MANILA -- It is true that the hip-hop industry in the Philippines is expanding, and in addition to Gloc-9, Flow G, and Nik Makino, there are emerging artists who should be on your playlist.
If you are unfamiliar with Robledo Timido, he is the rapper behind the chart-topping songs "Mapagdamot" (almost 19.4 million Spotify listens) and "Gusto Ko Sakin Ka Lang" (8.5 million streams).
His screen name Timido means shy in Spanish, indicating that he was a shy child growing up. This shy boy gained confidence via music, and becoming an artist allows him to express himself fully.
Timido released his "Salbahe" album last November 22 at Moon Club in Makati City, which includes the songs "Kasunduan," "Proseso," "Shot Glass," "Ms." Pambihira," "Style Mo Boo," "Laging Tag-ulan," “Kamusta,” and several others.
“Nabuo siya dahil sa hit song ko na ‘Mapagdamot.’ ‘Yan ang naging inspiration. Tungkol ang album sa pagiging stuck sa toxic relationship. Ginawa ko itong album para sa healing process ko since sa music ko nai-express ‘yung sarili ko as an artist at wala rin naman akong matatakbuhan para sa kung anong nararamdaman ko. Ginawa ko siya para sa sarili ko,” he told ABS-CBN News.
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Young hip-hop artist Robledo Timido meets the press to talk about his new album ‘Salbahe’ at Moon Club in Makati City. Josh MercadoTimido confessed that his two favorite songs from the album are “Proseso” and “Kamusta,” saying, “Sa dalawang songs na ‘yun, dun ko talaga nailabas ‘yung pagiging artist ko. Naiparamdam ko ‘yung energy sa mga nakikinig.”
About the process of creating the album, the 19-year old rapper shared, “Kailangang mabusisi kang gumawa ng album. Hindi dapat basta-basta. Mataas ang standards ng music industry ngayon. Pinaglaanan ko talaga siya ng puso, dugo, at puyat. Thankful ako na may mga sumama sa akin sa paggawa ng album.”
The "Mapagdamot" artist recalled his path in the hip-hop industry, revealing that he began writing songs in high school for fun.
“Nag-start ako gumawa ng kanta when I was 13. Na-develop siya back when I was high school. Trip lang namin kasama nung apat kong kaibigan. Ang cool nun. Sabi ko, try namin. ‘Yung trip na ‘yun, naging seryoso. Hindi na ako nag-explore ng ibang bagay. Dito ako nag-e-excel,” he said.
What was it about the hip-hop industry that drew him in, and where does the genre fit into his life now?
“Talagang energy siya na nararamdaman. Sa hip-hop, kasya lahat. May mapalad na artists na binibigyan ng blessings na katulad ko. Maraming nakapaligid sa success ko,” the young rapper responded.
“Sobrang lakas ng hip-hop ngayon. Ang artists ngayon, nag-e-explore ng bagong tunog,” he added.
Timido’s musical influences included Ron Henley, Loonie, and Shanti Dope.
“Pero pinaka-influence ko talaga is Ron Henley. Siya talaga ang nagbuo sa sound ko. Sa kanya ko rin nakuha kung paano himayin at paano siya magsulat ng song. Malaki siyang contribution sa akin,” he said.
While he has gained recognition as a hip-hop artist through his hit songs, Timido stated that the destination is still far away, and he intends to get there through authenticity and songs that do not fit the template.
“Kailangang mahanap mo talaga ‘yung purpose. Ano ba talaga ‘yung purpose mo kung bakit mo ginagawa ang isang bagay. Gusto kong makapag-ambag sa music industry na hindi lang ako ‘yung ordinaryong rapper na makikita nila to the point na ako naman ang magse-set ng bars na mas high,” he expressed when he finished the presscon.
The “Salbahe” album launch was attended by his friends, family, and manager Ron David of REALWRLD Studios. It’s out now on Spotify and other digital music platforms.