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Shuffled! is a new feature on BPRLive, in which we ask some of our favorite people on the scene to set their mp3 player of choice to random, and tell us about the first few songs that they hear.

Today’s Shuffler: Kiwi

It doesn’t seem that long ago when Kiwi was hoo-riding open mics and hustling poorly recorded demo tapes all over Los Angeles. Years later, that same hunger and humility has brought him back to one of the most important crossroads in his life, as the former Native Guns emcee enters his long-awaited rebirth back into the world as a solo artist.

Kiwi’s body of work is telling. He has rocked shows up and down California, as well as Seattle, Chicago, New York City, Honolulu, and Florida, sharing the stage with the likes of Medusa, Common, the Visionaries, Blue Scholars, Black Eyed Peas, Dilated Peoples and others. His library of music includes Native Guns’ “Barrel Men” and “Stray Bullets Mixtape” CDs, and his classic first solo album “Writes of Passage: Portraits of a Son Rising” (which is part of the syllabus in San Francisco State’s Filipino-American Literature Class). He was also the former host/producer of Apex Express on 94.1FM KPFA in Berkeley, and currently coordinates and co-facilitates the Hip Hop Workshop series for young folks at San Francisco’s Filipino Community Center. Most recently, Kiwi had the honor of being featured as a Keynote Speaker at the 2007 Sandiwa Conference.

My motivation is to get
you to respond
I ain’t tryin’ to keep you here
I’m tryin’ to get you beyond

Kiwi’s sound isn’t just for the head-nod, but for critical dialogue. Those who see Kiwi on the regular will tell you that his music is a direct reflection of his organizing work in the Filipino community. Those who really know him will tell you that beneath all of that is a complex being, a former gang-banger, a high school dropout, a proud product of a single mother, a survivor, and a man in constant search of peace and wisdom. This balance between art and activism, the personal and the politics, as well as his fiery presence onstage and in the recording booth has given him the gift of supporters and listeners worldwide.

His latest project “The Summer Exposure Mixtape” was scheduled for this past summer, setting the stage for the highly-anticipated exhale of his second yet-to-be-titled full-length album, coming soon.

In this land of pimps, playas,
and playa hatas
What ever happened to the
teachers and the motivators?

For more information on Kiwi, visit him at myspace.com/kiwi.

On to the shuffle…

“Purple”
Nas

If there’s one artist I’m blindly loyal to, it’s Nas. Even if he did a less-than-mediocre song (and he’s done a few), I’d find some appreciation or argument for em.

“Purple” was the first joint off Nas’ “Lost Tapes” album that really hit me. He’s just flowin. If I didn’t know any better, I’d say it was an unfinished song. But the dead air where a hook might normally be gives the listener the opportunity to marinate a little. And Nas is one of those cats you marinate on. The rhyme schemes and vividness of his lyrics, and of course his voice was something that definitely influenced me as a writer:

The whole city is mine / prettiest don
I don’t like the way P-Diddy did Shine / with different lawyers
Why it’s mentioned in my rhymes / fuck it / it’s just an intro
Hate it or love it / like it / bump it / or dump it
Write it / across the stomach / spelled Godson
Life is like a jungle, black / it’s like a habitat / for Tarzan

I remember his first album the classic “Illmatic.” The reason I loved that album was, depending on the time of year, I’d have a different “favorite” song. It started with “One Love,” then became “The World is Yours,” then “One Time for your Mind” and so on… None of his albums that followed ever matched the acclaim or impact of “Illmatic,” but every now and then he’d put out a heater or two.

“Gotta Get Up/Another Day”
Jill Scott

I just saw “Tyler Perry’s ‘Why did I get Married?’” which featured “Jilly from Philly” as one of the main cast members. I just love her. The energy, the confidence, the variations depth in her voice, the writing. Jill Scott is one of those artists that just makes you feel empowered after listening to her stuff. It’s simple yet complex, sophisticated and mature yet with an edge. Definitely grown folks music.

“Metros and Chirpers”
Mistah Fab

This song is just so Bay Area. Metro PCS is one of those pre-pay cellular phone plans, and is popular especially among folks in the Bay with economic ‘irregularity,’ if you will. Hella fam I know in Oakland swear by it. And it’s become so common that it’s become part of Bay Area slang even.

But I’m chirpin though. Where you is? Where you at?
I’m right here by the Car Wash next to the Laundromat.
Getting detail! My rounds are burly.
My favorite song come on, so now I’m doing the furly.
I got all the girls laughing, my music is blasting.
Going dumb when i’m past it, just the dippin and gassin’
My battery kinda low, I gotta get me a charger
Hit the metro store right off a MacArthur

“El Suegro”
Very Be Careful

During my brief stint as the Young Men’s Coordinator at the Asian Pacific Health Care Venture, I had the honor of working with a young man by the name of Ricardo Guzman, whose traditional colombian band, Very Be Careful, has been holding it down in the L.A indie latin music scene for a hot minute. Ricky was the homie, when we got a ping pong table for our youth center, me and him used to sneak away and have private battles with each other. And the music his band played… impeccable. Ricky is the lead singer and accordion player. His voice is just plain beautiful. Soulful. His brother Arturo plays the upright bass, and the rest of the crew is on various percussion instruments. They got this whole hipster steelo that reflects in the audience who follows them. There’s also something very “L.A” about their vibe, that brings me back to house parties and barbeques whenever I hear them.

“Lastchild Speaks”
Denizen Kane

Being from Koreatown, I feel like I’m always picky about my Korean friends, but I got mad love for my man from the Chi. Just an excellent writer and performer, and a kind human being. Don’t get it twisted though, D can also show his teeth when need be. I’m glad this Lastchild Speaks joint came on cause Dennis just goes off. Real raw hip hop lyricism right here.

Dennis and I were supposed to do this mixtape called “Burnin’ and Lootin’” but it kinda took a back seat to other projects. Whussup D, you wanna start that up again?

Errata: Dennis actually clarified to me that it was his brother David aka ‘Lastchild’ (RIP) who was rhyming on the track.

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• Shuffled! Theresa Vu of Magnetic North - July 17th, 2008
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