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Arts & Culture

The Bay Area’s Own Ruby Ibarra Is the Winner of NPR’s Tiny Desk Contest

The San Lorenzo-raised rapper won over the Tiny Desk judges with her song ‘Bakunawa.’
Pendarvis Harshaw

A young Filipina woman in a silver top leans over a shiny green surface, her reflection visible
Growing up in San Lorenzo, 2025 Tiny Desk Contest winner Ruby Ibarra was exposed to a steady stream of Bay Area rap from artists like E-40 and Hieroglyphics. (Gino Lucas)

The winner of NPR’s 2025 Tiny Desk Contest is the Bay Area’s own Ruby Ibarra.

A research scientist and fiercely poetic lyricist raised in San Lorenzo, Ibarra raps in English alongside the Filipino languages of Tagalog and Bisaya. Her Tiny Desk Contest-winning track, “Bakunawa,” was inspired by the dragon-like serpent of Philippine mythology.

Ibarra sees the Bakunawa and its banishment from society as a metaphor for the way that Filipino history, art and culture as a whole is often shunned and cast aside by the mainstream.

“I just wanted to flip that story,” Ibarra tells KQED. “And this time around, with this song, I wanted to embody the Bakunawa itself.”

The track’s guest artists Ouida, Han Han and June Millington (of the pioneering all-female rock band Fanny) tap into their own inner mythological creature, expressing their powers through musicianship.

Behind the scenes, Ibarra was pregnant while filming the music video for “Bakunawa.” She gave birth to her first child in 2024, the Year of the Dragon. “My daughter,” Ibarra says, “she is my baby dragon, she is my revolution, she is my power.”

“Bakunawa” anchors Ibarra’s upcoming album, the release of which will coincide with a 10-show tour. But first, she has to go to Washington D.C. to perform at NPR’s Tiny Desk.

Ruby Ibarra. (Gino Lucas)

‘Giving me goosebumps’

When she learned that she won this year’s contest, Ibarra was so surprised that she started crying and her hands started shaking.

“I will say, that typically does not happen to me,” Ibarra says, adding that she’s usually calm and composed. “I think that alone really tells you how much excitement and joy it brought to me.”

Born in the Philippines and raised in the East Bay, Ibarra has been around hip-hop for as long as she can remember. E-40, Hieroglyphics, Lauryn Hill and the late Filipino rapper Francis Magalona were all influences on Ibarra, who started rapping professionally in 2016. She dropped her first album Circa ’91 a year later, and entered the Tiny Desk Contest in 2019 with an attention-grabbing ode to her immigrant mother.

In 2021, she stepped away from her career as a research scientist to pursue music full-time. In 2023, along with Ouida, she cofounded a Bay Area-based indie collective, BOLO Music Group.

Her music has appeared on Fox’s The Cleaning Lady as well as the soundtracks for the NBA2K23 and NBA2K24 video games.

A young FIlipina woman in a beanie and mesh top holds a microphone at a custom-lit party
Ruby Ibarra guest stars in ‘The Cleaning Lady’ during a March 12, 2024 episode, rapping “Pilipino ako sa gawa, Pilipino sa mga mata (I am Filipino by action, Filipino in the eyes).” (FOX via Getty Images)

Now, with this opportunity to bring her art, Filipina heritage and Bay Area culture to the world via NPR’s Tiny Desk, Ibarra joins a long list of legendary artists with humility and appreciation.

“To be there in a few weeks,” she says, “it’s giving me goosebumps.”

Ultimately, she sees it as another way to showcase the diverse culture and creativity that emanated from the Bay Area.

“There’s so much talent here,” she says. “I’m just excited to put on for the Bay.”

Ruby Ibarra headlines NPR’s ‘Tiny Desk on the Road’ tour with a Bay Area show on June 13 at Lagunitas Brewing Co. in Petaluma. Details here.

Learn more about Ruby Ibarra at her official website and in KQED’s own archives.

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