PIKASO: Paints a perfect picture

                                                                                                                 By: Big G

Have you ever seen the Preacher Man on T.V?

Two forty five early morn and I can’t sleep so I decided to get me a snack. I land on my couch nestling my baby’s home cooked chicken fingers and some chili cheese sticks getting ready to watch some videos and kick back. Turned on the boob tube and all I hear is static; apparently the DVD player decided to break down that day. The heat wave in manila has caused me to lose sleep and as I flipped on the channels surfing for anything to provide some background getting nothing but more static, the heat was getting into my head.

Then as if on cue, the Preacher Man was on.

Prancing on stage sporting his all white glossy suit, the retort of the Preacher Man’s incoherent sermon rambled on, the words were greeted with dead silence.

He then harangues his audience, at the top of his voice coerces them to acknowledge his empty words. On and on it was like that. That was when I noticed his cult followers getting tired because he asked them to stand up at the beginning of his sermon; a white ghost with a golden yellow tie, talking about revelations and the end of days using American idol as his metaphor.

Leaders like the Preacher Man make my skin crawl. Not because of his lack of fashion sense or even the unfathomable depths of his empty preachings, Not even the fact that by putting up such a spectacle he stands to earn thousands or that simply he was making no sense at all and was having a great time with him self. No, none of these things qualify. What’s so sad really is that despite the obvious flaws in his manners and approaches, he was actually winning the hearts of these people, all of them jam-packed on that T.V. screen. I simply turned the T.V. off as soon as I finished my snack, gave him a modest “ eat shit and die,” curse and went on my way to type up this question.

IN A WORLD THAT’S SPIRALING DOWN INTO OBLIVION, is there still a chance for a real leader to take the reigns?

In the Pinoy hip-hop scene there are MANY taking up the role of Preacher Man. But the question that comes to my mind is what will it take make the few people who really live and breath hip-hop in the PH bond together to spread the reality and smash the common perception of a culture that truly manifests the basest Filipino notable traits?

 

 Paul "PIKASO" Sirate shy's away from the title of Leader. For him, hip-hop is who you are. And if you live the culture, don't be afraid to represent it. Often times when you get the chance to talk to him, you'll always hear him say "Go for it!"

A self proclaimed YES man, PIKASO tries his best to help his community the best way he knows how. When you see him at the events sporting his signature stance, with a keen eye you will see that he actually pops his head to the side listening to each and every artist while his fans congregate around him asking for favors and counsel. Always with a distinguished look, Paul shares his talent, time, and resources with those that genuinely seek it from him.

 

The Lore around PIKASO’S life is as colorful as a Monet painting. Born and raised in San Francisco, PIKASO went back to the Philippines in pursuit of a modest dream. He wanted to tap into the Filipino consciousness and bring his style of lyrical hip-hop to the masses at the same time provide the service of creating his own take on the hip-hop lifestyle. Back then, not a lot of people could comprehend where he was coming from; PIKASO often received blank faces as he tried to show everybody what he was all about. Needless to say, this did not stop PIKASO from achieving his goals nor did it ebb away his drive to change the perception. After meeting with some label execs during the inception of his first album “PORTRAIT OF A MASTERPIECE” they were able to introduce him to someone who soon will become a legend, but at the time became his friend and counsel; PIKASO met with FRANCIS MAGALONA.

From there PIKASO’s influence slowly gained momentum as he met and produced songs for the likes of Regine Velasquez, Nina, Kyla, Seven Shots, Pharcyde, Terror Squad, Q-Bert and a host of hip-hop, R&B and pop artists. His unique style, Ice cold flow, and humble demeanor has banked for him gigs like hosting the hottest assembly of local hip-hop and R&B artists at the 2004 Fete dela Musique , opened for the Black Eyed Peas and was chosen to be the only opening act for Beyonce on tour in Manila. With a notable album and awesome performances under his belt, PIKASO reached critical acclaim receiving  five awards from the prestigious Philippine Hip-hop awards ever since 2006 and has continued to earn the respect of legendary and up and coming acts in the Pinoy hip-hop scene to date.

When he’s not busy producing artists and inspiring the new blood to get their head right, PIKASO also acts as CEO for TURF CLOTHING COMPANY. Inspired by the hip-hop culture, His brand depicts in full spectrum the vibrancy of urban lifestyle. Combining Filipino pride with the true grit of his country, PIKASO creates a line that is heavily consumed by the community and you can even see some celebrities sporting some of his custom gear. From a humble T-shirt stall, TURF CLOTHING COMPANY has grown exponentially. Now reaching distribution level TURF can be seen all over the globe. Here in Manila, his brand can be seen peedled from 168, to cash and carry, to makati up to his city Mandaluyong.

I was there during a BFE year ender event 2010 when I had a chance to talk to him about how 2011 will be Pinoy hip-hop's time to shine. Believe me when I say that PK is driven to making this into a reality.   

Lately we've been seeing less of PK only because of his undivided focus on putting up TURF's HQ. More importantly Paul takes this time to spend time with his family, being a father to his daughter and a stalwart husband to his wife. From the streets of SF to the sonic foundries of his homeland, PK has managed to stay true the course. He may not acknowledge the title of leader, but his personal traits, his accolades, and his overall persona has won the hearts of countless in the community. He may not wear an all white attire with a golden yellow tie, but PIKASO will surely make you stand up and sing; as if on cue.

HIPPIN’ HOPPIN’

learn it.live it.love it!

By: 3-na

(Rona Katrina Suelan y dela Cruz)

Whoever said Hip hop ain't nothin’ but music that thugs, street children and out of school youth would

rhyme and go beat boxing about out in the streets. It may be true, if you listen to most of the music

that hip hop artists in and out of the Philippines make, it talks about the streets, or maybe some other

issues on life, etc., but there exists a few records of this particular genre that is with a sense, and that is

because of the few artists, locally and internationally, who is inspired to write about life in the street and

is motivated, pushed and driven to promote a movement to show not only the drama there is to find at

hand but also, what good things you learn and experience out there, in the streets, as it is one important

venue that composes our society, and significantly, our individual lives .

Now, here in the 1st online hip hop magazine “Bagsakan”, we celebrate this music, we prop up this

unique street beat. So, in this segment, we interview artists locally, to tell us more of what exquisiteness

there is with hip hop, what’s cookin’ now, and what’s there to look forward to. On our very first edition,

we got a bloke from Batangas, who says he makes music not only to write about the street life, but also

to reach out and tackle social and political issues within the country, thus making hip hop music with a

massive sense and impact to us, and he calls himself “Dough Boy”.

WHEN AND HOW START DOING HIP HOP?

Way back probably around when I was 16, or 17 listening to Andrew E. ,Francis M., Pop,Eminem,

Bonethugs N Harmony, Coolio… But back then though ,in High School I was with a band because I’m

originally from Batangas City and hip hop isn’t as well known and is very alien to us, so together with my

band mates, we used to do a lot of heavy metal, had to go and play with the band first and stuff. Yeah,

so its’ been like I don’t know, 13 or 15 years.

WHY DOUGH BOY?

Okay, my real name is Rolando, and in our hometown since I’m Rolando Junior, and my dad is

nicknamed Lando, they call me Lando Boy, and from that I just spunked it, taking it after a certain

movie I watched that starred Ice Cube with Cuba Gooding Jr. (Boyz N The Hood), there Ice Cube’ name

was ‘’Dough Boy”, well, he was my idol and so I was like “yeah sounds kinda like my nickname if we

shorten it”,thus my name now.

TELL US ABOUT THE MUSIC YOU ARE MAKIN’?

Right about now, I’m with my band named square Juan we’re doin’ couple of gigs and we play lots of

alternative music,reggae, underground, that kinda stuff but we are kinda pushing through that, also,

right now, I’m with Longevity records an Independent Hip hop label which has recently released a mixed

taped called “Piling sikat” then, I got 5 tracks in that record, the music is more like Pinoy flava hip hop,

it’s more of clash culture, plus since my greatest influence is the late great Francis M, so that’s why my

music is like a mash up of hip hop plus another certain genre. It’s like Tagalized American hip hop. SO

that’s probably the reason why I chose to push through that kind of music.

WHAT MAKES YOU MUSIC UNIQUE FROM OTHER HIP HOP ARTISTS?

Well, basically, I’m really not trying to focus on one particularly genre, but one thing I can tell is that,

see, I’m a political artist, I graduated with a degree in Political Science back in college, and so most of the

time we tackle a lot of Social Issues, talk about commercialism and money control our economy.

SO YOU’RE MUSIC TACKLES POLITICS AND GOVERNMENT?

Well, we also do ballads, but more of a different kind of fix, rather than the usual syllable and chorus or

regular set of lyrics, more of experiences type. Music with a cause you, know.

YOU ALSO MENTIONED YOU HAVE A BAND, TELL US MORE ABOUT THEM.

We’re doing a couple of fusion, since we come from different types of genres, the music itself is kinda of

diverse, but off course it’s your regular type of fusion.

SO YOU MENTIONED ABOUT COOLIO, FRANCIS M, AMONG YOUR MANY INFLUENCES, WHY THEM?

Well, basically it’s all about their stand, like Francis Magalona stands for Pinoy pride, then Coolio, his

from the streets so, he talks about the streets and the life out there. As for me, I aint saying I’m from

the streets but I grew up hanging around in the streets a lot so, what his music is, it’s pretty much what I

have witnessed on my own and that’s what I talk about in my music. Plus one of my Greatest influence,

aside from Francis M would be Decoy, formerly of Mad Poets he is one great lyricist.

“You see, I’m trying to make hip hop music more respectable, because for the past couple of years,

hip hop music has been, well I’m not gonna say tainted, but “novelty”, is what’s attached or stuck

with the word “hip hop” in Pinoy context, that’s why we’re trying to take it to another level and

experiment with different elements.”

FOR THOSE YOUNG PEOPLE WHO SUPPORT HIP HOP, SHARE WITH US WHAT YOUR MAIN GOAL IN MAKING THIS KIND OF MUSIC?

My main goal is to have someone, maybe me or another hip hop artist, as a real representative who

lives up to the culture of Pinoy hip hop in our country who will really put our music in to another kind

of level, the way Eraserheads among others have successfully established rock n’ roll in the Philippines,

even if it’s not exactly me, I want Pinoy hip hop to achieve the same success. It can be me or somebody

else, it doesn’t really matter, as long as they promote hip hop the way it should be.

OK, NOW IN THE FUTURE, DO YOU HAVE PROJECTS AND GIGS TO SHARE WITH US SO WHEN CAN SEE YOU PERFORM?

Yeah, right now, we got “Kabataan Kontra Droga” project in Mandaluyong and Pasay, then this Gully’s

gig, well if you wanna invite me to perform, I’ma be there hehe.

MESSAGE TO THE HIP HOP FANS:

To all interested in the Hip hop culture, the music, great men of Hip hop like Picasso, in it’s prime

movement, like Konektado ,Fliptop, please support us, also got a facebook account, soon to be

completed watch out for it.

DEFINE HIP HOP:

This is the soul of the street. The music, the idea, philosophy, that we, wherever you’re at, as long as

you live by it, you may not know it, but you might just be a Hip Hopper at heart, the way your mind is

influenced. Hip hop is here to stay.

To BAGSAKAN:

Thank you for this interview. Keep the grind, keep promote hip hop and you guys are 1 of the soul and

vertebrae in hip hop’s climb in the local music industry here in the Philippines, if hip hop is enormous in

America, you guys will make it as big in our own country.

soul free!!!

The might of a thousand mics every night!!!

Feeling the vibe of the place.

people i know...hehehe

me and square1..one love

One great mind with perceptions that is so positively hip hop and one big heart to uplift hip hop, I’m

pretty sure thousands more would join Dough Boy with his goals, so to all you lovers of this beat, keep

up the walk and let’s make Hip hop rockin and rollin ‘round the country and ‘round the globe. Peace out.

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