IT’S A new kind of rap style music ang latest CD ni John Rendez. Mismong ang rapper-composer and actor ang nag-arrange ng all original rap songs sa kanyang latest CD. It took him a year to finish the all new rap album, from conceptualizing the type and quality of it’s contents, to composing the new rap songs, to deciding on some updates to his previous compositions.
“This is my song mismo and it’s feel good. Ang tagal nga bago mai-release, natapos na ‘yung finish product pero si Ate Guy ang nag-decide na huwag munang ilabas. Ilalapit ko kay Chito Ilagan (big boss, PolyEast Records, album distributor) para maging successful itong CD natin. Making
the album is fun. The songs are really, really good, panglaban talaga!” pagmamalaking sabi ni JR.
Happy si JR sa pagbabalik niya sa recording scene dahil maganda ang kinalabasan ng bago niyang CD at buong puso siyang tinanggap ng media. “It’s God’s plan, everything is the way it’s suppose to be. God’s everything and I’m thankful for the good things, ‘di ba? Bad things, thanks for the bad things too because it’s make me value what I have more.”
Through the years, mara-ming natutunan si John. Nag-mature and he became a better person. Napakaganda ngayon ng pananaw niya, puro positive. “Yes, everything is positive. The past is the past, I don’t even think about the past. I’m so happy right now, you know.”
Malaki ang pagpapahalaga ni JR, kay Ate Guy bilang kaibigan at mentor. Itinutu-ring niya ang Superstar na isang patron. Kahit anong intriga ang ibato sa kanila, lalo lamang tumitibay ang kanilang samahan bilang tunay na magkaibigan. Subok na ng panahon ang friendship na mayroon sila sa isa’t isa.
Sino nga ba ang naging ins-pirasyon ni JR sa kanyang latest album? “I think, I’m inspired by anybody. I’m inspired doing the work and being active, you know. I don’t need inspiration to motivate myself. I’m motivated by Black it self, ‘di ba? To make a living, that inspires me. I need to eat, to buy things for my daughter and for my family.”
Hindi ipinagkaila ni JR na matagal na siyang hiwalay sa live-in partner niya pero ipinagmalaki ng actor ang dalaginding niyang anak na si Anna Cain. Mahilig din sa music tulad niya. “Daddy is her idol. She’s sixteen years old, she’s in Angeles City with my Mom. Mom ko ang nagpapalaki sa kanya. Gusto ko siyang maging scholar. I don’t want to be irresponsible. I don’t want to have a child and then, bahala ka na d’yan lumaki, anak… I only have one daughter, I do the right thing.”
Umaasa pa rin si JR na balang araw, matatagpuan niya ang babaeng tunay na magmahal sa kanya at mamahalin silang mag-ama. “Sana nga habang bata pa ako. Torpe ako kaya walang magkakagusto sa akin. Kapag nand’yan ang babae, mabo-bore sa akin kasi, shy ako. Mahiyain akong masyado, hindi ako nakikihalubilo. But if you wanna be in show business… bahala na.”
Advice ni Ate Guy sa kanya? “Huwag masyadong mainitin ang ulo. Magpasensiya at huwag magmadali. It’s a good advice and I take it. May advice to my self, less talk, less mistake, madaldal ako, eh. When my mom is pregnant, mahilig siyang kumain ng ano ng baboy kaya naging rapper ako,” natatawang sambit nito.
Sa ngayon, mahaba na ang pasensiya ni JR sa mga tumitira sa kanya. “Of course, specially when you are new kid in town, they we’re talking about you, ‘di ba?”
Achievement na gusto pang maabot ni John Rendez? “I’ve done a lot of things. I met a lot of people. I be able to get the experience that most people could only dream about being with Ate Guy in his time of her life. Nandu’n ako sa likod. Ina-absorb ko, puwede akong magyabang kung tutuusin. Marami akong nalalaman. Marami akong natutunan, pero ang pangit nang dating. I’m a smart person, you now. I don’t want to manipulate. I don’t want to take advantage. I just want everything to be earn. I just wanna use that experience to be solid. Kasi, kapag solid, no one can take that away from you,” pagwawakas na tugon ni John Rendez.
AYAW Paawat!
by Eddie Littlefield
