Beats, Rhymes, and Resistance: A decade later

Before I get to "Beats, Rhymes, and Resistance," I'd first like to address the relationships between culture and politics. In the shadow of a historical transition to power with Barack Obama's presidency (what could be going through Jesse Jackson's mind right now?), there lingers many violent and disturbing acts of injustices. From the killing of Oscar Grant and shooting of Robert Tolan to Israel's grossly disproportionate military aggresion toward Palestinian people (and here), these examples are just a few of the innumerable power struggles that poor, disenfranchised, hungry, and marginalized women, men, and children live through everyday.

Obama, Grant, and Tolan

We will not go through a laundry list of oppression here. But as hip hop "heads" we know well the role culture plays in spaces of oppression and inequality. Where there is injustice there seems to always be a cultural response/expression that challenges injustice: music, dance, storytelling, language, paintings, etc. Hip hop is one mode of expression here in the States and is arguably employed with more political intensity among heads in Cuba, Germany, the Philippines, Kenya, etc.

However, the homey M.dot argues in the "Model Minority" blog: "Hip Hop isn't political. A Hip Hop show isn't political. An album isn't political." Please read her entry.

How important does cultural production (art, language, music, poetry, theater, etc.) play in radical/progressive political mobilization?

It's been more than a decade since the making of the documentary film "Beats, Rhymes, and Resistance: Pilipinos and Hip Hop in Los Angeles," which features some influential Fil Am hip hop artists (in their "younger" years!) such as Kiwi, Babu, Faith Santilla, DJ Symphany, and Icy Ice, and many others. It highlights the "cultural liberation" (as Faith Santilla says in the film) that hip hop brings to Fil Ams...the radical expressions that hip hop cultivates. "Hip hop," as DJ Dwenz says in the film, "is the voice of inner city youth." In this sense, hip hop is seen as a motivating "force" in political struggle...hip hop is political.

"Beats, Rhymes, and Resistance" is probably the first work that seriously tackles the topic of Filipinos in hip hop. Lakandiwa de Leon's "Filipinotown and the DJ Scene" (here) resonates with the film (as Lakan is a co-director) and goes into more depth with gang culture and colonization. For those who have watched "Hip Hop Mestizaje," you can see how much the film influences my own work. It has paved the way for many young folks who are seriously interrogating this subject.

But, how relevant is this film today?
Given the state of hip hop in 2009, is the film's focus on hip hop's political role still applicable?

Or is M.dot right, hip hop is really less political than people may think?

Peep the film here (thanks to Lakandiwa de Leon):

For Palestine, for the family of Oscar Grant, for all people looking for justice, in whatever mode we strive for a better society (whether it be hip hop culture or not), may we always move forward to love and justice.

SDAFF and DJ Tribute testimonies

"Beyond Manila" filmmakers (and actress) at SDAFF

It's been more than a month since the 17th Annual Festival of Philippines Arts and Culture (FPAC), and the "beautifully traumatic" (all love!) event has recently been on the brain. Screening Legend and other great (and extremely emotional) short Filipino/Fil Am films at the San Diego Asian Film Festival (check out yo boy at 1:00 here) and kickin it with UCI Kababayan folks (faithful FPAC supporters) reminded me that I still haven't posted up some post-FPAC analysis.

No doubt, one of the highlights of FPAC was the Stacksvinyl.com FPAC Tribute to the Filipino DJ, which honored a handful of the most impacting Fil Am DJs out there. Thanks to Zeta Phi Rho at CSULB for hosting me for Pilipino American History Month last week, and allowing me to screen Legend and chop up on some hip hop history. I hope some folks in the crowd that night were also at the Tribute, because it was history in front of your eyes.

Kat, Nasty Nes, Babu, Babu's son, Rhettmatic, Kuttin Kandi, Brian Samson (Def Jam), MV (photo credit: Mike Nailat)

So it was a great honor to help put together this Tribute together with Kat and Mary Rose. Below are excerpts from DJ Dstrukt (2006 Stacks Amateur Battle Champ) , who opened up the Tribute with a turntable set, and DJ Nasty Nes, one of the honorees. We all hope this can be an annual occasion, and more people (especially the younger, YouTube generation) pay attention to those Fil Am hip hop heads who blazed the way.

DJ Dstrukt
It was dope seeing Rhett and babu get love from the Filipino community. But I believe there are many more dj's and crews that paved the way for other dj's. For example, 5th platoon's neil Armstrong & Vinroc, everyone from the Skratch Piklz( Qbert, Shortkut, D-styles, Disk, Apollo, Mix Master Mike), Swift Rock, Mike Boo, majority of the Junkies, etc. Too many to name. The world is full with djs.

I felt more then honored to open for these legends. But it's kind of hard to do your set when you got Rhett, Babs, Nes, and Kandi in your peripheral vision. haha. We're all human and we all get nervous from time to time.





DJ Nasty Nes
I expected a rare look at 4 legendary filipino dj's standing together on one stage sharing their experiences & knowledge with the public & with the younger kids who will one day would like to become a dj when they get older.

To me it was an honor to be amongst my peers & hundreds of filipinos in one area. My mom passed away nearly 30 years ago so to be able to get on stage & share my experiences of my mom & what she taught me growing up & to dedicate my award to her really meant a lot to me.

It was like winning an Academy Award. A joyous feeling to be recognized by your people. I almost broke down crying on stage because the FPAC Award really touched my heart & I will treasure the memories from September 7th, 2008 for the rest of my life.

I'm so proud of Babu, Rhettmatic, Kuttin Kandi, Brian Samson & Kat Carrido. I've known just about everyone of them for over 10 to 20 years. I have to give props also to Icy Ice who was out of town & couldn't be at FPAC this year. Icy Ice has been down with me when I was on top & when I hit rock bottom. In this biz, you know who your real friends & family are!

Festival reflections: When the fun is done

Ok, so the 17th Annual Festival of Philippine Arts and Culture (FPAC) is finished. Finito. Tapos na!

So many things happened in the past week, that it is difficult for me to process. Where to start? I don't know. Everything seemed HUGE, so it feels insufficient to just mention a few things. Since this blog is dedicated to hip hop culture, and I helped spearhead the hip hop programs for the festival, you'll soon read upcoming interviews and reflections about the following programs related to FPAC:

FPAC Hip Hop Circle at Lost Souls Cafe!
Sharing the table with the new and old school, this event hopes to be the start of some solid documentation on Fil Ams in Hip Hop culture. A night to remember! Among those present were filmmaker John Castro (The Debut), Oliver Wang (Fil Am DJ historian), Joe Bataan (the King of Latin R&B), Kuttin Kandi (Turntablist champion and activist), Krishtine deLeon (rapper and journalist), Bambu (rapper and community activist), Mark Pulido (veteran popper, LA Fil Am hip hop historian, and elected official--how you like that bro?), and Arnel Calvario (doctor, founder of Kaba Modern, and President of Culture Shock LA).







Boom mics and camcorders invade the cypher!










Joe Bataan on his rap record "Rap-O-Clap-O" success in Europe













The cypher at Lost Souls


Stacksvinyl.com FPAC Tribute to the Filipino DJ
Nice gold records (courtesy of homey Mary Rose)! Nasty Nes almost making us all cry! Congratulations Nes, Babu (and son), Rhett, and Kandi! Maybe future honorees were in the crowd, looking up and dreaming...one day?








Photo from pinoylife.com



Show and Prove Street Dance Showcase
Who had the biggest crowd at the festival? Could it be Show and Prove? Unbelievable!

Kiwi and Bambu live reunion
I had a hunch it was going to happen, and so did many other Native Guns fans. Then, booyah! Two bald-headed brothas with tattoos! Brrrrat!!








Photo from pinoylife.com




Did you especially enjoy any particular program at FPAC this year?

All Star DJ Tribute at FPAC

Holy smokes! Yo check the all star cast of talented Pin@y DJs making an appearance at the 17th Annual Festival of Philippine Arts and Culture (FPAC):




Stacksvinyl.com FPAC Tribute to the Filipino DJ
Sunday, Sept. 7, 2:30pm

Parallel to this year’s festival theme “Our Native Ways,” the Stacksvinyl.com FPAC Tribute to the Filipino DJ hearkens toward celebrating the “original” pioneers of DJ culture and also honoring those DJs who are making an impact on our community. Also called “turntablism,” DJing has much to owe to the Filipino community. Aside from the elite cadre of Filipino American DJ veterans who impacted the DJ scene worldwide, the sheer magnitude of Filipino American DJs is worth celebrating.

During this 17th Annual FPAC we will highlight a few notable DJs who have each brought something special to both the DJ and Filipino American community.

Like the many layers of the Filipino American experience that make our community so unique, DJs navigate our ears through the many layers of beats and rhythm. Bringing to the DJ scene something “SOOO FRESSHHHHH,” we want to pay tribute to not only our awardees, but to all Filipino American DJs who are moving the art forward!

Awardees:

DJ Kuttin Kandi
Candice L. Custodio-Tan known as DJ Kuttin Kandi is widely regarded as one of the most accomplished female DJ's in the world. She is a member of DJ team champions 5th Platoon, Founder and DJ for the all female Hip-Hop group Anomolies, Cofounder of the famed NY monthly open mic nights “Guerrilla Words” and Founder of the coalition R.E.A.C.Hip-Hop (Representing Education, Activism & Community through Hip Hop). Djing for over 10 years, Kandi competed in over 20 DJ competitions such as ITF and Vibe. She is the NY Source Magazine DJ Champion and has been the only female DJ to make it to the DMC USA FINALs.

DJ Nasty Nes

At the age of ten, Nasty Nes moved to Seattle from the Philippines. Beginning in 1980, Nes hosted the first Hip-Hop radio show in the West Coast, "Freshtracks" on 1250 KFOX. Nes' 18 year career on radio has landed him on KFOX, KCMU, KUBE & on KDAY, KMEL. 1985, Nes co-founded, NASTYMIX Records with Sir Mix-A-Lot. Nes is featured on the late Eazy-E single "Radio!" Nes is one of the youngest students at the original Bruce Lee "Jun Fan Gung-Fu Institute" since 13 years old. As an actor Nes has been featured in films, "House Party 4" & "Kung Pow! Enter The Fist."

DJ Rhettmatic
A major force behind the creation of Southern California's first turntable band, the Beat Junkies, is a multi-faceted musician known to the world as DJ Rhettmatic. Born Nazareth Nirza, his artistic contributions to the music industry have placed him, along with his fellow members of the Beat Junkie crew, at the top of the DJ universe. Rhettmatic also helped founded and is the Dj/Producer for the LA based Underground Hip Hop Super Group, the Visionaries in 1994.

DJ Babu
A member of the acclaimed Dilated Peoples and the Beat Junkies, this world renowned DJ is more than accustomed to feeling the expansive power of music at his fingertips. Winning countless DJ competitions in the 1990s such as the DMC Championship in 1997 and multiple ITF titles, Babu has gained the nickname "The Turntablist." Now one of the most respected names in the world of DJs, the battle hardened Babu has set his sights on producing.

DJ Showcase Talent (Stacks Amateur DJ Battle Champs):
DJ D-Strukt
DJ Turbulence
DJ Phonix

Filipino Americans in Hip Hop Working Timeline at FPAC

Make history! The Filipino Americans in Hip Hop Working Timeline seeks to serve as a historical archive of the participation of Filipino Americans in hip hop culture. As a community-centered project, we encourage you to scribble memories, paint pictures, and add old school flyers, articles, pictures, tapes, vinyl art and other memorabilia to the timeline. (Copies are ok, if you’re unwilling to part from that OG Spectrum flyer).

The timeline will be placed online, and we hope that it will grow as our stories get collected.

Festival info:
Festival of Philippine Arts and Culture (FPAC)
Sept. 6-7, 10am-6pm
$5 presale, $7 day of, kids under 5 and seniors free
Point Fermin Park, San Pedro, CA
www.filamarts.org