The DOD45 Show Ep 126: Cas One & Tai's Pe'a Journey (Part 1 of 3)
This episode's different than most.
In August I went to Samoa & received my pe'a, the traditional Samoan tatau. It was tapped into my skin by hand over 6 days, from my ribs to below my kneecaps, every inch. It was the most painful thing I've ever been through... and an honorable, spiritual one that changed my life forever.
So many of u messaged me askin' how I was feelin' & what the whole experience was like, so we're tellin' all of it here. Before I went, I spent months soakin' up every video & story I could find from people who shared their own pe'a journeys. It helped me so much psychologically... and I still wanted more. If you're thinkin' about gettin' yours, I hope this helps u the same way.
Ade & I were both there for every minute of it, so the 2 of us talkin' to an empty room felt weird. So our friend Cas One sat in to hear the story & ask the questions. He's a great listener, he busts balls & he keeps it fun. And it's his birthday the day this drops, so happy birthday Cas!
IN PART 1
- A sneak peek of "Blade Runner" off the 45 LP: Buddy Peace on the beat, the mix & the scratches, Dusk Raps settin' the tone, plus Staplemouth & me on the extra verses
- Why I've wanted my pe'a since I was a little kid, losin' my dad in 2014 & the question from my brother I couldn't answer
- Why I don't feel like I have a tattoo... I feel like I'm wearin' Samoa
- The Suluape family (6th generation tufuga ta tatau) & how I ended up with Su'a Paul
- The legend of the twin sisters who swam the tatau tools from Fiji to Samoa
- Gettin' tapped in a fale at the cultural village while tour groups walk through... zoo animal vibes
- Cas's lifelong Disney World dream & his son's promise to take him to Japan
- My 4 months of prep: 30 min sittin' cross legged every morning, cold showers with box breathing, slappin' my legs (we own a flogger now if anybody wants it), coconut oil, no alcohol, calisthenics, 150 oz of water a day, zinc & blood work
- Cas droppin' 50 lbs in a month & the gospel of Walktober
- The trip gettin' there: a missed flight, a 16 hour layover at LAX & Ade's bag showin' up a week late
- The house my dad built on our family land in Fasito'o Uta & the family who finished it after he passed
- Gettin' our Samoan dual citizenship... and then Samoa lost our passports
To be continued in Part 2.
A quick note: everything I share here comes from my own experience & the way my family raised me in our culture. Other people's pe'a journeys & upbringings may look totally different. Mine's no more special than anyone else's... and no less.
Later in this 3 part series: Sage Francis & Mr. Dibbs pop in, Dibbs' wife Laura saves me from peril in Samoa, and we spin "Karen O" off the 45 LP with Cas on it.
Wanna see it? The full video version is up on YouTube.
FA'AFETAI
Thank u to all my family who made the trip. Aunt Lise for organizin' the whole thing. My nephews Eli & Zach plus my niece Dayla for holdin' it down for everybody. Aunt Tua, Uncle Fotu & Aunt Pam for keepin' up the family house. All my cousins for another forever memorable Samoa visit. And a massive thank u to Su'a Paul, Su'a Ata, Fa'asavalu & the whole crew for my journey. It's a part of me forever.
To Ade, my wife & my partner on this show... I am nothing without her. To our kids for bein' there. And to Strange Famous Records, always.
UPDATES
- Ol' Blue Gallery in Hannibal, MO is open again Fridays & Saturdays now that we're full time Missouri residents
- Shout out to the homie at Observer for the shirts, hats, hoodies & stickers at Schlafly Bottleworks. Hit up observemore.com for any printing needs
- 45 LP backers: the 252 page book lands with me this week & it looks incredible. DJ Zole is mixin' the tracks one by one & Mr. Dibbs is stitchin' 'em together. Box sets go to press in January (likely shippin' May 2027). Goal is digital music before Christmas, with the book, prints & shirts out by the end of October.
