World of Hip-hop

 
Andrew E. (the ‘E’ stands for his last name, Espiritu) began his career in December of 1990 when he released his first single "Humanap Ka Ng Panget". The combination of his catchy story-telling rap style, irresistible beats, naughty and often hilarious lyrics made him unique in Philippine pop culture.

Due to his double-entendre lyrics, some of his songs had been criticized for its allegedly suggestive lyrics. Andrew’s career branched out as he began to star in comedy films based on his songs. He has more than 28 films under his belt.

In the mid 1990s, Andrew E. founded Dongalo Wreckords for the purpose of discovering and producing new Philippine Rap talents. One popular rap group that got its start with Dongalo is Salbakuta. Their song S2pid Luv became a big hit and was made into a popular movie which also starred Andrew.

Andrew E. spent some time in Japan in the late 1990s, performing in clubs and eventually releasing a song in Japanese about the misadventures of a tourist in Tokyo. He is now married and lives in Don Galo, Paranaque (where his record label was named from) with his wife and son. Andrew is also a certified platinum artist given that he has acquired over 13 albums, each at least 3 times platinum.

In the Filipino rap scene, Andrew has largely contributed to the growth and popularity of tagalog rap, furthermore by introducing a freestyle battle competition which gave aspiring rappers a shot at record deals.

Andrew has notably collaborated with Sharon Cuneta, Willie Revillame, Regine Velasquez, Francis M., Carlos Agassi, Deathtreath, Salbakuta, Dongalo artists, singers and actresses such as Donita Rose, Rica Peralejo and so much more.

•  Albums

• "Alabang Girls"
• "Andrew Ford Medina"
• "Beach"
• "Bini B. Rocha"
• "Ganyan!"
• "Gusto Ko"
• "Here We Go"
• "Highblood"
• "Honey"
• "Humanap Ka Ng Panget"
• "Huwag kang Gamol"
• "I Love You"
• "Isayaw at Igalaw"
• "It’s Andrew E!"
• "Ize Batayojan"
• "Krispy Na Kreamy Pa"
• "L na L"
• "Live In Full FX!"
• "Majime"
• "Malupit"
• "Manchichiritchit"
• "Mas Gusto Mo Sya"
• "Nang Ma-Meet Kita"
• "Pag-ibig ko’y Tunay"
• "Pagdating ng Panahon" - kaduweto ang Salbakuta
• "Pink Palaka"
• "Pretty Boy"
• "Pretty Girl"
• "Rave"
• "Sa Club"
• "Sha Na Na"
• "Shoot-Shoot"
• "Showbiz Rapper"
• "Sinabmarin"
• "Story of Life"
• "Tayo na sa Dilim"
• "Text"
• "That’s Why"
• "Tina Moran"
• "Twina"
• "You’re Shit"

 
A sibling amongst nine brothers and sisters, Francis Magalona is the son of late Philippine movie screen legends Pancho Magalona and Tita Duran. Starting out as a breakdancer in the early 1980s, he followed in his parents footsteps and ventured out into acting, appearing in several Filipino movies; he branched out to emceeing and released the groundbreaking album Yo! in 1990 garnering the nationistic hit Mga Kababayan (My Countrymen), making Yo! the first commercially released Pinoy rap album in the Philippines. While rapping politically conscious and thought-provoking rhymes in both English and Tagalog, the album was a total success and helped instantly catapult Filipino hip hop from underground to mainstream status and also marked the birth of Makabayang or Nationalistic rap in Filipino hip hop.

In 1992, Francis Magalona released Rap Is FrancisM (1992), which is highly regarded as one of the greatest Pinoy Rap albums. With tracks addressing the various cultural and social problems that plagued his country such as drug addiction in "Mga Praning" (Paranoia), political instability in "Halalan" (Elections) as well as the detrimental effects of a colonial mentality in "Tayo’y Mga Pinoy" (We Are Filipinos), the record’s complexity and conscious message quickly earned it its classic status and became the standard by which future albums of the genre were to be compared.

The release of his third album, "Meron akong ano!" (I Got Some!) in 1993, followed by "FreeMan" in 1995 marked the beginning of Francis’ experimentation with Pinoy rock, becoming an exceptional artist in both genres of music. He has frequently collaborated with other Pinoy music luminaries such as Joey Ayala, Heber Bartolome, Ryan Cayabyab, Mike Hanopol of the legendary Juan dela Cruz Band, Andrew E, Michael V and Denmark and of course, the Eraserheads. Even more recently he has been seen working side by side with Pikaso, Gloc 9, Stick Figgas and Parokya ni Edgar.

FrancisM’s contributions to the genre have been featured in several international hip hop publications including the All Music Guide to Hip-Hop: The Definitive Guide to Rap and Hip-Hop (2003) published by Backbeat Books; as well as the May 2004 issue of the U.S. based publication The Source. FrancisM was also given the Pioneer Hall of Fame Award by Empire Entertainment at the 1st Annual Philippine Hip-Hop Music Awards in 2005.

He has since founded his own record company called Red Egg Records, as well as his own production company Filipino Pictures Inc. wherein he is the resident Director and has made music videos for several bands and solo artists. His work on Sponge Cola’s "KLSP" won Best Rock Video at the 2006 MYX Video Awards. Other music videos directed by Francis Magalona are for artists such as, Ely Buendia, Gloc 9, Join The Club, Shamrock, Pikaso, Death Threat and Denmark.

Albums

• 1990 Yo!
• 1992 Rap is Francis M
• 1993 Meron akong ano! (I have something!)
• 1995 Freeman
• 1996 Happy Battle (featuring his band "Hardware Syndrome")
• 1998 The Oddventures of Mr. Cool
• 1999 Interscholastic
• 2001 Freeman 2
• 2002 The Best of Francism
• 2004 Pambihira Ka Pinoy (Single)
• 2007 F Word

Gloc-9, or “Aristotle/Aries” in real life is a rap artist with R-E-S-P-O-N-S-I-B-I-L-I-T-Y.

While many rap and hip-hop artists attain fame by shouting out the latest obscenities, Gloc-9 makes it his mission to bring a more positive message to his audience. Whether in the native Filipino language or English, his music speaks of experiences that can be learned from. Gloc9’s lyrics are as real as you can get, yet dishes out a bit of wisdom for those who care to listen closer. His music is life education wrapped in a package that is dynamic and conversational, making him what he is as an artist – 2005 and 2006’s Philippine Hiphop Awards Rap Artist of The Year.

Catch his tracks from his CD-lite “Limang Kanta Lang”. Compositions include “Ano Sa Tingin Mo” and “Excuse Me Po”. Gloc9’s shout-out to the youth can be summed up by one track entitled “Ako Ay Ikaw Rin” – He believes that what he’s achieved as an artist is no different from what others can achieve if given the same circumstances.

Watch out for his album to be released in March 2007 with the carrier single “Lando”, under Sony BMG Records.

Dubbed as the fastest rapper in the country, GLOC-9 has released his self-titled and highly anticipated debut album under recording giant Star Records. It is no secret to GLOC-9 aficionados that this guy can easily rap up to 200 words per minute. So fast yet so clear, that one can easily understand and relate to the words he is expressing.

For GLOC-9 (or Aries Pollisco in real life), rap is an expression — an expression of both his thoughts and emotions. A story of what he went through or is still going through now, especially of what he dreams of becoming in the not so distant future.

“The name Gloc-9 was given to me by a friend, Ronald Solanga of Death Threat,” according to the artist himself. “It was probably associated to me because of the way I rap — the speed, the clarity of the words,” he added. Gloc-9 went on to share that, “It was when I heard the song Cold Summer Nights of Master Rapper Francis M., that I got inspired and decided to get into rapping.”

All the songs in the album were either written or co-written, arranged and produced by GLOC 9 himself. It includes the massive hits Isang Araw; Jologs; Sayang; Simpleng Tao; Hinahanap Ng Puso; Sikat Na Si Pepe; and the duet Bakit, which he performed with Cookie Chua for the 2002 Himig Handog Love Songs Competition. It also includes Banal Na Aso, the theme from the TV series Nginiiiig.

His song Isang Araw received an award for the BEST RAP RECORDING from Katha and Awit Awards. Incidentally, industry bigwigs once again recognize GLOC-9’s talent, creativity and music artistry. He has earned nominations for Favorite Male Recording Artist and Favorite Music Video (for the song Sayang) in the MTV Pilipinas Video Music Awards 2004, as well as for Best Rap Recording in the 17th Awit Awards.

"Being recognized for my craft is an honor enough for me," GLOC-9 reveals. "I live for music. It’s an expression of what I am and I’m happy being where I am right now." GLOC-9 is just like his hit single "Simpleng Tao" in real life. He is cool, fun-loving and indeed very simple despite the fact that he has already marked a niche for himself in the music industry. He doesn’t have airs and keeps his feet firmly planted on the ground. His friends and co-workers all agree that GLOC-9 hasn’t changed a bit even with the fame and fortune he is amassing right now.

With all the achievements he has earned, GLOC-9 cements his reputation as one of the country’s finest and fastest rappers. So come along, join the journey and listen to the numerous cuts in the album, to know what this artist has inside of him.

• Albums

G9

• Released: 2003
• Label: Star Records
• Singles: "Hinahanap ng Puso", "Isang Araw", "Sayang", "Simpleng Tao", "Bakit"

Ako Si…

• Released: 2005
• Label: Star Records
• Singles: "Tula", "Ipagpatawad Mo", "Love Story ko", "Liwanag"

Diploma

• Released: 2007
• Label: Sony BMG
• Singles: "Lando", "Torpedo", "Sumayaw Ka"