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MANILA, Philippines – Filipino hip-hop pillar Gloc-9 marks nearly three decades in the music industry with Mga Ani ni Gloc-9, his first vinyl release. The limited-edition collection features 11 of his most iconic storytelling tracks from different record labels.
From his greatest hits to hard-hitting commentaries, the record serves as a compilation of the social realities and personal struggles that define his musical legacy.
“Kaya ‘Ani ni Gloc-9’ ang ipinangalan namin dahil feeling ko, sa almost 30 years ko in the industry, I just hope na halos lahat ng mga songs na ginawa ko, somehow buhatin ako kung gaano ko pa katagal puwedeng gawin ito,” he said.
(That’s why we named it ‘Ani ni Gloc-9’ [Gloc-9’s Harvest], I feel that, after nearly 30 years in the industry, I just hope that the songs I’ve created will, in some way, carry me forward for as long as I’m able to keep doing this.)
Some of the songs in the vinyl collection are“Sirena” featuring Ebe Dancel, “Magda” featuring Rico Blanco, and “Upuan” featuring Jeazell Grutas.
Other included tracks: “Simpleng Tao”and “Bagsakan,” which he recorded with Parokya ni Edgar and the late master rapper Francis M. Also part of the list are songs like “Love Story,” “Walang Natira” featuring Sheng Belmonte, “Lando” featuring Francis M, “Takipsilim” featuring Regine Velasquez-Alcasid, “Walang Pumapalakpak” featuring Gary Valenciano, and“Kumpisal”featuring Skusta Clee.
Reaping his harvest
The title of the collection, Mga Ani ni Gloc-9, also pertains to what Gloc-9 has reaped in all his years in OPM.
“Ganoon naman talaga, lalo na sa industriya na ito,” he said during the launch. “Mas madami kang itinanim, mas madami kang aanihin. Hindi naman lahat ng ani mo, ay [may makukuha] ka. Kailangan mo siyang ulitin nang ulitin.”
(That’s just how it is, especially in this industry. The more you plant, the more you harvest. But you don’t necessarily get to keep everything you harvest. You have to keep doing it over and over again.)
For Gloc-9, something that can be said to be his ani or harvest, are the moments when he’s at events while singing, and he also hears people singing his songs, to the point that he doesn’t even need to sing in the first place.
“Honest, iyon yung mga moments na gusto kong maiyak,” he shared. “Siguro enough na yung nilagay kong pagtatanim sa tagal ng panahon. Baka sakali puwede na kong umani.”
(Honestly, those are the moments when I want to cry. Perhaps the seeds I’ve sown over all this time are enough. Maybe it’s time for me to reap the harvest.)
In his many years in the business, Gloc-9 has said he hopes to collaborate with Popstar Royalty Sarah Geronimo in the future.
Gloc-9 shared that the songs he chose for this milestone — the vinyl collection came out under Sony Music Philippines, Star Music, and Universal Records — are not necessarily his greatest hits.
“Hindi yung hits siguro, pero kung ano yung may pinaka may nakalabit na mga songs, kaya namin nilagay diyan,” he said.
(Maybe not necessarily the hits, but we included the songs with the greatest impact, which is why we put those in the vinyl collection.)
He also said among the songs in the collection, the award-winning “Upuan” has taken on a completely different meaning for him over time.
Written 17 years ago when Gloc-9 was 33, the track reflects a time when he admits he was still naive and hopeful.
“Naririnig ko na kapag kinakanta ko siya sa harap ng ibang tao, alam ko kung ano ang intentions ko,” he said. “Pero may times na naririnig ko siya sa iba’t-ibang lugar na alam ko din na hindi na iyon ang intensyon ko sa kanta. Napalitan na.”
(When I sing that song in front of others, I know my intentions. But there are times when I hear it in various places, and I know that’s no longer the intention I had for the song. It has changed.)
A message for the youth
Gloc-9 has always been known for commenting about current issues through his music. Again, he cites “Upuan” as the song from his vinyl collection that should resonate the most with the youth today.
“Siguro dahil sa mga nangyayari ngayon,” he explained to Rappler. “Siguro magtuturo iyon ng awareness sa kanila. Maging matapang sila. Naniniwala kasi ako na hindi dahil ako yung gumawa ng song, ako iyong kumanta nung song, ako lang ang kakanta noon. Ito ay ginawa namin, para kantahin iyon. Maging boses din nila.”
(Maybe it’s because of the things happening nowadays. The song should teach awareness to the youth. I hope it makes them brave. I believe that just because I wrote the song and sang it, it doesn’t mean I’m the only one who should sing it. We created this so that others could sing it, too. It could become their voice as well.)
Gloc-9 also shared his advice to anyone who might want to follow in his footsteps.
“Napaka-simple lang, noh,” said Gloc-9. “I think ang dapat magawa ng kabataan ngayon ay whatever it is na gusto nila i-pursue sa buhay nila, is to identify kung ano yung gifts nila. Kung ano yung specific na gift nila. I think iyon ang pinaka-importante. Kapag nakita mo siya, na-identify mo siya, the earlier the better. Tapos after that, you build. You build, you build, you build.”
(It’s really simple. I think what young people today should do, regardless of what they want to pursue in life, is to identify their gifts. They need to figure out what their specific gift is. I believe that is the most important thing. Once you discover or identify it, and the earlier, the better, then you build. You just keep building.)
“Kung saan ka masaya na ginagawa mo ‘yun, regardless of anything,” he added. “Pera, oras, opportunity, kung anong katayuan mo sa buhay. Kung lahat nang iyon, ‘di mo papansinin, tapos masaya ka sa ginagawa mo, iyon ang i-build mo, tuloy-tuloy. Eventually, may mangyayari. Imposibleng wala.”
(Your calling should be what makes you happy. You do it anyway regardless of money, time, opportunity, or whatever your circumstances in life. If you’re happy with what you do, build on that. Eventually something will happen — it’s impossible that nothing will happen.)
He gave more advice for those who also want to get into the music industry.
“Kahit ‘di ikaw yung uso, kung ang craft mo iyong ginawa mo with purity and good intentions, hindi mo kailangan maging uso,” he shared. “Laging merong makikinig sa iyo.”
(Even if your music is not the trend or the current rage, if you do your craft with purity and good intentions, you don’t need to be trendy. There will always be someone who will listen to you.) – Rappler.com
