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Man On The Side: Apl.de.ap: ‘The hip hop scene is getting huge’ in PHL


Thousands of music fans descended on Quirino Grandstand a couple of weeks ago for the first-ever MTV Music Evolution festival. In fact, police sources say the crowd swelled to about 22,000 that Sunday night in Luneta.

I’ve been to my share of concerts, but it was a unique experience for me because the artist lineup had a decidedly rap and hip-hop bent. I can’t say the genre and I are friends, but I can listen to the occasional Eminem, Busta Rhymes or Notorious B.I.G. song. Before the actual concert, members of the media had the chance to meet and interact with the artists during a press conference at the Sofitel Philippine Plaza Hotel.

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Naughty by Nature at the MTV Music Evolution Manila press briefing on May 17 MTV Asia/Kristian Dowling
 
Headlining the show was legendary hip-hop group Naughty By Nature, perhaps best known for their song “O.P.P.” The group, which is composed of Treach, Vin Rock and DJ Kay Gee, won a Grammy in 1996 for their album Poverty in Paradise. Other foreign acts who performed were DJ Cash Money and YG. The Filipino contingent was well-represented by rap scene regulars Gloc-9, Abra, and Fil-Am pride Apl.de.Ap of the Black Eyed Peas.

I had the chance to chat with Apl after the presscon. The 40-year-old rapper and record producer was pleasant as he talked about his current projects, which includes new material with his BEP cohorts. “We hope to come out with it by next year,” he said.

Apl’s story is well-known. He was born in Pampanga and relocated to the US when he was 14. These days, Apl says, he travels back and forth, fulfilling various commitments in the entertainment industry. I asked him what he thought about the seismic shift in the business, particularly in music distribution. “There’s no denying the music industry has changed,” he said. “The main thing now is for the artist to have a show. Back in the day, that’s how [the Peas] got our following, by doing shows in colleges and bars and clubs. It was all about word of mouth.”


Apl.de.ap performing at MTV Music Evolution Manila MTV Asia/Kristian Dowling
 
Apl said he grew up listening to the music of folk group Asin as well as Stevie Wonder and Bob Marley. “But I listened to everything,” he said. “Country, jazz and classical.” When I asked him what he thought he would be doing if weren’t an artist, he said, “I wanted to be an architect, or a nurse. Now I think maybe I could be a futuristic farmer. You know, like maybe growing organic, fresh produce.”

“The hip-hop scene is getting huge here in the Philippines,” he added. “It’s going back to the artistic way, all about showing off skill and singing about different subjects. And Pinoy hip-hop has exciting times ahead.”

DJ Cash Money MTV Asia/Carla Barretto
 
This observation couldn’t have been better illustrated than by the tremendous audience that showed up for the show later that night. MTV must be commended for putting on this unique showcase of Pinoy and international talent, and here’s hoping we’ll see a second edition happen next year. — BM, GMA News

Paul John Caña is a magazine writer and live music geek. He is also co-founder of , an online collective of writers and artists. Email him at pjcana@gmail.com or follow him on Twitter and Instagram @pauljohncana.
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