New Wika recording artist: Blaine

We got this online from Examiner.com..an exclusive interview with Wika Records' latest discovery,and one of the local scene's rising star..Blaine..

"A former child star back in the day, you might have seen John Ace Zabarte aka Blain Wika in a movie called 'Batang X' along with other stars such as John Prats and Janus Del Prado.

Now he's one of the top recording artists at WIKA records, a recording company headed by Pinoy hip hop pioneer D-Coy.

Blain Wika is the typical Pinoy hustler, working hard to make a name for himself and to provide for his family. Similar to many Pinoys he juggles two jobs; one as a rap artist and another as a call center agent.

Blain on how and when he started rapping.

BW: As you know dati akong child star. My first film was 'Batang X' by Peque Gallaga and Lore Reyes. I was ten years old. Then yung theme song ng 'Batang X' was a rap song performed by Mark Solis. So lagi kong napapakinggan at nararap and it came naturally. Hindi ako nahirapan mag twist ng words. At the same time yung mga guys na gumawa ng costumes namin and set for the films ay nakikinig sa Legit Miisfitz, Mastaplann and Death Threat. Tapos i just kept on rappin and it came naturally.

The artists that influenced him.

BW: D-Coy, D-Coy and D Coy (laughs). I started listening to D-Coy in 1999. Nanood ako ng film ni Vic Sotto and Dina B. at yung song niya na 'Bakit Ba Ganyan' ay ang sound track. Nabasa ko D-Coy, so I started listening to him.

Why D-Coy has lasted in the game for so long:

BW: First off, D-Coy is just hip hop head 24/7. He does nothing but hip hop. He never stops studying. Second, he's humble and knows to talk and deal with people. He knows what he's doing at hindi nanghuhula lang. Third is that, siya lang siguro ang artist sa Pilipinas na may pinaka magandang hook sa bawat song. Maganda ang chorus at kayang kantahin ng masa pero at the same time swag pa rin ang lyrics. Swag rin yung verses such as in 'Walang Katulad.'

Problems hip hop artists face in the Philippines:

BW: The problems in Pinas, yung ibang artists gagawa ng novelty s#$%, like a funny rap song para patugtugin sa radio na Tagalized. Song na revised at ginawang nakakatawa ang chorus sa original para umere sa radio. It makes Pinoy rap sound stupid, so pag nakita kami ng tao, they think that we are just doing the same things. Wala tuloy naniniwala, lalo na yung mga corporate people. Ang kinukuha nila mga banda, dun nila sinusugal ang mga pera nila. Pero sa hip hop never dahil sa sangkatutak na self proclaimed 'Artists' kuno. So D-Coy and WIKA records are pushing for quality tagalog hip hop music. Namulat kasi ang tao sa standards at tunog ni Andrew E. You know what i mean? Yun lang ang alam nilang hip hop....With WIKA we say: Puwedeng hindi baduy para maabot at maiintindihan ka ng masa.

Source of beefs withing the Philippine hip hop industry:

BW: Inggit,being so f%$#* envy. Marami ang talangka pag marami na ang nararating mo and people starts to recognize your name and music. Other cats will start to talk s$#%@. Aawaying nila yung artist na pumapalo para madamay sa hype. It's as simple as that. Tinging ko, kung may gusto kang sabihin, then make a quality song and have a good wrecking performance. Gumawa ka ng classic na album para marami kang ma reach out.

Marami ang tao na marami masyado ang alam, pero hindi sila magka pag close ng deal sa legit na record label. Puro mixtapes, isang sakong mixtapes, that's the reason why I believe in my manager so much. He knows, how to do his thing right on his own way. Even sponsors naiisara niya ang deal na siya lang mag isa. Even way back noon na wala pang nakakakilala sa kanya, pero may naniniwala na sa kanya because when he talks...he knows exactly what he is saying.

OS: I think I know who you are talking about.

On D-Coy and Mike Swift Beef:

BW: Si Mike Swift walang career. Puro hype. He's making a fool out of youngsters to be his believer. At isa pa, kung mag search ka ng kahit anong kanta niya na sumikat at tumatak katabi ng pangalan niya ang sagot ay wala. Like Coy has Pambansang Kamao, Sana and a whole lot more. Si Mike walang kantang malakas, walang career, walang music video na maayos, walang career. Simple as that, so para mapansin siya, pinipitik niya yung ibang mga artist dito for some reason like Pikaso, Krazykyle, mga taong hindi pumapalag.

OS: Pikaso is already an established artists in Pinas.

BW: Yeah I can say so, specially his clothing line TURF (The Underground Runs Forever). That is the main thing. Bakit niya pinipitik ang mga taong eto. Tapos sa internet siya magkakalat ng mga nakakainis na blogs at posts niya.

Why? It's because nobody recognizes him and nobody gives a damn about him. Only the confused lil kids that doesn't have any idea what hip hop is like...It just so happens na nagkamali siya ng pinitik yesterday afternoon. Hindi lahat ng tao ay P@#$$, hindi lahat ng kampo puwede niyang babuyin.

How United are the hip hop community in the Philippines:

BW: Not at all. Every camp has it's own supporters and believers. But of course meron rin na hip hop heads rin na gusto lang talaga yung scene.

OS: So there's not much collaboration between artists from different camps?

BW: There is a lot, but after it all, plastikan na naman. So kami, bawal na muna, lalo na kay Coy. Marami ng gusto gumamit sa street cred niya, sa lyrics niya, for his new breed of artists, kami and his fame. Sobrang malaking question mark na sa amin ang salitang loyalty, trust and respect.

OS: Isn't the lack of unity probably one of the the main reason why the hip hop community in the Philippines has not gotten the respect that it deserves? Shouldn't the community be united to help expose the hip hop scene.

BW: That is one thing. Second is radio, TV, the media do not want to believe in us. Dahil lagi kami na stereotype.

The hip hop artists that he follows:

BW: Wala na po maliban sa Beathmatics at si Syke. Isa si Syke sa malalaking influence ko and most people that have heard me spit says that I sound like the old school Syke.

Upcoming projects of WIKA:

BW: Dapat malabas ang album ni D-Coy by July hopefully. Doon namin kukunin lahat ng puhunan for new videos and compilation albums. Yung pera na kikitain niya dun, maraming babaguhin na buhay."

check it here:http://www.examiner.com/x-43048-Filipino-Arts--Entertainment-Examiner~y2010m5d29-Exclusive-Interview-Blain-Wika-On-WIKA-Records-Philippines-Hip-Hop-Community-and-DCoy