In search of transition, Fiji may have found his crossover opportunity

• CD Review: Fiji's hip-hop, reggae side shines through for his latest

By Wayne Harada
Advertiser Entertainment Editor

Fiji — the entertainer, not the South Pacific nation — is a man who just can't say no.

That's one of the reasons he writes songs, produces CDs, arranges music or does background vocals for a swarm of island acts, from Robi Kahakalau to B.E.T., from AZ to the Mana'o Company, from Mana-'Ohana to Pati.

"I can't say no to a struggling artist and I always support my friends," Fiji (real name: George Brooks Veikoso) said over lunch last week at Cafe Sistina, where he previously performed. "I can't be part of this great island industry unless I'm totally involved. I want to contribute everywhere possible.

"A lot of people think I kill myself by working with too many other people. But that's why I moved over here (last from Los Angeles but originally from Fiji, and a Hawai'i resident now for 18 years). I see so much potential for our musicians here. I was helped by a number of people in the past, so I will always help a fellow musician.

"The relationship I have with young artists is wonderful; they have humble hearts, they don't forget where they came from. It doesn't take long, when you live in Hawai'i, to recognize that the aloha spirit lives."

Indeed, on one hand, Fiji, who is 31, is omnipresent — guest starring, with minimal credits on liner notes, on a handful of CDs each year.

His forte has been rap, hip-hop, island rhythms with a bit of grit and soul, a mixture of pop elements with funk, with a splash of reggae, even jazz. He also has emerged as one of the true jewels of Jawaiian, that fusion between reggae and Hawaiian music.

But he's in transition.

His fourth solo CD, "Transition," was released Tuesday. The industry buzz is that this, finally, might be his crossover album, not only wooing in the masses in Hawai'i, but possibly linking up with a Mainland mainstream audience.

"Five stations on the West Coast have expressed interest in the album," said Jim Linkner, veteran producer. "And two stations in New York. But why not? The production values in the new CD are very high."

In a record 15 days, which amounted to completing one tune daily, Fiji wrapped up the project at TK Studios on the marina in Hawai'i Kai.

"Why go to the Mainland when the support is all here?" Fiji said. "There is a huge misconception in the music community here that you have to go to the Mainland to make it. I came here because of the opportunities here. Music is full time for me."

Fiji said he deliberately entitled his latest CD "Transition" because that's his current modus operandi.

"I'm really in transition, preparing to cross over, but all this takes time," he said.

"Moving here from Fiji was a major transition; yes, I am still a citizen of Fiji. But back home, it's still very colonial. They look down on musicians," he said. "You are not successful unless you are an engineer, a clerk or a teller at a bank. Even major artists (in Fiji) don't make a lot of money, maybe $25 a gig, and yet they smile. That's why I work the way I do, so my brothers and sisters come to realize that what I do, I hold up in high regard. Music is my sanctuary."

Because he has toiled alongside a host of other local music-makers, Fiji has gained insights into what makes them tick.

Some examples:

• On Sistah Robi: "She's really like a sister to me, yet at the same time, a very gifted musician. She feels so much more than we can hear; she's like one of those spirits you must cling to, with an open heart. She never likes to limit herself in what she does."
• On AZ and Pati: "I think they're gentlemen who'll spark up the new fire of island music. I believe the contemporary Hawaiian music is on the cutting edge, with the boundaries moving. You notice, young musicians try everything. They're not afraid."

Raised on the reggae of Jamaica, influenced particularly by Bob Marley, Fiji has embraced the contagious pulse of that island's genre while tossing in his own riffs.

"In Hawai'i, we're a melting pot — life, like music, is a buffet," he said. "So you add a little blues and hip-hop, alongside the Hawaiian ... it's no different than getting American alongside Italian and Chinese in a buffet.

"Music should be versatile, to bring out the buffet aspect," he said. "Do only one thing and it gets monotonous fast."

If he had his druthers, Fiji said, he would like to collaborate one day with folks like Keali'i Reichel.

"I think putting an urban beat to his voice would be unique," Fiji said. "I know he loves R&B. He's also a student of music; I mean, consider what he did with 'Sweet Honey in the Rock,'" alluding to

Reichel's crossover adaptation of "Wanting Memories" and "Patchwork Quilt."

Next year, he's dickering to produce a planned contemporary music CD by Amy Hanaiali'i Gilliom and Damon Williams.

'Transition'"Transition" by Fiji, Ricochet Records

Fiji shows his formidable hip-hop and reggae side on his fourth album, armed with a stable of riveting, resourceful songs and coupled with a handful of guest vocalists.

Many sultry cuts reflect Fiji's prowess with lyrics, melody and delivery. A good bet is "One," a partnership in composition and vocal delivery between Fiji and Brit star Bitty McLean, whose simple plea — the need for love in the world — is surrounded by a breathless mix of hip-hop, soul, blues and rock.

Another is "Why You," which puts Fiji in a midtempo mode as he shares the blues of a break-up. It's the kind of song with universal appeal. A midsong rap effectively demonstrates his authority in this genre.

"Caught the Act," a funky romp featuring (and co-written by) Kymani Marley, has a street beat and would be MTV-ready with a music video.

Local acts provide support and talent, including B.E.T. and Mr. Re on "Kickin' It With Polys" (a hearty party song, with rap refrains), Damon Williams on "Distant Lover" (dreamy and soulful in the vein of Luther Vandross), and AZ on "I Like" (a guy song, truly urban, about what's to like about a woman).

But Fiji works alone on "Transition," too. His work on "Insecure," a lingering love song about the insecurity in being without a cherished honey, is no-frills Fiji — pure, precise and perfect.

"One" by Fiji featuring Bitty McLean. An audio sample is available in mp3 and RealAudio formats.

Reach Wayne Harada at 525-8067, wharada@honoluluadvertiser.com or fax 525-8055.