Spotify Launches Kalye X In Support of Filipino Hip-Hop
Expanding the possibilities of Pinoy hip-hop, Spotify launches Kalye X, its latest initiative dedicated to collaborations between artists, fans, and the community. As part of the initiative, Spotify worked with emerging and established Pinoy hip-hop artists to release a series of Spotify Singles. A first-of-its-kind in the Philippines, these original tracks bring together local artists […]
What You Need to Know about MADD MARK, Rap Up’s First-Ever Champ
Some of the biggest household names in hip-hop started as part of the workforce, struggling to make ends meet or pursuing other endeavors not necessarily connected to making music. Professional fitness coach Madd Mark proved to be another walking testimony that if you are committed to overcoming the challenges in life, even when things get […]
Tyler, the Creator Says Will.i.am ‘Is Still a Dipstick’ While Detailing Black Eyed Peas’ Influence on Him
Tyler, the Creator is giving Will.i.am and the Black Eyed Peas their flowers a decade after he unloaded on the frontman, particularly praising “the great ear Will had for samples.” On Saturday, Tyler took to social media to celebrate the 25th anniversary of the group’s debut LP Behind the Front. In a heartfelt post on […]
Owfuck Drops Debut Album ‘ACIDIC’
After almost a decade of anticipation, Philippine hip hop group OwFuck has released their first full-length project entitled ACIDIC under Music Colony Records. The eight-track album captures the best of OwFuck’s artistic DNA: intoxicated and punk-inflected deliveries, coupled with indelible trap-forward instrumentals. Longtime fans will find refuge in the group’s signature sound at its most […]
SICA on Keeping it Cool, Steady, and Street Smart
“The streets is the rawest form of hip-hop,” a testament hailed by Sica to local hip-hop’s abundance of stories and talents. The Quezon City rapper is only in his 20s but has been emerging as a solid staple in the local scene. It was around 2016-2017 when Sica first listened to hip-hop through the EJAC […]
The Homecoming of MANILA GREY
“Every song is a time stamp,” Soliven from the new era hip-hop and R&B duo MANILA GREY tells Complex PH about their latest full-length album SOUND DRIFT. The Juno-nominated Filipino Canadian group further explores their identity as first-generation immigrants and navigates the human experience in the masterful 12-track album. Soliven and Neeko, who both grew […]
Met Gala Looks: Cardi B, Kim K, Kendrick, and More
It’s May, which means it is officially Met Gala time. The night’s theme, “A Line of Beauty,” honors the late German designer Karl Lagerfeld, who passed away in 2019 at 85. He was known for his legendary line of work at fashion house Chanel. Celebrity couples in attendance included ASAP Rocky and Rihanna, Serena Williams […]
KINDRED Breathes Intimacy with New Single ‘Lambing’
Local-alternative group KINDRED breathes unconventionality to a love-induced anthem, ‘Lambing’. The ballad amplifies the beauty and progressiveness of Original Philippine music (OPM), as its soothing city-pop melody captures the sound’s ‘80s Japanese origins. In collaboration with Kiyo, the boyband resurrects the traditional art of courtship (or ligaw) rooted in the intimate bond in words and […]
The 20 Best Filipino Hip-Hop Artists In Their 20s (2023)
Complex Council member Al James said it best: Filipino hip-hop is bigger than ever before. The culture has evolved from being a copycat of Western music to encapsulating the Filipino experience, including tales of love, family, social issues, and familiar #PinoyPride. The wide range of genres, coupled with the accessibility of social media, has birthed […]
Filipino American Music Executive John Vincent Salcedo on the Life-Changing Power of Hip-Hop
John Vincent Salcedo came to America without knowing a word of English. Like millions of Filipinos in the diaspora in search of a better life, his parents worked multiple jobs to provide for their family to keep them afloat. As a young immigrant, he obsessed over the elusive American Dream. And though he is still […]
