{"id":547214,"date":"2023-02-03T09:02:28","date_gmt":"2023-02-03T06:02:28","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/en.buradabiliyorum.com\/felips-thunderous-arrival-meet-raps-new-rockstar\/"},"modified":"2023-02-03T09:02:28","modified_gmt":"2023-02-03T06:02:28","slug":"felips-thunderous-arrival-meet-raps-new-rockstar","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/buradabiliyorum.com\/en\/felips-thunderous-arrival-meet-raps-new-rockstar\/","title":{"rendered":"#FELIP\u2019s Thunderous Arrival: Meet Rap\u2019s New Rockstar"},"content":{"rendered":"<div id=\"ez-toc-container\" class=\"ez-toc-v2_0_85 counter-hierarchy ez-toc-counter ez-toc-custom ez-toc-container-direction\">\n<p class=\"ez-toc-title\" style=\"cursor:inherit\">Table of Contents<\/p>\n<label for=\"ez-toc-cssicon-toggle-item-6a3216bd66ce5\" class=\"ez-toc-cssicon-toggle-label\"><span class=\"\"><span class=\"eztoc-hide\" style=\"display:none;\">Toggle<\/span><span class=\"ez-toc-icon-toggle-span\"><svg style=\"fill: #dd3333;color:#dd3333\" xmlns=\"http:\/\/www.w3.org\/2000\/svg\" class=\"list-377408\" width=\"20px\" height=\"20px\" viewBox=\"0 0 24 24\" fill=\"none\"><path d=\"M6 6H4v2h2V6zm14 0H8v2h12V6zM4 11h2v2H4v-2zm16 0H8v2h12v-2zM4 16h2v2H4v-2zm16 0H8v2h12v-2z\" fill=\"currentColor\"><\/path><\/svg><svg style=\"fill: #dd3333;color:#dd3333\" class=\"arrow-unsorted-368013\" xmlns=\"http:\/\/www.w3.org\/2000\/svg\" width=\"10px\" height=\"10px\" viewBox=\"0 0 24 24\" version=\"1.2\" baseProfile=\"tiny\"><path d=\"M18.2 9.3l-6.2-6.3-6.2 6.3c-.2.2-.3.4-.3.7s.1.5.3.7c.2.2.4.3.7.3h11c.3 0 .5-.1.7-.3.2-.2.3-.5.3-.7s-.1-.5-.3-.7zM5.8 14.7l6.2 6.3 6.2-6.3c.2-.2.3-.5.3-.7s-.1-.5-.3-.7c-.2-.2-.4-.3-.7-.3h-11c-.3 0-.5.1-.7.3-.2.2-.3.5-.3.7s.1.5.3.7z\"\/><\/svg><\/span><\/span><\/label><input type=\"checkbox\"  id=\"ez-toc-cssicon-toggle-item-6a3216bd66ce5\" checked aria-label=\"Toggle\" \/><nav><ul class='ez-toc-list ez-toc-list-level-1 ' ><li class='ez-toc-page-1 ez-toc-heading-level-1'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-1\" href=\"https:\/\/buradabiliyorum.com\/en\/felips-thunderous-arrival-meet-raps-new-rockstar\/#%E2%80%9CFELIPs_Thunderous_Arrival_Meet_Raps_New_Rockstar%E2%80%9D\" >&#8220;FELIP\u2019s Thunderous Arrival: Meet Rap\u2019s New Rockstar&#8221;<\/a><ul class='ez-toc-list-level-2' ><li class='ez-toc-heading-level-2'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-2\" href=\"https:\/\/buradabiliyorum.com\/en\/felips-thunderous-arrival-meet-raps-new-rockstar\/#FELIP_enters_his_%E2%80%9CROCKSTA%E2%80%9D_era\" >FELIP enters his \u201cROCKSTA\u201d era<\/a><ul class='ez-toc-list-level-3' ><li class='ez-toc-heading-level-3'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-3\" href=\"https:\/\/buradabiliyorum.com\/en\/felips-thunderous-arrival-meet-raps-new-rockstar\/#FELIP_allows_himself_to_go_to_the_farthest_most_experimental_and_even_most_unthinkable_places_and_tap_into_his_own_instincts_to_make_music_and_art_with_the_utmost_freedom\" >FELIP allows himself to go to the farthest, most experimental, and even most unthinkable places and tap into his own instincts to make music and art with the utmost freedom.<\/a><\/li><li class='ez-toc-page-1 ez-toc-heading-level-3'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-4\" href=\"https:\/\/buradabiliyorum.com\/en\/felips-thunderous-arrival-meet-raps-new-rockstar\/#%E2%80%9CThis_is_way_for_me_to_say_the_core_or_ano_bang_message_na_gusto_kong_iparating_sa_mga_fans_ko_na_tanggapin_nila_yung_mga_flaws_mga_complexities_na_meron_sila_kasi_its_normal_because_were_just_human%E2%80%9D\" >\u201cThis is way for me to say the core or ano bang message na gusto kong iparating sa mga fans ko, na tanggapin nila yung mga flaws, mga complexities na meron sila kasi it\u2019s normal because we\u2019re just human.\u201d<\/a><\/li><\/ul><\/li><li class='ez-toc-page-1 ez-toc-heading-level-2'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-5\" href=\"https:\/\/buradabiliyorum.com\/en\/felips-thunderous-arrival-meet-raps-new-rockstar\/#Bisdak_on_the_spotlight\" >Bisdak on the spotlight<\/a><\/li><\/ul><\/li><\/ul><\/nav><\/div>\n<h1><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"%E2%80%9CFELIPs_Thunderous_Arrival_Meet_Raps_New_Rockstar%E2%80%9D\"><\/span>&#8220;FELIP\u2019s Thunderous Arrival: Meet Rap\u2019s New Rockstar&#8221;<span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h1>\n<div class=\"image large\"><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/static.hiphopdx.com\/2023\/02\/AOTM-FELIP-FEATURE-1-1200x675.jpg\" alt=\"FELIP\u2019s Thunderous Arrival: Meet Rap\u2019s New Rockstar\" class=\"large\"><\/p>\n<div class=\"news-caption\"><span>Credit: Louis Anthony Duran for HipHopDX Asia<\/span><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<p><\/p>\n<div class=\"body-copy js-entry-text \" itemprop=\"articleBody\">\n<p style=\"font-weight: 400;\"><em>Wa ko\u2019y kapareha, ako usa ra. <\/em><\/p>\n<p style=\"font-weight: 400;\">When FELIP first made his solo debut in 2021 with \u201cPalayo\u201d\u2014a sleek Bisaya-English R&amp;B number that shows off the SB19 member widely known as Ken in a cautious, vulnerable state as he gr<a href=\"https:\/\/buradabiliyorum.com\/en\/category\/download-scripts-themes-apps\/\" data-internallinksmanager029f6b8e52c=\"9\" title=\"Download Scripts &amp; Themes &amp; Apps\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">app<\/a>les with a thorny romance\u2014it was an understated attempt to explore a left-field turn from his group\u2019s maximalist pop style.<\/p>\n<p style=\"font-weight: 400;\">As with many solo projects, it was a chance for FELIP, <em>HipHopDX Asia\u2019s <\/em>inaugural Artist of the Month, to carve out a career path not only untethered from group-set dynamics but more importantly, make room for his personal artistic and creative interests that are often different from their group\u2019s style and brand.<\/p>\n<p style=\"font-weight: 400;\">By using his real name (albeit as a mononym: he\u2019s born Felip Jhon Suson), FELIP sets out to share his own narrative, on his own terms. Similar to his professed musical influence, Kendrick Lamar\u2014who himself stopped rapping under his first stage name, K.Dot, and switched to his birth name early in his career\u2014FELIP allows himself to go to the farthest, most experimental, and even most unthinkable places and tap into his own instincts to make music and art with the utmost freedom.<\/p>\n<p style=\"font-weight: 400;\">\u00a0<img decoding=\"async\" loading=\"lazy\" class=\"alignnone size-large wp-image-668411\" src=\"https:\/\/static.hiphopdx.com\/2023\/02\/HIPHOP-DX-LAD_6911-746x1024.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"746\" height=\"1024\" srcset=\"https:\/\/static.hiphopdx.com\/2023\/02\/HIPHOP-DX-LAD_6911-746x1024.jpg 746w, https:\/\/static.hiphopdx.com\/2023\/02\/HIPHOP-DX-LAD_6911-218x300.jpg 218w, https:\/\/static.hiphopdx.com\/2023\/02\/HIPHOP-DX-LAD_6911-768x1055.jpg 768w, https:\/\/static.hiphopdx.com\/2023\/02\/HIPHOP-DX-LAD_6911-1118x1536.jpg 1118w, https:\/\/static.hiphopdx.com\/2023\/02\/HIPHOP-DX-LAD_6911-1491x2048.jpg 1491w, https:\/\/static.hiphopdx.com\/2023\/02\/HIPHOP-DX-LAD_6911-103x142.jpg 103w, https:\/\/static.hiphopdx.com\/2023\/02\/HIPHOP-DX-LAD_6911-491x675.jpg 491w, https:\/\/static.hiphopdx.com\/2023\/02\/HIPHOP-DX-LAD_6911-scaled.jpg 1864w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 746px) 100vw, 746px\"><\/p>\n<p style=\"font-weight: 400;\">In his second solo single, 2022\u2019s Tagalog-language \u201cBulan,\u201d FELIP combines his own visual and lyrical interpretation of Filipino lore and cultural elements with brash sonics, produced by FELIP himself and was intended to be \u201ca metaphor for contemporary life, and specifically, a message to those facing crab mentality.\u201d<\/p>\n<p style=\"font-weight: 400;\">It was the first track by a domestic artist that was featured by the Recording Academy in their Global Spin performance <a href=\"https:\/\/buradabiliyorum.com\/en\/category\/watch-movies-tv-seriess\/\" data-internallinksmanager029f6b8e52c=\"8\" title=\"Watch Movies &amp; TV Series\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">series<\/a> on <a href=\"https:\/\/buradabiliyorum.com\/en\/category\/social-mediaa\/\" data-internallinksmanager029f6b8e52c=\"1\" title=\"Social Media\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">YouTube<\/a>, which aims to highlight artists from around the world. Each act gets the opportunity to present an exclusive performance. At the time, it was, yet again, a marked departure from the lush R&amp;B textures of the previous year\u2019s \u201cPalayo.\u201d<\/p>\n<p style=\"font-weight: 400;\">The singles rollout was an unintended slow burn, as Felip Jhon went to embark on a world tour with SB19 in late 2022. Any budding soloist may have their career wither with a two-singles-in-two-years catalog, but thankfully for FELIP, his ardent fans (fondly called <em>sisiws, <\/em>or chick, as in young chicken) are waiting patiently, showing in full force for every solo event, appearance, and driving numbers and visibility online.<\/p>\n<h2 style=\"font-weight: 400;\"><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"FELIP_enters_his_%E2%80%9CROCKSTA%E2%80%9D_era\"><\/span>FELIP enters his \u201cROCKSTA\u201d era<span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h2>\n<p style=\"font-weight: 400;\">On January 12, 2023, FELIP took to Twitter to announce he\u2019s releasing his debut <em>COM\u2022PLEX <\/em>EP \u2014his first official project under Warner Music Philippines as the label\u2019s latest signee to date\u2014in less than a month, with no prior fanfare.<\/p>\n<p style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Its first single, \u201cROCKSTA,\u201d has already shattered any preconceived notions about what kind of artist FELIP is, or what kind of music he makes, especially within the context of how he first achieved his fame. There is no set precedent when it comes to pop stars (in this case, P-pop, specifically) crossing over to a completely different realm, not just genre.<\/p>\n<p style=\"font-weight: 400;\"><iframe loading=\"lazy\" title=\"FELIP - &#039;ROCKSTA&#039; Official Music Video\" width=\"640\" height=\"360\" src=\"https:\/\/www.youtube.com\/embed\/DkVLBij5wM8?feature=oembed\" frameborder=\"0\" allow=\"accelerometer; autoplay; clipboard-write; encrypted-media; gyroscope; picture-in-picture; web-share\" referrerpolicy=\"strict-origin-when-cross-origin\" allowfullscreen><\/iframe><\/p>\n<p style=\"font-weight: 400;\">It is more common for Pinoy pop artists to incorporate hip hop elements into their music than the other way around. The Pinoy hip hop scene, while continuously evolving, is still very much grounded in its roots as the pioneering hip hop scene in Asia; thus, we inherited and continue to practice \u201880s and \u201890s-inspired styles. The Filipino battle rap scene also happens to be the biggest and the <a rel=\"nofollow noopener\" target=\"_blank\" href=\"https:\/\/www.google.com\/search?client=safari&amp;rls=en&amp;q=FlipTop+hiphopdx&amp;ie=UTF-8&amp;oe=UTF-8\">most-watched<\/a> in the world, thanks to FlipTop, which remains fiercely independent to this day.<\/p>\n<p style=\"font-weight: 400;\">It is a testament to hip hop\u2019s innovative characteristics and rich cultural elements that make it malleable and easy to adopt. In the case of FELIP, it felt like a natural progression. Like a lot of people, he started as a fan. \u201cI was a big fan of hip hop <em>talaga<\/em>, like before <em>pa<\/em>. <em>Lagi kong pinapakinggan yung<\/em> hip hop or <em>mga<\/em> metal bands.\u201d (I was really a big fan of hip hop, even before. I always listen to hip hop or metal bands.)<\/p>\n<p style=\"font-weight: 400;\">It eventually became a creative exercise for him, mixing the two. \u201c<em>Minsan minimix ko yung mga<\/em> metal tracks or guitar riffs, <em>nag-iisip ako<\/em> <em>ng bagong<\/em> melody <em>tapos mini-<\/em>mix <em>ko sa<\/em> hip hop or traditional sounds, <em>mga<\/em> native sounds, or whatever.\u201d (Sometimes, I mix metal tracks or guitar riffs, thinking of new melodies and then mixing them with hip hop or traditional sounds, native sounds, or whatever.)<\/p>\n<p style=\"font-weight: 400;\"><img decoding=\"async\" loading=\"lazy\" class=\"alignnone size-large wp-image-668409\" src=\"https:\/\/static.hiphopdx.com\/2023\/02\/HIPHOP-DX-LAD_6771-690x1024.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"690\" height=\"1024\" srcset=\"https:\/\/static.hiphopdx.com\/2023\/02\/HIPHOP-DX-LAD_6771-690x1024.jpg 690w, https:\/\/static.hiphopdx.com\/2023\/02\/HIPHOP-DX-LAD_6771-202x300.jpg 202w, https:\/\/static.hiphopdx.com\/2023\/02\/HIPHOP-DX-LAD_6771-768x1140.jpg 768w, https:\/\/static.hiphopdx.com\/2023\/02\/HIPHOP-DX-LAD_6771-1035x1536.jpg 1035w, https:\/\/static.hiphopdx.com\/2023\/02\/HIPHOP-DX-LAD_6771-1380x2048.jpg 1380w, https:\/\/static.hiphopdx.com\/2023\/02\/HIPHOP-DX-LAD_6771-96x142.jpg 96w, https:\/\/static.hiphopdx.com\/2023\/02\/HIPHOP-DX-LAD_6771-455x675.jpg 455w, https:\/\/static.hiphopdx.com\/2023\/02\/HIPHOP-DX-LAD_6771-scaled.jpg 1725w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 690px) 100vw, 690px\"><\/p>\n<p style=\"font-weight: 400;\">It was borne out of his desire to be experimental and show his appreciation for hip hop at the same time. \u201c<em>Ginawa ko \u2018tong<\/em> hip hop <em>talaga, may konting<\/em> R&amp;B. <em>Gusto ko maging<\/em> experimental <em>sa mga kanta ko<\/em>,\u201d he said. (I really wanted to make [it] hip hop, with a little R&amp;B. I want to be experimental with my songs.)<\/p>\n<p style=\"font-weight: 400;\">FELIP was also eager to share with <em>HipHopDX Asia <\/em>the vocal styles he employed in the <em>COM\u2022PLEX <\/em>EP. \u201c<em>Talagang experimental lang pagdating sa <\/em>voice<em> ko din. People know na malalim yung boses ko, hindi nila alam na kaya ko palang\u2014\u201d <\/em>and proceeds to do an falsetto riff for us. (I\u2019m really experimental with my voice as well. People know that I have a deep voice, and they didn\u2019t know [he can do a falsetto]).<\/p>\n<p style=\"font-weight: 400;\">When asked why he chose to highlight the Bisaya language in his EP, the trilingual artist (FELIP speaks Bisaya, Tagalog, and English) beams with pride. \u201cMainly because I\u2019m proud to be Bisaya. Proud <em>ako sa language ko,<\/em> and I think that Bisaya is really cool. <em>Kumbaga, pag narinig mo yung song sa Bisaya, sarap pakinggan.<\/em> I\u2019m really proud to be one. <em>So, gusto ko na hindi mawala [yung Bisaya].<\/em> I think Bisaya are so cool, they\u2019re so fun to be with. And <em>syempre yung roots ko\u2026gusto ko siya ilagay [sa kanta]. Sa lahat ng mga ginagawa talaga namin, \u2018wag kalimutan ang roots.\u201d<\/em><\/p>\n<h3 style=\"font-weight: 400;\"><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"FELIP_allows_himself_to_go_to_the_farthest_most_experimental_and_even_most_unthinkable_places_and_tap_into_his_own_instincts_to_make_music_and_art_with_the_utmost_freedom\"><\/span><em>FELIP allows himself to go to the farthest, most experimental, and even most unthinkable places and tap into his own instincts to make music and art with the utmost freedom.<\/em><span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h3>\n<p style=\"font-weight: 400;\">(I\u2019m proud of my language, and I think that Bisaya is really cool. It\u2019s so great to hear a Bisaya song. I\u2019m really proud to be one. That\u2019s why I want to not lose the Bisaya [part]. I think Bisaya are so cool, they\u2019re so fun to be with. And of course, my roots, I want it to be part of my songs. In everything we do, let\u2019s not forget our roots.)<\/p>\n<p style=\"font-weight: 400;\">FELIP\u2019s deliberate decision to not just rap in Bisaya, but rap about <em>being <\/em>Bisaya comes on the heels of a <a rel=\"nofollow noopener\" target=\"_blank\" href=\"https:\/\/www.rappler.com\/entertainment\/music\/wavy-baby-beyond-what-means-bisaya-musicians-treated-collateral-damage\/\">national discussion<\/a> about Bisaya musicians \u201cbeing treated as collateral damage\u201d in favor of Metro Manila or international artists.<\/p>\n<p style=\"font-weight: 400;\"><em>HipHopDX Asia <\/em>staff writer Kara Angan wrote about what Bisaya rap pioneers Midnasty thought about how Bisaya rap (and music, in <a href=\"https:\/\/buradabiliyorum.com\/en\/category\/general\/\" data-internallinksmanager029f6b8e52c=\"3\" title=\"General\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">general<\/a>) has been pushed to the sidelines. \u201cThat\u2019s the reason why <em>kami <\/em>sad, <em>nagseryoso mi sa<\/em> music <em>na gi-Bisaya mi kay ganahan mi mag<\/em>-push <em>gyud <\/em>further ang Bisaya. Kami sad sa Midnasty, our responsibility is how to put something new, something unique <em>nga<\/em> sound <em>para sa Bisaya pud na<\/em>music.\u201d<\/p>\n<p style=\"font-weight: 400;\">(That\u2019s the reason why, even us, we make it a point to rap in Bisaya because we want to push the language further. Even us in Midnasty, our responsibility is how to put something new, a unique sound, into Bisaya music.)<\/p>\n<p><img decoding=\"async\" loading=\"lazy\" class=\"alignnone size-large wp-image-668410\" src=\"https:\/\/static.hiphopdx.com\/2023\/02\/HIPHOP-DX-LAD_6832-683x1024.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"683\" height=\"1024\" srcset=\"https:\/\/static.hiphopdx.com\/2023\/02\/HIPHOP-DX-LAD_6832-683x1024.jpg 683w, https:\/\/static.hiphopdx.com\/2023\/02\/HIPHOP-DX-LAD_6832-200x300.jpg 200w, https:\/\/static.hiphopdx.com\/2023\/02\/HIPHOP-DX-LAD_6832-768x1151.jpg 768w, https:\/\/static.hiphopdx.com\/2023\/02\/HIPHOP-DX-LAD_6832-1025x1536.jpg 1025w, https:\/\/static.hiphopdx.com\/2023\/02\/HIPHOP-DX-LAD_6832-1366x2048.jpg 1366w, https:\/\/static.hiphopdx.com\/2023\/02\/HIPHOP-DX-LAD_6832-95x142.jpg 95w, https:\/\/static.hiphopdx.com\/2023\/02\/HIPHOP-DX-LAD_6832-450x675.jpg 450w, https:\/\/static.hiphopdx.com\/2023\/02\/HIPHOP-DX-LAD_6832-scaled.jpg 1708w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 683px) 100vw, 683px\"><\/p>\n<p style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Thematically, <em>COM\u2022PLEX <\/em>is described as \u201ca journey beyond the blinding lights of the stage and into the psyche of an artist.\u201d The title is intended to be open to interpretation, whatever it applies to whoever listens to it. While it is an autobiographical piece of work, it urges his listeners to look inward, and \u201cembrace their complexities, knowing it makes them one of a kind.\u201d<\/p>\n<p style=\"font-weight: 400;\">He explains, \u201c[The songs] mainly talk about myself, <em>\u2018yung<\/em> complexities <em>na meron ako<\/em>.\u201d (The complexities I have). FELIP adds, \u201c<em>Minsan, <\/em>as an artist, filtered <em>yung mga sinasabi namin. Syempre, \u2018di lahat ng mga tao magugustuhan \u2018yung mga sasabihin mo.<\/em>\u201d (Sometimes, as an artist, the things we say are filtered. Of course, not everyone will like what we\u2019ll say.)<\/p>\n<p style=\"font-weight: 400;\">It all goes back to hip hop giving him an unencumbered platform to embrace his full self. \u201cMaking music is a way for me to really express how I feel, or [what my thoughts are],\u201d he says. \u201cThis is way for me to say the core or <em>ano bang message na gusto kong iparating sa mga fans ko<\/em>, <em>na tanggapin nila yung mga<\/em> flaws, <em>mga<\/em>complexities <em>na meron sila kasi it\u2019s normal because we\u2019re just human.\u201d <\/em>(This is a way for me to say the core or what message I want to send my fans, to accept their flaws and complexities because it\u2019s normal because we\u2019re just human.\u201d<\/p>\n<p style=\"font-weight: 400;\">FELIP goes on, \u201c<em>Gusto ko i-uplift sila, kahit may<\/em> negative things or negative thoughts, kumbaga mga ganun na bagay, yun yung nagbibigay satin ng weapon o nagiging unique tayo because of those things.\u201d (I want to uplift them despite negative things or thoughts. I mean, those things are what give us our weapon or what makes us unique.)<\/p>\n<p style=\"font-weight: 400;\">During our interview, FELIP expresses his anxieties not only about performing all six tracks from his EP in front of a live audience but also about how people will receive his solo music. As if bracing himself on perceived disappointment or disapproval (or both), he admitted, \u201cI know <em>na hindi lahat ng tao magugustuhan ang<\/em> EP \u2018ko\u2014I\u2019m well aware <em>na hindi lahat<\/em> <em>magugustuhan<\/em> ang EP ko.\u201d (I know that not everyone will like my EP.)<\/p>\n<p style=\"font-weight: 400;\"><img decoding=\"async\" loading=\"lazy\" class=\"alignnone size-large wp-image-668412\" src=\"https:\/\/static.hiphopdx.com\/2023\/02\/HIPHOP-DX-LAD_7634-769x1024.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"769\" height=\"1024\" srcset=\"https:\/\/static.hiphopdx.com\/2023\/02\/HIPHOP-DX-LAD_7634-769x1024.jpg 769w, https:\/\/static.hiphopdx.com\/2023\/02\/HIPHOP-DX-LAD_7634-225x300.jpg 225w, https:\/\/static.hiphopdx.com\/2023\/02\/HIPHOP-DX-LAD_7634-768x1022.jpg 768w, https:\/\/static.hiphopdx.com\/2023\/02\/HIPHOP-DX-LAD_7634-1154x1536.jpg 1154w, https:\/\/static.hiphopdx.com\/2023\/02\/HIPHOP-DX-LAD_7634-1539x2048.jpg 1539w, https:\/\/static.hiphopdx.com\/2023\/02\/HIPHOP-DX-LAD_7634-107x142.jpg 107w, https:\/\/static.hiphopdx.com\/2023\/02\/HIPHOP-DX-LAD_7634-507x675.jpg 507w, https:\/\/static.hiphopdx.com\/2023\/02\/HIPHOP-DX-LAD_7634-scaled.jpg 1923w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 769px) 100vw, 769px\"><\/p>\n<p style=\"font-weight: 400;\">He dove in further, acknowledging that he isn\u2019t the first one to do it. \u201cI just wanna be experimental. <em>Tine-<\/em>test <em>ko lang \u2018yung<\/em> waters <em>kung ano \u2018yung<\/em> reaction <em>ng mga tao. Hindi naman siya <\/em>new sound<em>, may ibang<\/em> artists <em>na gumagawa nito, pero siguro sa mga Pinoy, hindi pa\u2026may <\/em>standard<em> pa. Sana open sila sa mga ibang<\/em> genres <em>ng<\/em> music. I\u2019m not saying na tanggapin nila yung music ko. Pero\u2026this is not for everybody, and that\u2019s OK. <em>Kung may mga taong magugustuhan<\/em> ito, I appreciate it.\u201d<\/p>\n<p style=\"font-weight: 400;\">(I just wanna be experimental. I\u2019m just testing the waters, what people\u2019s reactions are. It\u2019s not a new sound, there are artists who do this, but for Filipinos, not yet\u2026 there\u2019s still a standard. I hope they\u2019re open to other genres. I\u2019m not saying they should receive it well. But this is not for everybody, and that\u2019s OK. If there are people who\u2019ll like it, I appreciate it.)<\/p>\n<h3 style=\"font-weight: 400;\"><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"%E2%80%9CThis_is_way_for_me_to_say_the_core_or_ano_bang_message_na_gusto_kong_iparating_sa_mga_fans_ko_na_tanggapin_nila_yung_mga_flaws_mga_complexities_na_meron_sila_kasi_its_normal_because_were_just_human%E2%80%9D\"><\/span><em>\u201cThis is way for me to say the core or ano bang message na gusto kong iparating sa mga fans ko, na tanggapin nila yung mga flaws, mga complexities na meron sila kasi it\u2019s normal because we\u2019re just human.\u201d<\/em><span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h3>\n<p style=\"font-weight: 400;\">I told him this sentiment frankly applies to any type of music, especially for artists making a <a rel=\"nofollow noopener\" target=\"_blank\" href=\"https:\/\/www.instagram.com\/p\/Cn-LjwJu6MH\/?utm_source=ig_web_copy_link\">\u201cdeparture record\u201d<\/a>(as The Roots\u2019 Questlove defines it, it\u2019s an album where artists make a \u201ccomplete creative left turn\u201d) but I also acknowledge where FELIP is coming from, what the pressure must have been like for someone like him with associations he cannot simply (or nor I suspect he wants to completely) extricate himself from that he had to preface what is a celebratory moment for him with a practical, but still a somber, reality check.<\/p>\n<h2 style=\"font-weight: 400;\"><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"Bisdak_on_the_spotlight\"><\/span>Bisdak on the spotlight<span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h2>\n<p style=\"font-weight: 400;\">FELIP\u2019s \u201cRocksta\u201d persona palpably feels more of a state of mind than a perceived way of life, such as addressing and challenging stereotypes in the hazy mid-EP cut, \u201cDRINKSMOKE.\u201d<\/p>\n<p style=\"font-weight: 400;\">The multihyphenate artist wields his obvious musical influences throughout <em>COM\u2022PLEX, <\/em>including Travis Scott, Post Malone, and others like Kid Cudi, Lil Uzi Vert, particularly the latter two in \u201cDRINKSMOKE,\u201d which is stylistically reminiscent of Uzi Vert\u2019s 2017 platinum hit, \u201cMagnolia.\u201d<\/p>\n<p style=\"font-weight: 400;\"><em>HipHopDX Asia<\/em> received an advance copy of the EP a week before and even though we already heard the studio version, FELIP\u2019s anxieties turned out to be unfounded, at least among an audience that includes his peers and contemporaries when he performed all songs from <em>COM\u2022PLEX <\/em>with a live band (much to our delight).<\/p>\n<p style=\"font-weight: 400;\"><iframe loading=\"lazy\" style=\"border-radius: 12px;\" src=\"https:\/\/open.spotify.com\/embed\/album\/1maw4zEpmgAEHjoDxhmU6k?utm_source=generator\" width=\"100%\" height=\"352\" frameborder=\"0\" allowfullscreen=\"allowfullscreen\"><\/iframe><\/p>\n<p style=\"font-weight: 400;\">It was an extraordinary display of showmanship: an artist clearly eager to share what he can offer, with the goods to back it up. Whether or not you have heard of or you listen to SB19 frankly matters not at this juncture, as FELIP, not SB19 Ken, should be seen and judged on his own merit, which for this writer, is someone who knows what he\u2019s doing. <em>COM\u2022PLEX <\/em>is punk, unapologetic, and monstrous in its darkness and its appeal.<\/p>\n<p style=\"font-weight: 400;\">After our interview, I mentioned to FELIP that my top favorite track from the EP is \u201cSUPERIORITY.\u201d He was shocked and asked why, saying he thinks that it was the track he thought will be least appreciated. I told him that it\u2019s a track that fully embraces one\u2019s strengths. It may be braggadocious but that\u2019s part of hip hop culture. And it reminded me of how I learned to take pride in and stand up for myself\u2014that\u2019s what hip hop is. That\u2019s what FELIP and his music represent to me. He is truly, one of one.<\/p>\n<p style=\"font-weight: 400;\"><em>Stream FELIP\u2019s COM\u2022PLEX <a rel=\"nofollow noopener\" target=\"_blank\" href=\"https:\/\/felip.lnk.to\/complex\">here<\/a>. All inline photos courtesy of Louis Anthony Duran. Special thanks to Warner Music Philippines.<\/em><\/p>\n<\/div>\n<p><\/p>\n<div class=\"author\" itemprop=\"author\" itemscope=\"\" itemtype=\"http:\/\/schema.org\/Person\"><meta itemprop=\"name\" content=\"MC Galang\">by MC Galang<\/div>\n<p><script async defer src=\"https:\/\/platform.instagram.com\/en_US\/embeds.js\"><\/script><\/p>\n<blockquote><p><strong><span style=\"color: #ff6600;\">If you liked the article, do not forget to share it with your friends. Follow us on\u00a0<span style=\"color: #ff0000;\"><a style=\"color: #ff0000;\" href=\"https:\/\/news.google.com\/publications\/CAAqBwgKMLG0nwswvr63Aw\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"nofollow noopener noreferrer\">Google News<\/a><\/span>\u00a0too, click on the star and choose us from your favorites.<\/span><\/strong><\/p><\/blockquote>\n<blockquote>\n<p style=\"text-align: center;\">For forums sites go to <span style=\"color: #ff9900;\"><a style=\"color: #ff9900;\" href=\"https:\/\/forum.buradabiliyorum.com\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">Forum.BuradaBiliyorum.Com<\/a><\/span><\/strong><\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n<blockquote>\n<p style=\"text-align: center;\"><strong>If you want to read more Like this articles, you can visit our <span style=\"color: #ff9900;\"><a style=\"color: #ff9900;\" href=\"https:\/\/en.buradabiliyorum.com\/social-media\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">Social Media category.<\/a><\/span><\/strong><\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n<p><span style=\"color: black;\"><a style=\"color: #ff9900;\" href=\"https:\/\/hiphopdx.com\/en_asia\/news\/felips-thunderous-arrival-meet-raps-new-rockstar-complex-ep\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">Source<\/a><\/span><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>&#8220;FELIP\u2019s Thunderous Arrival: Meet Rap\u2019s New Rockstar&#8221; Credit: Louis Anthony Duran for HipHopDX Asia Wa ko\u2019y kapareha, ako usa ra. When FELIP first made his solo debut in 2021 with \u201cPalayo\u201d\u2014a sleek Bisaya-English R&amp;B number that shows off the SB19 member widely known as Ken in a cautious, vulnerable state as he grapples with a&#8230;<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":547215,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"fifu_image_url":"https:\/\/static.hiphopdx.com\/2023\/02\/AOTM-FELIP-FEATURE-1-1200x675.jpg","fifu_image_alt":"","footnotes":""},"categories":[17],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-547214","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-social-mediaa"],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/buradabiliyorum.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/547214","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/buradabiliyorum.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/buradabiliyorum.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/buradabiliyorum.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/1"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/buradabiliyorum.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=547214"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/buradabiliyorum.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/547214\/revisions"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/buradabiliyorum.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/547215"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/buradabiliyorum.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=547214"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/buradabiliyorum.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=547214"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/buradabiliyorum.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=547214"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}