Tha' Journey of Dice And K9 Mobbstarr

With a more mature approach to his indulgences-the alternative/abstract hip-hop craft he doggedly fought for to gain recognition and respect and the business ventures that flow with the Mobb Music-Dice a.k.a. Firstborn, of Dice and K9 Mobbstarr dubbed "hip-hop royalty" from around here, recalls in "Tha' Journey" the memories before and after the group's acceptance into a wider sphere of hip-hop music.

In an album launching on Sunday, January 22 at the SM City Cebu Entertainment Plaza, Dice with cohorts Hi-C a.k.a. Sashi Yurichiro/Rainboo Bryte and Trapp a.k.a. Dunjin Child with very special guest K9 a.k.a. gr8mind will perform tracks lifted from their, technically, third album but second album on a nationwide release dubbed "Tha' Journey" produced by Dice's 6000 Goonz label and manufactured and distributed by Viva Records.

Tonight, they will be at Handuraw Café in Mabolo for the RNB Hip Hop Rap Nights with Königs, 7th sun, NYOR, The Untouchables and Body Reflexion Dancers, and on the 28th in SM-Cagayan de Oro City.

Like most journeys, the album espouses the jagged terrains of that tricky uphill climb to stardom, those summits conquered afterwards and the view from up there, the injuries created by initial rejection and detraction, the recognitions from various award-giving bodies in the hip-hop music industry as the Bisdak brat pack romped away with Best Homegrown Hip-Hop Group (2004), Rap Group of the Year (2005), MTV Asia Awards Most Favorite Group-Philippines nominee (2005) and Philippines Hip-Hop Awards Best Hip-Hop Producer nominee (2005). For the phenomenal Itsumo, which many took as "something foreign," it bagged 2003 Mix FM's Song of the Year, 2005 Philippines Hip-Hop Awards Best Hip-Hop Single nominee, and its video was nominated at the Hip-Hop Awards as Best Rap Video, among many others.

"Tha' Journey" is a compilation of the elegies and celebrations Dice and K9 Mobbstarr went through. What's good about this chronicle is the acceptance that though wherever journeys would take musicians just so to find the realization of their dreams, they must carry with them the lessons of their humble beginnings or they'll find not the realities of these dreams.

"Tha' Journey" is one project that Dice considers a beautiful trip in itself having had the chance to meet along the way the right people at the right time, and collaborate with artists that he only listens to back in what he calls his "wannabe days."

Dice is talking of Keith Martin who produced the third track entitled Down For You featuring Nathan J and J.O.L.O; Manila-based gab-ster Gloc-9 in Can U Feel Me?, and SVC with New York-born rapper Mike Swift in Neva Lettin' Go.

"These people whom we listen to back then in our underground years were just dreams. You get what I mean? They are just, you know, part of those influences you listen to and you never really had this inkling that, one day, you would not only be brushing elbows with them but also literally working with them to fuse styles to enhance our music. This collaborative effort is what's making the Dice and K9 Mobbstarr journey more exciting," Dice recounted.

Dice, who ventures into the mixing and recording of their own songs at the Mobbstarr Crib, (except the following tracks in "Tha Journey": Watching Me, Borderline, Can U Feel Me?, Tha' Beat and Shootin' Starr) took the responsibility to explain that K9 will not be joining most of their tour promotions because the latter will concentrate on a side project in which he has been called to pour in his rap songwriting, solo style.

"The man is on hiatus to concentrate on what he has wanted to do these past few months; to be back here in Cebu where his heart is and to work on unfinished songs," Dice said.

Meanwhile, on the issue of the text message sent by a Bloods gang member who threatened to have him mauled for never recognizing that he is one of 12 original members of the first set of Bloods here, Dice could only give a wry smile.

"I would never want to turn my back on my friends whom I had shared beautiful memories with. They are part of this journey. Besides, I don't believe they are that shallow to take it-my not mentioning about the Bloods thing-against me. That doesn't mean I had forgotten. But let's face it, I have a music to propagate," he explained.

"I can't be Bloods all along, and through and through. I would also want to share my achievement with the Crips as music knows no gangstah paradise member. Music is the unifying force that binds varied cultures; meant to be shared regardless of affiliation that you rally behind. Another thing is that I am not getting any younger. You see, I can feel that I wouldn't be fit on stage performing in the next years so that I have to reinvent myself business-wise and move on with Tha' Journey," he pointed out.

Skimming through the album cover, I read on the acknowledgment sheet that member Trapp scribbled: "thanks to all C.M.W. Crips and Loco Sangre bloods in Cebu, and to all the gangs out there thanks for the support."

How's about that, bro?

Familiarity breeds understanding

As I embarked on a sounds-tripping journey to test the auditory gauge on how far the 16 tracks of "Tha Journey" album would take me humpin', bumpin', pumpin' and stompin' and how much potential the songs have to make for Mobbstarr another chartbuster, I personally am beginning to like Fast Life which is very reflective of a journey. Listen: "Livin' a fast life like a fast car, don't know where to go, don't even know where we are. The world is yours, but it could be mine in due time. Me and my Goonz Yo! We gonna shine."

The opening track Neva Lettin' Go (featuring SVC and Mike Swift) speaks of their struggle in the mid-90s as a moderately celebrated hip hop group called Anthillmobb. The song mirrors the group's bulldog tenacity to pursue their craft, believing in the axiom that mighty oaks fell with little but constant strokes of the ax and boulders wear away with little but constant dropping of water. Just nevah lettin' go, holdin' on stubbornly to faith that Cebuano rappers will find their niche, and fight for this one love of music-the passion that drives every music artist to excel in his craft.

It's You, I believe, is a very good material for a film soundtrack. Meanwhile, I would laud the group for coming up with a hip-hoppy version of Borderline, which is one of two Madonna songs on my personal music billboard.

Also, I would want to cite the vulgarity of some lines, including some sexually suggestive lines which call for the responsibility of both artists and the discretion of listeners-the artists on impact of message to the listeners, and the listeners on whether to patronize the song. Like most artists, the lines are reflective of how the Mobbstarr feel about issues on sex and sexuality. Familiarity breeds understanding, therefore be guided accordingly!

Overall, Dice and K9 Mobbstarr has proven of achieving a more mature sound-verses, beats and mixes-in the execution of their Mobb craft, certainly a byproduct of their exposure to downfalls and achievements.

With out-of-country invitations, "Tha' Journey" will be taking Dice and K9 Mobbstarr to Japan, Las Vegas, Los Angeles and hopefully Australia soon, revealed Dice. Other information about the group is posted at www.diceandk9.com and www.6000goonz.com.

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