Above the bridge
Above the bridge
Episode 172 RAPPA NUI (Hawaii Recording Artist)
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The story of Hawaii’s hip hop isn’t a straight line—it’s a flow that bends through island reggae, battle rap, day parties, and studio nights that run past last call. We sit down with Rappa Nui to trace that path from Puna to Oahu, where a poetry-loving kid grew into a meticulous writer who prefers the booth to the spotlight but still knows how to light a room when it counts.
We dig into process first: how stacked notes turn into finished verses once the right beat shakes the walls, why he sometimes shifts from pure rap to island reggae textures, and what it takes to “shop” for a studio sound that feels like home. Along the way we give flowers to local pillars—Fiji, Angry Locals, Osna—and unpack how battle rap made sharper writers and braver performers in Hawaii long before algorithms could push a clip. There’s a standout chapter on collaboration too: the Kanaka Fire link-up that became a radio moment and proof that one hook can move from Hawaii to global feeds in a day.
It’s not all highlight reels. Rappa Nui is candid about industry and the discipline it takes to keep the art clean: family over everything, clarity over chaos, and humility as a strategy, not a slogan. We trade top-five island vocalists and essential tracks, talk nightlife then vs now, and kick around a “verses” concept for island reggae that would pack any venue. He shares goals—bigger collabs, stronger reach, and songs that carry Hawaii’s voice without dressing it up for export—and drops practical advice for up-and-comers: shake every hand, learn from doers, and keep going when platforms reset.
Cue up this conversation if you love craft talk, local-to-global stories, and the sound of a scene leveling up without losing its roots. Stream, follow, and share with a friend who needs a spark. If it hits, leave a quick review and subscribe so you catch the next drop.
Meet Rappa Nui And Hawaii Hip Hop
SPEAKER_00Okay, welcome to another edition of the Above the Bridge podcast. I'm your host, Thaddeus Park. Thank you for tuning in. If this is your first time, please like, subscribe, leave a comment to whatever platform you're listening on. I appreciate it. And thank you for tuning in. Aloha. Okay, this week I met this guy on Instagram by uh checking out his videos and was super impressed with his rapping style, his local um style to the art. Rappa Nui, what's up, man? Thank you for coming on my show. Yes, uh hey, what's up, what's up? Alright. Bruh, you you pretty much the kind been doing a lot of stuff uh recently and rapping in Hawaii ain't easy, bruh. It's a it's a art in Hawaii that like kind of gets looked over a little bit. How's the in your opinion, how's the hip hop scene in Hawaii?
SPEAKER_02It um shoots it it grew a lot. Um and it's it's the sound has has been changing, but I feel like it just the crowd is growing. The um the amount of rappers and people that's trying to do the music is growing. So um progress is progress, and either way, I I feel like um I feel like it's a good thing.
SPEAKER_00Yeah, I definitely know notice the growth and because they're so accessible because of social media, like your guys' art can be shared over a a wider span of of people. So I think that'll help you guys grow, especially when you're talented. That I think music transcends everything. So it's like if you're good, bruh, people all over the world will will catch catch a glimpse of you, and then oh brah, it could grow, you know what I mean?
Origins: Poetry, 8 Mile, First Studio
SPEAKER_02Yeah, and like you said, social media, we didn't really have like iPhones back then when when we started, and and like um now you can just blow up off of one clip. So like yeah, it's it's different these days, but um, but yeah, everyone's using it. Yeah, for sure.
SPEAKER_00Well, how'd you get started in rapping and like when did you know, like, oh bruh, I I got some action in this game?
SPEAKER_02Um I just really like writing poetry since elementary. Um, and then when 8 Mile came out, everybody just started uh battle rapping. Um I was always writing rhymes in class, and and I just um oh one um one of the years, yeah, I think it was my junior year. Um one of my friends had a studio in high school, and then um I was just chilling, they're they're singing songs, and they needed a rap, and I just threw it down the next day. Everyone was feeling it, and yeah, just went from there.
SPEAKER_00Well, how easy is it for you to be like, oh, jump on stage and start rapping in front of people like when you first started? You nervous or nothing easy?
SPEAKER_02It's not easy, uh oh. That's why I'm kinda I'm kinda uh I do more work in a studio. Um it's it's on stage is a whole different game, it's a whole different story, and I I give props to everyone that performs, but yeah, bruh.
SPEAKER_00I'm just chilling. Just take a couple shots and you're good.
SPEAKER_03Yeah, yeah.
SPEAKER_00So you started doing this rap thing in high school, bruh. Like, when do you realize like, okay, I got a little bit of action in this game and I wanna take it to the next level? Like, at what point did you realize that was that was where you're gonna go?
SPEAKER_02Um, I guess when I started, um yeah, just when people was feeling my my love songs and um just I love to write more love songs, I guess, because it's kind of just so that I listened to a lot. Um but I started working with like Ryan Giraoka on the Big Island.
SPEAKER_03Okay.
SPEAKER_02That was like my first real uh connection. And then after that, after working with like uh sh him, Chanel Inos on the Big Island, after just networking and just being in the studio with them, it just felt right. I just felt comfortable and I just felt like something I I really wanted to do. So I just kept growing, kept networking, kept building relationships, and um yeah, it's just been a passion ever since for sure.
SPEAKER_00That's super cool. So you're originally from Big Island?
SPEAKER_02Yeah, Big Island. How'd you end up how'd you end up on O'Ho?
SPEAKER_00Okuna side. Oh shit, Hop is from Puna.
SPEAKER_02Yeah. Oh Puno Puna. Oh Puna Puna. Alright. Yeah, yeah, yeah. Um how end up there's just a lot more things to do, a lot more jobs, a lot more things, a lot more networking over here, um, a lot more girls, no play.
Stage Nerves Vs Studio Craft
SPEAKER_00Oh, drama. Nah.
SPEAKER_02Yeah, yeah. There's just a lot more things to to grow over here. Yeah.
SPEAKER_00For sure. And I don't know, Oahu, there there's a lot of talent um hip-hop-wise in Oahu. Like who have you networked with on on Oahu that's like you kind of mess with? Um, I mean there's there's a lot of people that like hip-hop-wise, yeah, or or music in the industry.
SPEAKER_02I feel like I've I've built a lot of friendships over the years, bruh. Like, um what's crazy is I went from this small time like um, you know, big island boy, and and now like, you know, friends with high water, friends with um friends with Michael G, friends with yeah, just a just a lot of people, a lot of connections. Um Os Osnell sold me my first car. Oh, really? Um Yeah, yeah, yeah. I mean, um I'm cool with Hopper Boy too. And a lot of these connections, uh when you're from the big island, like little things like that is big things to a big island boy. So um just I mean, yeah, there's a lot of people. Oh, snow like a G. Um yeah, everyone's pretty pretty solid. That's super cool.
SPEAKER_00So what have you been recording here on the island on Oahu?
SPEAKER_02I have been, yeah. Um to me, finding a studio is kind of like just shopping, you know, and and you really gotta like that sound. I'm pretty specific, but I mean a lot of my engineers just moved to the mainland, and I don't know, bruh. It's it's hard to find like a really good sound that you like as an artist. But yeah, right now I'm I'm shopping.
SPEAKER_00Oh, okay.
SPEAKER_02Shopping around, yeah.
SPEAKER_00So when you're like trying to figure it out, like what's your process? You trying to you get the beats first and then you kind of lay over the tracks, or like what is your process when you're writing a song?
Finding Mentors And Early Collabs
SPEAKER_02Um I that's a good question. A lot of times, like I have like raps I write in my notes already. And then like if I hear a good beat, then then I kind of like see if if any of my notes um go with the beat. But usually I play the beat first and then I just blast it in the room and I just vibe with it. I just I just write to it in the room and I just yeah, I just take about like a couple hours and just vibe.
SPEAKER_00Well, I'll be able to do that.
SPEAKER_02Maybe have some drinks, couple shots, no thing.
SPEAKER_00Bruh, that's how it works, bruh. Like to get into a um to a rhythm or like a mood to where you're creating art. Because in in all honesty, what you do is art. And I mean, I say this all the time to my guests. Like, I always wish I could hear music like how you guys do. Like, or like like how Hoppa hears music, it's like I wish I had that because you guys hear and sound out stuff, and um you guys can kind of relate to certain things like most ordinary people can because that's your art. It's like a painter, like a painter will see art differently than like say myself. If I go look at a painting and oh, that's a cool painting. But an artist be like, oh shit, he used this brush stroke or this kind of kind of oil or whatever. It is it's different. So when you guys hear music is different, so when you guys create it's like you're giving a part of yourself to the art that you're you're kind of vibing off, you know what I mean?
SPEAKER_02Yeah, for sure.
SPEAKER_00Um in Hawaii rapping, like, do you kind of push a lot of the Hawaii culture in your music?
Moving To Oahu And Networking
SPEAKER_02Yeah, to be honest, um when I first started doing music, I started just like just rapping. Um and just I I wanted to be a rapper and you know, just doing like um hip hop beats and and everything like that. But as time as time grew, I kinda like I felt like at that time it didn't make sense to me. It it didn't really give me um the attention I was looking for and you know, etc. And I kinda switched my lane to to reggae. So um Yeah, I I just felt like trying to be like a island, more like trying to be like Raga, you know, uh vest into the ears, yeah. Like cause a lot of people just mostly uh listen to like reggae and island sounds over here. So I kind of like switched it up and I felt like that was a good move, but now I can hear the hip hop on like the island stations these days. And I feel like damn, like they're doing it, they're doing what I wanted to do, and but they're doing it now, and I I feel I feel like that's that's amazing, yeah. That's super so you don't really have to switch it out, yeah. Yeah, yeah.
SPEAKER_00Yeah, I knew Chief Raga back in the day, bro. He used to play drums for our uh uh nightclubs, like he would play with the DJ, Jamin, yeah. Jamin, Chief Raga, yeah, yeah, yeah, yeah, yeah. Oh, Icon it, yeah, fucking old school, bruh. Like he's been doing it for a while too, but um locally, like what hip hop artists inspired you? Like it they're there are a certain small niche of these guys, and like bruh, I kinda know some, and they um I feel like your guys' community kinda lifts each other up, kind of like DJs a little bit. Mm-hmm.
SPEAKER_02Mm-hmm. Um, who inspired me locally hip hop, kinda you know, but I feel like growing up whole poor. Um shoot, that was one of my favorite bands.
SPEAKER_03Yeah.
SPEAKER_02Be honest. Yeah, he he was always like, yeah, he was something I followed. Kaipo Kapoor. Oh shit, alright. Um yeah, Kaipo. I l I grew up listening to him. I just he's an amazing, talented artist. Um uh sudden rush for sure. Got better OGs of of all of this, I feel. Yeah. They started this for sure. That's that's how I feel. And everyone grew from Sudden Rush. Um, and then you know, there's Chief Raga for sure. Um shoots. I mean Angry Locals, Chris Styles, Big Mox, Osna. Um yeah, I think those are like the the main artists that I that I listen to when I first started. Yeah, super cool.
SPEAKER_00Yeah, I I um I like Angry Locals. I feel like they kind of put Hawaii hip-hop on the map like right in the right right from the get. I think a lot of people um res their music resonated with a lot of people because they sang and talked about a lot of local stuff, like what's happening in in our communities and good and bad, and they did it in a funny way and a serious message. I like they um they were the first I've known that got radio play, and of course Chris Styles could help with that. And what I I liked about those guys, angry locals, and I know them personally, and and I got to see them perform. And when they perform, they are so stoked for each other. Like when Chris Chris raps or Osna raps, it's like their their love for each other like shows very strong. And I seen Mox, we went to his TV release, and I was watching him perform, but I was watching Chris Styles watch Mox perform, and I was like, oh, that's like his homie, that's his brother, and like he was he just looks so proud. And I was like, bruh, that that's why they're good, but they have a genuine love for each other, and they that that transcends through their music. It's it's pretty cool to see. And I I I'm a fan of their shit, and yeah, they're they're they're always been about it for years, man.
SPEAKER_02No, yeah, and and that's what um that's what I was gonna say hip hop, but I feel just like music artists in general in Hawaii. You know what I mean? Whenever you see somebody that does, oh what's up? Like it's it's not about love, it's all about sticking together because we know the journey is rough, but um, we can always relate to each other and always try to build each other up.
SPEAKER_00And um okay, I want to take this short moment to shout out our sponsor, Defend Hawaii. Defend Hawaii's been with us from the very beginning. If you go on their website, defendhawaii.com, they got some new clothes out. Uh, they also have a store in Winter Mall called No One. But if you go on their website, use promo code ATB Pod upon checkout, you'll get 15% off your entire purchase. Defendhawaii.com. Aloha.
Process: Beats, Notes, And Vibe
SPEAKER_02You know, another uh another route that I want to talk about was um hip-hop Osna. She uh battle rap, you know, came up battle rap.
SPEAKER_00Yeah, yeah.
SPEAKER_02Yeah, yeah, and that's that's a big part of Hawaii hip hop. That's yeah, that was like back in the day, but I remember watching in high school and watching Osna's you know, battle raps, and that's a big part of hip-hop too in Hawaii. Yeah he brought down like a lot of big time battle rappers. Um, he kind of put Hawaii on in a way for uh for battle rap. And yeah, that's a key part to uh to the hip-hop in Hawaii too.
SPEAKER_00Yeah, he was brutal, bruh. Like he he would hold no punches. I watched his battle rap, and it's kind of crazy because he'd battle rap his own friends and like go low. And I was like, it was fun to see. My um one of our gogo dancers used to do that. I don't know if you know Yumi, but she would battle rap, and she's brutal too. Like she was a little beast, and oh yeah, back in the that you can still watch those YouTube videos, it's fun, bruh. They they they go hard in the paint, and they had a had a pretty good following. They do it at the shack in Waikiki, and a lot of people would come out for that. Oh yeah, yeah, was was on there too. Yes, uh he battled Yumi too, right? Yeah, yeah, he battled Yumi. Yeah, I had him on the podcast. He was talking about it, he was talking about eating bullet. Have you ever ate balut? Oh yeah, I was telling him the story. I I used to work at this gas station in Kanye, and this old Filipino man would come and he would have it all the time. And one day I was we're working and I was my mouth got me into trouble. I was talking shit, saying, like, oh yup, if he comes, bruh, next time he comes, I'll eat one of those things. And sure enough, but like within 10 minutes, he rolled up, and all my friends that were working with me was like, Okay, you gotta eat it. And I was like, fuck. So I was like, okay. So I ate it, it was pretty bad. It wasn't unexpected. Yeah, it was bad, bro. Like when you crunch it on and you you like crunch on the beak, and there's like little remnants of feather, and uh it was primarily like boiled egg, but just like the texture and like the different I don't know, plus two, like the juice. Oh, it was I I would I never did it again. Fuck that. But the Filipino man was like, yeah, bruh, you eat this, it'll make you let this. I was like, bruh, I'm already lacking. I don't need to eat that. Maybe when I get old, then I gotta rock the ball. Yeah.
SPEAKER_02Yeah, yeah, yeah. I always want to try that shit.
SPEAKER_00I don't know. You run it once, see if you like it, but maybe needs like Saracha or something. I don't know.
SPEAKER_03Yeah, yeah, yeah, yeah, yeah.
SPEAKER_00But like growing up, like just regular hip-hop, what artists inspired you? Like, what it who would you mess with, like just just hip hop wise?
Culture Shift: From Rap To Island Reggae
SPEAKER_02Yeah, to be honest, like a lot of these guys, um, you know, they listen to like straight hip hop guys, but shoot, I'm gonna be real dog. I I grew up listening to like Bow Wow. Bow Wow. Bruh, because you know what? Had out of girls, bruh. Like, damn, that kind of vibe, that kind of swag, you know what I mean? So I always wanted to like to uh have that rap vibe that he had, but uh, you know, Bow Wow, Joel Santa, uh T.I. growing up, Nelly. Okay. Um, there's this yeah, like the 2000s era, does the like Ja Ru and shit like that, yeah.
unknownYeah.
SPEAKER_02Yeah. Yeah. See, man, and I was going to like love songs too, so those kind of all fit like Ja Ru guys, those all kind of fit my my vibe.
SPEAKER_00Oh, okay. Bruh, I ain't gonna lie, I wasn't expecting Bawa.
SPEAKER_02That's fucking cool. Nobody does, but I mean it's different, but I mean like there's the you know, there's the guys that was always good to like, you know, Eminem and and Tupac, and I mean I still bump them today, but I mean, yeah, it's just a different vibe I was going for, I guess.
SPEAKER_00Yeah, hey, um that are it's kind of like a RB hip hop kind of vibe. It's it's a certain kind of I I definitely know what you're talking about. Yeah. It was um all plus like you said, yeah, and all the chicks love that shit, right? Back in the day, yeah. Yeah, yeah. Oh, yeah. Bruh, the um that scene, what like how how music is now and hip hop? I always ask this question is like, are you happy with the way the hip hop scene is now and and how music in general is now with this younger generation?
SPEAKER_02Hip hop or the or hip hop in like specifically?
SPEAKER_00Or both like any like hip hop and then music in general.
SPEAKER_02Yeah, yeah, yeah. Suze, I feel like the island reggae sound is kind of it's kind of um it's kind of changing. I I kind of miss the whole the the way it was back the vibes that that was back then, but um and these days there's a lot of covers, which is cool. Covers is cool, but damn I I like the original music. Um but hip hop, I feel like in Hawaii it's it's good because social media and people can see the talent, and um, you know, regardless of the sound, progression is progression, and yeah, that's I mean I feel like it's a good thing.
Local Influences And Community Support
SPEAKER_00Oh, okay. That's that's cool to know. I I uh definitely like the old school hip hop better. I mean, I grew up like with old school guys like like Tupac and stuff like that, and I feel like their Yeah, yeah, yeah. Their culture and their song, the way they presented their music was kind of had more depth than what it is now. And I always thought maybe because I'm older, it's like, oh, back in my day my shit was better. But I just feel like they had more meaning behind what they're doing versus like Some of this new stuff is I feel like it's just oh we can make a TikTok video off of this, or let's do it this way. And it's like ah, there's no depth to it. But that could be just my opinion. Probably is, you know what I mean? I think um who did you listen to growing up? Well, for me, I'm primarily I like rock, which f trips everybody out when I say it because I like I like Regan and stuff like that, but primarily I love rock. I l I grew up with Metallica, ACDC, I love um Lincoln Park, I like um all the old school, like even like Motley Crue, Guns N' Roses, like that was the guys that I messed with, and religiously, like who I would I would follow. And I mean I just went to Metallica concert this summer in in 49ers stadium, and it it's just their the way they play their music and how they made it. It's like they they're actually playing the instruments, they're actually it's like um I don't know if you ever seen the the show Making the Band back in the day, and I remember watching uh yeah Yeah I and it was like they they fabricated all these people and they had a contest and I remember um I was watching this this interview with Kid Rock and they were saying oh how do you think about making the band and he's like that's trash like making the band that happened in my garage with a bunch of course light and that's how bands are made and I was like that that's that's what I I enjoy the most is like straight raw groups playing their own instruments singing and and a lot of people say it's yelling, but if you break down the lyrics it's deep, bruh, and like shit Metallica, like that's that'll be my all-time fave. But hip-hop wise, I do like I like the old shit, like um Tupac, and I mean I like Beastie Boys, I like the way they they used to do their stuff. Um Eminem, I like the way he didn't give a fuck, like he just did what he wanted to do, and of course Dre and Snoop and all that, that was my generation, and it was like at that point hip-hop kind of was transitioning into something different and something huge, and like that was that was like my generation, so of course I I like that shit, so that was what I kind of messed with back in the day.
SPEAKER_02Yeah, yeah, yeah. Nice. I like that.
SPEAKER_00Yeah. So when you perform, like you said you get nervous, what's like the biggest crowd you perform for?
SPEAKER_02No, to be honest, I I don't perform. Oh, for real? Actually, I I used to, yeah, I don't, uh um, but I used to when I first came, uh when I first moved to Oahu, I was doing like shows in Chinatown. Um you know, all the hip hop rap shows. Yeah. I was just trying to make a name for myself over there. And I mean there was those crowds maybe like for oh Just Bone, Just Bone used to run those shows. Yeah, yeah. Just Bone. Definitely, yeah, yeah, yeah. Back in the day, and um, yeah, shout out to him. But I just did a show with uh with uh Canaka Fire because I I got a song with him.
SPEAKER_00Yeah, yeah, yeah.
SPEAKER_02But uh was at a secret spot and it was packed out, it was crazy. But yeah, I jumped on stage with them for one.
SPEAKER_00Oh brah, secret spot. That that joint gets hella packed. We were there, we watched Caval there like recently, and I was like, yeah, Royce Hoppa plays over there every now and then. And bruh, that place is cool. It's a cool, it's a cool venue, and like they can pack it in. Yeah, yeah. I like how I love that spot, but like go ahead, bruh.
SPEAKER_02It gets it gets packed, no, it gets packed too quick, and it gets like, damn, I gotta step outside for a little bit.
SPEAKER_00Yeah, it's hot as hell. But uh I like I like how close you can get to the artist because it's like, oh bruh, like you're part of the show that kind of practically, uh yeah. So talk about that song you got with um Kanaka Fire, but how did that all happen?
Battle Rap Legacy In Hawaii
SPEAKER_02Yeah, I was uh shoots. I I just had an itch to to make music and um I met Randon, uh brother Rand's uh from Kanaka Fire like one time over here. Just just like a a quick what's up, handshake, introduction, and then I think we followed each other on Instagram, but uh I had an engineer that lived on Big Island and I I just wanted to record update and I needed you know someone to kind of sing the the course for me. And I messaged and then without hesitation just and then he met me at the studio and then we got to cooking and that we came out came out with a hit. That was and after that we just that was like the brotherhood just started right after that, and it's a tight one, yeah, for sure.
SPEAKER_00That's super cool, bruh. And that's honestly, that's what it's all about, bruh. Like you guys collaborating and bruh, those guys kind of blew up pretty pretty quick, and they're good, uh, those guys are good. Hell yeah.
SPEAKER_02Bruh, it blew up uh that song just yeah, it's worldwide.
SPEAKER_00Yeah.
SPEAKER_02I saw I saw um you know how I knew it was worldwide too when uh I saw I saw Mia Khalifa singing the lyrics. Oh shit. When she was staying at uh an hotel in Hawaii somewhere, but bruh, that's how you made it too. That's crazy.
SPEAKER_00That's super cool. Those guys have been coming Kaneoye, because I'm I'm from Kaneoye. They they've been coming down here Kaneue side a lot because um they've been messing with the Brotherhoods, huh? The the the bands.
SPEAKER_02Yeah, shout out to Brotherhoods too, bruh.
SPEAKER_00Yeah, yeah, they're that um that's a good collab too. Uh so what you heard? Yeah, yeah. That you heard your song on the radio. How is that, man? Like hearing your shit on the radio, like was that the first one you heard, like from your music?
SPEAKER_02Yeah, um, that wasn't, but it's still a surreal. Um it's it's just a a good moment to to have when you're in the car uh with family, or just by yourself. It's you got the introduction, oh rapping and all that, and and you hear the soundplay. It's kind of like, damn, this is what I this is what I work for. That's what I paid all that money for, and and it's not even it's not even worried about money back, it's more about the feeling that it gives you. Yeah. It's just uh yeah, it's just a great accomplishment.
SPEAKER_00Oh, that's super cool. That's yeah, I can't imagine. I mean, that sharing your art and it resonating with people that you don't even know, and it's like people singing your shit. That's that's that's what it's all about, right? Like you said, it's not even about the money.
SPEAKER_02Yeah, yeah, exactly.
SPEAKER_00What would be like your dream collab if like you could collab with some artist? Like, who would it be?
Mainstream Influences And 2000s R&B
SPEAKER_02Um, I mean, Speiji was my number one collab for sure. That was the that was the big dream collab. I know it was cool, bro. I was at uh I was in Moani's parking lot. But he was like a group of guys and I was I think I was on my way and then he was coming out uh to the parking lot, but he saw me and then and he was like, Oh, rapanoey. And I was like, Oh Yani! Yeah, I mean I mean, see like the little the little plateau of Big Island boy, like that's that's a huge, huge thing, because PG, you know, he's a legend. But um yeah, he has a dream collab for sure. Um shoot, of course uh Mike from Rebel Soldiers, one of my good friends, but that that's that would be a good collab too. That would be cool. You know, um He's a Niner fan too. Oh yeah. Yeah, yeah. Uh you know, a lot of these guys like Typha Capoo would be a good collab. Um Wavy, wavy's coming out with some hits too. Oh yeah. That's the guy Osna kind of um works with, uh yeah.
SPEAKER_03Yeah.
SPEAKER_02Wavy's doing good, um another, let's see, level from High Water. Oh, okay.
SPEAKER_00So wait, that guy left the band?
SPEAKER_02Kind of like name dropping, but yeah. Oh yeah, he did yeah. But I mean, they're still doing good. I mean, yeah, I don't know what happened exactly, but um, you know, both both sides they're they're they're gonna be be good for sure.
SPEAKER_00Yeah. I was thinking like, bruh, it's kind of like right when they're breaking, like they're they just hit that next level. And then I seen like, oh, he's he's leaving the band. I'm like, wait, why? Like don't like you see you guys just got there, like make some more music, you know what I mean?
SPEAKER_02Yeah, it was kind of like everybody was kind of you know shocked and surprised, but I feel like everyone's journey is everyone's journey.
SPEAKER_03Uh yeah, yeah.
SPEAKER_02Yeah, yeah. If if you want to, you know, if you feel that was the right decision, then you know, Kelvin, they're they're both cool brothers, and um yeah, I I feel like it'll be successful either way for sure.
SPEAKER_00Yeah, I think everybody you just mentioned, I think your style and vibe guarantee matches. So speak it into existence, bruh, is what we're just doing now. So hopefully one of these days, bruh, I'll see you on a track with one of those guys. That'll be super cool. Yes, uh bruh, navigating through this industry is nuts, and because I've been I've been in the industry, I see the demons, I seen what it can do. Like we just had issues with one of my best friends being missing this past couple days, and fucking we figure out where he was, but anyway, um this industry's nuts, and there's a lot of shit that can go one way. How have you been able to navigate all the craziness in this industry? Um like like like what kind of things do you think like girls, drugs, alcohol, all that shit, you know what I mean? It gets crazy, yeah. You know what I mean? And it becomes part of the culture and part of the mystique and the what's expected when you're um in the industry and it it it is what it is, you know what I mean?
SPEAKER_02Um shoots. Yeah, it's you know, I mean it's hard sometimes to navigate through through the temptations. Um to be honest, I I let it get the best of me sometimes and um yeah, it's it's it's a struggle at times, but um, you know, drinking out late with the with the homies, with girls, with whatever, just being out late in general, I feel like it's it's not worth it most of the times. Yeah. Yeah, and I feel like you know, having a clear mind being sober is is a lot better. Being around family. Um the family time is more worth it than being out at like 4 a.m. at a bar. Yeah, definitely. You know, and and um yeah, it's hard, but you kind of just gotta uh balance it out, but at the same time know what's what's worth it and know what's right. Yeah. And I'm trying my best to stay on the right path. But um, but yeah, I mean I'm trying my best for sure.
Old School Vs New School Debates
SPEAKER_00Yeah, I agree, and I mean not all of it is bad, you know what I mean? Like having a couple drinks and cruising and yeah, enjoying yourself is one thing, and like you just said, balance. And I've let it get the best of me where I'm like puking in the fucking toilet of a pub, and fucking my homies are dragging me out, and it's my event, and it's like yeah, I gotta I gotta get it together. But it's like you you find balance and you can find fun, and um navigating is hard, and like you said, it can get the best of you, and I think um moving forward, it's like if you know that now, moving forward it becomes easier, and like we do uh RB party, it's a day party, and it's so I could see myself like oh, it's so easy to just ho just take shots with everybody, and next thing you know, I'm just lit, but trying to pace myself and keep it keep it cool, and it ends out being more fun that way, and it it makes the people that you're taking shots with because you're not taking it with everybody, it makes it give it a little more meaning if that if that makes sense. Okay, want to take a break and shout out our sponsor, i rep detail supply. They're your one-stop shop superstore for everything you need to detail whatever vehicle you have. They have a store in Temple Valley Shopping Center in Kahalu. They also have a store in Las Vegas, they have everything you need, they have a great staff that's very knowledgeable about all their products. Uh, give them a look at their website, irepdetailsupply.com. Again, if you use promo code ATB Pod upon checkout, 15% off your entire purchase order. Aloha. I was gonna ask you about your tattoos, bruh. When you got your throat tattoo, how was that? Because I had a friend who did it. He said it was the worst shit ever, but I wasn't I was low-key tearing up, bruh.
SPEAKER_02In the middle, but you cannot you cannot tap out in the middle, you cannot have one half owl tattoo sauced. I just you know what I mean. I just sucked it up and I just yeah. Where did you get yours blasted at? Um what was that place called? Um Dang it. What is that? Tall building? Um skin design. Oh, okay, okay. Yeah, yeah. Skin design tattoo. Yeah.
SPEAKER_00I was I mean, I got tat like I would say like the most sore, it wasn't that sore. It's like I I did my collar line, but when it's going over the bone, I would say that was the most sore. But for me, the worst was my arm just holding it in one certain angle for that long. Like, oh bruh, I felt like my arm was getting ripped off. It wasn't even the the needles or anything, it was just the the angle my arm was in was like the worst part.
SPEAKER_02Yeah. For me, my neck and my my hands, bro. The hands is pretty crazy too.
SPEAKER_00Oh no shit. Yeah, pretty nuts. Pretty not. I had a friend who did his palm. He said that one was pretty nuts. That one made sense to me, but I never thought about on top of the hand. That must be pretty nuts, uh. Yeah, hell yeah. Yeah, no, I mean the bottom of the hand must be more nuts, too. Yeah, I think bottom of the foot would be the worst, uh. Oh, you're nuts. Yeah, what's that? Yeah, oh yeah, bottom of the foot, bruh. That would be in fucking feeling, huh? Yeah, bruh. So, um, future wise, where do you see you taking this uh rap career? What would be your goal?
SPEAKER_03Um let's see, let's see. Damn.
SPEAKER_02I don't know what would be my goal. I guess just like trying to just collab more. Collab with more um uh relevant trending radio artists, you know, uh people that's trying to make it and and make a noise for themselves. Yeah, probably just collabing with big name island artists for sure.
SPEAKER_00That's super cool. Do you feel like you get pressure to keep Hawaii culture in your music?
SPEAKER_02Um yeah. I don't know, I don't I don't get pressure. I feel like it's just a part of who I am. Yeah. And um I love to represent you know Hawaii and where I'm from. No pressure at all.
Performing Again And Secret Spot Energy
SPEAKER_00That's cool. I think um I think with social media, I think like you guys and the Hawaii rap culture can be exploited all over the world, and you guys do have a certain niche, and I think people will get get about it if if it's heard, and with social media it's getting heard. So brass, I feel like your guys' stuff in like New Zealand and that those kind of places was start blowing up.
SPEAKER_02Yeah, yeah, yeah, for sure. Um I got some some people, you know, uh I got some people in New Zealand too, but damn, my my name, I wish I didn't have the name Rapanoe, because Rapanoe just confuses a lot of people when they look me up. And uh I mean, yeah. I was thinking about New Zealand, that's why, but yeah, Rapanoe, New Zealand, yeah.
SPEAKER_00How'd you get that name? Like obviously your name, but like you just you gave it to yourself or?
SPEAKER_02Um I was at a church camp, and then um I was just I was doing some raps in church, and one of the uncles from the back is like, oh, rap anui. And I was like, Oh, rap. It kind of clicked, so I kind of just ran with it.
SPEAKER_00Yeah, it sounds cool, bruh. Yeah, yeah. I remember you're watching a movie with Jason Scott Lee. Called Rappa Nui? Yeah, you never seen that one. Oh no, yeah, bruh. Gotta watch it, bruh. It's pretty intense. It's uh Jason Scott Lee. He's a um warrior trying to make a name for himself, and it's like they gotta do all these tests and stuff. Yeah, check it out. Rappanui, bruh. It's a good one. Yeah, you don't know where your name derived from, bruh.
SPEAKER_03Yeah, yeah, yeah. Yeah.
SPEAKER_00So when you're not making music, like what do you do for fun and stuff? Like what what are you about when you're not in the studio or creating music?
SPEAKER_02Hmm. Spending, let's see, spending time with family. Um, you know, just siblings, my mom, my daughter. Um, I like to, you know, just I mean, I just be working, kind of starting to uh pick up golf. Oh shit. Nah, not really, but I mean, I'll be, you know what I mean? Maybe a couple times, but I mean it's a fun, fun sport. You can just like cruise around, drink. Drink a couple beers, yeah. Yeah, yeah, yeah, yeah. Um, but yeah, pretty much it's chilling. I mean, going out, you see my moanies every week.
SPEAKER_00Yeah, that place is actually they just asked us to promote their key. Yeah, but I cannot do another another weekly, I don't know. I I don't know. They they're super cool, and Micah G and um Kihe Meheula hit us up and I don't know, we gave it a thought, but I I'm not trying to be out there every every week yet. I'm I'm liking doing these RB parties every like couple months with Hoppe. It's been perfect for me and keeps me relevant and not in the night night life every single weekend, you know what I mean?
SPEAKER_02Yeah. You don't you don't miss it. Oh, you you don't like being out late anymore, huh?
Kanaka Fire Collab And Radio Moments
SPEAKER_00Once in a while. Um I miss it. I miss um I miss creating something out of nothing and then watching it grow throughout the like the year or whatever, but um just being around these the younger generation, like I feel like they're not in tune with the moment, they're more in tune with their phones, and I feel like they're trying to be about showing everybody the moment they're in. It's like, oh, I'm in the VIP and you spend half the time on your phone trying to show people that, oh yeah, I'm in the club and drinking and cruising with friends, and they're they're more fixated on showing people versus enjoying the moment that they're in. And I don't know, it's just maybe different generation gap. And I feel like the previous generations had more fun doing that kind. Of stuff and this younger generation doesn't get it, but I mean it could be because I'm older and it's like like how my parents probably thought our shit was back in the day, you know. I mean, yeah, yeah, yeah.
SPEAKER_02No, I mean, yeah, I mean a lot of people, you know, uh focus on the phone, like you said, but we didn't it's not it wasn't really like that back then, yeah, for sure. Yeah, how's me? Oh not I'm not that at all that I had a phone back then, but yeah, but then like social media, we didn't really have social media back then.
SPEAKER_00Yeah, you actually had to go home and go on MySpace on your computer and like Yeah, MySpace, yeah. MySpace was good fun, bro. I I missed pictures on MySpace, yeah.
SPEAKER_02Yeah, I feel like MySpace was a good spot for a music artist as well. Uh that's I mean Yeah. Yeah.
SPEAKER_00I remember was it your top eight, and then like oh, you knock one fucking chick off, and oh yeah, yeah, yeah. Why you knock me off for what?
SPEAKER_01Like oh man, I don't yeah, too bad they don't have anything like that. I mean that's good that they don't have anything like that these days, but yeah, but yeah.
SPEAKER_00Tom from MySpace. I remember, bruh, they had these MySpace parties at Pipeline, and those things used to go off, bro. Like they would have uh MySpace host these events and pipeline, like you would have you'd go in there and have to sign an MDA before you could enter, and they would just throw it down, and it was so much fun. Yeah, MySpace was the shit back there. Yeah, hell yeah, dog. Yeah, Hudson used to do uh MySpace parties at O Lounge and brah, those things with all the import models and and all that stuff back in the day was was different, bruh. It's just they they don't have that kind of stuff now. Even I don't know if you're into cars, but like that import scene is super, super not like how it was. It was like a whole thing when SpokeCom came down or hot import nights. It's not like that anymore. Yeah, it's like you I barely know that they're here. It's like, oh, yeah, hot import nights this weekend, like before the whole month would be like, oh yup, we got the pre-party, we got the after party. Like we would it'd be such a huge thing, and all the the models and stuff would come to our events and it it would be like a whole week full of fun. And it's like, oh, it's this weekend? I didn't even hear about it. Yeah, I remember that. Yeah, but I could be aging myself, I don't know. Like in your opinion, like what what do you what is like the cool shit to do now, bruh? Like in your opinion, what what what do you think is cool like right now?
SPEAKER_02Um, shoot. I mean, like the ones you throwing, like the RB thing, that's that's a cool thing. Cool vibe, laid back. Um a lot of people. I saw a lot of people over there too.
SPEAKER_00Yeah, bruh, it's you gotta come to the next one, bro. Like, yeah, it was it was Hoppa Boy's brain child, and uh, and I'm like, okay, got me out of retirement to help him with this, and me and him um started doing it, and I can't say enough good things about it, bruh. Like, I actually love that whole event start to finish and just the the vibe when it's there, the music, the DJs we have, and that whole RB feel. Like you trip. Well, for me, I trip on it because it's not the genre of music that I choose. But every time they play a song, it's I know it because it's been going on in the background of my life back then. So it's it was always in the nightclubs, or always when I'm at work, I'd hear it, and then it's like bruh, I know this song. It's like I can sing this song, and it's like, wow, I I didn't realize how strong RB influenced my life um from back in the day, just listening to those songs, and it's like, oh brah, this is cool.
SPEAKER_02Yep. Oh, yeah.
Dream Collaborations And Band Changes
SPEAKER_00You gotta come, bruh. The next one, bro. We're gonna be May 24th, bro. You gotta you gotta be about it. Just come. Is it is it every month? No, we're we're we trying to do it every quarter or every now and then, but I think um we're gonna try and cook some some cool stuff up for summer, but our next one's gonna be May 24th at Capitol Modern from from the rumors. That's what we're thinking, but should be should be cool.
SPEAKER_02Yeah. Sh I bet people would still be there every week if it was over there.
SPEAKER_00Yeah. Yeah, it's a cool venue, bro. Like it's sick. Like, I I'm yeah, I'm I'm super stoked on it, but I think they the day parties nowadays are starting to kind of catch. And I think people like honestly, the the nightclubs in Hawaii, there's not really there's district and scot but and key, but it's like there's when when back in the day we we could go like to six different nightclubs. They had way more back in the day. And I think um I always attribute it to because social media, how big social media is, you don't need to go to the nightclub to meet chicks. And that's kind of why we went out back in the day is to meet chicks. I could do that shit. I could do that shit on my phone on my couch, yeah. And and you don't risk getting rejected if like the girl don't DM you back, oh delete, gone. I don't even think about you, versus going up to a girl in the club and be like, hey, can I buy you a drink? My name's Dad, and risk her shutting you down and everybody see it, and like you gotta walk away and be all sick. Yeah, it it just it um it's just different now. I I could and then when you meet a chick, you ain't gonna bring her to the nightclub, you know what I mean? Like you ain't gonna bring her a bunch around a bunch of guys that's gonna be like, oh, how's that? You get into a fight. Yeah, too many fights these days. Yeah, oh yeah, bruh. Even that too, bruh. Between that, you get into a fight, you risking getting knocked out and being on hungry Hawaii. Yeah.
SPEAKER_02Shit, I'm the peacemaker every time I I go out with my boys. Yeah, you get tired of being a peacemaker sometimes.
SPEAKER_00Yep, for sure, bruh. I don't know. Sometimes a peacemaker gets hit, and then you gotta bang, you know what I mean? Yeah, yeah, yeah, yeah, yeah. Say, bruh, I'm trying to stop you guys, and now it's like on me, but I don't know. Like, bruh, you so what else do you do for work, bruh? Instead of like not just music, what else do you do? Um, shoot. I'm a waiter at uh, I mean waiters make good money.
SPEAKER_02Yeah, I know. It's it's a steakhouse at uh Hilton Hawaiian village, but oh yeah. Pretty fire, dog, pretty fire. Other than that, I'm kind of just yeah. I I I wanna do like a clothing brand.
SPEAKER_03Oh, okay.
SPEAKER_02Yeah, I get into that. But um, I mean, as when time is right, time is right. But yeah, right now just focusing on music.
Industry Temptations And Balance
SPEAKER_00Oh yeah. That's good because money um being a waiter, you guys make fast money too, bruh. It's um I always wanted to do that. I feel like I could talk myself into some fucking cool tips. Yeah, you're a good talker. I was like, um, where was I? Oh, little Joe's steakhouse, and I was like, yeah, I could do this. I was looking around, I'm like, bruh, like it'd be it'd be a good way just to just schmooze these people and they give you a fat tip. I'm probably sure you do it, you know what I mean? Yeah, yeah, yeah. Bruh, I think um sticking with your music is the way to go. I think you have that talent, and like you said, it one little clip and one uh one of the right people hear it, and that could change your stars real quick, you know what I mean? And the best thing you can do, and it's something that I notice you've been doing is consistency and um being consistent and putting new stuff out there, like um IA, we were talking about him, and I swear he's dropping shit every other week, and it's just a matter of time, you know what I mean?
SPEAKER_02Yeah, yeah, I is bruh, he's been here, yeah. He's been working, and um, you know, I just I just have a lot of respect for him because he's been grinding every every year, pretty much, and you know, his name just keeps getting bigger, but um yeah, he's he's one of the staples I'd say Hoya hip hop in Hoy Hip Hop too. Like he's one of uh the guys that started it as well, too. Yeah, so actually he's um when he first I don't know if it was his first album, but his uh his album was in Borders at Hilo. Oh shit. I was in high school. I was in high school and then I I want to be I want to be a rapper and I saw IA's album and I was like, oh I held it up. I was like, ah this guy can do that, I can do it. So then I bought it, and then that was a cool thing. I I met him when I moved here, but yeah, that was a good thing.
SPEAKER_00That's a cool inspiration, bruh. I've known him for years, and for years I didn't know that was Jesus Salud's son until he came on my show, and I'm like doing some background, I'm like, wait, your dad's Jesus Salud? I was like, what how did I not know that this whole time? Like, yeah, what the heck? It's fucking cool, but um I know how to ask, you shot music videos, and I always wondered this, and I asked like a few artists, how is it shooting music videos and like if people are watching you and it's like I always thought it'd be kind of weird or hard to be just kind of doing it, and it's not like you know you're just being filmed, you know what I mean? Instead of a live audience, or do you feel corny or what, bruh?
SPEAKER_02Truth, uh like I mean, first of all take a couple shots and then uh then I treat it like uh like I'm on set and and I just you know play my role. But I mean sometimes people stare, but a lot of times people watch and then they um they kinda support and ask for my my social media just to follow up and all that, which is kind of cool, but yeah, but I kinda just gotta like just play the role and just speak confident. Yeah, that's super cool. More confident with the shots, but who who shoots your videos and stuff? Um Osnar.
SPEAKER_00Okay, that's say less, bruh. That guy's a whiz. Like that guy's he that guy can do it all, huh? Like he's just he's just that talented.
SPEAKER_02Who um who's your top five? Uh who's your top five island mill uh guy vocalist in Hawaii?
SPEAKER_03Yeah.
SPEAKER_00Of course, Fiji B1. Yeah, yeah, yeah, yeah, yeah. Um Junior King from Common Kings for sure. Okay. Like, I've fucked with him and their band since they first came on, and like the first time I seen him, I was tripping. I was like, whoa, this guy got magic. And he his confidence, stage presence, and the range he has is I have is hard to beat. Oh, that's two. Let's see, vocalist, Capena, um, Kelly boy. Okay for sure. Yeah, and you ever hear him sing old school falsetto, bruh? Like yeah, yeah, that's a trip. That's a trip. Um, what's uh what was that guy's name from uh Calapana? Um Mackey Fury, yeah. Mackey Fury was one, and yeah, that that was that would be one. And uh I maybe not top five, but definitely somebody I would say, which is kind of a trip because I I feel like the younger generation doesn't know it, but uh Butch Hele Mano. Remember that guy? No, I don't, but oh Butch Hele Mano, try try listen to some of his stuff. Lover's Moon, bruh. That try listen to that song. That's an old school local reggae. Local reggae, yeah.
Sponsor Shoutouts And Tattoos
SPEAKER_03Yeah, yeah, yeah, yeah.
SPEAKER_00Um, who's I'm probably gonna like I'll probably I'll probably be in bed thinking like, oh fuck, I should have said like these two guys, but yeah. Um damn, you really like the old school guy, which is good. Which is good. I love that, I love that. Boogs, I would say Boogs. Okay, okay. I think Jay Boogs. Yeah. But yeah, Junior King, like his voice, that singer, I I trip on, bro. Like I remember his first we did Aloha Lao Leo with Ray Jr. We co-promoted that, and it was the first time we brought uh um Common Kings on and and to a big a big audience, and I was like, Oh, I wonder how this guy's gonna do, like there's a big crowd, and and and he went out there and they just fucking smashed, and he had a small Michael Jackson segment, and I was he they just killed it, and I was like, Oh bruh. And his his uh manager Tao Tua, I knew for years, and like bruh, you guys got something special with these guys, and then from then we've seen them do their thing all the way to like Grammy Grammy nominations, and I'm just like bruh, I knew this band was was gonna be it, and uh to this day I see them now, and it's like the same old bratas from back in the day, the same vibe, the same cool, silly people that that had love and aloha, and yeah, they they are not full of themselves, they are just it, bruh. That band is humble, yeah, yeah. Humble, and they they are it, bruh. They they don't need to be humble, they are fucking the band that that they are good.
SPEAKER_02Super cool battles, bro.
SPEAKER_00Yeah, who'd be yours?
SPEAKER_02Oh, shoot, damn. I I cannot go, I cannot go that old.
SPEAKER_00But I guess like uh I mean Fiji for sure. Yeah, he's on the Mount Rushmore for sure for everybody, yeah.
SPEAKER_02Yeah, he gotta be, yeah, yeah. Um Fiji. Damn, I'ma I'ma throw in I'ma throw in Caleb from the green.
SPEAKER_00Oh, that's a good one. Yeah, he's he's super good. That's a good one. I didn't even think of that.
SPEAKER_02Um I'm gonna throw in umma throw in Kuipel. Kuipo, he's a he's a good vocalist, yeah.
SPEAKER_00Yeah, definitely.
SPEAKER_02Um, I'ma throw in Damn, who else is uh I'm thinking of too many new school guys. Um shoot. I don't know if you know Herschel. Yes, Herschel Knuckleheads. Knuckleheads, yeah.
SPEAKER_00Yeah, yeah. They they did a couple of our events. I haven't seen him in a while, bro.
SPEAKER_02No, but um I I got a song with him too, but bruh. Yeah, he's that's a good one. Um yeah, I'll throw Herschel in there, and then probably um Damn. Oh, it's a new school guy, but I'm gonna throw Leva in there, bro. I don't know. Who's that? Leba. Oh shit, okay. Yeah, it's it's kind of new school, but good all good all around good vocalists.
Goals, Identity, And Global Reach
SPEAKER_00Yeah, Fia's a good new one. Oh, Fia, yeah, that's a good one too, bro. Oh, and Josh, Josh Titofi, he's been killing. Yeah, yeah, yeah, yeah. Damn. Bruh, Josh Tatofi used to be one of our Taekwondo students when he was a little kid. No, and we didn't shit. We knew him as Tupo as a little kid. And I did not know that that that was the same person until his dad, his dad plays for Capenna or played for Capenna. Yeah, yeah, yeah, yeah. Yeah. So I seen the dad at the gym, and I'm talking to him, and he was telling me about his son, and it clicked. I'm like, wait, Josh, that's Tupoo. And he's like, Yeah, the one came to Taekwondo. And I was like, what the f I didn't even realize I was the same dude. Because he was just on little kid when we were teaching him, and I was like, wow, that that's insane. And now he just signed, he just signed to some record label I I was reading. Yeah, yeah, yeah, yeah. I saw that. I think uh I think J-Bull's on a label too. Oh yeah, that's cool. Like, how do you feel about um covers? I like them if it's done right, and I like when it's not identical. I like when they put their little spin on it and it they change it a little bit. I think if you're strictly covers in that, that's like if your whole album is covers, then that's that's not what it's about. But if you have like one cover and I um I forget what producer it is, and he's on Instagram, and he's his whole spiel is every song's a reggae song. Uh, you probably seen that guy before, and he'll he'll take any song and turn it into a reggae song.
SPEAKER_02Oh, um Cainan.
SPEAKER_00Yeah, yeah. That guy. Yeah, yeah, yeah, yeah. And ho, like the covers he does, but he does it, he changes it into a reggae song with a different artist, bruh. I was like, fuck. That to me is super cool. I would I would love for him to do a Metallica song and see how that played out.
SPEAKER_02That's yeah.
SPEAKER_00What about female? Who would be your top five?
SPEAKER_02Oh, yeah, that's a good one. Oh dang, I was gonna ask you that. I'd go with um damn. Oh I'd I mean, I'm gonna have to say Ana Hill for sure. Yeah, um just been you know staple for the females. Um, but her damn, probably shoot. I'm trying to think. I mean, I'm thinking of Ira Love, yeah.
SPEAKER_03Um yeah. Yeah, that's a good one.
SPEAKER_02Um, yeah, and um shoot, I'm gonna throw in my my uh my homie uh Trishna Lee. Oh, okay. Yeah, she can rock the house too.
SPEAKER_00I would have um oh Ilona Irvine, remember her?
SPEAKER_03Oh yeah, hell yeah.
The Name “Rappa Nui” And Its Roots
SPEAKER_00Yeah, yeah, yeah, yeah. Yeah, she's from Kanune too. Um I don't know if you she's kind of blown up reggae wise, um, Hyri. Yeah, yeah, yeah. She's and I know her personally, so I kinda bias, but um, she's good, hell yeah. Yeah, she's super good. And she she can do covers too, and her own shit. Like she's talented, bruh. Like, unreal. Um shit, who else? Mahina. She's just coming out. Yeah. I had her on the podcast, and ho, like I uh it's a refreshing like she's she's she could be something huge soon, man.
SPEAKER_02Hell yeah, nah. She's and she's working with uh Romeo and yeah, that's it.
SPEAKER_00Yeah, that's that's his he's the um manager, yeah, yeah. And it's his first artist, and and she's blowing up. Hell yeah, no, she's good.
SPEAKER_02Even um Tihani. Tihani's coming up too. Yeah, she's good too.
SPEAKER_03Yeah.
SPEAKER_00I always like uh Kiahi Bai. Okay, yeah, yeah, yeah, yeah. Yeah, they were good. But they're they weren't like that great a vocalist, but they just had a good vibe, you know what I mean?
SPEAKER_02Yeah, hey, you know who's a who's a hitter to um Kalena Koo. Oh, from Capenna.
SPEAKER_00Yeah, yeah. Uh amazing. Oh yeah, she yeah, she could she can sing too, huh? Hell yeah. Yeah. Oh yeah, that's that's cool. This is fun, bro. I'm I'm trying to think like fucking um yeah, Kimmy A would be one.
SPEAKER_03Yeah, yeah, yeah.
SPEAKER_02Um yeah, it's it's it's uh There's not to be honest, like it's it's um there's probably a lot, but there's not too many. I I feel like the male uh the males kind of dominate the the island reggae industry, but it's good to see females in it. Yeah, and um a lot of them kill it. I feel like we need more. I agree. I agree.
SPEAKER_00But if you if you notice like rap, like rap right now, like hardly had any females, and now it's like fucking choked, you know what I mean? It's like it could be the same, like I mean back in the day didn't really have much, but now it's like every other song is on female rapper, you know what I mean?
SPEAKER_03Like Yeah.
SPEAKER_00I think um I don't know, women are are badass, they they can showcase their talent and And they're coming out with way more confidence and that that swag. And it's probably gonna transcend locally soon, bruh. And it kind of already is. Like these these young girls, are they coming up? Coming up with that fire.
SPEAKER_02Fire, fire, shit. Yeah. Well, um, I'm trying to I'm trying to think of other questions like that. That that those are good questions, top fives.
SPEAKER_00Yeah. Oh, I get them. What would be your top five uh songs? Like island songs.
SPEAKER_03Oh shit.
SPEAKER_02Damn, so are we going like all time? Damn. Um I'm asking you first so I can think of mine's one. Top five songs. Damn, that's a hard one, bro, to be honest, because there's so many. Yeah. But um I'm gonna throw in uh never gonna give you up. Oh yeah, Capenna. That's that's yeah, yeah, yeah, yeah. Capanna, that was a hitter. Um that one uh You Don't Write by Kyle Craterboys.
Life Off Mic: Family, Work, Golf
SPEAKER_00Ooh, that's that would have been Mind Zone. Yo, that would have been one of Minds on the Yeah. Oh, everybody played that on the Uke. Yeah.
SPEAKER_02I'm gonna throw uh Damn, I'ma throw Nothing to Hide by Rebel Soldiers. I feel like that that's a super old one, but I mean that's that was something I grew up to grew up on uh in high school. That's a that was a hit too. Um I'ma throw in um it's it's new, but I'ma throw in Kanaka Fire's only Ja Ja knows. Oh that became fucking huge, huh? Hell yeah. What too? Yeah, I'ma throw that in and then I'ma throw in um Morning Ride by Fiji.
SPEAKER_00Oh, that's a good one. I'ma do one old school, which is probably on every old school person's um karaoke list, is um about you C and K. That's an old school song.
SPEAKER_03That's a good one. Yeah, um, I don't know. Like I know, see that's hard, huh?
SPEAKER_00Yeah. Oh 96 degrees from uh Manao. Oh yeah, yeah, that's a good one. Oh, I get one uh a two-person party from uh tree plus. That's a hit, yeah, yeah. Yeah, that was uh that was fire. Um, what would be what?
SPEAKER_02Pure Heart. That wasn't that was a good band. Oh yeah, yeah.
SPEAKER_03Yeah.
SPEAKER_00I know one song that got everybody going back in the day. This is gonna be a little cheesy, but Jackie Boo from Hoi Kane.
SPEAKER_02Oh yeah, that's a good one.
SPEAKER_00Yeah, that was that was like everybody, that was just good vibes.
SPEAKER_03Oh man, what would be it? Um yeah, that was what else?
SPEAKER_00Oh yeah, you you stole the uh you stole the freaking Kao. That was a good one. Oh yeah, Kao used to be freaking it, huh?
SPEAKER_02Yeah, yeah, yeah, yeah. I mean, still no, you play their songs, it's just like replayable in your head.
SPEAKER_00Yeah, yeah.
SPEAKER_02You know what they should have? This they should have, I don't know if you saw this in hip-hop, but like they have like verses where they're like they go on one stage and they play um, they could perform or just play it, but like this guy plays that song and then this guy plays another song. So it's kind of just like going against each other's songs.
SPEAKER_00Oh, yeah, yeah. I seen DJs do it.
SPEAKER_02Yeah, yeah, yeah. But I mean, yeah, hip-hop artists do that too, but I feel I feel like that would be cool if um Alan Reggae artists did that too.
SPEAKER_00Oh, like, yeah, that would be kind of cool like Capetta versus like somebody or oh yeah, old school.
SPEAKER_03Yeah.
SPEAKER_00Yeah.
SPEAKER_03Oh, it'll be one more.
SPEAKER_00Um probably gonna come to me when I'm like in bed, like the rest, be like, oh man, I should have said that. Yeah. I think um I mean, of course there's everybody's preference, but like there's some of these songs, like, bruh, there's nobody that can say they don't like it, you know what I mean?
SPEAKER_03Yeah.
Day Parties, Nightlife, And Social Media
SPEAKER_00Yeah. Oh, Kachikachi music maka wow from Wheelie K. Yeah, yeah, yeah, yeah. That would got every oh Masesse, that would be one. Yeah. Yeah. But I think a lot of the um I think a lot of the music is tied into the time of your life that you experienced like when that song was coming out. You know what I mean? Like when you're younger and you're doing crazy shit and that song was always around and be like, oh, that remind that song reminds me of that time of my life, and that that'll make it more meaningful to that individual, you know what I mean? Like, yeah. Oh shit, we've been going for over an hour, man. And um Yeah. Yeah, I'm probably gonna talk to you for another two more hours, especially if we're doing this kind of shit, bro. This is yeah, yeah, yeah. Okay, gonna take this break from talking to Rappa Nui to shout out our sponsor, Medicinal Mushrooms Hawaii. They're our locally based medicinal mushroom company, and they have five tintures of extracted mushrooms. They have lion's mane, chaga, red reishi, turkey tail, and cordyceps. I take all five religiously every single day. Um, if you don't know the medicinal properties of these mushrooms, go on their website medmushroomhigh.com, and they'll explain to you everything that these amazing mushrooms do. If you decide you want to buy a tincher, if you use promo code ATB Pod upon checkout, all capital letters, you'll get 45% off your first tinture of extracted mushrooms. Medmushroomhigh.com. Aloha. But um what you got any new music coming out soon? Um, shoot.
SPEAKER_02Right now, I'm just in a talk to people. Um not really anything said installed. Actually, I yeah, there is something coming out. Um, I am writing something with someone, but uh nice. Yeah, just just be on the lookout, I guess. But every time I drop a song, it's a hit. So yeah.
SPEAKER_00That's that's perfect. Um, social media wise, where can people find you?
SPEAKER_02Yeah, shoot. Actually, I just made a new Instagram. Uh my old one got disabled. So my new one is uh Rapino 808.
SPEAKER_03Yeah.
SPEAKER_00Well, how come yours your old one got um got shut down?
SPEAKER_02Yeah, yeah, yeah. I I just dropped my uh I just dropped my um I just dropped my new song and then people was posting it and I was just like um reposting the story. And then uh one of the girls posted my song in laundry in lingerie, and then right after I reposted that story, boom, it got no shit. Yeah, which is weird, but um that's what happened. I don't know. So I have to start from zero, but it's about the journey.
SPEAKER_00It's not even your fault, you know what I mean? Yeah, yeah, though.
SPEAKER_03I don't know.
SPEAKER_00Somebody must have set you up, bro. Yeah. Alright. Well, hopefully, um, hopefully you'll be doing more live shows, bruh. I wouldn't mind seeing you be in the mix, like live. Even if if it's like at um secret spot again, that would be cool to roll up to, yeah. For sure. You're right. Um maybe at the RB party. Well, bruh, you jump on and sing some shit. That would be kind of cool. Yeah. Um, where can where can people get your single that you dropped?
SPEAKER_02Um, just iTunes, Spotify, all the music outlets for sure. Um what's it called annoying? Uh airplane mode. That's my newest one. Brad, I think it hits, bruh.
SPEAKER_03Yeah. Hell yeah.
SPEAKER_00Alright. Well, I appreciate you taking time for coming on. This has been good fun, and I definitely would want to have you back and see how far you come in the next uh year or so and talk about your new projects. Um it's cool and refreshing to talk to somebody in the industry that's humble and this driven. And I feel like you could inspire a lot of up-and-coming artists. What advice would you give some of these up-and-comers that are trying to go in on this path?
SPEAKER_02Hmm, that's a yeah, that's a good question. Um advice. Stay humble. Um, you know, just try to shake hands with everyone in the room. Um, that that's what you know, growing up, that's that's what my mom taught me, and that's what I do wherever I go. And that's how you kind of build relationships, friendships. So just stay humble, you know, make friends. Um take advice from people that's doing what you want to do and don't listen to anyone else. Because um, you know, there's a lot of times people's gonna say stuff, but they don't have the um they don't have they don't know what it takes to get there because they've never been on that journey. Um that yeah, that's another piece of advice, and just yeah, just believe in yourself, have faith, and just keep working. Yeah.
SPEAKER_00Bruh, I I always love asking that question because of like your answer just there. It's like that shake hands with everybody in the room. That's a good one. And yeah, take advice from people who've done it, not people who talk about it. Like, if you're not about it and never been it, then I don't need to listen to you because you don't know what you're talking about.
SPEAKER_02Yeah, exactly.
SPEAKER_00That's super cool. I think um the future of the the music in Hawaii is is always gonna be bright, and we're different, and I think because we're different, um it's more attractive, you know what I mean? Like you hear uh uh guy doing hip hop from Hawaii versus just some guy in the mainland, there's way more attraction to Hawaii stuff. So if you guys can break through, and I would love to see local hip-hop artists go global, like big, and we never had that yet. And like we had regular pop music like Bruno Mars, we had reggae, and all these other artists go big, but we never had someone in hip-hop that just blew up globally, and right could be you, it could be someone you inspire, but I think that would be the future, hopefully, for um Hoy hip hop at least, man. In my my goal for that to see it.
SPEAKER_02Yeah, there's I mean, because I I don't mean to keep going, but dang, um, eight row eight is a good is a good uh oh yeah, right. He's yeah, he's blown up too. There's another rapper from Kalihi, Juice, but he's he's doing a lot of big things. Um you know, hip hop is growing in Hawaii, and it's it's just good to see everyone supporting.
SPEAKER_00Yeah.
SPEAKER_02And um, yeah, just being with it. Yeah.
SPEAKER_00Right on. Well, man, um, I appreciate you coming on. Uh, shakas for the cameras. Yes, um right on, we're out. Shout out to the artist group network. Aloha.
