PROTEGE: Amidst a sea of constant Battle

                                                                   

                                                                                                  By: Michael Amiel Benjamin S. Grape

I float atop the mast head of the world as I gaze into its wretched attempt at achieving balance. All around me bad new seems to sully even the air we breathe. Earthquakes, Tsunamis, and radioactive scares, talks about corruption, abuse, and the never-ending banner of poverty stricken the land; the news grow forbidding more now than ever before. And I am left here in my personal recollections trying to make sense of all that has happened, these dire events taking place. For me it seems the planet itself has completely fallen out of place.

Breathe. Stop. Continue.

And so we turn to our most loyal friend and confidant, our shield-bearer and our protector, the simplest truth left in this world that we can justly call blameless; the music that we listen to and build around us like a photon shield.

Right now, I have been casually reconnoitering the unexplored and seldom known vastness of Pinoy hip-hop. Mesmerized by its melodic beats I nod my head to accept the machine gun tempo of verses from some of today’s premiere Pinoy hip-hop acts. Like a missionary trying to study at the same time understand Pinoy hip-hops many facets, its innumerable laws, and wave after wave of stories from their songs, I observe with a hunger of a hayenna while I thread carefully like a panzer tank.

Jon Uriarte (or simply Jon as he prefers it,) is more popularly known by his alias “Protégé.”  Born March 19, 1986, Jon travelled a lot with his family because that’s how they lived their lives back then. Studied High school at the International school in Bangkok, he met up with fellow MC’s and together with his brother LOS started to explore the intricacies of hip-hop. As the vibrant duo piled song after song, doing no wrong, this was the formative years of what will become one of the countries lyrically exceptional rappers. After releasing their album ( which later on jon told me he recalled, because he was not satisfied with it,) overseas, Protégé came back to the PI with his loved ones to again start another life, another chapter to a book that consists mostly about taking a journey.



Here he met up with A.M.P.O.N. (Absolute Messages Personified Over Noise) a collection of hip-hop connoisseurs that Jon admits play a vital part on how he has gained notoriety, and paved the way in becoming the wordsmith that he is. A.M.P.O.N has been around since 2003.

I asked Protégé what does it take to be competent in a battle, how does one prepare for it, and why are battle rappers continually wrathful all the time. Protégé proceeded to shift from his seat, look to the left and then down, shaking his head he told me a treasure trove of personal insights that made me remember the motto, “Victory loves preparation.” As we spiral deeper into his kind of hip-hop, Protégé tries to create images for me using his expressive gestures. For Jon, Pinoy hip-hop is not a fashion statement. It’s not something that one can embody today and next day discard like any old sneakers, no! Protégé is almost preaching when he made me realize that hip-hop is within each and every Filipino, Asian, African, hooligan, and American. But the real hip-hop resides inside a person’s core. It is formed by learning how to survive everyday amidst constant assault from time and chance. And this pulsating mass of experiences and lessons learned crystallize and is lodged deep within one’s center, as one attempts to rip out his or her soul. During our conversation it was clear why this guy can go to FLIPTOP, battle two rappers, and win both rounds; Protégé’s core is liquid fire!!!



From a listeners perspective Protégé’s lyrical prowess is a combination of witty metaphors and attitude that brings the verses to life. The quality of his work engages the listener to truly listen, playing the song on and on. His unassuming stance only masks the overwhelming power of his devices; his haughty vocal tone dampens the force of his elemental wordplay. Truly, I have never encountered an artist with more skill nor has a persona that is humbler still. I predict that this guy’s book of life filled with journeys will become thicker if not written over with white ink.

Encountering an individual such as Protégé is truly refreshing. My academic attempt at understanding Pinoy hip-hop has brought me closer to understanding this country than covering any other music genre. And what distresses me is that Pinoy hip-hop is received with mediocrity and unsolicited ridicule. Talking to Protégé has bolstered my resolve to write about him and people like him, artists that proliferates the new age blues. And so I pick up my bags and go, once again taking that lowly road. From a protégé that showed me an alternative, bolstered; I take my first step.