Reinventing SB19’s Felip
THE night was young but the crowd at a bar in BGC was already hyped up with the presence of a gentleman in urban hip-hop attire ready to introduce his brand of music. His hair was newly dyed and his confidence was oozing— he was serving some bad boy swag.
A few minutes into his performance, the young man said that he was extremely nervous and the cheers and adoration he got from the crowd somehow helped him steady his nerves. His name was Felip, otherwise known as Ken Suson.
But we know that Suson is no stranger to the limelight—after all, he is 1/5th of P-pop titans SB19, who recently conquered the world with their Where You At? Tour. There’s no denying their collective success, who are also handson with their personal endeavors.
Suson’s solo music project has been on everyone’s radar since its inception in 2021. His previous releases, “Palayo” and “Bulan,” are punchy and catchy tracks highlighting his straightforward lyricism, vocal range, and proud “Bisdak” heritage. This unique and passionate approach to music sealed a deal with major label Warner Music Philippines for his highlyanticipated EP launch.
Felip is ready to go harder against the grain this year with his single “Rocksta.” He lives up to the rockstar lifestyle for this short yet powerful track- a no-nonsense attitude to his artistry. The 1-minute, 47-second track takes inspiration from hip-hop and R&B music.
“Rocksta” is also a fitting teaser for his debut solo EP, entitled COM • PLEX, which drops today (February 3). Often used to describe something difficult to understand, a complex may also mean a facet of a person’s unconscious, influenced by their thoughts, emotions, and experiences.
“It talks about being confident. There are times that we feel down, but as artists, I hope that we don’t forget to still hold the microphone. As for me, it’s my passion and I don’t want to lose it,” Felip said of the song.
e young artist daringly taps into the complexities of his emotions for lyrical direction with his solo debut EP. The six-track record is predominantly hiphop with touches of R&B and trap music and takes listeners on a journey beyond the blinding lights of the stage and into his psyche as an artist.
The EP also encourages listeners to be in tune with themselves, embrace their complexities, and know that they’re oneof-a-kind. Even with the solo project, he remains active in SB19, and he’s happy to have the ever-loyal A’TIN’s support.
“I have so many people who support me in this musical journey. They help me make things possible even though they seem so impossible at first. It’s all because of them – my supporters and my friends. I wanted to share this music with them as a gift,” Felip shared adding that the EP was supposed to be released in January.
COM • PLEX EP includes the tracks “Superiority,” “Mic Test,” “Drink Smoke,” “Criminal,” and “Stray Dogs.”