Klumcee says, "Hindi ako DJ!"

"But I really do not mind when posters label me as one. With all due respect to the legit DJs in the Hiphop industry, honestly, I do not see myself as a DJ. I know the basics but I think I do not have enough knowledge and skillset to be called a "legit" DJ."

This was Klumcee's upfront answer when I threw the most common question everyone seemed to not know what the answer is.

A lot of people do not know that the music behind the hits of who we know now as the big players in the industry are actually made from the ingenius mind of Lester Paul Vaño, a.k.a. Klumcee. 

Klumcee has made his imprint in the Hiphop industry albeit not much are aware of his contributions. His achievements include winning the AVIMA Awards for Best Hiphop Song for the song "Eargasmic" by Mobbstarr, winning the 2014 Awit Awards Best Rap Recording as a music producer for Loonie's "Tao Lang." In 2016, his work was once again recognized at the Awit Awards as he bagged Best Rap Recording as music producer for Stick Figgas "Laman Loob." 

He even received the prestigious Ani Ng Dangal in 2009, awarded by Pres. Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo at the Malacañang Palace. How many Hiphop superstars do you know who can be at par with that!?

Moving on, here's what we talked about during our coffee convos:

Me: If you are not a DJ, then how do I call you or what you do?

Klumcee: I am a beatmaker, a musical arranger, a composer, a lyricist but think I am best fitted to be called a Music Producer.

Me: Pwede ka bang ma qualify na singer?

Klumcee: (bursts into laughter) Hindi rin! 

Me: Rapper?

Klumcee: Ayaw na din! Pero rapper talaga akong nagsimula kaso wala kaming tiga gawa ng beat. So, marunong naman ako mag gitara, so ako na lang. At that time, kasabayan ko si Loonie at si Ron Henley. I thought I wouldn't shine among these two dahil sobrang advance nila magsulat. When I became the beatmaker, naging balanse ang tropahan naming tatlo.

Me: Woah! It takes a lot of courage to accept that some things are not for you. Grabe naman ang iyong humility

Klumcee: Di naman! Acceptance lang. (smiles)

Me: With humility, comes acceptance! 😁 

Klumcee: I mean kung di mo tanggap na may mas magaling sayo at ipipilit mo sa sarili mo na kalevel ng skill mo ung grabeng skill level ng iba which took them years to attain, di ka magiimprove or di mo mhahanap yung para sayo.

Me: Master suplado kaba? I heard suplado na G ka daw?

Klumcee: (laughs out loud) Hindi a! Mahiya-in lang ako pero Approachable ako.

Me: So is your studio and music expertise open for everyone?

Klumcee: Depende sa sitwasyon.

Me: Next question, how about Shanti Dope, pano mo sya na discover?

Klumcee: Na discover ko sya nun pinanganak sya ng hipag ko! Hahahaha May plano na pala agad.

Me: 😁 And what can we expect from you in the coming months?

Klumcee: This december 8th out na sa digital stores ung album ep ni shanti dope na “materyal”, 5 tracks yun tapos I'm working on ron henley's album, loonie’s ep, apekz new single at kung sa iba pang mga tropa.

Me: Master are you single? 😂

Klumcee: Yes, single not married but taken. (Grins)

Me: Ayun! Last question. Do you consider yourself mainstream or underground?

Klumcee: Wala na namang underground or mainstream, kasi may internet na, accessible na sa lahat kung ano man. Di tulad dati kaya tinawag na underground, kasi palakahirap kang hukayin ung mga artist para lang mpakinggan mo sila or madiscover mo ung music nila, ppunta ka ng gigs sa masukal na probinsya at word of mouth lang invitation, tlgang pahirapan. Ngayon isang click lang sa internet mahhnap mo na sila. So ayun hehe

Basta kahit saan ako ,wag lang baduy or ignorante or hater na circle or genre hehe

Me: Maraming salamat Master at dun nagtatapos ang ating homework questions! 

Catch Klumcee and Shanti Dope together with local emcees on December 8, 2017 at the CAP Auditorium, Gen. Luna St., Iloilo City at 8:00PM as they grace The Trap Soirèe! They will also be in Kalibo, Aklan to perform at the SPOT on December 10, 2017 at 4:00PM.