Pinoy Hip Hop

Filipino hip-hop or Pinoy hip hop is hip-hop music performed by musicians of Filipino descent, both in the Philippines, and overseas, especially by Filipino-Americans. This article focuses first on Filipino hip-hop in the Philippines, and secondly on that in the USA. The Philippines is known to have had the first hip-hop music scene in Asia since the early 1980s, largely due to the country's historical connections with the United States where hip-hop was originated. Rap music released in the Philippines has appeared in different languages or dialects such as Tagalog, Chavacano, Cebuano, Ilocano and English. In the Philippines, Francis M and Andrew E are cited as the most influential rappers in the country, being the first to release mainstream rap albums. In the USA, Apl.de.ap of The Black Eyed Peas and Chad Hugo of The Neptunes and N.E.R.D are cited as the most successful Filipino-Americans in the music industry.


In the new millennium, Filipino hip-hop rivalled Pinoy rock's traditional popularity amongst Filipino youth. Artists who are currently active and have released both rap albums and music videos in the Philippines since 2000 include: Andrew E, Razzamanazz, D-Coy, Denmark, Francis M, Gloc-9, Krook & J.O.L.O., DiCE and k9 aka Mobbstarr, Pikaso, Stilloz Pride, Ace Asero, and Thavawenyoz.

In 2000, the golden-era rap group Mastaplann released a third album through BMG Records, under the new sub-label, Francis M's Red Egg Records, entitled Mastaplann.com, a reference to their newly developed website.[original research?] Additionally, the group scaled down their line-up to just Butch and Johnny, and then added Johnny Krush, another balikbayan from the San Francisco area. This album has already obtained gold status in the Philippines, and is also still selling. Currently, the group is based in the States where they still perform and make music. Mastaplann is currently working on their fourth album, yet to be titled, to be released under True Asiatik Productionz.

Since 2004, the Philippine Hip-Hop Music Awards has been held annually in Metro Manila. The show is reminiscent of The Source Awards in the US. Gloc-9, considered to be the fastest rapper in the Philippines and former member of the rap group Death Threat, held the title for Best Rap Artist at the awards show for four consecutive years, from 2005 to 2008, achieving mainstream popularity and releasing successful commercial albums every other year. Like the American hip-hop industry, music videos have become an important trend (even containing small cameos from different Filipino rappers) and air on TV channels like MTV Philippines and MYX. Despite Metro Manila's powerful position over the music industry, rap groups in the south have started to gain their own share of popularity, like DiCE and k9 aka Mobbstarr from Cebu City with their first hit single "Itsumo" in 2003,[16] and Thavawenyoz from Davao City with their debut album "Hubag" in 2005.[17] It also is not uncommon for Filipino-American artists to perform live, sell records, and win awards in the Philippines while living in the States, for example Pikaso from San Francisco, California who won the Producer of the Year award in 2008.[18] Zambo Top Dogz from Zamboanga City known for their chavacano rap "Noticias" and "Conversa Ta".

In 2002, Carlo Maniquiz and Nick Tuason, together with the assistance of FUBU's headquarters in New York City, established the FUBU Philippines clothing line, opening up several stores in the Philippines. In promotion of the new franchise, Francis M released a compilation album showcasing new local hip-hop talent[19] as well as two volumes of Tha Rappublic of the Philippines series, which featured young unsigned Filipino rap artists that were discovered through the nationwide talent search of the same name (including groups Crazy as Pinoy, Kamandag ng Marikina, and the Stick Figgas). Francis M would also go on to form his own clothing line in 2006 called Francis Magalona Clothing Company (FMCC) which are sold at his own branches of stores called Three Stars & a Sun.[20] "The F-Word" was an album Francis M was rumored to be working on in 2008 to follow his last album from 2000, but leukemia and other health problems interfered later that year.[21]

The popularity of artists such as DiCE and k9 aka Mobbstarr, Pikaso, Audible,[22] and Krook and J.O.L.O., who primarily use English lyrics in their tracks, has given way to the on-going divide between Tagalog lyricists and English lyricists. With English tracks dominating the air waves, several Tagalog-based emcees have felt a sort of bias in the Philippine music industry, which favors artists who use English rather than Filipino. The conflict over language became evident in the 2004 The Black Eyed Peas concert in Manila in which rapper Mike Swift's Tagalog-based track was cut short halfway through the song due to the "English Only" policy enforced by the event's organizers towards Black Eyed Peas' opening acts.[23]

Rap group Salbakuta, under Andrew E's Dongalo Wreckords, recorded the track Ayoko Ng Ganitong..., which contained lyrics partly attacking such "English Only" Pinoy rap artists.

In 2006, the group Stick Figgas,[24] runners-up in Francis M's Rappublic of the Philippines talent search, released their debut album "Critical Condition" under joint-release with DiCE and k9's 6000 Goonz imprint and Francis M's Red Egg Records sub-label, which, amidst critical acclaim, sparked a resurgence and renascence of sorts in Tagalog rap. The Stick Figgas relied on clever punchlines, creative lyricism and intricate rhyme schemes, re-introducing a technical poignancy that has been absent in Tagalog rap since B.B. Clan's first album "Mabanges". This rap style has arguably inspired the current generation of Tagalog rappers to place much more emphasis on multi-syllable rhyme schemes, punchlines and metaphors than before.

In 2008, after the death of Francis Magalona, independent rap label and production emerges in the local rap scene such as Wika Records of D-coy and PR Records and Entertainment (as owned by Von Padua of Pinoy Republic), Pikaso's Hustlin Records, Longevity Records and Turbulence Records. Pinoy Hiphop fashion has also emerge such as PINOY REPUBLIC, TURF CLOTHING, BOSS BALITA and WIKA following the king's (Francis M.)clothing line FMCC.

In 2010 there are moder balagtasan called "Fliptopbattles" It is adapted from the rappers in the United States that was hit on youtube.The fliptopbattles is initiated in 2010 by Alaric "Anygma" Yuson[Host], Here there are two emcee on both side of Anygma showing there rapping skills on the judges and audience.it maybe by the way of Punchline,Freestyle Etc, .And by doing this it's helps to improve the hip hop in the Philippines.These are battlers emcee who famous on fliptop battle league.Dello (Evolution of rap),Loonie(King of Fliptop),Target(Mananabas),Blkd(Aktibista),Zaito(Aple De ap of the Phil.).