When it comes to a territorial takeover, Hev Abi does it in the most sinister way by inviting you to 1103 aka South Triangle, Quezon City. Beginning in the Memphis Rap influenced production to the modern-day ominous trap house presence, Hev Abi is looking forward to taking the entire region by storm this year. “WELCOME2DTQ” is documentation of a city that has a long and rich history in hip-hop, and Hev Abi successfully captured the essence of Kyusi via baseball bat-wielding charisma and flawless flows. Say what you want about the A$AP Rocky comparisons, but no one would ever dare to reduce Hev’s uncompromising presence and initiative. He possesses an aura of coolness to the place to the point you’d actually be proud of repping your hometown. Whether it would be a posse backing him up along the Tomas Morato avenue or the overall crew love you receive in “WELCOME2DTQ”, the up-and-coming rapper is largely responsible for being the phantom in the dark, slowly but surely tagging his nearest vicinities with an all-encompassing rap skill. Backed by C.R.E.A.M callbacks by the bridge and demonic pitches placed by the outro, Hev Abi’s at the come up and QC is the launching pad he needs at this time in the hip-hop scene.
Tag: Trap
TRACK REVIEW: P4blo – baka magalit boyfriend mo
Written by Elijah P. The concept of “girlbestfriends” or “boybestfriends” in the year 2023 might be a ludicrous rap theme for older listeners. For those out of the loop, think of it as a zoomer litmus test of infidelity – an archaic concept that traces back to the time when infidelity is still pretty much a playful yet haphazard theme to rap around. Think of SZA’s “The Weekend” except it’s executed on a less deeply personal level. In the decade that is the 2020s, you’re pretty much in the clear to goof around with the exception of earworms and infectious hooks. Rapper and singer P4blo does it effortlessly. In “baka magalit boyfriend mo”, the up-and-coming rapper melodically prances around the concept of being a sideboyfriend or the proud rebound to the protagonist’s girlbestfriend in cloudrap form – sped-up piano notes, reversed synth pads and sliders, and vocal harmonies melding together. P4BLO knew for sure what he was writing about yet the undeniable hook writing shouldn’t work out, but its inescapable melodies make it an anthem for all sidechicks or sidebffs all over. Not that the casual clueless listener is to acknowledge the existence of such culture, but rather this substitute for the typical Valentine’s playlist should be highly considered for all. Support the art & the artist:
TRACK REVIEW: RB Slatt – TAHLA
Written by Elijah P. Flying cars, anime transitions, a jersey club drum pattern and a melody ripped from a Kid Laroi track, Caloocan’s very own RB Slatt is building a world never heard before in the Northside in EIGHTEEN’s most outstanding offerings titled “TAHLA”. As close followers and homeboys claim their sound to be “hyperpop”, it’s almost unfair to box them right in the umbrella term. As RB Slatt covers a wide array of multi-fx and cross-dimensional beat switches, they surprisingly come out more cohesive than opting for a hodgepodge of digicore nonsense. Previously enabling the emo-rap of the late 2010s, RB Slatt smoothly transitions to the bitcrushed, rock-n-rolla of the internet age of the 2020s with aesthetics that call for a futuristic and almost self-destructive sonic direction in both production and vocal delivery. “TAHLA” rallies behind RB Slatt’s newly found musical identity, supporting a grander, more possible pathway for rappers to partake in this untapped, almost idle landscape of production style. But with the existence of the emotive rap acting as a precursor to RB Slatt’s chosen subgenre, he effectively capitalizes on the delivery as if to complement its salted wounds of a nasty breakup. There’s potency to vocal prowess in louder, much more chaotic instrumental, and RB Slatt slightly masters that skill in “TAHLA”. SUPPORT THE ART & THE ARTIST: