With iconic hits like JABONGGA, AIR TSINELAS and LOTTO, Legit Misfitz is one of the most recognizable rap group in the Philippines during the so called Golden Era of Rap. Got a chance to have a quick chat with Dash Calzado of Legit Misfitz and talked about the genesis of the group and how was the industry back then compared to now and what to look forward for the sons of Flip Hop. Now sit back, relax and let me take you to a trip down memory lane.
CHUCKY:
Good morning Dash, first of all thank you for the opportunity and its an honor po. First question is how did Legit Misfitz started ..a little bit of history of your friendship with Jhego that became one of the most recognizable name in Filipino Hip Hop or as you would like to call.. "Flip Hop"
DASH:
I met Jhego through Boom Dayupay who at that was Boom! before Kulay. They were guests during Francis M's radio show "Word Up!" On 89 DMZ I used hang out kasi dun sa station. It just so happened that Boom is from Canada and so was I, Jhego at that time was their dancer (he had the Kid n Play Hi top fade vibe back then) so from then I became cool with the guys then at that time I helped out Boom make some design for some shirts then Jhego in his spare time would listen to a lot of Hiphop and write rhymes. I was already writing as well I guess from that moment on Boom figured out why not form a group. So that's when me and Jhego became close, hanging out at my place he'd sleep over then we got a few of his boys to be our dancers and became part of the crew and then how we all got closer and started practicing rhymes and stuff I thought him a couple of stuff as well. We'd go to clubs like Heartbeat, Jaloux, Ozone (that club that got burned down and left people dead cuz they were trapped inside) (90s clubs in QC) even areas in Recto like Campus Bubbles afternoon disco stuff. So yeah we'd roll as a unit and always hung out at crib which actually was my dad's Office cuz it was bungalo type house and had rooms and Dance Studio so that's our crew would practice as well.
So fast forward after a year of being focused with our songs our mentor Boom got us signed with Octo Arts then we recorded our album at the now defunct Greenhills Sounds Studios for a week and here's a little trivia to share some Pinoy Hiphop history while we were recording Sons Of Flip Hop, Francis M was recording his album Freeman as well. We had a small studio he had the main ones with the band set up so it was big. We'd visit each other and take a peak of what we were all doing. It was fun hanging out with the master rapper. But yeah I guess my friendship with Jhego is a bit different cuz we're like the Odd Couple like that old movie but when it comes to the artistry we compliment each other well vocally and were hype on stage haha. Flip Hop is just Filipino Hip Hop basically as we fused in the pinoy culture with the Hip Hop culture just the vibe the lyrics the style the concept and all we had to make sure it really had a touch of pinoy because I rap in english and tagalog but Jhego mostly raps in tagalog along with that boom bap style and all that Boom made. The name Legit Misfitz came from one Boom's floppy disk labels and it read
"Legitimate Misfit" so we just "mate" part and added a Z on the misfit and low and behold ...
LEGIT MISFITZ!
CHUCK:
Back in 1994 after the release of “Sons of Fliphop" , songs Trapik, Air Tsinelas
and my all time favorite Jabongga became instant classics and Legit Misfitz became a household name. How did it feel that you guys got a breakthrough that fast and that big.
DASH:
Well we all felt like "Yo this is it!". It was whole different ballgame na cuz before the album came out all we did was like test the waters get used to doing shows like our first ever performance was at a small school to our biggest was Boom na Boom with the rest of the other groups like Mastaplann, Death threat, 4 East Flava, Denmark, Boom, Jeannie, and Radha would come out first and perform this was the birth of Kulay na after BOOM! Then Boom would introduce us after thier performance cuz we were the unit at that time and that Boom being our producer and the one behind all this being the "Originator" and us the "Sons" of Flip Hop...
So now forward to around 94 to 95 yeah things were going great at that time signed to a major label started doing TV and radio apperances mall tours out of town shows i can remember one time inside a jeepney on my way somewhere the driver was tuned in to 89DMZ and there was like a segment called OPMs in a row and after 2 songs came ours and i was like "oh snap that's our song" intro pa lang it had that swing already and then I heard the driver say okay to ah and the passengers inside were kinda either bobbing thier head or tapping thier feet and hearing our voices on the radio was mind boggling as in "is this really us man???!!" . But yeah we ended up doing a movie with Ogie Alcasid, Michael V ,Rannie Raymundo called Beachboys "pwera biro mahal kita". That was quite an experience and it only took us 3 weeks to finish the shoot hehe i even did an episode on Tito Joe DeMango's Love Notes my leading lady was Lailani Navarro with Michael Locsin and Ara Mina I was the lead role and the episode was entitled "TABA" (cuz i was big back then) we even did show for the candidates nun elections in 1995 kasabayan namin Eraserheads nun that was dope all of this I mentioned was something that me and Jheg's will cherish in our hearts and minds milestone na sya we have accomplished such dreams of being there and actually doing it humbles the heart. But we wont stop we wont quit we still keep it Legit to this day even if we do separate projects were still reppin it and when we get together whether shows or just kick were the same old Gs from the Golden Era. Everday is Golden to us no matter what we just keep on shining God has blessed us with the Gift. Its right that we keep on doing it. Thank you to our mentor Boom and the rest cuz life is a learning experience. with Succsess there's it's share of Ups and Downs but we get back up and face the music
CHUCK:
Such humility, so refreshing to hear that after all the success you guys have achieved , you both managed to remain humble and thankful for everything. You mentioned “the Golden era”,it was a fun time to be a fan and probably much more as an artist. After Sons of Fliphop you guys released more albums “Ekis Pinoy (Bahala Na Generation), “Balik sa Lumang Eskwela” and “100 Porsyento” and you were able to collaborate with different artists, sino yung pinaka paborito mong artist sa lahat na naka collaborate mo noon at artist back then that you would love to work with?
DASH:
Ive been working on music and beatmaking lately with my beats of the Northstar production working with artists like Lunch money project my boy Deelet MKnocks (doing a remix of Bolos) and will continue to do so, working with Baker Boys too.This has been my calling and just share my gift. I look up to my influences producers like DJ Premier Pete Rock, The late JDilla Jake One Alchemist etc. Locally DJ Arbie Won, Lowkey ,Caliph8, Rye, Johnny Krush, Artstrong that's the foundation but there are a lot awesome producers and beat makers today. And since day one Chrizo, BRoc, Pino G ,Klumcee, Konfused and more sprining up like Solomon Stark, Cursebox ,Markbeats, Alas ng Beats which is great because we need more producers. We gotta get our stuff heard worldwide. Im working with such greats like Snowgoons who I think is one of favorite Prod crew Shout outs to DJ Illegal, Sicknature, Dat Gunner and to Andre for making it possible. We international haha from collabs with Thaitanium Beatmathics track to doing a track with one of my idols Donald D a legendary Emcee from the Bronx and part of Ice T's Rhyme $yndicate Posse back in the late 80s early 90s we did a track called PI to BX which came out on my Return Of the Phunky Juan project album. (Oh the album is still on OPM2GO)
CHUCK:
With the renewed interest to mainstream and underground hip hop today..mainly because of the internet.. How do you compare hip hop acts then to now and fans as well?
DASH:
Well social media has made a lot of difference in regards of reaching out vice versa artist and fans. Unlike before through word of mouth TV or radio or mall tours before. That's why we were more visible that way before cuz there wasnt social media avenues like instagram twitter or FB. So if kung makita ka noon, sabik silang makita ka. But with youtube and all the other stuff it just makes it easier and accessable for everyone to interact na lang. But yeah its mind racking what this modern day technology world is thats why id rather just stay home work on my music and not think about a lot of things.
Its a numbers game nowadays the more likes the more you gain whatever cuz we can actually post anything an ordinary Joe who has a collection of whatever can be so famous now a days. Back in the days no-one ever had that privelage. We live in the information age now. Sometimes i want to just have an ordinary phone i dont have internet at home i dont watch TV at home.
CHUCK:
After years of hiatus, you and Jhego released the music video of Jabonga which was positively received by today's fans and a flashback for every 90's hip hop heads. You also released your " Return of the Phunky Juan" project and with Jhego also being active yet again, are we seeing a new Legit Misfitz comeback album . How does it feels that you are doing again that thing you loved to do and this time a bit wiser because of time (age).
DASH:
Return of the Phunky Juan came out before the Jabongga video. When we came out with Jabongga back in 1994 we never did a video for and since we celebrated our 20th anniversary nun 2014 we decided to come out w one with the help of Philippine All Stars they showed us a video of them using our track when we saw we said "hey let's just make this the official video.
CHUCK:
Thank you for the time Dash..its an honor to have this privilege.. Any last word for every hip hop heads and can you give us a glimpse in the future of Legit Misfitz and in your solo career.
DASH:
(Hulk Hogan voice)
Just say your prayers eat your vegetables take your vitamins exercise your mind body and soul learn the 9 elements preserve the culture of Hip Hop. Live, Love, Learn, Keep on don't stop be thankful and grateful for we are blessed no matter what love God always in your heart. Create something dope and knowledgable im gonna keep on dishing out whatever I can for iI am one of the Guardians ,the gate keeper, the overseer, the watcher part ,of the foundation got one eye open even when i rest i know what goes on.... God bless everyone and much love and respect to the youth be good do good and you will have good
To the fans support buy our music our merchadise go to our shows events etc....
And thank you we love you.
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