Nimbusnine - B
PART II of interview: How was the idea of Three Kings brought to the table?
In my opinion, it was birthed when the batangenyos Matt (God’s Will), Mike Swift, B-Roc and I were hanging in Soul Fiesta like almost every single day. Each one of us MCs, individually, had our own “kingdom” to project, since we were all on some “King” shit, back then! and somewhere along the way, after certain collaborations with us 3 MCs in it, and recording other songs that pretty much tied in with our collective state of mind at that time, we somehow decided to just put the songs together in one project to make the local hip-hop movement a stronger force to reckon with.
If people from other places wanted to know more about Philippine hiphop music, which 5 songs do you think they should listen to?
There are so many cats to look out for over here. From the pioneers that were building and making it out here, like Francis M., Andrew E. & Dongalo, DJ ArbieWon, SVC, MastaPlann, 7Shots, Madd World, Legit Misfitz, Pamilya D. etc. To the more recent heads coming out like Talk Sic Ways and Audible, Ampon, AMP, PhD, Datu, Ron Thug, Tuesday Troops, Stick Figgaz, 2Tay, Text, Luzon, Dash, Peoples Future, PKSO, Hotnixx, Quest, Dos Fuertes, OBS, LDP, QYork, Kimmie, Ill J and Monique, DJ Red-I. Toooooo many cats to mention!!! Jeezz, just search YouTube, type in one of the names mentioned above and everything else will link up. Furrrr shhhhure!!!
Some songs that have been on heavy rotation on my personal sound box though, from local heads are: (in no particular order)
(1) Los Indios Bravos – Dunong
(2) Gods Will – Ika 6 Na Misterio (original and Traumatik remix)
(3) Bambu – Jeepney
(4) Marquiss - I Am The Greatest
(5) Verse 1 – What If
Out of your trip to meet Jin and Loon in 2006, what piece of advice or insight did you get out of this experience?
The 2006 trip to Taiwan was off the hook!!! Ang lakas talaga nun, I will always remember that trip. That awesome experience opened my mind to a whole lot of stuff as well as exposed me to a bunch of fresh waves of thoughts. The folks of Liquid Lifestyles definitely know how to take care ov their peeps.
Actually getting to hang and smoke with Loon and his crew was one of the dopest. I would listen to that dude’s music before getting ready to go out and party, all the time, sabay, in almost a blink of an eye, you’re right next to the dude as he is giving you so much useful advise and just spreading his knowledge of the game as well as his own personal shit na parang magkatropa lang kayo. That stuff was real slick!!! I’ll never forget that!
Meeting Jin was sick too! Especially since he is one of the “pioneers like a sound system” of the Asian hip-hop community. My train of thought, at that moment, was running like: One minute you’re watching him on YouTube, lyrically one inch punching his opponents to extinction, then the next minute you’re kicking it in a hotel lobby exchanging music and conversing. It was pretty cool and it left me star struck being around artists of that caliber.
I had a running discussion here about what emcees should invest on? Whats you're take?
I think, depending on what goal or level an EMCEE sets his/her mind to attain, the investments vary. On a basic scale, skill wise, an MC should really invest TIME into researching, devoting and honing their craft and developing it. Check out Mos Def’s verse on “Hurricane” tells it all, as well as Talib Kweli’s “Manifesto”.
On the materialistic sense, the first thing an MC should invest in are two things that have withstood the test of time: THE PEN and THE PAD. (The pen is mightier than the sword). Hmmm maybe a lot of books, comics, movies, clothing/gear, music, and an “inebriating weapon of choice” would do the trick.
On a grand scale though, I think an MC should invest in PEOPLE. Whether it be building solid relationships, partnerships, being in an organization, respecting others or simply just being friends. PEOPLE are the foundation of this very planet. I take this quote from my momma and despite any short comings I may have had in the past, I constantly keep this in mind: “PEOPLE PAY.. (PAY) ATTENTION TO WHAT PEOPLE SAY.”
You've been highly involved with a company doin' commercials, film and have been watching movies for as long as I remember, what is your top 5 favorite movies?
Yes I have! Hmmmm this question is just like asking George Washington Carver what to do with peanuts; there are just too many answers to pick from! Might go nuts choosing!! But again, if I had a choice, top of the mind, because of their personal significance to me as well as their cinematic visions, it would have to be:
(1) Vanilla Sky
(2) a tie between Scarface & Get Rich Or Die Trying
(3) Fade To Black
(4) a tie between Kill Bill (1&2) & Matrix (series)
(5) V For Vendetta
Whats youre favorite B-Roc beat?
Dude, this question is more difficult than you think. As everybody who has been to the SoulFiesta studio knows that B-Roc’s lab is just like a mine from Africa, there are a whole lot of gems to find in their, and most of them are diamonds.
I’ve seen this dude grow, evolve and perfect his craft like watching a white belt neophyte transform into a black belt master. Initially patterning his style to dudes like Dr.Dre, Kanye West, Just Blaze etc. with a loco local vibe to it, eventually progressing and developing a unique style of his own to the point where kids now emulate him. Real talk.
In order for me to really asses which one is my favorite, I have to break it down in terms of sentimentality more than skill and sound, since you know all the beats B-Roc comes up with has that init in it. So yeah, the winner would be “NY to PI” That joint is real special to me. It wasn’t only the beat but the entire creative process behind it that sets it apart in my books. I had a hook in mind, B-Roc challenged me to push the concept to create a wider spectrum; and when it came time to make the beat, we did it from scratch. No samples on that joint. Bong just got on his beat making station/computer, laid in the drum pattern, played and fiddled with the keys and made a classic. No matter what anyone sez, that beat is my personal favorite.
Any advise for aspiring emcees?
Constantly sharpen your skills, hone it and own it. Know that once you get in the game, it takes more than just pure skills to survive in the playing field. Hustle hard and stay humble no matter how many times you lyrically rumble in the jungle, young boy or girl, "the world is yours for the taking” -- just make sure when you do it, do it right. “Repetition is the father of learning”; “Practice makes perfect, so make sure you practice the right stuff all the time.
The concept of "The Community" was one of the greatest undertaking Turbulence had, how do you feel about not having The Community show this year?
Well, it has its pros and cons/ups and downs. My feelings towards this year not having a Community show is sort of 50/50. A part of me a gives a thumbs down while yelling out BOOOO!!! Kasi nakakamiss talaga yung energy of a solidified and cohesive local hip-hop series of shows. Like how you describe it, B, it’s really like summer camp. On the flipside though, I feel like the previous Community shows (3 years deep) has already given birth to a plethora of similar events which takes place on a daily basis, the whole year through; so it’s like Community’s within communities. Which was one of the core purposes of the show anyway. So either way is all right. Hopefully the next one, if there ever will be a new one, would be a real dynamic one like with international heads and the real big names partaking in the festivities.
Turbulence Productions - Beyond Beyond (Written & Directed by Dominic Nuesa)
To you, what does Beyond, Beyond mean?
Being limitless. Being free to touch on any and every subject, thing, race, topic, you name it. Reaching places that only exist in imagination and seeing it actually being there or coming to life right in front of your eyes.
People get intrigued and a question we got from PHD & RJAY of LDP was, who in the international and local scene do you look up to?
Locally: Legends and label mates aside; (1) I’d really have to say Los Indios Bravos. I am not too sure if they are still solid as a group/unit to this day, but based on their past performances, their Kalye Musika mixtape (2006) and over all style and sound, I think they were one of the new school dudes that elevated the way people would look at local hip-hop.
(2) I also look up to Nyko Maca a lot. Her music may be classified as more of a hip-hop, sambatronica, worldy mix, but her presence live and just hanging with her as a person gives you such a “warrior of the light”, majestic type of feel, all the time. Plus she’s surprisingly one of the few females in the local scene that consistently holds it down.
(3) Lastly, among the local talents, I’d have to say the Philippine All Stars. They’ve all inspired me both as a whole and as individuals. Their aura, talent, discipline, drive, achievements and success has inspired kids of all ages here and the world over. And it’s a really a spectacle to have my contemporaries attain so much in what seems like so little time. I’m definitely proud that the current generation of Filipino youth has been able to witness such a magnificent group conquer and inspire stages and crowds from almost every corner of the globe.
Internationally: Jay-Z, Talib kweli and Mos Def, Lauryn Hill, D’Angelo, Kanye West, 50 Cent, Alicia Keys, Nas, Eminem, Big Pun, Andre 3000 , Big L, The Roots. All for their lyrical genius, over all style, distinctive sound, cause of the barriers they’ve transcended and all the other obvious reasons why so many people look up to them as well.
What do you think of hiphop in the Philippines right now? Do you think that Filipino emcees can make it globally? What do you think are steps that need to be undertaken for this to happen?
Right now, for the record, I personally believe the local hip-hop scene is extremely healthy! A lot more kids are getting in to it. Whether it be MCing, dancing, fashion, DJing, Graffiti/art, style or collecting music or memorabilia, the game has evidently grown into massive proportions over here. On the B-Side of that statement, though there has been a lot of activity in our local scene, the majority of the movement still remains underground. It’s kind of cool in a way, knowing that it doesn’t stay stagnant beneath the surface, but it sucks that it’s been this long and is extremely popular among Filipinos every where, yet only minimal groups have truly invested big money in the local scene. Maybe they’re scared or whatever, since it is highly competitive already even without “money involved”. But given a chance, assuming “crab mentality” has been abolished, big bucks means big changes. Listen to the messages. Look at the artistry. Feel the intent. You’ll see what the culture truly contains.
This question reminds me of a conversation Marquiss and I had in a basketball court one afternoon. Just chatting and talking about the game and what needs to be accomplished or what are the next steps to be taken, especially coming from our batch of artists… and after he brought this up, we sorta ended the conversation concluding that the next best step in order for the game to elevate to an entirely different level once again is for a local head to either have a solid collab or get signed to a major hip-hop label over seas; like the Roc A Fellas/Island Def Jam, Bad Boy, G-Unit etc. Like you know how Cassie (who is a Fil Am) is with Bad Boy -- pero kung galing dito yung artists, masmalaking impluwensiya yun kaysa sa isang artista na dun na lumaki.
Hope that answers all your questions, dawgs!!!! Hehehe. This shit was catharsis for me, mayng!!! Hope this pushes whoever reads it to achieve more in their lives! Peace. Love. Rizzzzpect!!!!
BIG BIG SHOUT OUTS and a strong slapping high five to everybody that visits this blogspot (From Talek, Teardrop, Young Lloyd to Gino Fresh, Rjay, Pipoi etc.) and who have been supporting Turbulence Productions as well as other local heads here and abroad! More power to the following organizations/cliques and respective teams (in no particular order): Turbulence Productions, Captial G, G1 Social, Tru Youth, Trilogy, Status Magazine, Pulp, Chop Shop, To The Billboard/Konectado, Fubu, Burn, FHM, SayWhut?, Revolver Phils./Asia, Hit Productions, Soundesign, NoisyNeighbors, Digitrax, ClayShop, Royal Elastics, Commune, Mark Bandigan/Specks, On The Ground Music, PiSo//Bee Eyes, 3rd World, Usual Suspects, AMPON, NM + PG, Playground, Brgy. Tibay, BlueBatt kids, Yun Na!, Fiend!, Vito Crew, The entire TAFT Ave, Side Arm, Post Manila, UGL, J Hoon, Pocholo and his pool of talents, Wings Photography, Transounds, E Music, Cardinal Tank & NSC, Team Atlas, Nick Hernandez, Ninja Kiss, Revolver prod, Amy and Aimee, New Breed, Champ Boxing, Saguijo, Magnet, M Café, Bureau, 32nd Street, Absinth, Alchemy, PSP, SBA, Ecoville Boys, Beat Lounge, Liquid Lifestyle, Capones, Route 196, RX, Wave, Magic, Jam, MAX FM, XS, DLSU, ADMU, UP, AC, Sts.Scho, and all the other venues, radio stations and schools that we’ve rocked and dealt with through out the years… to my family and dear friends!! And everybody else I wasn’t able to mention (my apologies, I’ll catch you on the next long shout out, or when we bump heads in person or online, promise! tooo many folks out there). Mad Love! Pound it!!
No comments:
Post a Comment