Thanksgiving (Hip-Hop edition)
Happy Thanksgiving (to Hip-Hop)
In the spirit of Thanksgiving, and yes I am aware of all the oppression and genocide behind the holiday that is Thanksgiving Day, let us leave that for another conversation and have some fun here. I have a lot to be thankful for and music is hands down one of the millions of things I have to be thankful for in my life. So without further a due here it is...my top 5 Hip-Hop figures that I am thankful for.
5. Rakim
At the number 5 spot is the microphone fiend himself, Rakim. This dude doesn't get his credit for being one of the if not the best MC to ever pick up a mic. “Mainstream” lists will have either Pac or B.I.G at #1 and #2 and some even tied with Nas and Jay in the mix at #3 and #4. There was a period of time when I used to DJ that I REFUSED to play B.I.G or Pac because I felt they were so overrated.
Now hold up! Before you start button mashing your keyboards hear me out because context is everything. Since I was born in 1988 I am pretty much a '90s baby and was not around when Rakim first came out so I did some digging to get some context. The year was 1986 and Eric B and Rakim broke into hip-hop. At this time Run DMC, Beastie Boys, Biz Markie, Ice T, and Boogie Down Productions-DJ Scott La Rock and KRS-One are the biggest voices in hip-hop. Look at that list, other than KRS there is nothing lyrical on a masterful level going on there. Rakim was head and shoulders above everyone in lyrics and skill. His lyricism and the way he rides the beat with his words continues to be timeless. If Rakim had come out today he would still be relevant and way better in terms of skill and lyrics than 90% of what is played on the radio today hands down. Simply put, Rakim was a master from the future. Before Rakim hip-hop didn't have an MC who could come with lyrics and skill as Rakim did.
4. Filipino DJs
At the number 4 spot are Filipino DJs including DJ Babu, Mix Master Mike, DJ Neil Armstrong, and last but not least DJ Qbert. As a Filipino kid growing up we have very little representation in mainstream media, and no one to look up to or heroes that look like us. Coming from a culture whose history has been written by colonizers or taught down by our ancestors it's hard to find something we can prove to ourselves that we are masters of our crafts. When I discovered the aforementioned DJs, they influenced me to go out and get a set of turntables.
First, let's talk about Mix Master Mike and DJ Qbert. These two live in a different multiverse with their approach to the turntables. These two DJs taught me that the turntables are instruments and I will never let anyone tell me otherwise just because there is no classical theory or training behind the turntable. I went out and bought “DJ Qbert's Complete Do It Yourself Vol. 1 Scratching DVD” and a bunch of his scratch records, so I could copy him until I was falling asleep at the turntables. Qbert is revered as the best scratch DJ in the history of DJing being Filipino was inspiring for a young Filipino kid like myself struggling for some sense of identity. I finally had a hero to look up to. My scratching was trash and like most young eager aspiring DJs that was the first thing I tried to learn. When I moved onto mixing, DJ Neil Armstrong became a strong influence. He is one of the best mixtape DJs I’ve ever had the pleasure of listening to. His mixtapes “Sweet”, “Original”, and “Warmfuzzy” are masterpieces to me. There is nothing like that perpetual state of anticipation trying to guess what song he's going to mix in, and then he knocks you out with an unorthodox Manny Pacquiao-like angle that you did not see coming. As for DJ Babu, he is the DJ and producer for the hip-hop group Dilated Peoples. Dilated Peoples are one of the few hip-hop groups that value the role and respect the DJ. Before there were ever MCs, it was the DJ that was center stage and anyone who wanted to use the DJs mic first needed the blessing of the DJ.
3. KRS-One
At the number 3 spot is the Blastmaster known as KRS-One (Knowledge Reigns Supreme Over Nearly Everyone). KRS-One was my very first introduction into “conscious hip-hop”. His music was the first thing that ever influenced me to become more aware of what is going on around me. I remember the first time I heard “Sound of the Police” I was blown away. I kept thinking to myself how is someone allowed to say these things? Everything KRS is saying in this song I know I’ve thought and I'm sure about 90% of minorities in the US have thought these things but no one ever says them, not on a public platform like this anyway.
As I listened to more of his music I became intrigued as I felt the need to learn more about this vicious MC behind these masterful lyrical styles and poetic virtuosic flow. I learned that KRS is one of hip-hops biggest activists. He has also spoken at many universities about hip-hop and on activism. It’s really great to know as someone who is involved in the community that he not only raps about it but he walks the walk as well.
2. A Trible Called Quest
At the number 2 spot is A Tribe Called Quest. ATCQ was my intro to “underground hip-hop” or “real hip-hop”. I remember the first song I heard from them was “Bonita Applebum”. I still recall the feelings I got when I first heard this song. The drums on this song were very raw with a very soulful, fun, and playful melody. Then there's the music video, Q-tip, Phife(RIP), Ali Shaheed Muhammed, and Jarobi. These guys were clearly different. They dressed differently, no excessively baggy clothes, no jewelry, no over advertising of brands, no braggadocio about what they have or how much they have. Just very great music. After hearing “Bonita Applebum" I caught the Tribe bug. I couldn't get enough of them I had to have more. I went and studied their discography, and then I came across “Midnight Marauders”. This album was for me the very last time that buying an album wasn't listening to an album, rather this album for me was an experience. First, we start with the cover, the album artwork. One of the most iconic alum covers in the history of hip-hop. With a bunch of major influences of hip-hop both past and present on the cover of this album, some of which I knew and some I did not. The beauty of this cover was that it pays homage to the people who paved the way for hip-hop and in doing so exposing me to other people I had no idea about expanding my hip-hop knowledge and my music library. Then the album itself, this album tells a story from track one to fourteen. This album is 51 minutes of pure genius. From the instrumentals to the yin and yang tag lyrical tag team that is Q-tip and Phife Dawg this album just hits everything and takes it to a level of just listening to music to an entire album experience.
Tip and Phife are such a perfect balance of opposites. Tip has a very laid back and chill vibe in his delivery, but make no mistake his lyrics are very intricate, and Phife is that louder in your face type of delivery with some of the best quotable lyrics in hip-hop history. Tribe had a sexy/cool Afrocentric intelligent consciousness about them without coming being all up in your grill about it. They somehow mastered the art of feel-good fun hip-hop while somehow having a conscious undertone to them. I had the pleasure of seeing them at Rock The Bells in the Bay Area and they absolutely killed it one of the best if not the best hip-hop sets I’ve ever seen. Their energy was through the roof at all times and seeing these guys on stage in person was like a dream come true for me. The final thing I’d like to touch upon with Tribe is the production. Q-Tip is a notorious perfectionist. There have been stories about Tip in the studio with Phife and Busta Rhymes and everyone in the room would be feeling a beat and Tip would say no I don't like this and would just delete the entire thing. He was a perfectionist and it showed in his beats his ability to take drum samples and melodies and just crate everything from soulful works like “Bonita Applebum” and “Electric Relaxation” to jazzy beats like “Excursions” and “Jazz(We’ve Got)” to hard mouth in your face like “Oh My God” and of course who could forget “Scenario”?! To put it very simply A Tribe Called Quest is the best group in hip-hop history and their discography is nearly perfect!
1. Native Guns, Bambu, Kiwi, Geologic
#1 Here it is my number one spot drumroll… it's another collective that includes The Native Guns, Bambu, Kiwi, and Geologic. I was a young Filipino kid struggling to find some identity as well as looking to be involved with something that was worth fighting for, a greater cause. I would find this in community college when I got involved with community organizations. Which lead me to the revolutionary sounds of The Native Guns Kiwi and Bambu and Blue Scholars (Geologic). The Native Guns were a hip-hop group based out of LA and the group consisted of two MCs Bambu and Kiwi and DJ Phatrick who are all activists in their community and organize with the community. I had heard socially conscious hip-hop before but never from the mouths of people who look like me, know my struggles, or come from the family and cultural background that I came from.
The first time I heard them rap in Tagalog it blew me away. Not only were they rapping in Tagalog but they were rapping about the things that I was living. I felt connected immediately and like I finally had a voice and was being represented. The Blue Scholars is a hip-hop group based out of Seattle comprised of one MC and a DJ/producer. Geologic (the MC) is a Filipino activist in his community and Sabzi an Iranian Amercian who is also active in the community. It is essential to create value you for yourself. Value can come from knowing where you come from. Knowing where you came from creates an identity and for me finding these artists who were likeminded, serving their community like I was, and objectively dope played the biggest part in me finding my identity. I am eternally grateful for every hip-hop figure on this list, but that is why Bambu, Kiwi, and last but not least Geo are my #1 hip-hop influences of all time...so far..at the prime age of 30. Until next time, peace, love, and hip-hop.
