Traditions, soul, and beats: Expressions of Filipino American identity in contemporary hip-hop music

Abstract

Hip-hop culture has long been associated with the African American community, notably along the East Coast of the United States. The contributions of other cultural groups to hip-hop's formation and spread, however, have not been as well known to the general public, such as those of Afro-Caribbean DJs in the formative years of the 1970s. Of particular note is the Filipino American community, which has had a presence in hip-hop culture that dates back to mobile DJs in California in the 1970s. Filipino Americans maintain considerable visibility in hip-hop to the present day, including DJs such as Chad Hugo and MCs such as apl.de.ap of the Black Eyed Peas. This thesis will explore the history and motivations of Filipino American hip-hop musicians, as well as ways in which Philippine culture is manifested in their art.