Doc Lars loves music, dance, literature, live sports, kpop, kdrama, anime, and eating. Her research interests are in the same areas, but particularly on underground, subversive music scenes. You can view her documentary on Pinoy Hip-Hop here: ru-vid.com/video/%D0%B2%D0%B8%D0%B4%D0%B5%D0%BE-yLNey4pd00A.html
Thank you for pointing this out. The analysis pertains largely to what is actually put out there (uttered, performed) by the emcees. For those who are steeped in the battle rap culture, it is a given that the line between fact and fiction is blurred. The connection I tried to establish is based on the "hearsay" of more than one emcee. Apekz and AKT are not the only ones to have brought this issue up in their battles.
I like the idea of "hearsay." Anyway, what makes the emcees stand out sometimes is their ability to sell their angle to be true even if it's not. But Apekz' serious allegations need to be contextualized: emcees who bet during battles rig the judging system and Anygma and the League itself are accomplices. What was Apekz' intention? I think he wanted to discredit FlipTop because another league, Sunugan sa Kumu, was also gaining traction during that time. A little research and you would notice that its main organizer is Loonie, considered the GOAT of PH battle rap. Apekz was one of the resident judges of Sunugan. And I think you also know that Loonie once upon a time threw Anygma and Fliptop under the bus. Lastly, going back way 2021, Apekz lost to Goriong Talas in a close battle (this was his last battle before Sinio). Apekz ranted on social media that he thought he won that battle and the "mood" in the venue changed (suggesting that the result was rigged due to pustahan). These are the main reasons why he used the sabwatan and Akt angle. Anygma already addressed the judging system many times before. Any emcee, like any other fans in an event, are free to bet as long as they are not judges. If a bettor emcee was chosen to be a judge, he or she backs out and Anygma assigns another emcee to become a judge and so on. He also highlighted the significant risks of pustahan because rap battle is a subjective artform. In an interview, Anygma mentioned that he was also paying 5 different loans in order for the FlipTop Festival to materialize. Then covid happened and even if they were earning a lot from RU-vid during the pandemic, there were no live events so the emcees' TFs were less. Anygma explained it before Quarantine Battle began and it was still up to the emcees if they wanna batlle or not. Akt can say those things against FlipTop and be matapobre with other emcees because he can live a decent life without FlipTop. Sorry if this was long haha pero my point is that Apekz and Akt should have raised those issues backstage if they were really committed to bring about change in FlipTop. It created more harm than good. I'll quote GL, a rising superstar in the league. He said, "Walang nasasalba ang battle rap." facebook.com/mcanygma/posts/pfbid028Dd3qVnyt9kkNH1DBuW4ZwXgUfqaWAaxZSxLML2MCe5qeugpXTtXTcUWm78d8Dnul ru-vid.com/video/%D0%B2%D0%B8%D0%B4%D0%B5%D0%BE-hqepa-nZqwY.html Another emcee satirizing Apekz' angle: ru-vid.com/video/%D0%B2%D0%B8%D0%B4%D0%B5%D0%BE-uB85pZlAQVc.html Thank you.
I grew up with this artform. Became a fan since I saw Loonie vs Zaito. The evolution of it interest me so much that I always mention it to my wife who’s english; now I can finally show her this. Thankyou Professor!❤️
There is a documentary with English subtitles on pinoy hiphop that you can show your wife as well! There’re lots of emcees from FlipTop in there who shared their stories with me. Do watch!
For now, Alfred, by invitation pa lang ang pagpalabas nito. Dahil may COVID, malabo pa na maipalabas sa theaters. Pero kung mayroong online screening, babalitaan ka namin! :)
