Gloc-9’s new album touches on spirituality, horrendous traffic jams
Kung meron man akong gustong sabihin sa mga bagong kanta, ito ay ang importansya ng buhay. ’Wag natin sayangin.
Gloc-9 is a game-changer. He says it like it is in his songs in manner and sound that’s truly his. After the late Francis Magalona, he is the most recognizable Pinoy rap artist in history – surely something he can be proud of given his beginnings as underground artist whom he self-effacingly describes as “Gusgusing rapper mula sa Rizal.” Two decades since hitting it big, the artist resolves to tell his take on a myriad of stories with eyes wide open. He doesn’t try to reach out to the masses – he is right there with them.
“Hindi ako naging plastik dahil gusto ko lang sumikat. Ako’y nangarap at patuloy na nangangarap na isang
rap artist. Sinadya ko na ako’y magmukhang isang tao na hindi mahirap lapitan. Naniniwala kasi ako na once na maglagay ka ng pader (sa pagitan mo at ng mga tao), du’n nagsisimula ang (pagbagsak mo),” he said. His hits “Upuan,” “Magda,” “Lando,” and “Sirena” are landmark songs. They bear messages relevant to today’s times without sounding preachy. He will always be a storyteller. “Kapag dumating ang time na naubusan na ako ng kantang isusulat, baka isang senyales na ’yun na ako’y tapos na. Pero ako’y isang tagapag-kwento lamang at hangga’t mayroon pa akong maiku-kwento, tuloy lang ang biyahe.”
Memories
Speaking of Francis, Gloc-9 doesn’t tire of paying homage to him who he considers his mentor.
They even recorded a song together
titled “Bagsakan” along with Parokya Ni
Edgar. He calls it “isang kanta na pinagkakautangan ko talaga ng loob.”
“Until now, napaka-vivid pa rin sa akin nu’ng araw na ’yun. In fact, parang may line ako du’n na pakiramdam ko
birthday ko,” he shared. “Ito ’yung song na nagpakilala sa akin sa industriya, ito ’yung kanta nagdala sa akin sa malaking market talaga.” Another unforgettable collaboration for Gloc-9 is that with Asia’s Songbird Regine Velasquez-Alcasid. The two recorded the song “Takipsilim” as part of his album “Liham At Lihim” in 2013. “’Yung ‘Takipsilim,’ isa ’yun sa mga songs na talagang mahal na mahal ko na kahit matanda ako, iyayabang ko pa rin sa mga tao,” he enthused.
Talking about his past (and controversial) songs, Gloc-9 revealed he actually hesitated in releasing “Sirena” as it tackles such a sensitive issue as the acceptance of the LGBT community.
“Unang-una hindi po ako bakla, hindi ako kasama sa LGBT. At naisip ko na isang salita lang po na ilagay ko du’n (sa kanta na mali) ay baka makaoffend ako at mawalan ng kwenta ’yung kanta,” he shared. “Sobra akong ingat na ingat nu’n sa pagsusulat at nu’ng natapos ko na siya… nu’ng ire-release na namin ’yung song, nagdalawang isip pa rin ako.”
Other stories
If you think Gloc-9 had already run out of song ideas that are as affecting and realistic as his previous ones, think again.
The rapper-songwriter once again poured his thoughts and emotions into his latest album titled “Rotonda” under Universal Records. It comes as he marks his 20th anniversary in the music business. What’s with the title, we asked.
“Naisip ko ’yung ‘Rotonda’ kasi it’s ‘round about.’ I’d been in this industry for many years now at na-realize ko na marami akong bagay na na-encounter, mga tao at mga pangyayari na paulit-
ulit lang,” he maintained. “So from there, naisip ko na gumawa ng concept ng
album na may ganu’ng title.” As before, Gloc-9’s new songs reflects everyday life. There’s a song titled “Traffic Na Naman” featuring Agsunta band. “Actually maraming beses ko ng nitry magsulat ng traffic song, siguro mga
five songs ang nasimulan ko na. Pero ayoko kasing magtunog nagrereklamo ’yung kanta kaya eto finally natisod ko ’yung ‘Trapik Na Naman,’” he said. Touching on the government’s war on drugs, Gloc-9 wrote “Norem” featuring rapper Shanti Dope.
The title track is about re-incarnation, admittedly one of the hardest songs he’s ever written.
“Iniisip kasi na lahat tayo pupunta du’n (death) at matatapos ang kwento ng bawat isa. Siguro kaya ko lang naisip ’yung re-incarnation dahil may mga anak ako. Magandang thought para sa akin na ma-entertain ’yung topic na pwede tayong bumalik at magsimula ulit.”
With his new work, Gloc-9 aims to inspire people to understand and value the importance of “life.”
“Dahil siguro sa edad ko na rin kaya mas naging matured na rin ako hindi lang sa trabaho kung hindi sa buhay
in general,” he said. “Kung kaya, kung meron man akong gustong sabihin sa mga bagong kanta, ito ay ang importansya ng buhay. Ang kahalagahan ng buhay, ng oras na ilalagi natin sa mundo. Ang bottomline lang dito, ’Wag natin sayangin ang buhay.”