Filipino-Americans in the Rap Game
Miller was born in Olongapo City, Philippines, and now resides in Las Vegas, Nevada. Miller comes from a musically inclined family. His father, Paul Sapiera, is the lead singer for the band, RockStar. His mother and sister are also active in the music industry. Miller’s sister, Raynn, is an amazing singer known as Raining Sorrow. EZ Mil’s mother is very supportive of her son’s career. She even suggested that he sample traditional Filipino folk songs into his rap, which you can hear on his song, Panalo, which is the song that catapulted the rapper to fame.
Miller is very proud of his heritage. He raps in multiple languages: English, Tagalog and Ilocano. EZ Mil’s debut album on Shady Records, DU4LI7Y: REDUX, launched in the summer of 2023. On this album, EZ Mil stays true to himself and his roots. He focuses not only on the lyrics, but the overall production, masterful storytelling and the strength of the Filipino people.
2. Guapdad4000
Guapdad4000 (aka Guap) born Akeem Ali Douglas Hayes is a rapper, singer and songwriter hailing from West Oakland, California. His stage name came about while talking with fellow Fil-Am and Oakland artist, Kehlani, about reviving AOL Instant Messenger handles. Guap identifies as Black and Filipino, which he shares in his 1176 album launched in 2021. In his song “Stoop Kid'', he talks about how his maternal grandparents met in the Philippines. His grandfather was a Black merchant marine stationed in Subic Bay, and his grandmother was a Filipina seamstress who came to the rescue by repairing Guap’s grandfather’s ripped uniform pocket.
Like many other children in immigrant families, Guap was raised by his grandparents. He expresses his respect for his lola (grandmother) in his music. He has a track called “Chicken Adobo” which is a love song and ode to his grandma who always cooked chicken adobo, pancit and lumpia for him and his friends.
Guap released his first mixtape Scamboy Color in 2017. Two years later, he was invited to be part of the Revenge of the Dreamers III. In the following years, he released singles which included features from Tory Lanez, 6lack, Chance the Rapper, G-Eazy, among others. He also wrote songs for the Sonic the Hedgehog and Shang-Chi movies.
Most recently, he proudly performed at the Los Angeles Clippers Filipino Heritage Night which took place in December 2023. In an interview with NPR, Guap encourages others to be themselves and be proud of who you are and where you came from. He also expressed the importance of using your experience by putting it in your art and letting it become a part of your identity. By being yourself, there’s no need to make anything up.
3. Bambu De Pistola
Danilo Alcatraz “Jonah” Deocampo Jr., better known as Bambu, is a community activist and rapper from Los Angeles, California. Growing up in the 1990s, he got involved with street gangs. He spent some of his teen years in juvenile hall. After being released, Bambu joined the United States Marine Corps. It wasn’t until he got out of the military that he pursued music as a career. His music is reminiscent of his experiences: police brutality, racial prejudice, and economic equality. He uses his music platform to tell stories and to push people to organize.
In 2002, Bambu released his debut LP called Self untitled...followed by a list of close to 20 projects throughout the years. In 2019, he released Exrcising a Demon - Article II - Brother Hoods, where he shares more about growing up in southern California and what it was like to be part of the gang bang life. In 2020, during the COVID-19 pandemic, he released his latest full-length album, Sharpest Tool in the Shed.
In addition to being a community activist and rapper, Bambu also founded the indie music label, Beatrock Music, in 2009. He’s collaborated with hip-hop artists including DJ Muggs and Killer Mike, Prometheus Brown, Ruby Ibarra, and Rocky Rivera (who is also his wife).
4. Rocky Rivera
Krishtine de Leon, professionally known as Rocky Rivera, is a Filipino-American rapper, activist, and journalist from San Francisco, California. Her stage name is derived from Jessica Hagedorn’s book, Gangster of Love. The book’s main character, Rocky Rivera, is a Filipino girl who moves to San Francisco from the Philippines.
Rocky Rivera is a member and “first lady” of Beatrock Music. Growing up in a military family in the city, she had a very progressive upbringing, which is apparent in her socially conscious lyrics as she touches on sexism, racism, women empowerment, gentrification, systematic oppression, motherhood, capitalism, religion and politics. Throughout her career, she’s backed up her words with action through the work she’s done with the League of Filipino Students at San Francisco State University, Filipino Community Center of the Excelsior, and Oakland Kids First.
In 2004, Rocky Rivera founded the Filipina-American rapper collective the Rhapsodistas with “Shortyrocwell” Duller, Valerie “Sho Shock” Francisco, Natasha “Sola” Pineda and Liezel “Zelstarrr” Rivera. Two years later, they disbanded the group due to competing responsibilities that life has to offer. Rocky Rivera continued to pursue music. To date, she has released two mixtapes, three albums (Rocky Rivera, Gangster of Love, and Rocky’s Revenge), and nine joint projects with DJ Roza under the Rock & Roz series. She’s also collaborated with many artists including DJ Perk Pietrek, Bboy Finesse, Ruby Ibarra, and of course her life partner, Bambu.
As a strong, vocal Filipina-American, Rocky Rivera feels a deep sense of responsibility to advocate and improve Asian American representation in the media. Asian women are stereotypically depicted as submissive and passive. Rocky Rivera is far from the stereotype! She is loud, proud, opinionated, and isn’t afraid to speak up on furthering equality and accurate representation of what it means to be Filipino-American and a modern woman, wife, and mother.
5. Prometheus Brown
Prometheus Brown aka Geo Quibuyen is a California-born, Hawaii-raised, Pacific Northwest-rooted musician and writer. While attending the University of Washington, he was both a student and organizer. In college, Geo skipped class to make music with Alexei Saba Mohajerjasbi, who is the other half of Blue Scholars. Geo aka MC Geologic was the vocalist for Blue Scholars. The Blue Scholars released three full-length albums: Blue Scholars, Bayani, and Cinemetropolis.
Prometheus Brown is also part of the Beatrock Music family. In 2011, together with Bambu, they released Prometheus Brown and Bambu Walk into a Bar. With the addition of DJ Nphared, the trio became The Bar. In 2014-2015, the trio released Barkada and Son of Barkada. In 2023, Prometheus Brown released his first solo Beatrock Music project, Taglagas.
When he’s not making music, you’ll find Geo co-running Hood Famous Bakeshop and Hood Famous Cafe + Bar with his wife, Chera, who he did Food & Sh*t pop ups before opening their own brick-and-mortar in Seattle, Washington.
6. Ruby Ibarra
Ruby Ibarra is rapper, director, spoken word artist, songwriter and music producer from San Lorenzo, California. Now, she’s added record label founder to her list of accolades. In 2023, she co-founded a record label, Bolo Music Group, which highlights Filipino American artists.
Ibarra got her start in 2012 after she released her Lost In Translation mixtape which debuted on Eminem’s Shade45 channel on Sirius XM Radio. In 2015, Ibarra signed on to Beatrock Music. Two years later, Ibarra’s debut album CIRCA91 was released. Ibarra’s raps make references to her Filipino heritage and her experiences as an immigrant to the United States. Ibarra’s song “Us,” featuring Filipina-Americans, Rocky Rivera, Klassy and Faith Santilla, is included in the NBA 2K23 video game.
Aside from recording, Ibarra has also been featured on billboard campaigns for Amazon Music and Spotify. She also wrote and performed songs for Seasons 1 and 2 of FOX Network’s TV show, The Cleaning Lady. Ibarra continues to help others rise through her actions. In 2018, Ibarra co-founded the Pinay Rising scholarship program for Filipinas pursuing higher education in the visual and performing arts or social work field. Most recently, she co-founded the Bolo Music Group, with Angelo “LASI” Macareg. The Bolo Music Group features Filipino-American artists: Ouida, Ian Santillano, Vince A and Ibarra herself.
If these artists aren’t already part of your playlist, add them immediately. If there’s one major theme that sticks out amongst these artists is that they’re very loud about being Filipino. They incorporate their identity into their work, which they gladly share on their platforms. We know you’re already rocking with P-Lo, proudly shouting along “same squad, same squad” and when “Us” by Ruby Ibarra, Rocky Rivera, Klassy and Faith Santilla comes on, we see you pumping your firsts, singing the hook “Island woman rise, walang makakatigil. Brown, brown woman, rise, alamin ang ‘yong ugat. They got nothin’ on us (ayy!). Nothin’ on us (ayy!)”.
Filipino names are truly some of the most diverse names you’ll ever come across. Our last names alone can have Spanish influence, Chinese influence, and in some cases American influences due to the involvement of the U.S. during World War II.
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