NewYork—Raw, energetic, gritty, and consumed with passion. The New York City based Filipino American rap group is making waves and the Hip Hop music scene from the East to the West Coast is staggeringly taking notice. Upon the release of their new music video in the Lower East Side of Manhattan, Sleep, a song from their debut album, The First Draft which features Filipino-American singer-songwriter Jay Legaspi, Deep Foundation is laying the groundwork for all inspiring Filipino-Americans not just for those who gravitate to the Hip Hop Culture, but also to those who are in need of a Filipino awakening and rejuvenation with our identity.
No easy feat. The Hip Hop community is not and never will be an easy wall to crack and pass through. It took years of being booed off stage and verbal assaults from crowds and fellow emcees before the likes of Eminem, Jay-Z, to Kanye West truly began receiving their stamp of approval. More often than not, in this industry, artists are judged solely on appearance and ethnicity rather than qualified verse, line, beat, and connection with the listener. For Deep Foundation, the ills of identity crisis and terms of "wannabe" have surfaced, and in spite of that or perhaps as a result, they are consumed with a burning fire that perpetuates their rage to embark on this battle to prove that Filipino-Americans should command respect and appreciation for their talents not only from mainstream society, but also within our own Filipino American Community.
Are they political activists? Call them what you want, but Deep Foundation is indeed empowering all Filipino-Americans across the country and in the Philippines with their raw, energetic uplifting stance of Filipino pride. One of their more popular songs and videos, Children of the Sun Remix is enamored with the same ruthless verve of legendary tracks (and video resemblance) to Wu-Tang Clan’s C.R.E.A.M. and Triumph videos. The video, directed and edited by Ryan Abugan, features Hydroponikz, Nomi, Koba, Kiwi & Encite was produced by Hydroponikz’ sampling of the classic track of Banyuhay Ni Heber’s Tayo’y Mga Pinoy, (also including special appearances by Phillipe Nover, Matteo Guidicelli, Mikey C. of the Lost Kids, Ashley Robles & Heber Bartolome) is creating quite a stir, being featured at Professor Kevin Nadal’s historic book tour presentation of Filipino American Psychology. The song is a unique compilation, yet sociological perspective with a historical acknowledgment of what it means to be Filipino and why we should be proud at the same time cognizant of our Filipino Heritage beginning the song singing F-I-L-I-P-I-N-O and concluding with "I am brown, I am brown, Filipino this is we." Their new video shows their vast talents and eclectic capability as artists with soul sensitivities.
Deep Foundation is truly a vibrant mix of unique styles, backgrounds, upbringings, values and experiences of four emcees: MUG Shot, ILL Poetik, CJ, and Proseed splashed with the assistance of Sawnd G, and break-dance talent of resident B-Boy, Suitkace, Deep Foundation has turned heads and audiences all throughout the East Coast and many of them describe the collaboration as "natural" from sharing the bonds of friendship. They have shared their talents and remarkable perspectives sensing the need for the true distinction of Filipino Identity, and for that reason alone, Deep Foundation is essential to breaking the limitations set forth in our society.
( Published on July 3, 2009 in LifeEASTyle Magazine p. 6 )
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