Breaking Down the Beats of Pinoy Hip-Hop: Spotify’s Kalye X Culminates in a Jam-Packed Show

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Hitting all the right marks, Spotify’s KALYE X — a three-part series championing the best of Pinoy hip-hop in NCR, Visayas, and Mindanao — culminated in a well-attended show on October 28, 2023, Saturday, at Circuit Makati.

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Celebrating kalye hip-hop

Kalye hip-hop has kept growing in popularity in recent years. As the Philippines’ own take on hip-hop, the genre is infused with local elements and serves as a unique expression of the Filipino street swag culture.

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In support of passionate artists from this scene, Spotify and Wish 107.5 teamed up to take the genre to greater heights through Kalye X. Apart from performing at the three-leg tour, renowned and emerging hip-hop acts featured on the shows also released a series of original Spotify Singles.

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CEBU feat. Midnasty and Cookie$

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The Cebu leg spotlighted Visayan hip-hop hitmakers, Dumaguete’s Midnasty and Cebu’s Cookie$, as they took over the Plaza Independencia, Cebu City on August 26, 2023.

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Check out what went down at the first leg of the #SpotifyKalyeX Wish Bus Tour!

The special Roadshow gig featured Visayan hip-hop gems @midnasty_ & @_CookiesNchill!

Watch out for the Wishclusive debut of their collaborative performance soon! @SpotifyPH pic.twitter.com/0W8W29KRAf

— Wish FM 107.5 (@wish1075) September 8, 2023

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“We are grateful to be part of Kalye X. Knowing that Spotify is one of the biggest music streaming platforms for artists, [our] getting on both the stage and the platform is a big representation not just for Visayan hip-hop but also for Visayan music on a bigger scene,” the two hip-hop acts said, expressing gratitude during their special Roadshow stint.

At the same event, they rendered a Wish Bus performance of their Spotify Single, “Wa Na Wa.” Stream it here:

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DAVAO feat. Morobeats

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The crowd at Davao Global Township didn’t miss a beat when Morobeats Collective brought out their swag on September 23, 2023. The group was also joined by Wolbsgvng and Delinquent Society.

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Sharing pieces of advice to fellow hip-hop acts, the collective stated, “Just keep on working. Be yourself. It doesn’t matter where you’re coming from. We’re in the internet era so you can be heard anytime. To the aspiring ones, be real with yourself — with your vision, words, songs, and messages you want to impart to your fans and listeners.”

For their performance aboard the Wish 107.5 Bus, they dished out their Spotify Single, “Kendeng.”

Stream it here:

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MANILA feat. Gloc-9, Hero, and Ramdiss

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Hyped-up performances from Gloc-9, Hero, and Ramdiss landed a spot on the ears and hearts of the hip-hop-loving audience at the Global Circuit Events Ground, Makati City on October 28, 2023. The Manila leg of Spotify’s Kalye X series served as the event’s culminating show.

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Apart from the three main acts, Hev Abi also performed four of his original tracks. Meanwhile, O Side Mafia delivered fired-up numbers that got the fans raving.

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One of the highlights of the evening was when Ramdiss performed his solos. Then, he was joined by Hero for a duo performance. Rap icon Gloc-9 delivered a lit finale as he rapped his well-loved songs.

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The three also went on board the Wish 107.5 Bus and performed their collaborative track, “Umaga.”

Stream it here:

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Spotify’s Kalye X also coincides with the 50th anniversary of the New York-born and -bred genre of hip-hop. Injected with a local flavor, this initiative from Spotify supports the Philippine hip-hop scene, where everyday experiences and stories from dedicated artists and communities are freely expressed. This not only empowers the artists to bring themselves out there and share their craft but also pushes the boundary of the kalye hip-hop culture — taking it beyond the streets and into the broader music landscape.

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Mula sa mga kalye ng Pilipinas to the streets of New York City! 🤯

Nasa New York Time Square na ang Spotify Singles nina @midnasty_ @_CookiesNchill @MOROBEATS @glocdash9 @imheroph @Ramdiss_ ! 🙌🏼

Gawang Pinoy, tatak kalye! ❤️‍🔥 pic.twitter.com/JNbWmutSKY

— Spotify Philippines (@SpotifyPH) October 29, 2023

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The KALYE X Tour is presented to you by Spotify and co-presented by Wish 107.5. It is made possible by the following official partners: Cebu Pacific, the official airline partner; Grab Philippines, the official transport partner; Red Bull, the official energy drink partner; High Minds Clothing, the official merch partner; and Citadines Makati, the official hotel partner.

Written by: Joram Flores

Edited by: Emmy Borromeo

Photography: Kenneth Valladolid

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