Indigenous Cats are a rising force in L.A.’s underground hip-hop scene

In late May, thousands flocked to the Los Angeles County Fair in Pomona, California. Aside from the food, vendors, and carnival rides, fairgoers were also entertained by the sounds of  NextFest LA, an independent indie festival located inside the fair. Touted as the largest indie music festival in the U.S., the festival took place on weekends, with performances spread across multiple stages within the fairgrounds. Closing out the final weekend of the festival at the Lagoon stage was underground hip-hop duo Indigenous Cats. 

Comprised of recording artists Calmplx (pronounced Complex) and Ina, Indigenous Cats have been making noise in the underground hip-hop scenes of Los Angeles and greater Southern California. Cultivating a dedicated and growing audience through the clever use of social media, Indigenous Cats have distinguished themselves from their peers by incorporating messages of decolonization and Indigenous empowerment into their unique style of music.

Drawing inspiration from classic Boom Bap hip-hop production, the group has forged a unique sound that both harkens to the nostalgia of hip-hop’s Golden Era of the early and mid-90s, while also addressing struggles and quandaries of the 21st century. Together, Calmplx and Ina have created a sonic collage. Weaving a myriad of eclectic sounds and indigenous philosophies in their music, the duo has set themselves apart from nearly all of their musical contemporaries in L.A. and Southern California’s underground hip-hop scene.

Starting from scratch

Although the duo both shared a profound affinity for Golden Era and Underground hip hop, Plx and Ina’s paths to becoming emcees followed slightly different trajectories. Growing up in an immigrant household, Calmplx’s father would often play oldies, while his mother would listen to the vibrant sounds of salsa and cumbia during his childhood. As Plx entered his teenage years, an older cousin would serve as a conduit who would introduce him to the gritty world of underground hip-hop.

“My cousin had nothing but underground hip-hop albums”, Calmplx recalled. “Gang Starr, Wu-Tang, A Tribe Called Quest. You name it, he had it.” By the time he was in high school, Plx was regularly freestyling with friends in after-school cyphers. And before long, he began recording demos of his own in a makeshift home studio.

In contrast, Ina grew up listening to the sounds of Neo-Soul and 90s era R&B, influenced by the collections of her older sisters, who played artists such as Erykah Badu, the Fugees, and the solo efforts of lead singer Lauryn Hill. Eventually, she too would be introduced to underground hip hop. Specifically by another older sister, which opened her up to further new sounds.

“That’s when the door to the underground scene really opened for me. My sister would always play artists like A Tribe Called Quest, The Fugees, Atmosphere, and it immediately reeled me in,” Ina recalled. “Ever since then, I’ve been drawn to that ‘old school’ sound and jazzy-soul in hip hop.” Eventually, she adopted the stage name Ina, which means mother in Ilocano, the language of her Filipino grandmother.

Two traveling souls

Naturally, the genesis of Indigenous Cats' origins traces back to the couple’s mutual love for music, which ultimately led to the pair coming into one another’s orbit. “Calmplx and I knew each other throughout our teenage years. We knew of one another growing up in high school, and we kept bumping into each other in town,” Ina recalled. “We met about seven years ago, but we've known of each other growing up in high school. It wasn't until after we met that we got together, and then that's kind of how music came along.” Although both Calmplx and Ina had been recording their own music individually, the two formed a strong connection following a recording session at the home of a mutual friend. “I remember singing him a Buddhist mantra and he really liked it,” Ina said. 

Impressed by her singing abilities, Calmplx asked Ina to record vocals for several songs. Not long after, the pair began dating and performing at local underground shows together. Inspired by iconic hip-hop groups they grew up listening to, the duo set forth to join forces and create a group of their own.

The group’s namesake is an homage to the duo’s Indigenous ancestry of El Salvador and the Philippines, and the slang term “cat,” referring to a person who is considered to be “cool.” Ina recalled how the inspiration for the group’s name came to them following a performance in Van Nuys. “After the show, we were sitting down outside of the venue, and we came up with it right there on the spot. We thought the name was dope, and it’s been Indigenous Cats ever since.”

What goes around comes around

Shortly after adopting the group’s name, Calmplx and Ina began work on their first project together. Equipped with only a personal computer and an old microphone, the duo began recording demos at their home. After meticulously recording, Indigenous Cats released their debut in the summer of 2019. A seven-track mixtape compiling their collection of demos titled “Traveling Souls Project”that utilized vintage production from various underground hip hop artists such as Jeru the Damaja, M.F. Doom, Jedi Mind Tricks, Jay E.L.E.C.T.R.O.N.I.C.A., and Atmosphere. 

Pulling from their shared infinity for classic Boom Bap style production. Calmpx and Ina deliberately selected jazzy production that invoked the spirit of the 90s era New York underground hip-hop scene. 

The mixtape was positively received by fans, particularly for touching on a wide range of topics. Ranging from race, religion, and decolonization, to spirituality and the contradictions of modern living. Shortly after, Calmplx and Ina followed up their mixtape by releasing their debut solo efforts, “Abstract” and “The INA Project”, both released in 2022. However, it would be another two years until Indigenous Cats released their true debut album,” Indigenous State of Mind”, last Summer. This time around, Calmplx and Ina tasked a team of producers to produce all original production for the album, as well as tapping artists such as MC Wicks and Verde of the Neighborhood Kids as featured guests on the project.

Calmplx detailed the recording process of their most intimate and personal project yet. “It was kind of like a journey. We're also a couple, so we were going through our own growth in a way. And through that process, we were also growing musically,” Plx said. “Our ears were growing, our eyes were growing, our minds were growing spiritually. And throughout that process, we finally got the discipline and focus to put that project together.” Ina also says that six years of making music together have also helped them refine their approach to crafting albums. “Six years ago, we’d just rap on this beat and be like ‘Let's just add some vocals and just release it on YouTube’. Now it's more intentional, like when a painter is creating a painting from start to finish.”

Moving forward, Calmplx and Ina have no intentions of slowing down. Last month, the duo collaborated with San Diego hip-hop group The Neighborhood Kids for their single ‘They Aim At Us’. The duo also promised collaborations with Native Threat of Inland Empire hip-hop group Kozmik Force, as well as another still-unnamed Indigenous Cats album. “We are doing a lot of features and collaborations, and we’re also still working together as Indigenous Cats. I'm almost 100% sure that we'll have another Indigenous Cats project by the end of this year”. 

As anger across the nation comes to a head, particularly regarding the public’s dwindling tolerance for the Trump administration’s escalation of ICE raids throughout the country. As well as the federal government’s hyper militarized response, and decision to deploy 700 Marines and 4,000 National Guard troops to occupy Los Angeles following a week of mostly peaceful protests throughout the city, Plx underscored the power and responsibility that artists have to enlighten the masses and be speakers of truth to power in today’s turbulent era.

“Speaking out is one of the most courageous things you could do in this time as an artist. It's a scary thing to express yourself sometimes, especially with ICE and everything our people face,” Calmplx lamented. “There's a lot going on right now with the Trump administration. We definitely have to keep speaking up for our people and helping out where we can so we can stay strong and get through this time. It’s important to remember that when we work together as a community, all around the world, we’re stronger”.