MANILA, Philippines — Emerging rapper Illest Morena expressed praise for peers in the local hip-hop industry for being vocal about social issues.
The young artist recently visited the Philstar.com office for an extensive interview about her career and toward the end of the conversation discussed how rap artists are often outspoken and make use of their platforms.
Some homegrown artists known for their outspokenness are Gloc-9 and Morobeats. As a self-proclaimed “Mandaluyong girlie,” Illest admitted that being outspoken is an avenue she’s currently tapping into professionally.
“I’m exploring that and showcasing my community — the beauty and the chaos of it all — it’s something that I’ve been writing about through my songs,” she shared, teasing some new material.
The rapper bared how pleased she was that her peers in Filipino hip-hop today are very vocal, contrasting it to when she entered the industry in the middle of the pandemic.
“Nakakatuwa kasi… lahat kami pumupunta ng rallies. We’re very vocal about our opinions and our stance, and we stand by it!” Illest stressed. “Sa panahon ngayon, hindi ka na pwede maging apolitical… magugunaw na yung mundo, guys! Pick a side and stand by it!”
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She reiterated wanting to use her own platform to shine a light on today’s social issues, noting how many in her generation listen to her music.
“Gusto ko kahit papaano, kahit medyo explicit yung lyrics ko, at least may natututunan sila sa akin,” the rapper continued. “Nagiging informed sila kung ano bang nangyayari at paano dapat sila mag-isip, hindi kung ano dapat isipin.”
The 24-year-old Illest pointed out to Philstar.com that listeners younger than her are the future voters who “can influence the turnout of this country’s situation.”
Illest also joked that her messaging also applies to Filipinos her age who are still turning a blind eye, referencing lyrics of her hit song “Faded (Raw)” that go “kakagising ko lang.”
The rapper repeated that artists like her should always address the political climate, whether locally or internationally because of the domino effect issues cause like the oil crisis in the Middle East as a result of the United States’ attacks on Iran.
“It affects everyone, it’s not ideal for someone to be silent, especially during these times,” Illest ended.
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