Rapper-singer Gloc-9 has been a prominent figure in the music industry for over two decades, establishing himself as a household name in the local hip-hop scene with his hard-hitting rap and insightful lyrics.
His ascent in the hip-hop community stemmed from his skill in crafting intricate tales that resonate with the Filipino experience, addressing a variety of social issues such as poverty, equality, and corruption.
Before dominating Filipino hip-hop music, Gloc-9 revealed it was only a dream of him to do rapping, but now, the result of his perseverance to do what he loved was just overwhelming—it was beyond what he once dreamed of.
“When I did what I wished for when I was 12 years old—to rap,” he told the Manila Standard Entertainment when asked what was his greatest “sari-sari” story.
After spending so many years in the industry, Gloc-9 had heard countless stories from people he met, skillfully weaving them into the hit songs that became familiar to us all through his masterful storytelling.
Recently, Gloc-9 did it once again as he dropped his latest full-length album titled “Sari-Sari Story”, consisting of 10 tracks, including “Panulat Mo”, “Gatas at Asukal”, “Utang Clan”, “Puyat”, “Sagip”, “Tinda Ni Linda”, “Tatlong Taon”, “Alimpungatan”, “Yakap”, at “IDOL”.
Talking about his latest music, the iconic musician delved into how Sandwich’s Raymond Marasigan had helped him in producing his album for six weeks before he went to Australia for a tour.
“My inspiration for the album is reflected in its title. Kuya [Raymund] and I made an effort to clearly define the album’s title. However, I think we already had two songs created at that time—’Utang Clan’ and ‘Gatas at Asukal’. We identified a title that made it easier for me to write songs under the theme of ‘Sari-Sari Story’, prompting me to think of various narratives while maintaining uniformity in our topic selection,” Gloc-9 explained in the vernacular.
Despite his reputation for social consciousness, his songs connect with common people, touching every kid who grew up listening to him and inspiring every aspiring musician who looks up to him. With his numerous tracks, his focus now goes to his artistry.
“I think kapag umabot ka na nang mga above 45, hindi mo na iniisip iyon, medyo may stable ka na, mas sa iyo ‘yung artistry. Kahit naman noon, although noon mas mahigpit ako sa sarili ko,” said Gloc-9.
“Pero ngayon ang goal is to write songs that I love, that we love, na ‘pag okay sa amin, anything after that bonus na lang. Iyon lagi ang goal–makasulat kami, maka-produce kami ng output, kanta na trip namin para kaya naming ilako,” he added.
The rapper icon then turned to the up-and-coming hip-hop artists of today’s generation to “take care of the fire” they have in creating music.
“I always say, especially to the newcomers today, nurture the fire inside you because it can fade. I appreciate the support from Kuya Rayms and all my inspiring friends who fuel my creativity with their perseverance.
“There have been times after writing countless songs when I struggled to find inspiration, but being around the new generation rejuvenates me. They help me as much as I help them,” Gloc-9 explained.