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B.E.T. is short for Big Every Time, and the duo -- Papa T and J.D -- share a dream even bigger than taking their "Polynesian P-Funk" music to the top of the national pop and urban record charts.
"My partner is Hawaiian and white. I'm Samoan and black. If me and him can get together and get along without no problems, we don't see why everybody out there can't get along the same way," J.D says.
"There's only good and bad (people), not races. There's still a lot of conflicts but we're all one race -- human," T adds.
The duo's hectic schedule includes performing as guests of Steel Pulse at the World Cafe tomorrow. The concert follows B.E.T. shows at Cronie's on the Big Island, a tour with Fiji on Maui, and performances at the Waikiki Shell, Pipeline Cafe and Hawaiian Waters Adventure Park.
ON STAGE
Who: Steel Pulse and B.E.T.
The duo is also finishing work on a second album scheduled for release in March. When J.D says it won't be as hardcore as their 1998 debut, the tone of his voice suggests that some of the material on "Polynesian P-Funk" may have been too strong for Hawaii's "island music" radio station programmers.
"The first album was a lot more hip-hop oriented, but it was how we felt about the issues here in the islands as well as on the mainland. On this next one we're not as angry.
"Things are still kind of the same but they look like they're changing for the better, that's how we feel about it so we're leaning a little more toward the positive tip. The music kind of changes around (you) and we've found that you can get a message across even without having to be so hard.
"The hip hop on this album is a lot more island-oriented. We tried to keep it more island style."
Guest artists include Teresa Bright, Fiji and Jamin Wong as well as Pato Banton and Mad Lion. J.D says working with other local artists is another way of leading by example in bringing people together.
"We want to show that there's room enough for everybody out here. Not that everybody should sound the same, but if everybody has their own sound they can still stick together and stand behind everybody else instead of trying to fight each other down. We can't go nowhere but up."
Outside the recording studio, B.E.T. has been working with several other groups as well. Red Degree will be with them on Saturday.
"There's a lot more collaboration between different groups. A lot of aloha, and people like it that way," T explains.
When B.E.T. first surfaced as a recording act with the "Polynesian P-Funk" album, the duo was already talking about unity. One of the tragic paradoxes of the local reggae/Jawaiian scene here is that although unity and "one love" are prominent themes in the music, Jawaiian fans seem unable to come together in concert-size crowds in peace. Brawls are as much a part of the concerts as the music.
B.E.T. directed its message toward ending neighborhood turf wars and ethnic grudges, presenting positive messages about the importance of education and living responsibly.
"It should all be one love (and) unity. That's what we believe in," T says.
"Reggae music is supposed to be positive every time and we truly believe in freedom for everybody, not only one race."
The two met seven years ago when Papa T was adding the Jawaiian and reggae edge to Diane & Da Boyz. J.D had returned from Samoa and wanted to get into music. J.D's mother was a friend of Diane, and J.D liked what he heard when he checked out the band. He and T discovered their common interests and B.E.T. was born.
"We have different music backgrounds but that same interest. We thought the clashing of our sounds could work this island real good. Seven years later, we're still doing it," says J.D, who was influenced by black urban music.
T grew up listening to Jamaican reggae. They both like hip-hop and "old school" urban music, but are also incorporating elements of ska and mid-'60s soul music.
Both prefer original material over rehashing oldies.
"We don't really like to record covers," said J.D. "We'll throw some hooks in there to keep it familiar for the crowd but we want to keep it all our own thoughts on how we feel. If you create your own hits, it's timeless."
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