing it as "yelling music." This negative attitude towards hip hop by promoters is reflective of the treatment of hip hop on a larger (national) scale.<br />
<br />
Thea (aka DJ Teaze), who is credited with being the "first Filipina hip hop DJ," is a resident DJ for the Metro's biggest clubs such as Republiq and Prive and shares some of Arbie Won's musical hip hop preference. Hailing from Baguio, which was founded as an American city and celebrated its centennial in 2009, Thea attended an international school. She would receive state-side hip hop music from her black and white American friends who made frequent trips to the States.<br />
<br />
Even though she is a sought-after club DJ, the type of music at clubs she spins for are at odds with her musical upbringing. "Promoters prefer 'open-format' music," she explains as we chat at a cafe. "Open-format" is a generic term used to describe a mash-up of house and popular American radio music. "They want music that's above 128 beats per minute," Thea points out. <br />
<br />
Hip hop, as "slower" music, seems to have no home in the Metro's clubbing scene. "Knowledge of hip hop has nothing to do with professional DJing in clubs," she says. Thea, who associates hip hop's sound to a jazz tradition, mentions that in some clubs if there is "too much dancing," then the bouncers will kick you out. I saw this practice for myself at Republiq a few years ago. When party-goers get into a groove and gain attention, the bouncers will intervene. <br />
<br />
As a resident DJ of Prince of Jaipur club from 2005-2008, she witnessed the rise of the so-called "era of the superclubs." The infamous Embassy superclub, located next to Jaipur, opened in 2005. "I played hip hop and people had fun. There was no dress code and we had a faithful following of hip hop fans and dancers."<br />
<br />
But when Jaipur began to emulate Embassy in 2008 by instilling a dress code and a "superclub feel," the regular Jaipur clientele stopped going. "Some people were blocked because they were wearing 'hip hop clothes,'" Thea remarks. "Dancing for fun stopped." <br />
<br />
<div style="text-align: center;">
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><img border="0" height="317" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj2GaWt3fIdfWAGy8JoEV6fL0opvhSnKat-0pl_NXIV-NCEw45vVJhkDtSUVhFRWWEsLIsiXTEYIZfJdUGqVzNz_Mm8nPC7mszLPtT1BcrB57MfoM-C14qCUbtcAa27X_-A6zaDbMNHv0D6/s400/Thea2.JPG" width="400" /></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">DJ Thea (aka DJ Teaze) chatting at a cafe</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
</div>
<br />
Despite the seeming twilight of the kind of hip hop Thea and her Jaipur audience enjoy, DJ Jena, Thea's "4X2" turntablism partner, has a more optimistic vision of hip hop's trajectory in the Philippines. The duo, who perform beat juggling on four turntables, has toured in Singapore and Qatar for sold out audiences. <br />
<br />
"I'm not exactly against it," Jena says about superclubs' peculiar musical choices. "I
like making money. And I love seeing people have a good-ass time. Are superclubs and hip hop in direct opposition? No. Are superclubs and that
old golden era of hip hop in direct opposition? Yes. It is what it is." <br />
<br />
Sure, the "golden era of hip hop" (which could either mean state-side jams or original Pilipino hip hop that had its hayday and payday in the 1990s for Filipino artists seeking mainstream deals) is a thing of the past, but does that mean Philippine party-goers have abandoned it forever in exchange for "open-format?"<a href="http://filamfunk.blogspot.com/2011/08/philippine-hip-hops-golden-age.html"> As I have written in a prior entry</a>, some hip hop advocates in the Philippines believe <i>right now</i> is the "golden era of hip hop" in the Philippines because of the enormity of creative production happening today.<br />
<br />
But, as the DJs will tell you, you won't hear anything "golden" in the club. But that might be ok. "Hip hop music might not
sound exactly the same as it did in the past. But it does sound new. I
like new," Jena admits.<span style="font-size: large;"><b> </b></span><br />
<br />
<span style="font-size: large;"><b>Playlist Operators?</b></span><br />
<br />
Certainly, the music has changed since the 1990s, but how much control do DJs have in shaping the reception of new music, especially when much of the music being produced by Philippine artists are not even getting much love by Filipinos? If "open-format" cannot accommodate hip hop (at least at this point), even more does it fail to promote original Pilipino hip hop. <br />
<br />
Philippine DJs are in a constant struggle to be a part of this changing musical soundscape, which does not always sound the way they'd like. But they spin anyway. And as fans first, their profession is rooted in a passion for hip hop. <br />
<br />
DJ Arbie Won's moniker "The Beat Traveler" serves him well. His musical journey began in 1991 in San Francisco where he used to carry crates for his uncle's mobile DJ business. He moved to Manila a few years later and brought all his records. Because he owned the latest music, he would make mixtapes for artists who were interlocked with the brewing Philippine hip hop scene. Soon enough, he was invited to join the hip hop crew Urban Flow, got signed to a label, and things took off from there.<br />
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgv6mKevrJd_NCI4XKj4V2g-fDhygPnAt43uw0nDitVplnDNfvRlGgAC4_Ht_jyvu8CFi6hwGi7MFTbZkfEm9YDFm1kh_YuVwYOPqCroaTFfUZFuVI-M75G-qUzvoB2jT0Xz30Ua-FKNfqK/s1600/Jena.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="266" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgv6mKevrJd_NCI4XKj4V2g-fDhygPnAt43uw0nDitVplnDNfvRlGgAC4_Ht_jyvu8CFi6hwGi7MFTbZkfEm9YDFm1kh_YuVwYOPqCroaTFfUZFuVI-M75G-qUzvoB2jT0Xz30Ua-FKNfqK/s400/Jena.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">DJ Jena on deck at B-Side. Photo credit: <a href="https://www.facebook.com/pages/B-SIDE/252630244525">B-Side</a></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
DJ Jena's journey was similar. Of a younger generation, Jena grew up in the Los Angeles and Seattle where she immersed herself with hip hop. She became a DJ after attending college in Manila. Now she has become a staple in the sonic world of the Metro. <br />
<br />
Without a "state-side" background, as mentioned earlier DJ Thea was exposed to hip hop via her American friends in Baguio. After moving to the Metro in 1999 and before becoming a professional DJ, she performed as a "hype" dancer at clubs with a crew of girls, some of who would eventually become members of the world champion <a href="http://filamfunk.blogspot.com/search/label/Philippine%20Allstars">Philippine All Stars hip hop dance group.</a> Starting off as a dancer prepped her ears for playing good dance music. Today, she is a member of the Styles Team, a group of DJs and emcees (or more accurately hype men) hired to rock parties across the Metro. <br />
<br />
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</div>
Love of hip hop for these DJs was born and bred in various ways, and they have different views about the current state of hip hop. But their strategies of inserting hip hop into a "open-format" Philippine party scenes are similar. <br />
<br />
Arbie Won, who also spins at big clubs, sometimes sneaks in two or three hip hop songs, a risky move he thinks few DJs attempt because of the unsure reaction of the crowd and the promoters. Thea plays this subversive game as well, often playing tried and true hip hop anthems at the end of the night (think Arrested Development, SWV, Tribe Called Quest, Naughty By Nature, etc.) when the crowd is thinner, the people are drunk, and a few hip hop fans stick around. <br />
<br />
Their professional expertise as musical performers is called into question in the era of superclubs. According to Thea, DJs are often treated as employees--not as creative performers--who are paid to play what people want, like someone who operates a playlist from an iPod. <br />
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://www.blogger.com/goog_586163103"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiCERkg5sAVfPRQsUoFICrRyEzprHw9HQn3UQN9TGDUKH_UcvHYi-u0uI9QX9neq_bz7gewR0GyYYcNB9BRucCVJfW_UbhFGx0ur3yrwV4fHTsNKaA-b4oOAJDW78Jk4W1EFfiXmJ2v1MvG/s400/boom+bamp+friday.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;" width="280" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Arbie, Thea, and Jena spin at Boom Bap Friday at B-Side, where hip hop is loved and promoted in The Metro</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
Arbie Won has a more hopeful outlook at the state of hip hop at clubs. Aside from the occasional "sneaking in" of hip hop in the bigger clubs, he plays hip hop at smaller venues, such as Alfonso's in Ortigas or at the Distillery in Makati, that cater to a niche audience. "I can play hip hop not for a big crowd like at superclubs, but for sixty people who allow you to take them on a journey."<br />
<br />
Will a Philippine party crowd in 2012 allow a hip hop DJ to be the captain of their party? <br />
<br />
In a country that for the most part tends to disparage hip hop, the hip hop DJ continues to confront an uphill challenge. Arbie laments, “It's sad because Philippines should be leading in hip hop. Other countries support their artists. It’s not about money so much as ignorance of record industry and promoters.”
<br />
<br />
<span style="font-size: large;"><b>The Philippine Difference</b></span><br />
<br />
Regardless of an unreceptive clubbing audience, Philippine DJs and artists are spinning and creating hip hop in their own ways, and with small but passionate hip hop circles there's no sign of it slowing down.<br />
<br />
Given the more frequent appearances of Philippine hip hop artists on daytime shows and in marketing campaigns, it may not be a question of <i>if </i>hip hop will become embraced by the mainstream Philippine populace, but <i>how </i>mainstream Philippine
hip hop will sound/look like. Will it be "indigenized" and sound
more "foreign" than the American-style of hip hop cherished by many hip hop enthusiasts? Or will it sound like the hip hop of Arbie Won's <i>United Freestyles </i>series?<i> </i>Or will it be a balance of
both sensibilities?<br />
<br />
Whatever the case, the Filipino/a hip hop DJ plays a key role in popularizing and celebrating the rise of Philippine hip hop. On
the crowded dance floor, the DJ has a special opportunity to be the
captain, and accompany Philippine hip hop on its journey.<br />
<br />
<br />
<div style="color: #666666;">
Special thanks: Thea, Arbie, Jena, Chesca, Justin Breathes, Jerome Smooth, Leo, Teishan, and Vince.</div>
<br />
---MVhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03187883523022766262noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6928580560962218724.post-44038219329119154042012-06-12T18:54:00.002-07:002012-06-12T18:59:33.107-07:00Gunshot Sounds of Seattle: Prometheus Brown's "May Day"<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://seattletimes.nwsource.com/html/editorialsopinionpages/2018389866_blue-scholars-prometheus-brown-seattle-shootings.html"><img border="0" height="258" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjNCQiDDZjGhaRIfBLM04y_BapVXu8zmu-ZId9XqHQCRT6wu2k9oy_XunPuxa8eew0PhvGV1eSDJUBQJM2_di8CTvEr6t4kxUfU6o6FX34fibu9pE-eYYrYVjxZRXkPIKC64H-RG3R2PxP4/s400/Prometheus+Brown+song+for+city.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
<br />
<br />
Asked to write a <a href="http://seattletimes.nwsource.com/html/editorialsopinionpages/2018389866_blue-scholars-prometheus-brown-seattle-shootings.html"><b><i>Seattle Times</i> guest column</b></a> in response to last month's deadly shooting spree in Seattle's University District, Blue Scholar's Prometheus Brown wrote a song instead. He wrote "May Day" to address the less-acknowledged and more pervasive violence in the city. (Lyrics and media below)<br />
<br />
<b>A media spectacle</b> erupted around the May shootings in a city that, according to a <a href="http://abcnews.go.com/US/suspected-seattle-cafe-killer-shoots/story?id=16459770">ABC news clip</a>, "prides itself as one of the safest big cities in America." <br />
<br />
<b>Stirring a firestorm of internet controversy</b>, Pro Brown's "May Day" attempts to debunk the myth of Seattle's"safe" reputation. Do we really know whats going on in "grimier environments," where shootings and other acts of violence happen frequently? <br />
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://abcnews.go.com/US/suspected-seattle-cafe-killer-shoots/story?id=16459770" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgrh8inNFFeysU9CRkaWiOLZDq8vDiJf3LurGXswRL_FElcz6Dxw0JRRpgPbUhsZwe5byna3I3Jz9ID7axrmaamu5FdEcrxng1E7Zr6qEt0zmGRq2PQooMfdYGfaetQVwX_oz3BJS2sVCko/s400/seattle+shooting+scene.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Aftermath of the May shooting spree</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
<b>Pro Brown's song is dense</b> with layers of references and images (Spike Lee's provocative 1989 movie "Do the Right Thing" reveals Brown's generational sensibilities), but is clear in its indictment of popular media's tendency to sensationalize violence in so-called "safe" urban areas, when violence in the hood is often left ignored. It seems there exists a double standard: some lives are worth more than others.<br />
<br />
<b>Pro Brown doesn't valorize the hood</b> or champion its condition. Instead, "May Day" laments the situation that folks have no choice but to live in and criticizes the expectations made by city officials and commentators that marginalized people must "act right" as "proper citizens" in order to be fully enfranchised. Brown says, "They saying that you gotta act right if you wanna have rights, but what if you were born into a wrong situation?" <br />
<br />
<b>Sadly, violence has become normalized</b> in certain parts of town. "It’s something that’s been happening for a long time in the south end." Certainly bounded within the geography of Seattle's metropolis, the song illustrates that the south end is not fully enfranchised. Sure, there is "panic" in Seattle, but there is also an indifference to people's lives in abject areas. Perhaps the disavowal of the conditions of the latter is necessary in creating the mythology and materiality of a "safe" Seattle.<br />
<br />
<div style="text-align: center;">
<a href="http://abcnews.go.com/US/suspected-seattle-cafe-killer-shoots/story?id=16459770"><img border="0" height="222" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjAMWRMK_IZGNjmtyXK6MUlFNVN0UGZgesWSFNxv6vHwRCX2AY9H_B8kpHkT_q29aP6wTyISqP6CeadUgghWz_95yBRS89Bf-Kv4imBD2yoCELBfoVB6buvgfM_oxyrwCHFQ8kYo2-Wj9QP/s400/Seattle+in+Panic.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
<br />
<b>Prometheus also alludes to the danger impacting Philippine journalists</b> who for some time have been "disappeared" due to their investigations of the Philippine military and government. He urges us to see the links between the dangers confronted by ordinary citizens in the lesser-respected parts of town and that of Philippine journalists who testify to injustices. Both bear witness, and both are vulnerable to death due to state-complied violence.<br />
<br />
What happens when our collective consciousness normalizes violence, especially when it is targeted toward groups that are stripped of voice?<br />
<br />
How long does it take for our collective consciousness to "wake up" from the numbness, indifference, or ignorance we have towards the <a href="http://www.blackyouthproject.com/2012/06/another-unarmed-black-youth-shot-killed-darius-simmons-was-only-13-years-old/">chronic premature death of black and brown people</a>? How many more Trayvon Martins or <a href="http://newsone.com/2020339/chicago-murders-2012/">South Side Chicago shootings</a>?<br />
<br />
Prometheus does not claim to have the answers, but he says "<i><i>neither does a person who practices double standards." </i></i> <br />
<br />
<b>"May Day" is concise, smart, subversive,</b> and should prompt us to rethink what is being normalized and provoke us to change those grievous conditions. <br />
<br />
<br />
<div style="text-align: center;">
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<i><br />
Never heard of this, city getting murderous —<br />
occupation dangerous like Philippine journalists.<br />
Crazy and deranged they describe him in the same pages<br />
that would call him terrorist, if not for the melanin deficiency.<br />
<br />
Gang problem bigger than just juvenile delinquency.<br />
Gangs is survival if environments is grimy.<br />
To begin with — speaking of which, let’s be consistent —<br />
Today is called a tragedy, yesterday a statistic.<br />
<br />
I’m listening, before I ever speak upon insisting.<br />
My name is young Prometheus and this is my opinion:<br />
Watch “The Interrupters,” see ordinary civilians<br />
can police themselves before they have to call police for help.<br />
<br />
At least a little space to breathe, if you believe all violence<br />
is abhorrent to your being, then why you oversee it?<br />
If the killer wears a uniform but if the killer’s me,<br />
it’s normal if the victim also looks like me.<br />
<br />
Shots fired in the south end, nobody cares.<br />
Shots fired in the north end, everybody scared.<br />
Nothing they can do for us that we can’t do ourselves.<br />
Point the finger at the mirror instead of somebody else.<br />
<br />
Shots fired in the parking lot, nobody cares.<br />
Shots fired in the coffee shop, everybody scared.<br />
Nothing they can do for us that we can’t do ourselves.<br />
Point the finger at the mirror instead of somebody else.<br />
<br />
Can’t lie, I know the music can be influential,<br />
but not as influential as desperation. They saying<br />
that you gotta act right if you wanna have rights,<br />
but what if you were born into a wrong situation?<br />
<br />
Moral relativity — that passive aggressive city stuff —<br />
becoming history quicker than you can blink at me.<br />
Rule 1: Protect yourself at all times.<br />
Rule 2: Always end but never start a fight.<br />
<br />
Came up in the era of the hand-to-hand scrapping<br />
‘til the drugs happened, now it’s bloodshed at transactions.<br />
I’m calling time out like Samuel L. Jackson<br />
playing DJ Love Daddy with the African medallion.<br />
<br />
Tryin’a do the right thing. I don’t have the answers,<br />
but neither does a person who practices double standards.<br />
If every death’s a tragedy then join us when we’re chanting,<br />
and not just when we’re singing and dancing. Too many<br />
<br />
shots fired in the south end, nobody cares.<br />
Shots fired in the north end, everybody scared.<br />
Nothing they can do for us that we can’t do ourselves.<br />
Point the finger at the mirror instead of somebody else.<br />
<br />
Shots fired in the parking lot, nobody cares.<br />
Shots fired in the coffee shop, everybody scared.<br />
Nothing they can do for us that we can’t do ourselves.<br />
Point the finger at the mirror instead of somebody else.</i>
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<i>Prometheus Brown, also known as George Quibuyen, lives in the Rainier Beach neighborhood of Seattle.</i><br />
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<i>--- </i>MVhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03187883523022766262noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6928580560962218724.post-78556601571548061432012-05-23T10:06:00.001-07:002012-05-23T10:07:42.274-07:00FlipTop flowin the dough in: The sponsorship era?<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjPQjl_OwF5mYcAggNWUomgkFX9mwbqzuuIP1GHHSXN7OOwwt3lAInFeKjEzKkbMz5QOr1U8A-zVXokNRbqzOTye3KYvpBBSweP6Nxeu5eMfUxXHcubRZNK6jxJjMOJx6HJNLmBsf5WRfJu/s1600/fliptop+TM+Timbayan+guard.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="225" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjPQjl_OwF5mYcAggNWUomgkFX9mwbqzuuIP1GHHSXN7OOwwt3lAInFeKjEzKkbMz5QOr1U8A-zVXokNRbqzOTye3KYvpBBSweP6Nxeu5eMfUxXHcubRZNK6jxJjMOJx6HJNLmBsf5WRfJu/s320/fliptop+TM+Timbayan+guard.jpg" width="320" /> </a></div>
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Si Kuya Guard knows wussup. </div>
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Our <b>FlipTop</b> favorites Batas, Loonie, and Abra are at it again, this time in a heated battle with the legendary Pinoy rock group <b>Parokyo Ni Edgar</b>. Everyone knows its bout to be on, especially Mr. Guard in the back nodding his head (ha!). </div>
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This TM Tambayan ad is nicely shot and pretty satirical. FlipTop and its stars are now gaining sponsorship. In the ad, these rap acts are visually parallel to the more widely-accepted, "safe," and recognizable rock group Parokyo Ni Edgar. The money is beginning to flow for the once underdog, underground, little-known FlipTop hip hop scene. Will it only get bigger?</div>
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---</div>MVhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03187883523022766262noreply@blogger.com5tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6928580560962218724.post-34688035719134749652012-03-27T21:59:00.005-07:002012-03-27T21:59:54.777-07:00Return of the Fil Am: MastaPlann x BambuVia <a href="http://the-hinh.blogspot.com/2012/03/mastaplann-bambu-homecoming.html">The Hip Hop in Her.</a><br />
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The connection between veteran Philippine hip hop group <b>MastaPlann</b> and <b>Bambu</b>, one of the hottest emcees in the nation right now, are alone worth highlighting. But even more, they are taking their unique link as Filipino American pioneers in hip hop to the Philippines in their "<b>Homecoming</b>" event in April. MastaPlann, a group of Filipino American artists from California who made a lucrative career in the Philippines in the 1990s, are usually credited for bringing a certain aesthetic and style to the Philippines that had forever changed the Philippine hip hop landscape. Bambu, who states "MastaPlann raised Bam" in the MastaPlann x Bambu collaborative song "Benefit," started in the early 2000s with a faithful following of Filipino American activista-types and has since rose in meteoric status to reach a broad, diverse, and nationwide (and worldwide) audience, while staying true to his message. <br />
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They come together at B-Side in Makati in Metro Manila in April to celebrate their links. Philippines and Fil Ams crossover! We send positive energy and good vibes to this intergenerational and international event.<br />
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Notably, Tracer One of MastaPlann, his son, and fellow member Type Slickk are featured in the 2009 Bambu music video "Crooks and Rooks." Can you spot them? </div>
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<iframe allowfullscreen="" frameborder="0" height="233" src="http://www.youtube.com/embed/LyLouKZu4-Q" width="400"></iframe></div>MVhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03187883523022766262noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6928580560962218724.post-7344889320807091182012-03-06T21:05:00.000-08:002012-03-06T21:08:02.308-08:00Joe Bataan homecoming at Malasimbo Festival in Philippines<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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From the tough streets of Spanish Harlem to the swaying palm trees of the Philippines, <b>Joe Bataan </b>"returned" to the homeland for the first time to perform for his Filipino people at the <a href="http://www.malasimbofestival.com/">Malasimbo Music and Arts Festival</a> in Mindoro earlier this Month. Hope you had a memorable and meaningful homecoming, Joe. We appreciate your artistry and message in spreading Filipino hospitality and togetherness everywhere you go!<br />
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For more on Joe Bataan, <a href="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XKpojryfjQM&feature=share">watch this video</a>. </div>
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---</div>MVhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03187883523022766262noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6928580560962218724.post-5359481671556086642012-03-05T21:58:00.000-08:002012-03-05T21:58:39.027-08:00RIP Francis MIt's been exactly three years since the untimely passing of the great <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Francis_Magalona">Francis M</a>. Yet, Philippine hip hop is still growing and transforming year by year. Rest in Power, King. The Philippine music scene is indebted to you.<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://soulfiesta.blogspot.com/2010/12/francis-magalona-we-miss-you.html" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="213" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh1Ndi6TWDtP4fsnxt6TTm7NcznjYG57Xc1KVbw127n2X02wXWLsRImb9PxdU9RAIiGmgrfCIGu4juyrNtNUDGvGPbTNnBgeARIl5ZhpHIxTJ2WO201aJuMC-uIgFAhNuHmRDF4jAAuu0K4/s320/FRANCISM+soulfiest.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: 85%;">Picture taken by Ryan Andres</span></td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://soulfiesta.blogspot.com/2010/10/ill-k-entry-76-francis-m-posse-pic.html" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="235" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEinRhslAmHJbfnsNQTbf-V0Xn5WLkbvQlZst3duBDTWkOXMr802AOQ3C-tUjGd9yEK13i3rlk50i9wTy_ETV3cePUjnDpUuNnru3kSoIjrP2ENjihIZ4i_86P_rOjLNfM2T-psNXGWl0N7h/s320/KIKKO.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: 85%;">Picture taken by Francis Magalona, recently released by Syke</span></td></tr>
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---MVhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03187883523022766262noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6928580560962218724.post-79543503598269092642012-02-21T21:02:00.000-08:002012-02-21T21:03:40.170-08:00A stranger unto ourselves (and others): Know your history!<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2012/02/16/jeremy-lin-dominance-deon-cole-wants-nba-for-black-people_n_1281454.html" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="180" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEick92tyUYLG-GgmUihLnoOyBg948YO3gdeAnxcIq-jNzh7L5Q7OQSoyYOAu0PnKjFPI3XLWrp51NjC35xT9yVeaOZEnEjutBnTuELhAcDM4rmFy2f47AsumEsqEsrWNiYyozZTzw4xI__L/s320/asn+hh.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">"...They took over hip hop dancing."</td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Deon Cole: "Oh, that hurts."</td></tr>
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"Linsanity" has reached FilAm Funk. And its also reaching the late night talk show circuits. In an <a href="http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2012/02/16/jeremy-lin-dominance-deon-cole-wants-nba-for-black-people_n_1281454.html">episode of <i>Conan</i></a>, show writer Deon Cole makes a satirical commentary on Jeremy Lin's dominance: "I'm nervous because I don't want Asians taking over basketball." <br />
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As if Jeremy Lin poses a real threat to the "racial ownership" of the NBA. Too funny.<br />
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Cole continues, "Like, they took over hip hop dancing. Oh, that hurts." A picture of Asian males dancing in what looks like the World Hip Hop Dance Championship flashes on the screen.<br />
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Cole's anxiety might reflect a real (but ridiculous) fear. But his commentary also elicits a very real need of the Asian American and Filipino American community to <i>know our history</i>. Especially with hip hop, we have already seen this episode of "invasion" before, like in the <a href="http://filamfunk.blogspot.com/2007/08/fil-am-invasion.html">LA Weekly article on the "invasion" of Filipinos</a> in the Hollywood club scene. </div>
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Slide from my "Bearing Witness to the Funk" presentation at CSUN</div>
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I recently presented on the role of hip hop within the Filipino American (and global Filipino) community at a conference. I emphasized the fact that Filipino Americans have been embedded in and contributors to hip hop culture for such a long time, and that in theory, Fil Am students in college today can have a hip hop parents. And this <i>has</i> been the case for some students. Yeah, old school.</div>
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What is surprising, unfortunately, is that many (near 100%) of Fil Am students I have encountered <i>do not know</i> the history of Kaba Modern, the Invisbl Skratch Piklz, the Beat Junkies, Mike Dream, etc. Sadly, many do not even know who Native Guns and Blue Scholars are. Yet, many veteran Fil Am performers are coming out of the woodwork and telling their stories about "back in the day"--before hip hop was called hip hop.</div>
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During the conference, I provoked the question: For Filipino Americans, can hip hop be "trad" instead of "fad?"<br />
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Given hip hop's deep immersion within Filipino American culture, can it be just as "traditional" (if not more) than the "trad" dances of PCN--which are really liberal interpretations (of interpretations) of so-called Filipino dances?<br />
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My post <a href="http://filamfunk.blogspot.com/2012/02/grab-mic-like-im-on-soul-train.html">"Grab the mic like I'm on Soul Train"</a> and the <a href="http://www.ocweekly.com/2012-01-19/culture/kaba-modern-irvine/">OC Weekly article on Kaba Modern</a> attempt to synthesize the history of hip hop dance among Filipino Americans in Southern California, and its direct impact on hip hop dance internationally. If one delves into the history of hip hop dance, you might discover that Asians aren't necessarily "taking over hip hop dancing," as Cole dryly comments, but they have actually been (Filipino Americans at least) the creative minds of the craft for some time now. <br />
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So, as Asian Americans like our brother Jeremy Lin continue to gain more recognition and "voice," naturally, let us be proud and encouraging. But it is also critical that we know our own histories, so that when representations of Asian Americans (like in Cole's skit) poke fun at our "invasion," we can feel comfortable that the "truth" is less shocking. <br />
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If we are always a stranger unto ourselves, we will always be a stranger unto others. And that is where the real "hurt" resides. <br />
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---MVhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03187883523022766262noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6928580560962218724.post-29761385306879553462012-02-01T21:45:00.000-08:002012-02-02T13:23:30.494-08:00"Grab the mic like I'm on Soul Train"<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://www.cnn.com/2012/02/01/showbiz/soul-train-founder/index.html">Don Cornelius, founder and host of Soul Train</a></td></tr>
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With the <a href="http://www.cnn.com/2012/02/01/showbiz/soul-train-founder/index.html">news</a> of the untimely passing of <b>Don Cornelius</b>, the founder and long-time host of <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Soul_Train"><b>Soul Train</b></a>, the world gasped in sadness and shock. As a pioneer who is credited with bringing African American dance and music to the visual consciousness of the nation, Cornelius featured the biggest, baddest RandB, soul, disco, rock, funk, and hip hop acts on Soul Train, which aired from 1971 to 2006. <br />
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Dance styles that are staple in street dance circuits today--like popping, locking, and waacking--were often given their first chance to shine nationally on the Soul Train stage. This is certainly the case for Don Campbell and the Campbellockers. <br />
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As Asian American street (aka hip hop) dance crews continue to flourish around college campuses, we can say that the Soul Train stage first gave "breath" to the styles that we know and love. What is seen as "hip" and "cool" has a long legacy. In this case, the legacy is foregrounded by a push by Cornelius for more representation of African American creativity and "soul," which wasn't given light on television prior to the inauguration of Soul Train. <br />
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Michael Jackson performing The Robot, which he learned from Soul Train dancers.</td></tr>
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Today, Asian Americans and non-Asian Americans alike are advancing an alternative embodiment--a "cool" representation--through the kinetic language of street dance. And their getting noticed.<br />
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But, as "Americanized" subjects of U.S. colonialism, Filipinos have always been engaged with American dance culture since military occupation around 1900. In the diaspora, they have been American dance culture's most loyal adherents, as seen by male Filipino taxi dance hall performers in the pre-WWII era, the creation of Kaba Modern in 1992, and the dance crews that are thriving today (with a special shout out to the exploding dance crew scene in the Philippines).<br />
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<a href="http://www.ocweekly.com/2012-01-19/culture/kaba-modern-irvine/"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhD2uASxY9ONGdtr3yKYrTNp1uyT9BXrVsbLt7D4FSmC9hAOFQxjGCl9ytLl9hgFWmDmDvRDmoyMaRbHA3f8uVUQiavrykvHfv_v-gyEYHtXSklK0u7sHxZvSl5sYe8ie25oFSS5yJbqg_Y/s320/OC+weekly+kaba.jpg" width="267" /></a></div>
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In a <a href="http://www.ocweekly.com/2012-01-19/culture/kaba-modern-irvine/">recent Orange County Weekly article</a>,<b> Kaba Modern</b> founder <b>Arnel Calvario</b> testifies about the hip hop dance scene among Filipino Americans in Los Angeles in the late 1980s/early 1990s. During a time when hip hop was not widely accepted among members of the Filipino American community as a "Filipino thing," Calvario and other Fil Am hip hop performers (like Funki Junction, as written by <a href="http://empireoffunk.com/?page_id=512"><b>Cheryl Cambay</b> in <b><i>Empire of Funk</i></b></a>) had to carve their own avenues of hip hop expression. The article explains: <br />
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"Calvario, a freshman [at the University of California, Irvine] at the time, wanted to use the event [Pilipino Culture Night] to showcase the full Filipino-American experience, <i>his</i> experience, through the style of dance he loved most.<br />
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'I went up to the [club] president and said, 'Since it's Pilipino-<i>American</i>
Culture Night and so many Filipino Americans do hip-hop, shouldn't we
include our current styles as well as our historical, cultural styles?'
he recalls.'"<br />
<br />
Thus, Kaba Modern was born out of <b>Pilipino Culture Night</b>, which itself has acted as a promotional stage of Filipino representation. Hip hop has since been a necessary "suite" in the many suites of Filipino culture showcased in the PCNs (and Barrios Fiestas, on the East Coast). <br />
<br />
When hip hop became more popular in the mid 1980s, Don Cornelius didn't understand the rebellious cultural genre either. But as a shrewd businessman and so-called representative of African American popular culture, he gave hip hop a shot on his show. Like Filipino American "ethnic absolutists," Cornelius eventually learned to accept hip hop even though he didn't like it. Hip hop's historical march forward was unstoppable, and existing cultural institutions had to deal with it. <br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://www.blogger.com/goog_855761329"><img border="0" height="192" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjPtC55FLCkaZflc9CUknqBP_i6ZYehyM1kuowSrBt55QZ-hRYWDdEWZWmUCveKeqpHBLsz-tO4FcYvlMCReiVA5lAMXipb_Ok4PGkB_EDFGdYaZ2-Tk9ikcZWnkBNkuMjXXDHA-eMgzwHB/s320/PE+soultrian1.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Baby-faced Public Enemy on Soul Train</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://www.blogger.com/goog_614632659"><img border="0" height="203" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgYpgeG1sPGtjAjkxT2tJnfSRoZSu47rAyneyTjYqKdM67BORjZhdq0Dk2zZ8bS6AtuyroupcLdeDvpqr8YtmHUD-o3ZvAP2AvoxGZiDJOMz-SMG4NhwVnGRmVjfkzA2_aP5w7rvQUo8rH3/s320/PE+soultrain2.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://youtu.be/-gZmd1aAsGM?t=3m20s">Don Cornelius does not get it, in an awkward interview with Chuck D and Flava Flav</a></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<div style="text-align: center;">
</div>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://www.blogger.com/goog_855761337" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="209" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEibJJhPBNBQuJ3QGIuDpwt8Q3uSzOKl4a5G774itxcYGf9dyg1yWIfPvIBYFTV0Co7qYbeVxrVV5g7BXQjUxJCs2laM2SnTnZilYRBLz9D2x_xuwkG4u492ZXwXZlraw39NE9fyR1qjmzQE/s320/bboy+soul+train.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Bboys on Soul Train</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
Since the days of America's Best Dance Crew, street dance has not only increased in popularity among Asian Americans but also among the broader general public. But we must keep in mind that Soul Train provided a crucial venue for dancers more than 35 years prior to MTV's "discovery" of the styles. Now, street dance has been a stage--complete with a mic--for many young Asian Americans who are finding a "voice."<br />
<br />
Street dance would not be the same without Soul Train. Certainly, the Filipino American/Asian American choreographed dance scene is indebted to Don Cornelius's legacy. Like Cornelius's vision of giving more representation to African American "soul" on TV, Asian American street dancers on TV are grabbing the mic (an ode to Rakim) like their on Soul Train.<br />
<br />
--MVhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03187883523022766262noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6928580560962218724.post-68700038217139748382012-01-13T18:29:00.000-08:002012-01-16T13:44:09.649-08:00Keep the Bells Ringin! Rock the School Bells 2012<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://www.indiegogo.com/rocktheschoolbells"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjPiZ7jbzMIPBKc2yx4HraLH2HmptdvH8sfkRs0IHkgl0Y5vhNLJrDP2v-TemPC-Lxzc54jj6vsIPL8jk0bz7rscDqzU2UwqMQRtEtdl2Sk8AjLGUgnQ31jzIkUT4vo2cZOL0PUUeLr63HH/s320/rtsb+wood.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
<br />
<div style="text-align: center;">
<iframe allowfullscreen="" frameborder="0" height="233" src="http://www.youtube.com/embed/nTbol7Wrtp0" width="400"></iframe></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<b><a href="http://rocktheschoolbells.com/">Rock the School Bells</a></b> is back! On <b>March 24th, 2012</b> at <b>Skyline College </b>in San Bruno, CA, the alternative educational conference and concert returns for another round of workshops, performances, and forums. <a href="http://filamfunk.blogspot.com/2011/03/funk-at-rock-school-bells-saturday.html">Last year</a> we at <b>Fil Am Funk </b>presented on documentary filmmaking. Will the Funk be present again this year? We shall see.<br />
<br />
RTSB organizer and emcee <b>Nate Nevado</b> continues with his firm belief in the power and praxis of hip hop in our communities. Sometimes traditional schooling has failed us. For many of us, hip hop has been there to fill the void. But an event like RTSB that champions the educational utility of hip hop does not come free.<br />
<br />
Let's help Nate and the good folks at RTSB make the event happen. Their <a href="http://www.indiegogo.com/rocktheschoolbells"><b>IndieGoGo</b></a> online fundraising campaign is in full swing, having raised to date over $1,000 of the $15,000 goal. You can help them reach their goal by <b>February 15th</b>. <br />
<br />
Keep the bells ringin!<br />
<br />
<span class="agText"><h3 dir="ltr" id="internal-source-marker_0.9104606956401473">
<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 19px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: bold; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;">What is Rock The School Bells?</span></h3>
<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;">Rock
The School Bells (RTSB) is a hip-hop educational youth conference based
in the San Francisco Bay Area. It includes a comprehensive blend of
workshops and performances that enhance students' ability to:</span><br /><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;"></span><ul>
<li style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;"><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;">think critically about current issues in their communities as well as in the world </span></li>
<li style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;"><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;">read and write about topics related to their life's experiences</span></li>
<li style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;"><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;">display effective oral and written communication through readings, spoken word and poetry</span></li>
<li style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;"><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;">understand the historical and cultural aspects of hip-hop and its effect on society, education and personal development</span></li>
</ul>
<br /><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;"></span><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;">These
workshops integrate the four key elements of hip-hop: </span><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;"><b>b-boying
(breakdancing), graffiti art, DJing (turntablism) and emceeing.</b></span><br /><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;"></span><br /><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;">Some of RTSB's past workshops have covered topics such as:</span><ul>
<li style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;"><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;">Hip-Hop Entrepreneurship</span></li>
<li style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;"><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;">DJ Fundamentals</span></li>
<li style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;"><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;">Hip-Hop and Social Justice</span></li>
<li style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;"><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;">B-Girl It's Your World</span></li>
<li style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;"><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;">Weapons of Mass Promotions</span></li>
</ul>
<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;"><b><a href="http://www.indiegogo.com/rocktheschoolbells"> READ MORE... </a></b></span></span>MVhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03187883523022766262noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6928580560962218724.post-37114132890238877392012-01-05T10:42:00.000-08:002012-01-05T10:44:19.899-08:00Watch Global Pinay Style<div style="text-align: left;">
<iframe allowfullscreen="" frameborder="0" height="265" mozallowfullscreen="" src="http://player.vimeo.com/video/17529811" webkitallowfullscreen="" width="400"></iframe></div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
<a href="http://vimeo.com/17529811">Global Pinay Style</a> from <a href="http://vimeo.com/mrk904">FilAm Funk Productions</a> on <a href="http://vimeo.com/">Vimeo</a>.</div>
<br />
<div style="text-align: left;">
<b><i>Global Pinay Style</i></b> documents the rich hip hop dance scene that Filipinas are creating in the Philippines and these dancers' creative influences around the world. Focusing on members of the Philippine All Stars and Stellar, the film shows how Pinays are carving out spaces for a vibrant dance subculture and proving their skills for a global audience.</div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
Welcome to 2012! It's been a year-and-a-half since making <i style="font-weight: bold;">Global Pinay Style. </i>As the women in the film will attest, so much has happened within that time period: more <a href="http://filamfunk.blogspot.com/2011/06/another-allstars-victory.html">championships won</a>, more world tours, more music, more <a href="http://www.cdbaby.com/cd/cheloaestrid2">albums</a>, the opening of <b><a href="http://www.capitalgshop.com/">Capital G Shop</a></b> in Robinson's Galleria where young (and older) people can learn dance moves, and many more updates! </div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
I hope 2012 has much more in store for Pin@y dancers, musicians, artists, and performers all across the globe!! It's just the beginning.</div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
<br /></div>MVhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03187883523022766262noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6928580560962218724.post-91826575841615855632011-12-14T18:27:00.000-08:002011-12-14T18:34:25.575-08:00Bay2LA Beatrock Music Dec. 17th<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://youtu.be/6pSs-DJE98Q"><img border="0" height="265" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgsWF5EI2OhKu3z00ykTlfFLL93-28HEIJUumMjngQxr5ECP7PWzol4BwfxT43x7cY4y7XspnmPgsI9MNazxSdruSuHvyZLLU0rPZ4eNoDi9ph7u2zSC3XlEXStcDzV2nrkndvvvJeBXzyS/s400/beatrock.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
<br /><br />
<div style="text-align: center;">
An evening of music and art; with live performances from the <strong>Beatrock Music</strong> family and a photo portrait series of <strong>Beatrock Music artists by Leo Docuyanan</strong><br />
<br />
<strong>Saturday, December 17, 2011</strong><br />
<br />
@ 2150 Folsom Street, San Francisco, CA 94110<br />
<br />
ages 18 and up. Please bring photo id.<br />
$12 door<br />
8pm-12am<br />
*cash-only bar*<br />
<br />
PERFORMING LIVE:<br />
<br />
Prometheus Brown & Bambu are The Bar<br />
Otayo Dubb<br />
Rocky Rivera<br />
Power Struggle<br />
Kiwi<br />
Bwan<br />
DJ Phatrick on the turntables<br />
<br />
Visit:<br />
<a class="yt-uix-redirect-link" dir="ltr" href="http://beatrockmusic.com/" rel="nofollow" target="_blank" title="http://beatrockmusic.com"><span style="color: #1c62b9;">http://beatrockmusic.com</span></a><br />
<a class="yt-uix-redirect-link" dir="ltr" href="http://www.leodocuyanan.com/" rel="nofollow" target="_blank" title="http://www.leodocuyanan.com/"><span style="color: #1c62b9;">http://www.leodocuyanan.com/</span></a><br />
Video by Tony Rain (<a class="yt-uix-redirect-link" dir="ltr" href="http://www.strivefilms.com/" rel="nofollow" target="_blank" title="http://www.strivefilms.com"><span style="color: #1c62b9;">http://www.strivefilms.com</span></a>)</div>MVhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03187883523022766262noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6928580560962218724.post-1953730097946650692011-11-28T20:02:00.001-08:002011-11-29T15:32:55.646-08:00Global Jologs Style: Pacquiao's flexible meanings in the Filipino diaspora<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiMrAy4LSXjtfXT4qoF8h0kaHNRCkDwCzCfPwMsHN9xAvA_uVS41-et7LzvVb_BAEYmvEZb_D2GwrrrXJgcceIGlCRBNddJFva1uC1hZAkNJLm4sd5aX71Cq0uVkIU87I1Bln2VibOlsj_J/s1600/team+pacquiao.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="270" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiMrAy4LSXjtfXT4qoF8h0kaHNRCkDwCzCfPwMsHN9xAvA_uVS41-et7LzvVb_BAEYmvEZb_D2GwrrrXJgcceIGlCRBNddJFva1uC1hZAkNJLm4sd5aX71Cq0uVkIU87I1Bln2VibOlsj_J/s320/team+pacquiao.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<br /></div>
After a recent controversial win over his long-time foe <b>Juan
Manuel Marquez</b> and a looming <b>Floyd Mayweather</b> showdown closer than ever (Money
<a href="http://edition.cnn.com/2011/11/28/sport/boxing-mayweather-pacquiao-may/index.html">announced today</a> a proposed May 5, 2012 fight date), <b>Manny Pacquiao's</b> notoriety
shows no sign of waning, even though critics argue that his fighting ability is
on the decline. As a congressman in Sarangani Province, the globally popular
Filipino icon has had to juggle between his political responsibilities and his
sports career. Was this juggling the
cause of his uncompelling and indecisive win over Marquez?<br />
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
Filipinos in the U.S. and around the world cheered for their
champ, with some making the holy pilgrimage to Las Vegas to simply be within
Pacman's orbit. And for Filipinos in the
Philippines, waking up early and missing holy mass was a legitimate excuse for
the sake of a Pacquiao fight. The whole
world watches when the athlete once featured in <i>Time</i> <i>Magazine's</i> "most
influential people" list steps in the ring. </div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
And the whole world also wears him.</div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
Nike's "Team Pacquiao" brand has become
recognizable to many non-Filipinos, with the Philippine flag colors becoming
synonymous with the boxer. For sure,
Pacquiao gear (and also Philippine flag-themed gear) has set its place at the
table of Filipino American fashion sensibilities. </div>
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiS6umzfneu8mzoKVN-iaXHTKg7kK2Kw9BAQMOctxKcDVF6dKGwALs8sbvP-1zm0i907H7QFcoObEShSW0h7-PvDYDqQQYZ9roDraKIsbpJGNQxUjkI61R-ks6Z6umgB4HjKvrsYqoWzaje/s1600/blue-scholars-21+pacquiao.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="188" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiS6umzfneu8mzoKVN-iaXHTKg7kK2Kw9BAQMOctxKcDVF6dKGwALs8sbvP-1zm0i907H7QFcoObEShSW0h7-PvDYDqQQYZ9roDraKIsbpJGNQxUjkI61R-ks6Z6umgB4HjKvrsYqoWzaje/s320/blue-scholars-21+pacquiao.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Blue Scholars don't mind the jologs</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
But do the meanings of Pacquiao's image, especially through
Pacman fashion, remain the same for all Filipinos around the world? <br />
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
I was surprised to learn that in the Philippines, many
Filipinos regard Pacquiao as symbolizing "jologs," which roughly
translates to "ghetto" or "kitsch." Yes, the heroic
Filipino icon represents more dimensions than mass admiration. But that's just it. "Jologs" operates as a disparaging
marker for people who are seen as mindless and naive (think people who wear too
much Steelers or Lakers paraphernalia).
Hip hop too in the Philippines, as I try to show in my film <a href="http://vimeo.com/15007683"><b><i>Lyrical Empire: Hip Hop in Metro Manila</i></b></a> (also viewable in the right column), represents
for a certain segment of Filipinos a supposedly "uneducated"
"jologs" spirit. </div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
For Filipino Americans, Pacquiao is an emblem of Filipino
pride, identity, masculinity, and power. Even for non-Filipinos, as <a href="http://filamfunk.blogspot.com/2010/11/what-makes-peoples-champion.html%20%20"><b>Davey D</b></a>
argues, Pacquiao has become a "People's Champion" because of his
pro-common people values. </div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
But there is an undeniable phenomenon among many Filipinos
in the Philippines in which they will happily watch the Pacquiao fights, but
will refuse to wear Team Pacquiao clothing.
I wouldn't be surprised if the Team Pacquiao merchandise sold in the
Philippines was mostly purchased by Filipino balikbayan tourists. </div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
For some reason, Pacquiao in the Philippines and Pacquiao in
the Filipino diaspora isn't the same person.</div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
Certainly a major explanation is class (and the specter of
class aspirations). Since Nike's
takeover of Pacquiao merchandise, it has been much more difficult for poorer people
in the Philippines to buy expensive Nike-brand Pacman shirts, hence the noticeable (and ironic) lack
of Pacquiao clothing among the masa in the islands. But the middle classes aren't sporting it
either. The real market, it seems, are
those Filipinos "out there" across the globe who are unaware of the cultural
politics in the mother land, who are oblivious to "baduy,"
"bakya," or "jologs"--epithets that describe the cultural
tastes of the masa.</div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
When Pacquiao makes his post-fight interviews, we might flinch and chuckle. In the
Philippines, the "jologs"-induced cringing moment could not be
stronger. As a major political figure who
has little education, limited English (compared to more-educated citizens), and
a manic masa following, Pacquiao exemplifies at best an ambivalent figure for
many Filipinos in the Philippines, especially among those who have been critiquing civil society and are engaged in the political process,
a process in which the champ has quickly assumed a degree of leverage and power (think
Erap). </div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
When Pacquiao sings Karaoke songs on Jimmy Kimmel Live, many
Filipinos in the diaspora embrace him for his levity and charm. Without the "jologs" factor in
their vocabulary of Filipino cultural politics, Manny remains harmless. He might seem as simple as the poor people
who sing on variety shows like <i>Wowowee</i>, but he is excused for his pronunciation
and grammar "errors" because he is a winner--a masculine embodiment of Philippine nationhood. </div>
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But in the Philippines, the complex and often
contradictory cultural politics of everyday life manifests itself when
the boxer-legislator appears on the TV screen.
In a poor country, "being" Filipino means much
more than wearing the three colors. When
Pacquiao fights his opponents in the ring while also fighting key legislation such
as the Reproductive Health bill, the cultural consciousnesses of
Filipinos around the world become strangers.</div>
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---</div>MVhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03187883523022766262noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6928580560962218724.post-29398093190872477572011-11-13T21:43:00.001-08:002011-11-13T21:55:40.327-08:00Filipino American Dance Culture in Suburbia: The Story of Funki Junction<br />
Our project <a href="http://empireoffunk.com/"><i><b>Empire of Funk: Filipino Americans in the Cipher of Hip Hop</b></i></a> is continuing to grow. Please check out this compelling article written by Cerritos-native Cheryl Cambay. It time stamps a very critical moment in the development of Filipino American culture in the 1980s and early 1990s. Great work, Cheryl! <br />
<br />
Also, as a reminder, we are taking submissions for poetry, fiction, photography, and visual art for publication on the website until <b>November 28th</b>. Visit our <a href="http://empireoffunk.com/?page_id=199">website</a> for more information. <br />
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<a href="http://empireoffunk.com/?page_id=82"><span style="color: #888888;"><span id="goog_2118720809"></span></span><img border="0" height="198" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEibOuXOQNpKeSb8B6S7Z0qC0ROSOIxFnnOBC3TIkxeJaMuVz5sATXorupUvlyyyYlKH8MFqtWO5jdGG_Q-DyGbHPO-LY8umRt0QPmj5XGFlrluOLYBc4nD52YC9uyXYwm8cOw_eea3mrL2o/s400/EOF+screen+capture.jpg" width="400" /></a><span id="goog_2118720810"></span></div>
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<a href="http://empireoffunk.com/?page_id=512"><b>Filipino American Dance Culture in Suburbia: The Story of Funki Junction</b></a><br />
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by Cheryl Cambay
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<span style="font-size: large;"><b>"</b></span>...I remember rehearsals well – we’d end up at someone’s house and practice in the garages, front yard or the street. At one of girls’ houses - without the mirrors like you see in dance studios, the way we viewed our progress was literally to video tape rehearsals on a camera that was propped up on a tripod and view the footage and make adjustments, corrections, blocking as needed. When we rehearsed at Emil’s house I remember his mother had a glass-mirrored closet that we used to rehearse in front of and it was small so you couldn’t see the whole group from the reflection! Oh the joy of practices at our parents’ houses after school! And whenever we needed to rehearse or perform at a gig we literally had to call each other at home (no cell phones or email) or page each other to make sure we scheduled rehearsals and made ourselves available for the gigs we were asked to perform at. We also went shopping for performance outfits, which consisted throughout the years of overalls, paisley shirts, timberland boots, embroidered hats, parachute pants – what we considered cool and hip at the time!..." <a href="http://empireoffunk.com/?page_id=512">[continue]</a><br />
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-----MVhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03187883523022766262noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6928580560962218724.post-179867022914858882011-10-28T00:17:00.000-07:002011-10-28T00:17:12.045-07:00Multigeneration Fil-Am Cipher at D-Cypher!<div style="text-align: center;">
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<iframe allowfullscreen="" frameborder="0" height="233" src="http://www.youtube.com/embed/PSV36ZMncU8" width="400">&lt;p&gt;&amp;amp;amp;lt;br&amp;amp;amp;gt;&amp;amp;amp;lt;br&amp;amp;amp;gt;&amp;amp;amp;lt;br&amp;amp;amp;gt;&amp;amp;amp;lt;br&amp;amp;amp;gt;jjjj&lt;/p&gt;</iframe><br />
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Witness this multigenerational cipher of Fil Am dancers from the <a href="http://filamfunk.blogspot.com/2011/10/entry-into-official-filipino-american.html"><b>D-Cypher</b> event at the Liwanag Cultural Center! </a><br />
<br />Description: <br />
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Big shout out to JDB Creativity for the dance footage. Please check out <a class="yt-uix-redirect-link" dir="ltr" href="http://www.jdbcreativity.com/" rel="nofollow" target="_blank" title="http://www.jdbcreativity.com/">http://www.jdbcreativity.com/</a> for more info.<br /><br />
D-Cypher
was a discussion with some of the most influential Filipino Street
dancers from the San Francisco Bay Area. The organizers bridged their
personal histories, discussed how the scene was back in the day, and
learned about Filipino contributions to street dance, Hip Hop, and
Filipino/Fil-Am Kulture. Learn and hear stories about the local dance
scene!<br /><br />
Panelists:<br /><br />
- Don Boogaloo<br />- OG Smurf (Master City Breakers)<br />- Finesse (Master City Breakers)<br />- J Krush (Star City Crew)<br />- Andre (Star City Crew)<br />- Gizmo (Renegade Rockers, Knuckle Neck Tribe)<br />- Chaz (GroovMekanex, Zulu Nation, Natural Elements Crew(DC))<br />- G Boogz (Knuckle Neck Tribe)<br />- wish1 (Jughead Tribe, Jedi Clan, Mindtricks, Groovaloos, Jabbawockeez, Sub Ren, w1shone.com)<br />- Sha Boogie (Renegades, Mind Over Matter, MPM, Tribe)<br />- Dennis (GroovMekanex, MuthaFunkers)<br />- Delrokz (Break for Tots, Zulu Nation)<br />Moderated by Alan Mar David<br />Edited by Will Kong<br />Sponsored by Liwanag Kultural Center, Kalayaan School for Equity, North County Peninsula Partnerships, and Rock the School Bells </div>
</div>MVhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03187883523022766262noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6928580560962218724.post-73566832661089898242011-10-17T13:31:00.000-07:002011-10-17T13:34:55.292-07:00<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://empireoffunk.com/"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgny75cmOCM2RXtb5_7xEXO5afuoSZpOrtOxhyc5CdLpQK5FaIKSssMXwZRV8jzOsD0_ip4xa_TaejgJJeIrnAiQWYIom39UISe-m1_EiU21cYtxmO60n59s0gKa3OJXoO-kt_52X3iz4vk/s320/EOF+logo+for+FB.jpg" width="290" /></a></div>
<a href="http://empireoffunk.com/"><i><b>Empire of Funk: Filipino American in the Cipher of Hip Hop</b></i></a> is taking submissions for publication on our website! Deadline for submissions is on <b>Monday, November 28th</b>. This is an exciting project me and DJ Kuttin Kandi have been formulating for some time now. Big ups to all our <a href="http://empireoffunk.com/?page_id=136">contributors</a> (who include DJ Icy Ice, DJ Niel Armstrong, Kimmy Maniquis of Kaba Modern, DJ Nasty Nes, literary award winner Patrick Rosal, and many, many others!) and supporters for being with us the whole way. Can't wait to see everyone's submissions! Here we go! <br />
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<b>Description of Empire of Funk:</b><br />
<i>Empire of Funk: Filipino Americans in the Cipher of Hip Hop</i> is a project that seeks to highlight the history and talent of Filipino Americans in hip hop. Long overdue, this endeavor attempts to demonstrate the intimate and meaningful link between the Filipino American experience and hip hop. Sometimes seen as a culture separate from the Filipino American experience, <i>Empire of Funk </i>provides a forum to foreground the exact opposite: hip hop culture has been integral to the Filipino American community, functioning as a legitimate part of the Filipino American experience well before hip hop gained mainstream popularity. <br />
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Furthermore, we believe that rather than spreading negative "pathology," hip hop provides a cultural medium for spreading knowledge and exploring cultural consciousness. <br />
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<i>Empire of Funk </i>serves as an artistic and literary canvas, gathering the talent of multiple generations of artists, writers, performers, photographers, scholars, educators, and activists.<br />
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We want your talent! We will be reviewing visual art, photography, fiction, and poetry <a href="http://empireoffunk.com/?page_id=110"> </a> submissions to be published on our website. <br />
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The theme for submitting original work is: <b>Knowledge of self</b>. Priority will be given to work that relates to Filipino American experiences in hip hop. <br />
<b><br />Submission procedure: </b><br />
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1. Email a jpg (less than 5MB) sample of your piece or a word document of your writing to <b>EmpireofFunk [at] gmail.com</b>.<br />
2.Type Art Submission and your name in the Subject of line of your email.<br />
3. Include your name, email, location, and website (if available) in the body of your email.<br />
4. Submit your work by <b>Monday, November 28th. </b><br />
<br />
Although we are eager to review all submissions, we cannot guarantee acceptance of your work on our website or in future publications. Please note that artists whose work we accept and publish will retain ownership of their material. <br />
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In addition, we are looking for eager and talented minds to join us in the planning and growth of Empire of Funk, including web designers, print designers, and publication liaisons. Please <a href="http://empireoffunk.com/?page_id=102">contact us</a> if you are interested.<br />
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<br />MVhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03187883523022766262noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6928580560962218724.post-41390991391671107182011-10-10T15:26:00.000-07:002011-10-10T15:26:57.217-07:00Entry into "Official" Filipino American History?<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://www.facebook.com/event.php?eid=12341522442766#%21/event.php?eid=123415224427665"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiD9dKjmii5gOSXN51xjAcq_L23XdioMjZ3hc_FjGT0SXDOPm5o0wi_2Jkobvc8Q2L9NK4HbtaMivdWK0JcfypPq5pkxqWETlsc7m2B0Q9ncl12vpLN4vJmes3aWrQgvQA-RYnKqUAj8TIi/s640/Built+from+Skratch.jpg" width="425" /></a></div>
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It has always been history in the making. On <b>Thursday, October 13th</b>--in observance of Filipino American History Month--the event <a href="https://www.facebook.com/event.php?eid=12341522442766#%21/event.php?eid=123415224427665"><b>Built from Skratch: Rediscovering the Pin@ay DJ Scene(s) in Daly City</b></a> will be held at the <b>Liwanag Kultural Center </b>in Daly City (San Francisco area). Once written (or even dismissed) as "contemporary" or "modern" Filipino American culture (and therefore supposedly less important than "real" history) Filipino American popular music culture (i.e. hip hop forms) is more and more being archived along with "official" Filipino American history.<br />
<br />
At the same time that Filipino American hip hop performances are legitimized and historicized under the auspices of researchers (<a href="http://www.theatlantic.com/entertainment/archive/2011/01/unlimited-creations-filipino-mobile-djs-of-the-bay-area/69992/">check out OW's article "Unlimited Creations" in the <i>Atlantic</i></a>), educators, and community institutions, a younger generation of Filipino American who seem to feel distant from the Filipino American hip hop experience of the 1980s and 1990s (up to the 2000s for the very young) are now afforded the opportunity to learn more about the cultural contributions of their kuyas, ates, titos, titas, and parents. <br />
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Then, on <b>Monday, October 17th</b>, <b>Liwanag</b> is also hosting an event on Filipino American dancers called <a href="https://www.facebook.com/event.php?eid=281836151836361&pending"><b>D-Cypher: Dialogue with Bay Area Filipino Street Dancers.</b></a><br />
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I'm hoping that these "cyphers" of knowledge will be constructive for "old school" practitioners and younger people alike so that the culture can continue building and expanding boundaries. In addition, I hope that these sessions will avoid bashing the existing state of hip hop that young people may identify with while glorifying the "golden age" of so-and-so decade. Whatever the case, this is a wonderful and promising start to future dialogues, hopefully in the San Francisco Bay Area and beyond!<br />
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---MVhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03187883523022766262noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6928580560962218724.post-19454561737113971932011-09-21T16:52:00.000-07:002011-09-26T15:59:28.795-07:00"The Learning" and the teaching: Episodes of education<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Class is in session at UC Berkeley</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://filamfunk.blogspot.com/2010/12/hip-hop-over-homework-filipino.html" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="266" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiNGRdtqI-5d4JUANJeE4hJBL16duqNOrQgdJG42KTDXtLLsbzMM3qpo5CeH_DQnZcaiOdY2WcSSVnSzTfGE_mhBqqF640khlz3MDSx486UJbH6Q2waFNVtjkBHq_19fbzfdl4XhCcibZ3v/s400/tatlong+boys.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Filipino students become indoctrinated</td></tr>
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<br />
Yesterday was a day packed with education.<br />
<br />
I had the privilege and honor to appear via video chat for Professor Griff Rollefson's music class <b>"Planet Rap: Global Hip Hop and Postcolonial Perspectives"</b> at the University of California, Berkeley. The students were assigned my article <b><a href="http://filamfunk.blogspot.com/2010/12/hip-hop-over-homework-filipino.html">"Hip hop over homework: Filipino Americans 'failing'?"</a></b> and my documentary <a href="http://vimeo.com/15007683"><b><i>Lyrical Empire: Hip Hop in Metro Manila</i></b></a>. <br />
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In a bizarre performance of pedagogy through technology (I'm picturing my 20 ft. talking head lighting up an auditorium), I had the opportunity to answer student questions about the article and the film. The questions were a great exercise in thinking through the value of studying the topic of Filipino Americans and hip hop culture, and the urgency (if any) with which to approach political projects involving hip hop. Some of the questions were quite provocative, including the following:<br />
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-"What is the usefulness of <b>postcolonial studies</b> when studying hip hop?" In other words, why should we study hip hop using the same lens that we use to view the contexts of formerly colonized nations?<br />
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-"How can one make sense of hip hop if it is both an expression of <b>radical politics </b>globally, but it is also an object of <b>global commodity capitalism</b>?"<br />
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-"Are there possibilities of <b>Asian American </b>and <b>African American</b> collaborations with which hip hop plays a role?"<br />
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-"Do you see Filipino Americans seeking '<b>stability</b>' as the goal of 'success'? And why should Filipino Americans gain <b>consciousness</b> about the Philippines?"<br />
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Thanks for the opportunity to "appear" for yall's class. Hopefully I gave sufficient responses to some tough questions. I hope to do something like this again in the future.<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://www.blogger.com/goog_889747023" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="222" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg-IHQ0CRIfTAugNa7uYagaZ8TgzsjGaIAwKf7RR-Gm3_FYh5uYGqjTT2LaLD1gx8Izlmnkwl0kCkUamLmlDnyXFAdnIWdHgUmTCz-BLLN0lfxlCTA3f8NNrJjt9P2_50bOCQmUwdWkY159/s400/the+learning+pandango.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://www.pbs.org/pov/learning/">Angel, a Filipina teacher recruited by Baltimore's school district, performs Pandango sa Ilaw with her students.</a></td></tr>
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Later on that evening, I was able to catch the PBS premiere of <b>Ramona Diaz</b>'s documentary <a href="http://www.pbs.org/pov/learning/"><i><b>The Learning</b></i></a>, which documents one year in the lives of four Filipina contracted teachers recruited by the Baltimore school district.<br />
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So while I am teaching U.S. college students to critically study the historical formation of the Philippines and criticizing the <i>Asian Journal </i>article's definition of "success" (see my article <a href="http://filamfunk.blogspot.com/2010/12/hip-hop-over-homework-filipino.html">"Hip hop over homework"</a>), Filipina teachers make a geographical trek to the U.S. in order to teach fundamentals of survival and life skills. They are facilitators of "success", and I pray students and school districts value their contributions.<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://www.blogger.com/goog_889747028" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="187" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhDIx3F-2P3e9CRYbqTAjNLn8R-GCKhR4VR_LFShJCJ6u9Bj1PRQzwD00yG8XPzi9Kwgot46fBWunt_cc5rc1Olvoc7gwt_otqODjj3E_OcZ744D_hMkkmD-HsQnNU7gTI6HOg0gIgYps7z/s400/the+learning+lab.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://www.pbs.org/pov/learning/">Dorothea teaches a science lab to her high schoolers.</a></td></tr>
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At a time when many school districts around the nation are in crisis because of a dearth of math, science, and special education teachers, Filipina sojourners have taken up the calling to fill the gaps. Leaving their family and students behind in order to enter a version of America they do not know from TV or books, these women enter the <b>battlefield of education in black and brown communities</b> across the U.S.<br />
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<a href="http://www.pbs.org/pov/learning/"><i><b>The Learning</b></i></a> gives an intimate portrait of the bravery, sacrifice, and love of these four teachers, who represent a small slice of the thousands of Filipino/a teachers imported to provide low-cost labor in neglected school districts. The documentary points out that the <b>"tides have turned" on U.S. colonial programs in the Philippines</b>--which inaugurated U.S.-style instruction to Filipino students beginning in the early 1900s--with Filipino teachers fluent in American English coming to the U.S. to teach American students. In Baltimore alone, <b>10% of teachers (or 600 total) </b>are recruited from the Philippines.<br />
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One Filipina student in the UC Berkeley music class asked me what I thought about Filipino Americans becoming conscious of the Philippines. I think <a href="http://www.pbs.org/pov/learning/"><i><b>The Learning</b></i></a> is a testament to the importance of <b>critically analyzing the historical condition in the Philippines</b>, where the "tides have turned" in a way, where <b>First World nations are seeking Filipino/a workers</b>--who are fluent in English and other valued skill sets--to compensate for First World labor voids. As Filipino Americans, having a critical look at the Philippines means understanding that <b>"we are here" because "they were there." </b><br />
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As Filipino Americans, the battlefield is not only in geographic districts where many of us attend crumbling schools. The battlefield is also in our minds; of reclaiming our own histories and debunking the myths that continue to disparage our lives and bodies. <br />
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--- MVhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03187883523022766262noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6928580560962218724.post-157937717495776482011-09-07T23:43:00.000-07:002011-09-07T23:43:03.100-07:00"Bad about You" video<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://www.blogger.com/goog_286012332"><img border="0" height="245" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhwvp5tq2IHA-RsmLDvJIBgtTOLK_VDl_PJdKPIItH9RrfmptPBTGuNg9E5OnnsU3WBOOEBA68dMVr-6LtITQim27cPuVcNvWe8AA89TmLuayu1_kB61qSYP38aFur1WSLn5YXS47ADsuGp/s400/Good+sin.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://www.blogger.com/goog_286012332"><b>The Good Sin</b></a><a href="http://youtu.be/PWVBv-Frt7k"> can't shake that something "bad about you"</a></td></tr>
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Seattle emcee<a href="http://thegoodsin.bandcamp.com/"><b> The Good Sin</b></a> brings you his love/lust tribulation video "Bad about You", which can be heard in his EP <i>Late</i> that came out early this year. Produced by our dear friend <b><a href="http://filamfunk.blogspot.com/2011/03/artist-spotlight-seattle-sound-with-104.html">10.4 Rog</a></b>, <i>Late</i> provides you with that laid back rap. "Bad about You" is a good mix of relateable romantic quandary complete with a singable chorus, Phonte-like crooning, electronic quirkiness, and a measured and deliberate beat. <b>10.4 Rog</b> peppers <i>Late</i> with haunting and lingering prologues and epilogues to songs, like the one in "Bad about you." This makes for a more complete-sounding song.<br />
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----MVhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03187883523022766262noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6928580560962218724.post-88492285844362538572011-09-04T11:23:00.000-07:002011-09-04T11:24:28.334-07:00Sunday Cipher: Shakespeare swag?<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-asia-pacific-14755370" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="285" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEglNgfzpqlxfOU-QmI_9xchp8YtCLqZkxsp3MFZO4RvJKrl-tG01ona09DRjskgPDI2OK0Z5cGNKqWLxEsZnZbZ2h45KXovIhM8SyUuwgB4IXI79iu6dC0RwJZV_ffNzPj9SSlYQG6TgoEc/s400/shakespeare.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Philippine theatre group go hip hop</td><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"></td></tr>
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<a href="http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-asia-pacific-14755370">From BBC News (Sept. 1, 2011):</a> <br />
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<span style="font-size: large;"><b>"</b></span>A theatre group in Philippines takes a modern twist on Shakespeare, re-working the classics into a modern rap musical.<br />
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The aim is to help young people to understand the playwright.<br />
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"William" shows real life problems encountered by real students when it comes to learning Shakespearean masterpieces.<br />
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Marek Pruszewicz reports."<br />
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MVhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03187883523022766262noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6928580560962218724.post-14325378215141393662011-08-31T23:35:00.000-07:002011-08-31T23:35:54.950-07:00DJ E-Man honored at 20th Anniversary of FPAC<div style="text-align: center;">
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<a href="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dnaTQYLPgB0"><img border="0" height="311" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgENTaaMow-UVeig1tipagHOY44HZ8FdaKzAfbnCZvll4Vj0_XZUs9lJrVlAs4QzD1BatRHuBOiV2SjEslIZAsl6MJIwqb5Z6AujdCQPIxd2OIAvAod-s7UPEda0HWHoAWm0ba7Ed4Vd-r2/s400/eman.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-size: x-small;"><b>DJ E-Man</b> of <b>Power 106</b> talks about being honored at the <b>20th Anniversary of the</b> <b>Festival of Philippine Arts and Culture</b></span></div>
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Long Beach, CA native <b><a href="http://www.power106.fm/mixers/djEman.aspx">DJ E-Man</a></b> will be honored with the <b>FilAm ARTS Media Award</b> at the <a href="http://filamarts.org/fpac20.htm"><b>20th Anniversary of the Festival of Philippine Arts and Culture (FPAC) on Sunday, September 11</b></a>. The weekend-long festival will begin on <b>Saturday, September 10th</b>. <b>DJ E-Man</b>, a veteran in the hip hop game who developed his skills in the Southern California party promotion scene and eventually rose-up as one of those Fil Am luminaries in the top-ranks of the media industry, will share the award stage with multi-award winning singer and actress <b>Lea Solanga</b>. <br />
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We are proud of <b>E-Man</b> as he receives this prestigious award and reflect on the impact he has made for many Fil Ams and beyond! Learn more about <a href="http://www.bakitwhy.com/articles/artist-spotlight-dj-e-man"><b>E-Man</b> at BakitWhy</a>.<br />
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In other <b>FPAC </b>news, <b>Bambu</b> and <b>Kiwi</b> reunite (again) this year as <b>Native Guns</b> on Sunday of the festival. Also, <a href="http://filamfunk.blogspot.com/2010/06/joe-bataan-marches-around-world.html"><b>Joe Bataan</b></a> will be returning to the festival on Saturday! Yes, its time to boogaloo to the King of Latin Soul in Point Fermin Park! Great programming work by the good folks at FilAm ARTS! <br />
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<a href="http://www.bakitwhy.com/events/native-guns-reunion-performance-fpac-20"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEida8mwOB5T6_1_hcnjkTyZwH6-420jYvtsxyDvyb3veZ_DCCkVI8fQ8_2V7Xv6kFEn1GwOKgyn-80tUWUTb1f3pmJkEFJJhgW_GRQa0h29YrDYL6nuwV4ZFsXt8FGkIRmLAplQPajtuO3p/s400/native+guns.jpg" width="310" /></a></div>
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<img border="0" height="266" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjyv4P34rHKI4-a9TvQVtScF_ChOt8qdtdT44IkBhWHhbYUd6KXsCv-dFk36glsv-OQ7_xqEWVbBq-5NFDQt837_xe9a8ZwKWuIJohwEDsXsMXbH7_M1KYnw3ZMcS0lmtwu23bwYDmJo-zC/s400/joe+bataan+fpac.jpg" width="400" /></div>
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<b>---</b>MVhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03187883523022766262noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6928580560962218724.post-53581878153315323052011-08-24T12:56:00.000-07:002011-08-24T22:17:49.206-07:00Another dimension! Out of this world with Hopie<div style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEihzB3IZC1J2KRgOa3dogcrFKlJOnz4IIfAk_m82gcY6TPWHVKFxyC0UUVLW1qf4Cq9sdmX7o4RBl3kfK7kAjDVSYm1tSosYU1inLWN4iGb3mFHnejMjqSkdvt4-eswze7WmUo2yRDAsnT6/s1600/ghost+hopie.JPG"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 358px; height: 400px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEihzB3IZC1J2KRgOa3dogcrFKlJOnz4IIfAk_m82gcY6TPWHVKFxyC0UUVLW1qf4Cq9sdmX7o4RBl3kfK7kAjDVSYm1tSosYU1inLWN4iGb3mFHnejMjqSkdvt4-eswze7WmUo2yRDAsnT6/s400/ghost+hopie.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5644514244858123490" border="0" /></a><span style="font-size:85%;"><span style="color: rgb(102, 102, 102);">Hopie's ephemeral dimensionality at Los Angeles' Blu Monkey</span></span>
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<br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhh1D-PRA6TgZi1Ibdt8ovP6i2nxvjGbLwXnaIuh-HG_xSJseGypxp_RqNJmpp-kQaMVbfC-EPHTkbwFSx4XT5QiZqeraAx2Nxyi4ZgwTnUksonnrx9yA6HIbc87O9ljYQgk7Smvnmu7u0F/s1600/hopie+video.JPG"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhh1D-PRA6TgZi1Ibdt8ovP6i2nxvjGbLwXnaIuh-HG_xSJseGypxp_RqNJmpp-kQaMVbfC-EPHTkbwFSx4XT5QiZqeraAx2Nxyi4ZgwTnUksonnrx9yA6HIbc87O9ljYQgk7Smvnmu7u0F/s400/hopie+video.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5644514318790674818" border="0" /></a><span style="font-size:85%;"><span style="color: rgb(102, 102, 102);">"Space Case" (featuring Del the Funky Homosapien) video premiered at Blu Monkey last week</span></span>
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<br /><div style="text-align: left;">For those who can't get enough of <a href="http://www.history.com/shows/ancient-aliens">Ancient Aliens</a> and <a href="http://science.discovery.com/tv/through-the-wormhole/">Through the Wormhole</a>, Hopie distorts your sense reality in "Space Case"!
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<br />Be sure to look out for <a href="http://www.hopiespitshard.com/site/"><span style="font-weight: bold;">Hopie Spitshard</span></a>'s new album, <a href="http://www.hopiespitshard.com/site/"><span style="font-style: italic; font-weight: bold;">Raw Gems</span></a> out soon! Scoop her EP, <a href="http://www.cdbaby.com/cd/hopie"><span style="font-weight: bold; font-style: italic;">Dulce Vita</span></a>, out now!
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<br /></div></div>MVhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03187883523022766262noreply@blogger.com0