Sunday Cipher: Fresh Bambu and Nomi videos!

Bambu and the Chace Infinite drop science to civilize you in "Paper Thin," the opening track in Bambu's EP Paper Cuts

Paper Thin - Bambu feat. Chace Infinite from LightWork Media on Vimeo.

Nomi brings you to church in "Artofficialfreedom," one of many bangin tracks in Power Struggles new album Remittances

Hip Hop at 18th Annual FPAC + Francis M. Tribute

Geologic of the Blue Scholars headlining on the Main Stage @ 2pm on Saturday

It's that time of year again! The 18th Annual Festival of Philippine Arts and Culture (FPAC) is happening this weekend, September 12-13, in San Pedro, CA. And yes, amigos, there will be lotsa hip hop.

Below, check out details on the Francis M. Tribute, crews in street dance showcase, a list of hip hop performers, and a description of the FPAC Tinikling Battle:

Francis M. Tribute
18th Annual Festival of Philippine Arts and Culture
Sunday, Sept. 13, 1:00pm on Main Stage
Featuring performances by: MastaPlann and The Kasamas

Earlier this year we lost an icon in Philippine popular culture. Francis Magalona, also known as Francis M. “The Master Rapper” or the “King of Philippine Rap” left this world as the most prolific hip hop artist in the Philippines. Although iconic, Francis Magalona was still very human. On March 6, 2009, he passed away at age 44 after a seven-month bout with leukemia. At the 18th Annual Festival of Philippine Arts and Culture, MastaPlann (photo at left) and The Kasamas will honor “The Master Rapper” by performing a few of his songs and by paying tribute to a true Philippine hero. MastaPlann is a legendary hip hop group that excelled in the ranks of Philippine hip hop in 1991 and continue to perform today. They were not only friends with Francis M., but also collaborated with him musically. The Kasamas are a hip hop group from San Francisco who carry on Francis M.’s tradition of Tagalog rap and honor the late rapper with his music.

Francis M. will be remembered for his lasting impact on hip hop in the Philippines. His first album Yo! (1990) proved hip hop’s promising potential in the Philippines. Throughout his career, his lyrics embraced Philippine nationalism and addressed urgent issues relevant to Filipino people, such as government corruption, drug abuse, and Filipino colonial mentality.

Francis M. stood at the pinnacle of a handful of Philippine hip hop artists who have come to the forefront of Philippine popular consciousness. He was an exceptional talent, making Tagalog rap acceptable when many rappers struggled due rap’s negative stigma.

Francis M. has been a role model for Philippine hip hop artists. He legitimized Pinoy rap for many rising artists in the hip hop game. In addition to his Philippine-based inspiration, he was influential among Filipino American hip hop performers who turned to Magalona for artistic guidance.

Not only was Francis M. a luminous rapper, his creativity also stretched to Pinoy rock (blending rap and rock with his group Hardware Syndrome), photography, and film. Also, many will remember him as a co-host for the popular variety show Eat Bulaga! In addition, many young Filipinos know Francis M. as a fashion designer for his stylish clothing brand 3 Stars & a Sun.

Come join us at FPAC on Sunday as we honor Francis M. and celebrate his legacy through his music!

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Street dance showcase
Saturday, Sept. 12 @ 3:00pm
Main Stage

Featuring:

PAC Modern + Sheroes + Kaba Modern + Supreme Soul

Yes, this is a perfect space to celebrate the success Filipinos have been having in street dance fame. It's like an ABDC reunion! Tell ya gramama to wipe her drool...panis laway.

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Clockwise: Power Struggle, The Counterparts, All In Motion, and FlowEthics

List of FPAC Hip Hop Performers throughout weekend

(may be incomplete, please let me know if I left you off)

Saturday
Rhythm Natives (2:00 Main Stage)
Geologic (2:00 Main)
The Counterparts (1:00 Gen Stage)
Power Struggle (1:00 Gen)
FlowEthics (2:00 Gen)
Street dance showcase (3:00 Main)
Kasamas (3:00 Gen)
Ethnic Descent (3:00 Gen)

Sunday
Francis M. Tribute feat. MastaPlann and The Kasamas (1:00 Main)
Deep Foundation (1:00 Main)
Kiwi (2:00 Main)
Heart Beat Dance Crew (12:00 Gen)
All In Motion Dance Crew (12:00 Gen)
N2RK8 (1:00 Gen)
Hydroponikz (1:00 Gen)
Carson Street Dance (4:00 Gen)

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FPAC 2nd Annual Tinikling Battle

Sunday, Sept. 13 @ 12:00pm

Main Stage

Tinikling dancers at Jacksonville's Filipino Pride Day. Photo credits: Jeff Enriquez

The FPAC Tinikling Battle is back for a second year! Last year, to the grumbling of some unhappy audience members, only one college tinikling troupe (UC Riverside Katipunan) was able to perform. This year, we have more! This is gonna be carazay!

Come cheer on Cal State University Northridge FASA, Cal State University Fullerton PASA Kaibigan, Cal Poly Pomona Barkada, and the defending champions UC Riverside Katipunan as they battle it out and see who will rock the sticks for 2009!

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Tagalog Rap: Machine gun style on ya

Power Struggle: Hearts & Minds

Kasamas CD

A few posts ago I commented on rap in Tagalog in lieu of the passing of the late, great Francis M. And boy, am I mistaken about the extent of rap in Tagalog today. Even though its not new (i.e. Francis M. has been doing it for decades), it seems as though rap in Tagalog is gaining more and more steam, and now even more among Fil Ams. Where is this movement heading? What will it look like in the coming years?

I copped those two CDs above from the Bayan Cultural Solidarity Night near downtown LA a few weeks back (Photo from Bayan Cultural Solidarity Night: Courtesy of Apollo Victoria). I've been a fan of Nomi of Power Struggle for a few years now, so listening to his album "Hearts and Minds" is a true pleasure. Nomi has a command of words and flow that many emcees lack. Sometimes he doesn't have to rhyme a word, but delivers a line with sharp certainty. Top that with progressive, radical, and inspiring lyrics about people's struggle and movement, then that's some hard-hitting shit.

As for the Kasamas CD, it's very well-done: the production is clear and soulful, the young emcees (youth from the Filipino Cultural Center in San Francisco) are slick, honest, and passionate. They give a good glimpse of their struggles and daily happenings in the city. But what's really interesting is the Tagalog rap in the album. Like Bambu says in one interview, people were asking how he raps so fast. He says that's just how his momma yells at him. Well, these young emcees demonstrate the quickness, alliteration, and rhythm that Tagalog enables. Saico (who cameos in "Hearts and Minds") murders ya with that machine gun-style Tagalog flow.

Saico of Kasamas shooting you with rapid fire Tagalog
(Photo courtesy of Apollo Victoria)

Emcees at the Filipino Cultural Center in the 'Sco

I wonder what the trajectory of emceeing in Tagalog will look like? Will it become more and more popular among both Tagalog-speakers and English-speakers? Can we officially designate the category "Filipino hip hop" since the hip hop is spoken in Filipino language (re: Latin rap which, incidentally morphed into what is now called reggaeton)?

I just discovered SOULFIESTA with the dude B-Roc. You gotta peep their shit, they doin some good hip hop in the Philippines (via Turbulence Productions). Rap in Tagalog! Here it is!! Ain't it so fresh?


Nimbusnine feat. B-Roc - Champions
Written by G. Feraren & R. Andres Jr.
Produced by B-Roc for Turbulence Productions. Recorded at Soulfiesta Studios

(More on Turbulence Productions later...)