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By Angelique P. Manalad, Contributor
Duncan Yu, better known as Amazing KiD of the
Rapskallion Familia, enters the music scene once again after taking
a break, reclaiming his throne as one of the respected rappers who
does well on his craft.
He’s been in the industry since 1996, starting
in an underground group named Rapskallion together with KrazyKyle
and deMarco same batch as Artstrong and Seven Shots of Wisdom.
During those times, everything was just for the love of music:
attending gigs without getting paid and recording and producing with
their own money.
Then the group decided to take a break as they
felt that all the hard work hasn’t paid off in 1999. After this,
KiD, didn’t really left the scene as he was featured in several
albums with other artists like DJ Arbie Won on his album United
Freestyles vol. 2, released nationwide and in Japan. Then Kyle
called him up for his song “No Album Got Skills”, since Kyle
went solo and a PBA theme song “Full Court Press” during 2001.
He will also be featured in Jay Cayuca’s song “The devil went
down to Georgia.”
It was due to his music and writing he was
tagged as Amazing KiD. “It was the people who gave it to me. I
write and do things differently,” the 29-year-old explained.
Having Kommon, Blackalicious, Eminem and Tupac
as some of his influences, he captivates the listeners with his
vivid style of putting words into life.
“My music is not like the usual ‘I’m a
gangsta’-like of theme. Everyone seems to be doing that. They are
trying to imitate what they see on TV, on what they see from the
States. My topic is usually about life, on what’s really happening
around today and try to bring positive vibe through my music.”
Storytelling is also one of his trademarks and
has even earned him the moniker “Stephen King.” Listeners often
feel suspense—readers of fantasy thriller novels do—as Kid’s
lyrics unravel his yarn.
“I want to be known as this lyricist whose
listeners are like TV viewers that can’t take their eyes off the
screen. I want to move how hip-hop is supposed to be done, how it is
supposed to be written and what quality it has to have,” he says.
“Ross and Rachel, lost an angel”
Two different verses with one rhyme taken from
his song “Almost,” usually a good rapper/lyricist can be
determined on how he can make the verses and syllables as balance as
possible.
“Other rappers will just rhyme
‘immediately’ with ‘promptly,’ only just the last syllables.
When I write, as much as possible I try that two whole words
rhyme.”
Lost in translation?
Criticized for rapping and writing in English,
he explains, “I respect the Tagalog rappers, but then this is my
forte. I am more comfortable in writing my music in English.”
But he’s no poser. Rapping is not something
only a black man can do. Though rappers are not that recognized in
the country, he believes the rhymes can’t attract many but can be
respected by few.
‘Is it the quantity, is it the quality?
everytime I’m stroking my pen’
is a line from his song, “Quality MC,” he
wanted to elevate the present state of rap music in the local market
once again. With his writing he wanted to show and teach how hip-hop
is supposed to be.
He was saddened during the time when Pinoy
rappers were known some few years back, having a short span of fame
as their songs became a novelty.
A struggles to fight for the music he knows that
has this quality to influence people in a way or another. “I
wanted to open up eyes of the people. Filipinos can be this good.”
During the previous annual Philippine Hip-hop
Awards, KiD noticed the hesitation of the sponsors. “There’s
still this connotation that hip-hop is just trash, only exudes
violence, there’s no unity but I want to change that impression.
We can produce this kind of music.”
Another distinction he makes is that being a
hip-hop artist doesn’t mean having to don baggy jeans and shirts
with all the bling-blings hanging around his neck. Decently dressed,
he just wants to reflect how his songs are through his clothes and
how he treats other people.
Resurrection of Rapskallion Familia
Kid has become the frontman for two groups under
Rapskallion: LaMarga and Hash1.
His song “Hustla Music” is currently
receiving airplay. It’s an eye opener that explains that being a
hustler doesn’t always mean that you have to do illegal things.
This June, the Rapskallion Familia will come out
with a trilogy album under Longevity Records, an independent label.
It will be the first album with three different covers, which
features the two other groups and KiD.
After this he will be working with his first
full-length album, Amazing Kid: The Prestige which we all should
look forward to.
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