Ben&Ben x SB19’s ‘Kapangyarihan’ sends strong message to those in power: ‘Nagsisilbi ka dapat’

“Akala n’yo ba, ang kapangyarihan ay nasa inyo? Sino ba kayo?”

Shortly after police officer Jonel Nuezca shot and killed Sonya Gregorio, 52, and her son Frank, 25 in broad daylight a few days before Christmas 2020, Ben&Ben’s Miguel Benjamin and Paolo Benjamin Guico wrote “Kapangyarihan” and released a statement calling for justice.

#StopTheKillingsPH #JusticeForGregorioFamily #EndPoliceBrutality we humbly ask you to read. thank you. pic.twitter.com/7Gjqh1R3oS

— Ben&Ben (@BenAndBenMusic) December 22, 2020

Fast forward to August 2021 and Nuezca was found guilty and was given a 40-year sentence. A few days later, Ben&Ben released their 2nd album, "Pebble House Vol. 1: Kuwaderno."

Among the 13 tracks of the album is "Kapangyarihan," featuring the P-pop group SB19 with additional lyrics by leader Pablo (John Paulo Nase).

The track mixes folk and rock sounds with hip-hop and rap — and minces no words.

“Kapangyarihan” is the second collaboration of SB19 and Ben&Ben, or what fans call the 14 of them collectively, SBen19. It follows the band version of SB19’s “MAPA,” written by Nase as a tribute to parents and parental figures.

The video has 11 million views on YouTube as of yet and has introduced more of each other’s fans to each other’s music.

While “MAPA” tackles a more universally appealing theme of filial love, Ben&Ben’s “Kapangyarihan” veers into more political territory—something a number of artists are uncomfortable with.

But not these guys.

Ben&Ben and SB19, two of today’s biggest Asian acts, have banded together to remind us of two things: that power belongs to the citizens, and that music has been used throughout history to precisely speak truth to that power and lend their voice to victims of injustice. — LA, GMA News