FilAm rapper Ruby Ibarra wins Tiny Desk competition; plans include a national tour

Ruby Ibarra

Ruby Ibarra, a Filipino American rapper, is  taking a major step in her music career after learning that she won the 11th annual Tiny Desk Contest.

On Tuesday's Morning Edition, NPR Music announced the winner of the 11th annual Tiny Desk Contest. 

"Tiny Desk is one of the few platforms where music is truly celebrated and artists get to uncompromisingly showcase their artistry, lyrics and stories," Ibarra tells NPR. "I'm grateful and overjoyed to be able to share my music in a space where so many of my musical influences have performed. To me, winning this Contest means to be recognized as a songwriter, and is an affirmation that I'm on the right path as an independent artist from the Bay Area."

The performance of  "Bakunawa," a combination of rap and singing in English and Tagalog, was chosen from nearly 7,500 submissions from independent artists across the country, the Bay Area artist captivated the judges with her striking originality, lyrical depth and commanding presence.

"Ruby's stunning Tiny Desk contest submission was the very first to be featured on our top shelf and the last one standing." 

Tiny Desk producer Bobby Carter tells NPR,  "'Bakunawa' covers all the bases: beautifully arranged music, passion and above all authenticity. We've never seen or heard anything like Ruby Ibarra. She's special and she's ready."

FYI: Watch her perform the winning entry, "Bakunawa," here.

IIbarra, who worked as a health scientist in the Bay Area, took the leap to full-time musician and performer in a few years ago.

Her raps often switches between Tagalog and English with the overriding themes of Pinoy Pride and empowerment, which makes her unique. She's been on the verge of "breaking out," for several years. Her Filipino American raps provided the background music for The Cleaning Lady television series, which centers around an undocumented immigrant Filipino family.

RELATED: From Fanny To Madam Wong's & The GRAMMYs: How The Asian Community Has Impacted Rock

Ibarra says about "Bakunawa: "The song's title is in reference to the Philippine mythology about a bakunawa (dragon) who swallows the moon; similarly, this song interprets the story as a metaphor for resistance and a battlecry against erasure. This song, for me, is a statement that my daughter is my revolution and my hope that she will be liberated from the effects of our cultural history."

She continues to tell Grammy.com, the song "features these amazing, incredible artists who are all Filipinos as well. Han Han, who’s a singer and an MC, Ouida from San Francisco, who is this amazing vocalist, and last but, of course, not least June Millington, who’s just a badass rock guitarist and singer. She was part of this incredible band from the 1970s called Fanny, an all-female band. To have done a collaboration with such a powerhouse of a lineup was just a dream come true. The music video and the live performance video… was just the icing on the cake for me to be able to come together in person."

As this year's winner, Ibarra will perform an intimate concert behind NPR's iconic Tiny Desk in Washington, D.C., joining the ranks of artists like Bad Bunny, Sabrina Carpenter, Doechii and Usher, as well as acclaimed past Tiny Desk Contest winners, such as Fantastic Negrito, Gaelynn Lea and last year's winner, The Philharmonik.

Following her Washington D.C. showcase, Ibarra will embark on the Tiny Desk Contest On The Road tour, bringing her music to audiences across the country.

TINY DESK CONTEST TOUR

The Tiny Desk Contest On The Road tour, which brings the winner to stages around the country, will be bigger and better than ever this year. Audiences will have an opportunity to see this year's winner perform live in 10 cities, alongside a showcase of vibrant local music at each stop. And, new this year, each city will also feature a special surprise Tiny Desk alum as the headlining act.

        FYI: Tickets for the tour are on sale now at our Tiny Desk Contest tour page.

Curiously, the performances in Texas and Colorado are already sold out. Below are the scheduled stops along the 2025 Tiny Desk Contest On The Road tour:

June 11: The Regent Theater , Los Angeles (Station partners: KCRW, LAist)

June 13: Lagunitas Brewing Company, Petaluma, Calif. (Station partners: KQED, KALW, NorCal )

June 16: The Wonder Ballroom, Portland, Ore. (Station partner: OPB)

June 23: Thalia Hall, Chicago (Station partner: WBEZ)

June 25: The Basement East, Nashville (Station partner: WNXP)

June 27: Mohawk , Austin, Texas (Station partner: KUTX) — Sold Out

June 29: Bluebird Theater, Denver (Stations partner: KUVO) — Sold Out

EDITOR'S NOTE: For additional commentary, news and views from an AANHPI perspective, follow me on Threads, on X or at the blog Views From the Edge.