Kerry Viengvilai
Similar to one of Tiongson's respondents named Celskiii, in my childhood, Hiphop has always been apart of my family. I grew up with four older brothers who were in breakdancing groups. I reminisce, when I was in third grade, every Friday my brother and their friends would lay a mat out with a boombox and start breaking. Although my brothers hated me there, my parents made my presence mandatory. During their break I would come in and show 'em my moves!
Since my taste in music is usually hiphop/rap. Several artist I listen to are African American. However, I have never thought of hip hop in a racial context. I knew there was a sense of "blackness", but from where I grew up everyone did it regardless of race; it became normalized; hiphop allowed cross-racial interactions.
Not until I grew up and traveled around the states and attended events did I realize hiphop could distinguish crowds and race. I did not know that DJing was a huge notion for the Filipino community. Tiongson mentioned how their personal experience is re articulating the form of hiphop, while making their associations to hiphop culturally legitimate.
I found that Tiongson's essay came from a bias side, in all honesty. I agree more with Q-Bert when he says DJ is neutral. He DJ's and just happen to be Filipino. He sees more of a human race item, which I could not have agreed with more.
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