April 6, 1924
To commemorate the birth anniversary of Filipino poet Francisco Balagtas, a group of poets hold the first “balagtasan” in Manila. Jose Corazon de Jesus, a.k.a. Huseng Batute, and Florentino T. Collantes square off in what might be called the first Pinoy battle in verse, though definitely, they did not “rap.”
1980
The first Pinoy rap single, “Na-Onseng Delight” by George “Dyords” Javier, with lyrics by Ading Fernando, is released on WEA Records. It samples and parodies “Rapper’s Delight” by the Sugar Hill Gang, which was released the year before. Vincent Dafalong releases his own rap single, “Mahiwagang Nunal,” the same year.
1990
Francis Magalona releases “Yo!”, the first Filipino rap album to be commercially released, with the socially-conscious hit single “Mga Kababayan.”
1991
Andrew E. hits with “Humanap Ka Ng Panget.” In response, Michael V answers with his own “Maganda Ang Piliin.” Within the same year, Andrew E. stars in the movie “Andrew Ford Medina: Huwag Kang Gamol” which features, among other shenanigans, a freestyle rap battle.
1992
Francis M. releases his second album, “Rap Is Francis M.,” to critical acclaim.His title as Godfather of Pinoy hip hop is secured.
1993
Mastaplann releases its first album on Universal Records, among the Pinoy rap albums with all-English lyrics.
1994
Death Threat releases the first Pinoy “gangsta” rap album, “Gusto Kong Bumaet.”
2003
Former Death Threat MC Gloc 9 releases “G9,” his first solo album, for Star Records. Francis M. pays him the ultimate compliment, calling him “a blacksmith of words and letters, and a true Filipino poet.” Gloc 9 departs from his gangsta origins toward a more lyrical, personal style and becomes a huge influence on contemporary rappers.
2009
Francis M. dies on March 6 after battling leukemia for a year. The Pinoy rap world goes into mourning, and a brief period of recession.
2010
MC Anygma, a.k.a. Alaric Yuson, starts the FlipTop Battle League. Patterned after the American Grind Time battle league, it takes off like a rocket on YouTube as millions of viewers pick up on the action. In two years’ time, its YouTube hits surpass its American model, making it the biggest battle rap league in the world.
2013
MCA releases the “Homegrown Hip Hop” compilation, introducing a new generation of Filipino MCs, most of whom have come up through the ranks of the FlipTop battle league: MCs Loonie, Ron Henley, Mike Swift, Abra, Bassilyo, Klumcee and Smugglaz among others. It signals the advent of the “new school” of Pinoy hip hop.