Amid Filipino hip-hop staples such as Hev Abi and Al James, Hellmerry is one to watch out for
It’s been an unprecedented few years for Filipino hip-hop. In a short amount of time—barring legends such as Gloc-9, Andrew E., and Francis M—rap has further cemented its place in OPM, thanks to its promising lineup of talents. But among those raising the bar for rappers all over the country—from Hev Abi and Flow G to Al James and Shanti Dope—is the QC-based Hellmerry.
Officially launching his career in 2021 with the track “444,” Hellmerry took his would-be listeners by surprise with his genre-bending approach to hip-hop—often blending styles from lo-fi and rock with the trap sound often associated with rap.
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In the years since, the newest face of Spotify’s Kalye playlist (as of writing) has amassed over 40 million streams with hit single “4:AM” and past 35 million streams with “Tequila Rose,” his 2024 collaboration with Al James. Now, he has just released his latest album “Bludevl.”
On Aug. 16, as part of Spotify’s ongoing Kalye X campaign, Hellmerry boarded the Wish Bus to perform “4:AM.” Ahead of the recording and with dozens of his fans outside serving as our backdrop, we joined the rising talent to talk about the growing mainstream acceptance of hip-hop, prevailing biases against rappers, and his personal hip-hop GOATs.
Tell us about your new album “Bludevl”?
Binuo ko siya gamit ng mga dati ko pang tracks. Ginawa ko ’yung album para ipakita ’yung artistic side ko sa iba’t-ibang flavor ng mga kanta. Bale seven tracks siya—may trap, may love song. Yung “BludevlL,” ibang kanta doon mga one year ago pa nasulat pero applicable pa ngayon.
(I constructed the album using some of my older tracks. I made it to showcase my artistic side through songs of different flavors. It has seven tracks—there’s trap, and love songs as well. For “Bludevl,” some of the songs were written around a year ago but they’re still applicable today.)
What’s the story behind your breakout hit “4:AM”?
Personal siya sakin kasi relatable ako noong mga panahon na ’yun. ’Yung pagsulat na ’yun parang diary ko ’yun. Di ko inakalang magiging hit siya lalo na sa Spotify—nag-trend din sa TikTok. Pero ’yun nga, unexpected. Nagkaroon lang ako ng vibe na gumawa ng love song pero buti naman nadale ng maayos.
(It’s personal to me because I was relatable at that time. I wrote it as if it were my diary. But I really didn’t expect it to become a hit especially on Spotify—it also trended on TikTok. But yeah, definitely unexpected. I just had a feeling to write a love song but it’s good it was done well.)
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You typically incorporate different genres into your songs. Excluding hip-hop, what are your favorite genres?
Siguro, nakikinig din ako sa mga rock bands dati—kumbaga grunge, new metal. Kaya parang ’yung mga lyrics ko medyo aggressive, parang may mga kalaban ako. In short, parang backstory lang na nakikinig din ako sa mga banda dati hanggang sa dito ako dinala sa hip-hop.
(I used to listen to a lot of rock bands before—grunge, new metal. Maybe it’s why some of my lyrics sound aggressive as if I have an enemy somewhere. In short, it’s kind of like a backstory that I used to listen to a lot of bands before I found my way to hip-hop.)
It’s been said that rappers are musicians who can’t sing. What can you say about that?
Sa totoo lang, isa ako sa mga ’yun. Kumbaga, di talaga ako gaano [kagaling] sa pagkanta. Pero para sa akin kaya ko siya i-try. Kaya why not. Pinaka cool mo na magagawa is to try new things. Pero ’yun nga, mahirap siya hasain, kumbaga pag sa kanta kung rapper ka lang, ’yun ka na. Pero on the way naman makikita mo siya at maaaral mo rin.
(In all honesty, I’m one of those. I’m just not that used to singing. But for me, I think I can do it if I try. Why not? Trying new things is the coolest thing you can do. Though, it really is hard to hone. At times, especially when dealing with actual records, if you’re a rapper, that’s what you stick to doing. But singing is something you can always encounter and develop.)
Do you think hip-hop has come a long way with how it’s accepted and regarded in the Philippines?
Sa tingin ko, mas lumawak na siya ngayon. Marami nang choices ng kanta na pwede pakinggan ng tao. Minsan nga di mo alam hip-hop na pala pero iba ’yung timpla niya—may pagka love song na melodic or grimey. Kumbaga iba-iba na siya—mayroon na nga mga pang commercial na rap. In short, hip-hop parin siya. Kumbaga mas marami nang mapapagpiliian na mapapakinggan. Tsaka, mas open na sila sa mga mas explicit na lyrics.
(I think there’s a broadened acceptance now. People have more choices with what kind of music they want to listen to. Sometimes you wouldn’t even know it’s hip-hop because of how it is mixed—some can be melodic love songs or even grimey. It’s still hip-hop. It’s just that there are more flavors to choose from. Not to mention, others are now open to more explicit lyrics.)
Who are your Filipino hip-hop GOATs?
’Yun talaga. Kung mga GOATs, marami akong pwedeng banggitin. Pero siguro, ’yung mga soundtrip ko talaga dati sila Stick Figgas, Shanti Dope, at Bugoy. At of course sina sir Gloc 9, Al James, at Flow G. Kumbaga, sila ’yung mga soundtrip ko bago ako makarating dito.
(If it’s the GOATs, there’s a lot I could mention. But, maybe the ones I used to listen to a lot like Stick Figgas, Shanti Dope, and Bugoy. And of course sir Gloc 9, Al James, and Flow G. They were the ones I really listened to before I got to where I am today.)
This interview has been edited for length and clarity.
For more on Hellmerry and the best of Filipino hip-hop, check out Spotify’s Kalye Playlist.