PART ONE OF TWO:
History is an open diagram of what gave us the present. And truth be told, learning your past is the easiest way to excel into the future. Hiphop has grown and blown into proportions that its such a playground today, and these are the CDs that helped built Filipino's love for hiphop. From the start up years of Humanap Ka Nga Panget to FrancisM's Yo to the more obscure acts, this list evaluates the growth of hiphop in the fields of both a peforming artform to an enterprise. My hiphop was never western, it was always adapted to the surroundings of Manila. There are no east coast, west coast turfs here, but we respect that. Some would argue that there is no hiphop in the Philippines, but you'll see how much we have of it. There is an overload of hiphop talent that was centralized in Manila, that made our hiphop mature quicker. The first step into learning is imitation, and these CDS surpassed that stage slowly but surely and helped shape it to progress. If these CD's are indication of where hiphop is headed, then we will dominate and get our recognition locally and internationally within the next 3 years. My word is my bond.
1. Death Threat "Wanted" - This cd has the best drum kits I've heard off the pioneering years of hiphop in the Philippines! The melodies and song topics were fresh at the time and allowed the legendary status of Death Threat to be fulfilled. This CD helped shape how gangs in the Philippines are, and still is the soundtrack of the streets to this very day. After a couple of years of being a student to the production field, this CD blew me away with its drumkits alone. Aiyo Beware, hit me up with some of those kits.
Notable tracks: "Heaven O Hell"; "Mary Jane"; "Bad Boy"; "Inay"
2. Francis M. "Francism" - This album helped hiphop gain full musical attention winning Awit Awards for both Rock Album of The Year and Hiphop Album of the Year. Beating the likes of Eraserheads, Wolfgang, Mastaplann and Kulay. This album is multi faceted and proved that hiphop in the Philippines co-exists with our very strong foundation of Pinoy Rock.
Notable tracks: "Kaleidoscope World"; "Three Stars and a Sun"; "Mahiwagang Kamote"
3. Andrew E. "Wholesome" - This CD could be the only platinum selling hiphop/rap CD at the time of the Asian crisis and the emergence of piracy. Andrew E. proved that his edge is his originality and with sticking to his old rhymes, helped rekindle and open the minds up of the Philippines for his new hits. The best Dongalo beat I've heard in years could be found in this album "Here We Go" is a good platform to introduce the new Dongalo artists. Remember that Andrew E. isn't a novelty act because he invented this lane for himself. He is an original of sorts. Everyone else who copied him are the novelty acts.
Notable tracks: "Here We Go"; "Banyo Queen"; "You Don't Know Me"
4. Mastaplann's "The Way Of The Plann" - With one of the only hiphop CD's to be released in some parts of Asia, Universal records' Mastaplann's fan base grew and the Fil Am hiphop movement was given birth to. With ties around LA, the group moved back to the States to pursue a higher cause. This CD also marks my introduction to South Border's Jay Durias and Brix Ferraris' amazing vocal range on the title track "Way Of The Plann". Rest in peace to one of the most avid fans of hiphop, Bella Tan. Thank you for allowing all your hiphop artists to fulfill their gifts. This CD also gave way to DJ MOD's career in the recording industry giving us SVC and Trilogy.
Notable tracks: "Rollin In The Ride"; "The Way Of The Plann"; "Irie"
5. 7shots of Wisdom "Lifted" - Vibestation's premiere hiphop R&B group 7 Shots of Wisdom's debut CD proved to be worth the wait. After recording 30 songs, the group released this 15 track effort and flawlessly gave them their props as musicians and performers. With Boom Dayupay in the helm of the production, its showcased the strength of the now defunct Vibe Family. This album also introduces us to Kim Fabros' vocals who was coached by non other than Radha Quadrado.
Notable tracks: "Lifted"; "Don't Stare"; "Are You Down With It?", "Trilingual"; "Vibestation Session"
Vibestation Session Vol. 4 (Down Earf, El Latino, Grounded, 7Shots)
6. Legit Misfitz "X Generation" - This musical offerring showed hiphop in a more mature surrounding. Amidst the success of Kulay, this disc came in surprisingly from a group that gave you "Jabongga" and "Air Tsinelas". With more mature song topics and with execution dynamic enough to make the album an experience, this CD showed that hiphop is growing within the individuals and not just a form of having fun and expression. I grew up listening to Legit Misfitz since their days in Boom! and as a kid growing up, it was a good experiencing the artists I look up to mature within the music they do.
Notable tracks: "X Generation"; "Nakabuntis Ako"; "Chamama"; "High School"
7. Kulay "100,000 Pesos Worth of Karma" - This CD is a Philippine treasure with the brilliance portrayed as a Filipino artist. This kept my mind open to the tunes of R&B, Folk Music, Hiphop, Dance and just kept me aware of the life long process of enjoying music amidst catergorizing. The vocals and beats on this album gave me inspiration to push the envlope for Filipino Hiphop. This is the blueprint as well of what 7shots was formed to be. This CD gave me one of the biggest assets of hiphop which is to envision the future through your music. What you can create in your mind can manifest in the world. This CD showed us how to be relevant, full of substance and still have fun with it. The story behind the name as I was told, Kulay named Boom prior to this CD, Kulay paid 100,000 PHP to get out of the contract and to start anew.
Notable tracks: "Satisfyd", "Two Brown And White In The Middle", "Balikbayan"
8. Dongalo Wreckordz "R.A.P (Rap Artists of the Philippines)" - This CD made hiphop a movement, this is the father of Rekognize, United Freestyles and Tippin' The Scale! With Andrew E. at the helm of this CD and him dispatching new breed of emcees from his camp. This CD showcased and debuted the likes of Syke, I.P.K., Madd Poets, Chinese Mafia, BB Clan and more. The rest, they say is history.
Notable tracks: "Bo Lan Chaw", “Siya Ay Kadiri”; “Kapkapan”
Notable tracks: "X Generation"; "Nakabuntis Ako"; "Chamama"; "High School"
7. Kulay "100,000 Pesos Worth of Karma" - This CD is a Philippine treasure with the brilliance portrayed as a Filipino artist. This kept my mind open to the tunes of R&B, Folk Music, Hiphop, Dance and just kept me aware of the life long process of enjoying music amidst catergorizing. The vocals and beats on this album gave me inspiration to push the envlope for Filipino Hiphop. This is the blueprint as well of what 7shots was formed to be. This CD gave me one of the biggest assets of hiphop which is to envision the future through your music. What you can create in your mind can manifest in the world. This CD showed us how to be relevant, full of substance and still have fun with it. The story behind the name as I was told, Kulay named Boom prior to this CD, Kulay paid 100,000 PHP to get out of the contract and to start anew.
Notable tracks: "Satisfyd", "Two Brown And White In The Middle", "Balikbayan"
8. Dongalo Wreckordz "R.A.P (Rap Artists of the Philippines)" - This CD made hiphop a movement, this is the father of Rekognize, United Freestyles and Tippin' The Scale! With Andrew E. at the helm of this CD and him dispatching new breed of emcees from his camp. This CD showcased and debuted the likes of Syke, I.P.K., Madd Poets, Chinese Mafia, BB Clan and more. The rest, they say is history.
Notable tracks: "Bo Lan Chaw", “Siya Ay Kadiri”; “Kapkapan”
Stay tuned for PART 2, coming very soon!
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