Transplanted from Manila, Philippines underground San Francisco rapper Hopie Spitshard does just that, spits HARD. If you’re a fan of California’s Bay Area music, Hopie doesn’t disappoint; if you’re a fan of old-school underground legend Del the Funky Homosapien, Hopie’s got you; and if you’re a fan of the new West coast movement (U-N-I, Diz Gibran, Dom Kennedy, A.Spit, etc.) then Hopie rocks your fucking eardrums.

Releasing her debut album The Diamond Dame in 2008, Hopie Spitshard confesses she didn’t expect the kind of success she’s had so far with her music career, admitting she was “discovered” by producer 6Fingers and that he took a chance on her. “6Fingers drove all the way to San Jose from Vallejo to be one of ten people in an audience at this art gallery” coming up to her afterwards like “I’ve gotta work with you!” The rapper/producer’s relationship began just as a feature on a song, evolving to 6Fingers saying she needed her own track. “It started off as a collaboration that just turned into a whole album,” and an album it is. With 13 tracks The Diamond Dame features the likes of Del, Bambu, Kid Static, Topkat, EyeASage, and Smigg Dirtee.

So then who is Hopie Spitshard? Describing Hopie is like reading your favorite homemade recipe, but this one’s for up-tempo, energetic, head-shaking music, with equal parts writing and “the-future-is-now” production. The end result being a tasty audible treat all things left coast, fresh coast. Take Hopie’s recent single “Yummy” for example, off her debut album “The Diamond Dame.” “Yummy” is an intoxicatingly fun track that’s raw as hell, antagonizing weak MC’s coupled with a catchy, cannibalistic hook that resonates “Yummy/So many MC’s in my tummy.”

The music video for “Yummy” dropped this past Valentine’s Day and is worth watching strictly for its visuals. “People don’t know this but a lot of stuff in the video actually happened in real life. I was pushed off the stage by a dude… no lie! I’ve also been belittled by male artists that invite me to their studio and then try and seduce me, like, that’s not what I’m here for and now I’m uncomfortable. Of course I’ve never eaten a human cake, but you know…” 

Hopie Spitshard “Yummy” Official Music Video (Directed by Patricio Ginelsa) from Kid Heroes on Vimeo.

When asked about women in rap, Hopie gets serious explaining how there’s not enough women in the game and that the mainstream media portraits only the “uber-sensitive” or the “hypersexualized” ones. However, Hopie hits home, “we are everywhere, we represent all walks of life and that there’s a female emcee for YOU. If you feel like there are none, then you’re not looking!” Outspoken, Hopie comes off confident, “I don’t feel the need to preach a strong woman image when I can just be one!”

So what’s next for the Diamond Dame? In between studying law at UC Hastings (Yeah, LAW SCHOOL) Hopie is currently working on three albums. Her sophomore album is titled appropriately Raw Gems and plans to release the first video next month.

The second project she’s working on is an EP with fellow SF native Alexander Spit. “The Alexander Spit project is called The Pawn Shop (and) I think it has a great new sound, a new New NEW sound. I think it’s been a long time since people have seen a boy-girl duo in rap. It’s not a record you’d expect a girl on, it’s super grimy. My voice is melodic and the combination is super intense (A. Spit has a raspy low voice).” Thinking about the overall theme of the collabo Hopie repeats that it’s super grimy and that “it’s not like I’m singing on the hook and he’s saying stuff and we’re rapping about love… I don’t even think we have a love song on that bitch!”

If that wasn’t enough to work on, Hopie’s collaborating with the one and only Del the Funky Homosapien in what’s to be called Dolls & Robots, “we’ve been working on it since the filming of the ‘Yummy’ video and it sounds A-Fucking-Mazing.” With both excitement and awe in her voice Hopie confesses Del was one of her idols growing up and that he’s one of her biggest influences, as you can tell in her flow, and that she’s so “juiced that this next Del album is half mine; so juiced to have my name on it!” Shit, I’d be too Hopie!

It looks like 2010, bright for all, will be especially so for the Diamond Dame. She was recently added to the line up for the fifth annual Paid Dues Show. With all her hard work in not only her Hip-Hop career, but law school, Hopie Spitshard deserves it. From the 12ftDwende Family, good luck and wreck shop.

www.hopiespitshard.com

www.myspace.com/hopiespitshard