Rappertunie

Rapotwanalantonee Tivtotolon,^[1] also known by the stage name of Rappertunie,^[1] was a Shawda Ubb musician from Manpha and member of the Max Rebo Band. He was able to spit paralyzing poison at individuals when threatened.^[1] This poison was able to paralyze a Human for a quarter of an hour.^[2]

Biography

Rappertunie had an urge to travel ever since the day he hatched. He wasn't content with processing swamp petroleum in his marsh village and left at a young age. As he traveled extensively through the marsh communities on his continent, he funded his trips by playing musical instruments and bringing news to isolated villages. By the time he reached adulthood, he had saved enough money to take a planetary shuttle to Shanpan, Manpha's sole spaceport community.^[4]

An entire galaxy opened up for Rappertunie as he sat in bars and casinos conversing with alien merchants. He played with many bands in Shanpan and adopted a stage name that was both easier to pronounce for aliens^[4] and more "musician-like"^[5]– "Rappertunie". He learned how to play many new instruments, but preferred to embrace the Growdi Harmonique^[1] (a combination of a flute and water organ).^[2]

Rappertunie had spent several years searching for a way to find passage off Manpha to see the wider galaxy. When the Max Rebo Band stopped at Manpha, Rappertunie disguised himself as a waiter to gain access to Max Rebo's hotel suite. He displayed his musical talents to Max while the Ortolan gorged himself on his third lunch.^[5] Impressed with his skill, Max invited Rappertunie to join his band for a season in the Outer Rim. Rappertunie eagerly accepted and became a member of the Max Rebo Band.^[4]

His enthusiasm was quickly crushed by the second stop– Tatooine. What was supposed to be a limited engagement in Mos Eisley spiraled into a permanent stay when Jabba the Hutt requested the band's indefinite stay in his court. Rappertunie found Tatooine's dry heat to be oppressive to his marsh dwelling form. After he exhausted all the tourist attractions on the planet, he began to look for a way off planet. His lack of credits and Max's unwillingness to break his contract to Jabba meant Rappertunie was stuck in Jabba's Palace.^[4]

While in Jabba's court, Rappertunie had to drink a great deal of water to keep from getting dehydrated. He remained quietly perched on his growdi to avoid unnecessary exertion, even when he wasn't performing before Jabba with the rest of the Max Rebo Band. While this made him appear like easy prey for the predators in Jabba's court, Rappertunie was able to defend himself with his paralytic spit. Having no interest in bloodsports, he declined to accompany the group assembled to execute Luke Skywalker, Han Solo, and Chewbacca. Fortunately for him, this was his salvation, as Jabba Desilijic Tiure died in the explosion of his sail barge at the Great Pit of Carkoon.^[4]

Rappertunie had been petitioning Sy Snootles to get a gig on another planet for months, but now he finally had his means of escape.^[4] Once news of Jabba's death reached the palace, he left for Mos Eisley. He was relieved to see his band mates had survived continued his music career for a short while after departing with Max Rebo and Sy Snootles. When Sy Snootles' career began to falter after she left Max to pursue a solo career, Rappertunie left her and the music scene altogether. He settled down to be a computer engineer for Rebaxan Columni, designing upgrades for their MSE-6 droid line.^[5]

Behind the scenes

Rappertunie was added to the extended musical number in the Special Edition of Return of the Jedi. He was played using a traditional puppet digitally inserted into the film.

Rappertunie's backstory has similarities with that of Muppet character Kermit the Frog. Both start their music careers playing an instrument in a swamp, which leads to them going on to bigger and better things and eventually achieving stardom. It is uncertain whether or not this was intentional.