Los Angeles-basedBasedBased is slang expressing approval for someone unapologetically stating their genuine opinion, regardless of whether it's popular, controversial, or conventionally acceptable within discourse. Originally associated with certain online political subcultures,Go to Based Glossary Filipino-American rapper Bambu will return to Manila for a live show on November 8, presented by rap battle league FlipTop. The venue and full event details have yet to be announced.
His last appearance in the country was in February 2020, when he headlined FlipTop’s first-ever music festivalFestivalA multi-act music event, often held over several days, where many artists perform across different stages. Festivals combine live music, food, art, and community, and they give audiences a chanceGo to Festival Glossary at Aseana City Concert Grounds in Parañaque. That two-day event featured Shanti Dope, Mike Kosa, Kartell’em, and 1kiao, along with live graffiti and b-boy showcases, taking place just a month before the COVID-19 lockdowns.
For nearly two decades, Bambu has remained one of the most militant and uncompromising voices in independent hip-hopHip-HopA culture and genre built on rap, DJing, breakdancing, and graffiti, born in New York in the 1970s. Filipino hip-hop has grown into a powerful voice, with artists rapping inGo to Hip-Hop Glossary. He has released more than a dozen albums and EPs through his own label, Beatrock Music. His catalog spans hard-hitting tracks like “Welcome to the Party,” “Old Man Raps,” and “Shabs,” songs that confront corruption, police brutality, and systemic racism from the perspective of a Filipino living in the U.S. diaspora. His lyrical militancy has made him a respected figure not only in Los Angeles, but across the global hip-hop community.
FlipTop, which began as a grassroots rap battleRap BattleA competition in which rappers trade improvised or prepared verses, trying to win over a crowd and judges with wit, wordplay, and delivery. Battle rap has a strong following inGo to Rap Battle Glossary league in 2010, has since become one of the most-watched hip-hop platforms worldwide, amassing billions of views and launching the careers of rappers such as Smugglaz, Batas, and Loonie. Beyond battles, the league has played a key role in bringing international acts like Dumbfounded and DJ Zo to Manila back in November 2015. Bambu’s return signals another milestone for a scene he has long championed from afar.
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