Q&A: NAW-T-DOG OF KÖNIGS

After working with Dice & K9 Mobbstarr for the official soundtrack of the Vic Sotto starrer "Enteng Kabisote 2," and the release of their hip-hop-novelty-fusion-laced album "Nganong Ni Enter" under Alpha Records and distributed by Harmony Music, Edrosel Encontro AKA Naw-t-Dog talks of recent developments in the field of Bisrap (Bisaya rap) music in this one-on-one interview for The FREEMAN Entertainment.

Question: How are you after the launch of "Nganong Ni Enter?" and after collaborating with Dice & K9 for the "Enteng" soundtrack? I heard you're honing young rappers. Or is it sort of scouting?

Naw-t-Dog: Busy na sad sa pagtigom og mga new materials for our second album. Duna bitaw ko'y mga pundok nga gustong tabangan. Pero struggling pa lagi. This is one of the concerns I would like to address kay struggling pa gyud kaayo ang mga insiders/players of the Bisaya rap scene. We would like to ask support from those music enthusiasts to vote for our music video, our nomination to the Philippine Hip-Hop Award. Anyway, this is for all of us Sugbuanons.

To vote, please type MYX(space)VOTE(space)PHA(space)VID_ENTER. Send to 216 for Smart and Talk and Text subscribers; 2800 for Globe and Touch Mobile; 2288 for Sun Cellular. For those who would want to view the video, log on to www.freewebs.com/Königs and www.myspace.com/Königsta. Voting is only until the end of the month.

Q: I'm just curious, you lift your moniker from where? I mean what does that stand for?

Naw-t-Dog: Uhm…this has something to do with the computer playstation under Naughty Dog Production. Besides, I really love dogs.

Q: When was Königs formed? Who were you with in forming the group?

Naw-t-Dog: Summer of 2003. I was with hypemen Garvie and Brent.

Q: After the launch, what's the direction you're heading? Any concert in the offing?

Naw-t-Dog: Sa tukar wala pa. Pero naa mi concert sa Leyte. But it's tentative. Naa mi follow-up sa among album pero padayon pa among pagtigom sa mga materyales. And we do hope that the album would be out before the end of the year.

Q: What's the working title of your second album?

Naw-t-Dog: As of now, wala pa'y title because we're still collecting materials and nang-hearing pa about sa market.

Q: What is the edge of hip-hop music over other genres?

Naw-t-Dog: Hip-hop is soul music. It's reality music. And it's poetic.

Q: Can you please give me a crash course on the types and elements of hip-hop?

Naw-t-Dog: Uhm…There's pop, old school, pure hip hop, RNB hip hop. Pero kami wala mi mag-concentrate sa usa lang ka matang sa hip-hop. Naa mi fusion sa tanan. Our songs represent the Cebuano people. As for elements, duna ta'y gitawag og emceeing, DJ-ing, break dancing and graffiti. Emceeing represents us rap artists. The stuff we do. Then DJ-ing has something to do with turntable-ism like what DJ M.O.D does in Wowowee nga mag-scratch sa turntable. Break dancing involves wind mill, 99, footwork and hand pumping. While graffiti is vandalism, associated gyud na siya sa kultura sa hip-hop.

Q: Who are your potent influences or inspiration in making songs?

Naw-t-Dog: First, ourselves. Our songs are based on personal experiences so inspiration comes from within us. For the international scene, it's Bruce Marshall Mathers aka Eminem. Then si Jay-Z, and of course, Black Eyed Peas. For the local scene, we root for Dice and K9 Mobbstarr, Francis M and Andrew E.

Q: What about political matters, do you have plans to consider these materials for your upcoming album?

Naw-t-Dog: No we have not thought of that yet for our second album, pero pwede pud namo na hisgotan.

Q: Other than with hip-hoppers, has it ever come to you to collaborate with other artists of a different genre?

Naw-t-Dog: Yes there is a current collaboration with other bands parehas anang Str8cornersyd. Makig-collaborate mi og pop artist.

Q: Have you ever had performances out of the country? Or were there invitations?

Naw-t-Dog: None so far. Wala sad mi mangandoy ana, pero kung naa amo gyud tukbon dayon.

Q: The message you would want to put across involving the hip-hop culture?

Naw-t-Dog: Dapat songs come from the heart. Sa mga radio stations, dapat tarongon nila'g screen ang mga kanta usa nila ipalanog kay sa kanta mo-reflect ang soul sa usa ka katilingban. Then Cebuanos should be supportive sa Bisaya nga mga talents. And if only Kundiman could be revived and strengthened because that type of song gives positive inspiration to the young ones.

Q: Any shoutouts?

Naw-t-Dog: I would like to thank The FREEMAN-BANAT News for giving space to all local music artists; Maria Eleanor Elape Valeros sa wala'y puol nga pagsuporta; Musikensis Recording Studio/ Elvis Somosot, Tapay-Tapay clans for the support, sa tanang radio stations nga nagpatukar sa among mga kanta, 6000 Goonz ni Dice, all those who purchased our albums, to my fellow hypemen Garvie and Brent. Ug sa nag-interview nako sa paghatag og interest sa among craft. For bookings, contact 09276218662.

Editor's Note: The author is a member of the Bisdak Writers Clan.