Phat G. From Hardcore to Rap and The Story Behind That

I know many of you will question or wonder why we feature an artist whose into Rap and HipHop where on the header it says Hardcore Punk. Well I've read a letter written to a Zine before asking if rap or hip hop have  a room in our Hardcore Punk scene. I know there will be a lot of discussion for this matter and I leave you guys to that. Honestly, I am no fan of hip hop or rap music, but the thing is, it is interesting to find out some local rap artist that came from the hardcore punk scene. I know its been done by Freddie Madball and some of the NYHC guys. So for this article we will feature Phat G. a guitarist of a hardcore/metal band FAILURE (which is in hiatus) who have released a four way split CD with bands like End is Forever from Germany, John Doe from Poland, and Loyal to the Grave from Japan under Village Kids Record from Germany. Phat G. talks about how he switch from being a guitarist to being an MC and the movement behind NSC (Ninja Shaolin Crew).

First of all, kindly introduce yourself  to our readers. And tell us more about you and your project.

Yi yeah.. First of all salamat ENZO at sa site.... Yo! I’m PHAT G hardcore christian warrior, living in bay city area “a City of dreams and a City of Hopes.” I’m just an ordinary guy that can fly up high for our movement since day1  batangas stand up... Filipino rise up... Under Shuriken Multi Media Production... NSC Familia... Anjan jan lng din ako sa kalye...

Some of us know that you are the original guitarist of the hardcore band FAILURE. What happen? Why did leave the band? Whats the story behind that?

Yeah... On the li-low muna kami sa eksena.. But still keep our fire burnin... Buo padin ang banda.. Pero sa ngayon steady lang kami... hintay lang Kiko(bassist) umuwi dhil nasa Singapore pa sya... Para makatugtog ulit... But still we are all ok... Waiting for our right time ulit na makatugtog na kami talgang apat ang magkakasama... At my plano na ulit ang FAILURE para magrecord ng new EP..  Hot tracks... Soon... Batangas Hardcore flavor still... Check it out..

What made you decide to take this bold move? And shift into this genre which is the opposite of hardcore?

Still hardcore style.... Attitude... About the movement.. All in all... BATANGAS LOCAL ARTIST recognized... Old and new generation.... And for all next generation... Keep it tight...

You also have this side project 8foldpath, what’s the story behind that band?

Yeah... 8foldpath... Nabuo last 2008.. Na ang mga players ay galing sa ibat ibang magagaling na bnda natin dito sa Batangas... Na  nagtagpo tagpo sa gitna.. Wayback UB  times... Makabuo ng new innovation ng style ng music... From Jugment, Tellayouthska, Sophie of Color of d day.. But now we are still arranging the new line up... Aalis na kasi ang gitarista namin Udorp from ska.. So steady lang... Watch out for our new line up soon too....=)

Tell us about your music, you have a mixed tape out, did you wrote all the lyrics? What is it all about?

Mixtape vol. 1. FIRST STEP( still available for only 100php.. With free vcd and stickers.. 12 hot tracks na talagang dugot pawis ang inilaan... Panahon ang naging kakampi sa bawat pagagawa ng unang hakbang na ito.... Music is all about the life of all people... Mga nararanasan ng tao to encourage all the listeners(di lang sa hiphop )to step you!! Don’t loose their faith in all their dreams... Unang hakbang... Time will come magiging inspiration ng mga next G’s... Pano lahat mangyayari... Na from nothing to something.. Posible... Sa isang ordinaryo na kagaya ko.... And  yes I wrote all the lyrics of it... ... Check out this site din http://www.darkzee.blogspot.com peace...

What inspires to write this lyrics? Please elaborate.

Experiences.... Dreams... Goal.. Blood sweat and tears ng di lang sarili ko pati din sa mga nakapaligid sa akin... Light over darkness... Sa mundo nating ito..

Who and what are your influences?

Sa lyrics/artist: naging influence ko si Sonny of POD, Bob Marley, John Lennon, Master Francis M. Naramdaman ko ang mga mensahe nila, na nagsilbing liwanag din sa buhay ko.. You know what im saying. Naging influencce ko din Jay-Z, lalung lalu na sa movement... Rockafella, na inspire ako... at Mike Swift Konektado to the billboard... Pero all in all... Eksena talga ng Batangas ang naging influence ko... Mga banda natin dito na nakasama ko... Story behind all of them.  Malaking impluwensya sakin nila, lalu ung panindigan sa music.. How real their music, how they represent it simula pangalan ng mga banda/artist, sa musika, sa mga paniniwala.. Gaano katotoo ang music nila... Batangas pride.. SOF, Tellayouthska, one4zero, iya, godswill, rhthym, soul, marlon skin46.

You collaborate with different artist on this mixtape. Who are they and what are their part on the record?

Yeah.... Dito sa mxtape na ito.. Nagsama sama ibat ibang artist ng Batangas na nagagaling sa ibat ibang genre. Kasama ko dito sina Rhthym, Marlon of marl46, John of one4zero, Cardinal Tank of SOF, Phoebe of Bloody Scarlette, Bogchick and Mel Christ, upcoming hiphop artist din natin dito sa batangas from Lemery and Sto Tomas, Ismael (owner ng LOD studio) Soul ng Project Kulture... Kasama ko din dito ang Choir ng Basilica Immaculate Conception... =)

Liwanag ay higit sa kadiliman....

Malaki ang part nila sa Mixtape. Sila ang magsisilbing ehemplo din para sa movement because this album talga ay para sa Since Day 1 Movement.. Ilan lang sila sa mga patunay na naniwala din at nagpakita din na posible mangyari ang mga gugusuhin natin mangyari...

Do you have  plans of making a video or something?

This coming year lalabas ang first music vid ng 8foldpath (Biernes trese) directed by Gab Tojino. Madami pang upcoming vid para sa NSC Since Day 1 DVD ngayon taon din yan...=) Batangas.....

What do you think about the scene that we have here in Batangas right now and the next coming year? Please share your insights.

Tuloy tuloy na ang eksena nawala man ang tugtugan ng matagal  na panahon pero hindi ito namatay... May independent music label na tau, my studio, madaming artist na nag lalabasan pa, sa music at sa mga arts sa mga merchandise. May spot tayo ngayon na naniniwala para sa event, at higit sa lahat nagkakatulung tulungan na ang kramihan dito sa Batangas.... Kapit bisig, Maniwala lang ang bawat isa lalu para sa Batangas at mangyayari ito.. Batangas stand up!!! Filipino rise up!!! Nangyayari na, mas magiingay pa lalo ang tiga Batangas...

You guys together with NSC have a lot of things going. Tell us more about the “Since Day One Movement”. What’s behind this?

Since Day 1 Movement, ay para talaga sa eksena natin dito sa Batangas. May direksyon may patutunguhan ang bawat artist, music and arts at mabigyan ng chance na marekognise ang lahat para sa lahat pa din ito. Hindi lang sa mga magbabanda  para sa Batangas pa din ito. Nakita na at nalaman na ng iba ang movement na ito na nagsilbi sa aming libro. Kaya sa bawat pahina ay hakbang, kaya hakbang lang ng hakbang at mararating din ang pangarap na mayroon talga tayo dito sa Batangas. Mismong dito sA ating lugar ang pagasa at di na kailangang dumayo pa. Magsisilbing tulay pa tayo para sa kanila... Spread the word about d movement.... Nangyayari na, imulat lang lalo ang mga mata..=) Ang pagtutulungan talga ay susi din ng tagumpay ng lahat... Pantay pantay lang... Yah heard....

I guess thats it for me now, any last thoughts or recent projects and merchandise to promote?

Ngayon August victory party ng FIRST STEP album at website launching din ng since day 1.. Upcoming project Shuriken Urban Wear,NSC Since Day 1 DVD. Madami pang events at album na lalabas. Kape’t Barako vol. 2, CD compilation din ng mga banda natin dito sa Batangas. Acoustic compilation cd produce by LOD, Tellayouthska first album, Baked album by DJ Stashmoney. May upcoming mixtape din si Cardinal Tank(Survival Of the Fittest currently nagrerecord na sya) available padin po ang FIRST STEP album Mixtpae vol.1 for only php100 this album is for the Since Day 1 Movement... Salamat sa mga sumuporta at bumili ng mga copy limited lang po ito...=)

Suporthan din  natin ang mga produkto ng Batangas... habol lang din ako ng papasalamat ulit sa lahat ng sumuporta sa kapit bisig araw ng kalayaan last June12 at Alexie... Congrats lahat sa atin. Sa mga nagbooth, sa mga guest, sa mga artist sa lahat ng sumuporta at tumulong. Hakbang pa lang nating lahat iyon. Madami pa, naguumpisa pa lang, kapit bisig, spread the word... Keep it tight NSC Since Day1 Movement... Maraming salamat.

Maraming maraming sAlmat sa site na ito... Keep it up.. More power, until next time... g’bless..!!! NSC YUCK FOU!!!!! BATANGAS STAND UP!!! FILIPINO RISE UP!!!! Spread the love.... Spread the word.... Salamat kapatid!!!