Rap Songs!

Are there still Filipino who patronizes rap songs?

From adolescent to middle adult they still enjoy to this kind of music because it makes them feel alive, distresses them from the current situation they are into, be it in the jeepneys, videoke bars, sidewalks and from their own vehicles.

Some though doesn’t want this kind of music because it interrupts them with their present activities that they are doing like their religious routine (praying the rosary while in the cab), while taking a nap and reading something. It’s not pleasing to the ears because it”s a loud music and most of the lyrics of these kind of music is nonsense and scandalous.

What is Pinoy rap? Pinoy rap in my own definition pinoy rap is a kind of hip hop music that originated in the Philippines, Pinoy rap started early 1980 when Dyords Javier release Na Onseng Delight, then followed by Vincent Dafalong release nunal. Early influences on the genre included American hip-hop icons Grandmaster Flash & the Furious Five, The Sugarhill Gang, Kurtis Blow, Run-D.M.C., Ice T, KRS-ONE & Boogie Down Productions and Eric B. and Rakim among many others then pinoy rap history start.

The genre developed an underground following in Metro Manila during the 1980s. In late 1989, former DJ and breakdancer Andrew E., or, as he was then called, Rap Master Fordy, introduced two of his friends from the mobile DJ group Rock All Parties Crew, Norman B. and Andy “Luv” MD, to J “Smooth” MC, an acquaintance from Andrew’s breakdancing days. Pinoy rap right now has taken again the mainstream here in the Philippines like several camp or independent record label is been producing quality pinoy rap music like 6000 goonz will be releasing 9 albums this years, Time, Space, Rhythm and Stars, Hi-C album, Beatmonx, Syke album, Untouchables, Apokalipsis are some titles the 6000 goonz will be releasing this year. I think the main man of pinoy rap this year are dice, gloc 9, a-m-b-i-t-o, god’s will, broc, don-g, mike kosa, nimbusnine they are the people that are sure will be hitting the record bars again for there new album and future big hit event.

History of Pinoy Rap:

I - How Pinoy hip-hop started (late 70s-1980s)

From The South Bronx to the streets of Metro Manila

The Philippine hip-hop scene is one of the oldest in Asia. It is hard to tell when hip-hop started here and how did it start, but I would like to make several points on how the culture was brought to this country.

The Philippines was a US territory until the country gained independence in 1946. American culture left a strong influence in The Philippines. Filipinos listened to American music, watched American movies or ate American fastfood like MC Donalds or Pizza Hut presents. Rap records/cassettes or reading materials with hip-hop issues can be one of those presents.

Influence

New York was still the main influence for most of the early Filipino rap artists when it comes to beats, flow and style; though California was also important. Some of the early influence were from Sugarhill Gang, Kurtis Blow, Boogie Down Productions, RUN-DMC, Public Enemy, Ice-T, Salt-N-Pepa, A Tribe Called Quest and Rakim. The earliest Pinoy Rap tracks contains samples or styles influenced by these artists. An example is Rapasia's track "That's The Way Love Is" which was influeced by A Tribe Called Quest's track "Bonita Applebum". Another example is Andrew E.'s early style. His style in the track "Ize Batayojan" is influenced by Rakim. The fashion style of Bass Rhyme Posse is similar to RUN-DMC and so on.

Pinoy rap is influenced by two main categories whether it may be East Coast (Madd Poets, Pamilya Dimagiba, Ghetto Doggs, etc) or West Coast (Death Threat, Sun Valley Crew, etc.). But despite these influences, local styles are fused such as the use of the Filipino language and rapping about local subjects and culture. Traditional Filipino music and culture are also fused to the music especially the beats and instrumentals.

II - Some Important Events in Pinoy Rap

The first rap recordings in the Philippines were by Dyords Javier and Vincent Dafalong. Dyords Javier recorded "Na Onseng Delight" (which copied the style of Sugarhill Gang's "Rappers Delight") while Vincent Dafalong recorded "Nunal".

The Golden Age of Pinoy Rap

A former breakdancer with name of Francis Magalona released an album called Yo! which became the first rap album in The Philippines. "Mga Kababayan" (My Countrymen) became the first rap track recognized by many Filipinos.

Months later, Andrew E. who was a DJ in a popular disco in Makati released an album called Humanap Ka Ng Panget challenging Francis M.'s dominance in Pinoy Rap. A movie with the same title was also released and it was one of the first movies in the Philippines.

By: Marjorie A. Cornillez