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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
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
“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.”
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DJ Cash Money MTV Asia/Carla Barretto
Paul John Caña is a magazine writer and live music geek. He is also co-founder of
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