Ruby Ibarra Makes Debut On NPR ‘Tiny Desk’ Concert – Watch
In between transitions, as well, the rapper said, “Being human is not illegal. Immigrants have been here, lived here, worked here. And this immigrant is here.”
Courtesy of @rubyibarra, photographed by Gino Lucas
Courtesy of @rubyibarra, photographed by Gino Lucas
On May 29, 2025, Ruby Ibarra made her official debut on the acclaimed NPR Tiny Desk Concert series with an empowering 20-minute performance.
This marks the first-ever Tiny Desk performance done by a fully-Filipino artist, and Ibarra proudly wore this on her sleeve — or rather, on her graphic t-shirt that read, “I love Pinays.” For her set, the America-based Filipino rapper performed three tracks; “Bakunawa, “7000 Miles,” and “Someday.”
In between transitions, as well, the artist delved into a powerful speech about being a modern-day immigrant in the States, “Being human is not illegal. Immigrants have been here, lived here, worked here. And this immigrant is here.” She adds, “From Tacloban City, Philippines, all the way to Washington, D.C., my name is Ruby Ibarra.”
Check out Ruby Ibarra’s full Tiny Desk performance below:
Ruby Ibarra was the sole winner of over 7,500 entries for the Tiny Desk Contest, with her audition piece, “Bakunawa,” which she performed live in the concert itself. The song was debuted in September 6, 2024.
Hailing from Tacloban City and raised in California, Ruby Ibarra started her career in hip-hop in the early 2010s. Her style is primarily influenced by boom bap and incorporates elements of spoken word poetry and makes use of live instrumentation. The rapper is also the head and founder of her own label, BOLO Music Group, where Filipino-American artists Vince A, Ian Santillano, and Ouida are signed.