Written by Lex Celera

What is there to love when it comes to hiphop music? There is always a constant need for the artist to carve space to be heard, to set themselves apart from the competition and “claim what is theirs.” In between this struggle for real estate in the attention economy, some artists might find themselves latching on to whatever sticks just to make their presence known for a little while longer. Sometimes it is self-gratuitous; often it is deliberate. More often than not, it results in formulaic drivel that sizzles out when rap moves on.

For the genre as a whole, this search for gravity can be broken down into recurring elements you can see across different artists. For example: flute-based samples, true-to-life straight from the streets visuals, and rapid fire ad-libs. All of these are present in Iloilo City-based rapper Aj KeeHong’s “Sakin Yan!”, an exciting entry point into the young rapper’s burgeoning career.

Set apart, these elements point out towards where Aj Kee Hong is looking at in terms of references, namely: Bugay na Koykoy and Miguelito Malakas’ reliance on music videos to portray verisimilitude through a definite sense of place; the distinct presence of flute instruments in hiphop (A$AP Rocky and Skepta’s “Praise the Lord (Da Shine)” as well as Shanti Dope and Skinny G’s “Peekaboo!” come to mind); specific ad-libs used by almost everyone from the late Pop Smoke to MaxyPresko. All of these creative commodities have contributed to Kee Hong’s aboveground recognition, rendered the way it was in “Sakin Yan!” .

But the interesting thing about “Sakin Yan!” is more fundamental. Plainly put, the young rapper can rap. Kee Hong’s vocal delivery unpacks his electrically charged verses with confidence; each word flows well to the next without missing a beat. The fact that he can sustain this energy to release one song a week paints a picture of a hungry rapper trying to make his mark.

While trendy motifs help launch “Sakin Yan!” into a gravity of its own, it’s Kee Hong’s more essential traits that keep its sheen lustrous. As with his previous releases, I’ve caught wind of Kee Hong through his laborious self promotion across several local hiphop Facebook groups. As I type this, I can imagine he’s busy producing the next, making minor tweaks on the way. “Sakin Yan!” is an entry point into what could potentially be a hearty contender in the hiphop landscape.

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