Hev Abi’s meteoric rise coincides with the boom in Filipino hip-hop, arguably at its highest peak since its inception. Social media exposure and collective acclaim from the once-haughty mainstream audience have made the genre the toast of local listeners. Gone are the days when rap was relegated to “the streets” (whatever that means) and tagged with derogatory terms.
Still, even with the shift in scenery, few could’ve predicted the streaming numbers, the global attention, and the rabid fanbase that the 22-year-old from Quezon City has commanded in such a short time. Hev Abi paired easy-going melodies with catchy lyrics to the tune of 6.5 million monthly listeners on Spotify, and collabs with Loonie, Sica, and Complex Council member Because.
Next on Hev Abi’s list is a debut concert, “Morato’s Most Wanted”, a callback to Hev’s QC roots, happening on April 28 at the New Frontier Theatre in Cubao. It was the logical next step for the rising Rookie of the Year, who calls Bugoy na Koykoy, Shanti Dope, J. Cole, and Kendrick Lamar his rap idols.
“Marami akong kakantahin na hindi ko pa nakakanta, gawa nang limitado ako sa ibang events,” teased Hev about the set list. “Iniisip ko parang gig lang siya para di ako kabahan. Hindi ko naman first time na marami akong kakantahin.”
(I have many songs I haven’t sung due to limitations in previous events. I think of [the concert] as just another gig so I won’t get nervous. It’s not the first time I’ll sing many songs.]
Hev Abi stans can expect a lengthy show if he vows to go all out, with 3 albums under his belt since 2022. Recent collaborator Because revealed that he’s set to appear at the concert, so it’s reasonable to expect more guest appearances. The soft-spoken Hev Abi prefers to let the music do the talking and word-of-mouth do the promotions, so he only had this to say to the yet-to-be converts living under the rock.
‘Welcome to the club.”
Tickets for Morato Most Wanted: The Hev Abi Concert can be bought at Ticketnet Online.
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