Four days after the start of Filipino Heritage Month, Rocky Rivera, Ruby Ibarra, and many more will be formally kicking off celebrations at The Ford on Oct. 5. Composed predominantly of those signed to Beatrock Music, a label home to many Filipina artists, the Island Woman Rise event will highlight Filipina musicians who have made an impact through their music or efforts beyond the arts. The two accomplished Filipina artists will also be joined by rapper Klassy and singer-songwriter Kimmortal, with poet Faith Santilla and DJ collective Ladies of Sound rounding up the lineup. Grab your tickets before the show sells out!
Words: David Sosa
Rocky Rivera has made multiple careers out of hip-hop
San Francisco’s Rocky Rivera is the type of artist who knows the ins and outs of their genre. First beginning her career as a journalist writing for Rolling Stone, XXL, and other outlets, she eventually pivoted to rapping, dropping three albums over her 10+ year career punctuated by punchy singles like “Pussy Kills.” More recently, she balances her time making music and giving back to her community through activism, whether it be for the nonprofit Oakland Kids First or schools and colleges in the Bay Area.
This article may contain affiliate links, and Grimy Goods may make a small commission at no extra cost to you. Thank you for supporting our independent, fan-powered media network.
Ruby Ibarra can rap better than most in many languages
Known for rapping in Tagalog, Waray, and English, Ruby Ibarra holds hip-hop in high regard. With a focus on her experience immigrating to the United States, her style harkens back to the 90s, when lyrics were a focal point to success and social justice was a more sought-after goal among emcees. In Ibarra’s case, she came out swinging with her 2017 album CIRCA91, having since put out a steady supply of singles that range from the posse cut “Bakunawa” to the rapturous single “Switch.”
Klassy is a hip-hop devotee
Klassy has dedicated herself to rap music since high school. She first made waves locally in Echo Park, quickly branching out into formally dropping music during her senior year, where she gained a reputation among classmates and other rappers around the area alike. Although she momentarily went on hiatus to focus on tattoo art, she has since returned to hip-hop with projects like 2023’s Good Seeds and explored different styles, including boom-bap and jazz.
Cool Gifts for Music Lovers
The best concert earplugs to protect your hearing
This guitar is adorable! Aspiring musician?
Style & Function: Impress friends at your next party
Kimmortal knows how to speak, or rap, their mind
As one of the few artists on the lineup not signed to Beatrock Music, Kimmortal offers a blend of indie-rock, R&B, and other genres alongside hip-hop that all unite under their idiosyncrasy. The Canadian artist quickly made a reputation out of subverting expectations, dropping albums such as 2019’s X Marks the Swirl which, true to its name, swirled many styles together like a new concoction of their making. Songs like “Sad Femme Club” offer a glimpse at the trap music they can create while “i like what i like” is a more mellow interpretation of hip-hop.
Beyond Island Women Rise, there’s much more to choose from when it comes to gigs happening at The Ford. If you’re looking for concerts centered around singer-songwriters, Devendra Banhart and Leith Ross will be playing The Ford on Oct. 2 and Oct. 19, respectively. But from now through the remainder of the year, there’s always a little bit of something for everyone, ranging from lineups assembled for special occasions to artists going through tours with multiple stops. For both artists and fans alike, The Ford is the place to be.
