Whayuk! Bisdak rappers make a mark

Throw in more "bisdak," quirky and droll lexis, the hip-hop beat and what do you have? Major radio attention, diverse public reactions and a massive musical hit! Bisdak rap is fast becoming a music genre, treading the same success path as that of the novelty songs of Yoyoy Villame and Max Surban. Its intensity now heightened by several underground rap groups from Visayas and Mindanao, now unleashing their original compositions over the past few years.

Two songs that had just hit the Visayas and Mindanao airwaves and gaining generously airplay are "Kuyaw" and "Bayot Man Diay si Inday." The most recent radio phenomena struck the public unknowing of their musical geniuses. It wasn't difficult to locate the group many have been asking about. In fact, I just discovered during our show in "Singgit Cebu" last Sunday that one of the members of the group has just been right under my nose all this time. He's none other than Jerome Abella, better known as Jeriku Baby - one of my co-hosts in the show and disc jockey of 99.5 RT! With dyRT colleagues and deejays Norenito Joelon "D' Hitman" Pelomiana and Dexter "DexterMan" Pipay, the group a.k.a. Whayuk made their first public debut on "Singgit Cebu." The decision to finally appear was made after discovering that other stations unashamedly claimed exclusivity to what these three disc jockeys turned rap artists have created and released at their home station last June.

To help set things right, here's a feature of the latest Cebuano rap group to hit the local music scene.

Known collectively as "Whayuk," reverse lingo for "kuyaw," the rap group was named after the title of their first original composition since their conception last April of this year.

Joelon "D' Hitman" Pelomiana, RT deejay since 1992 and ex-vocalist of "Whiteheads," a hip rock band launched and regularly featured at 99.5 RT's rock show from 1997 to 2001, is Whayuk's vocalist, composer and songwriter. Jerome "Jeriku Baby" Abella, who just recently joined RT and "Singgit Cebu," is also the group's vocalist. Dexter "DexterMan" Pipay, drummer and disc jockey since 1996, handles the beat work for the group's music.

The two originals were an upshot of the three disc jocks regularly working on production materials (i.e. radio commercials and stingers). Let's get to know them more: On Playing Music To Making It: Joelon Pelomiana (JP): It started with making our own versions of other songs that we usually play at the station. Experimental ra tong amo-a.

Dexter Pipay (DP): When we got the software that helped us create more songs, we began making our originals.

Jerome Abella (JA): Lingaw, lingaw ra gud tong amo-a. On Piracy And Other Controversies:

JP: "Kuyaw" was our first original. It took Dexter a week to come up with the beat and 30 minutes for me on the lyrics. We released the raw version at RT and sent a copy to Mindanao just recently. What shocked us was how other stations got hold of it. Nawayuk mi after some of our regular listeners reported that remix versions of it were being played in other stations that claimed they made the song.

JA: Would you believe that it's now being sold in outlets selling pirated CDs?! Only the titles of the songs are seen on the covers, way nakabutang nga artist kay wa may nakaila. Pero bisag ma-o nay nahitabo, proud baya gihapon mi. It feels good to know that what we created is being appreciated by the public to the extent that some would attempt to claim recognition.

JP: It only shows that piracy is not just limited to material distribution. We tried to investigate how the material fell into the wrong hands. With the technology nowadays, it's so easy to record something through the airwaves and make different versions of the song. Labi na most Bisdak Rap artists do not really come out in the public to be recognized. On Loopholes In The Music Industry:

JP: Sa kalisud nas panahon, sigurista na kaayo ang mga recording companies that's why more and more artists are not given the break they need. That explains why some would agree to do business with the so-called "pirates" in the music industry.

JA: Plus the high rates of recording studios make it more difficult if not impossible for groups to afford and make music. Being in RT paved the way for the group and made it possible for us to create our songs. Nasuwertehan lang gud mi. On Becoming 'Mas Whayuk!'

JA: We've been getting a lot of gigs lately especially now that we've come out in the open.

JP: We're currently negotiating with a recording company and completing the other songs in the album, which we feel may supersede the public and airwave success of the two other songs. On Their Advice For Aspiring Local Music Groups:

JP: "Whayuk" would like to inspire other groups to come out and share their stuff.

DP: Have fun making your music. It's must not be just about making money.

JA: Though, it's important to get recognition, what really matters is the sense of achievement you get out of doin' what you enjoy most and knowing many people appreciate it. Mao nay mas whayuk!

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