Filipinos know deep in the marrow of their musically gifted bones, the true bedrock of music. It’s almost like their sixth sense – rhythm and soul come naturally to these natives. The underground scene of Pinoy R’n’B and Hip-Hop is growing at a rapid rate – with an influx of unique voices, each with a fresh take on the genre. Recently, the resurgence of these bands have polarized audiences – churning discord among audiophiles and inveterate concertgoers over what constitutes a solid bop. So, a series of artist-centric companies like RapUp Philippines, TuneCore, and Urban Gathering, join forces in crowning the next ‘big musical star’ in an epic R’n’B and Hip-Hop competition.
Aspiring artists have a shot at winning an attractive sum of cash prizes, performing at the AXEAN Music Festival in Bali, Indonesia, as well as a limelight feature on DougBrock TV’s SoundTrip series. Since 2023, RapUp has been the launchpad for fresh talent, hosting competitions where qualifiers perform live at the Urban Gathering. From emerging talent to global icons like Drake, Ziggy Marley, Jay-Z, and Public Enemy, TuneCore has steadily been their backbone. Urban Gathering is one of TMP’s flagship events, offering the best of underground Filipino hip-hop, with its curated artist lineups and exclusive social access to industry giants, it’s a dynamic showcase of Pinoy hip-hop at its rawest. For over five years, they’ve been the engine behind the biggest artists, events, and innovations in the local music scene.
This year’s competition promises a “bigger, better” experience with a Php 50,000 grant for the winner, Php 30,000 for the first runner-up, and Php 20,000 for the second runner-up. Since its inception, RapUp Philippines has been the go-to for rising artists, producers, songwriters, and composers looking to find their tribe. It’s all about authenticity and artistry here, supporting indie artists in marketing their music and perfecting their craft.
The winner also gets to wave the TuneCore Philippines flag in Bali at the AXEAN Music Festival. Plus, all participants have the chance to be featured on DougBrock TV’s SoundTrip series, with a song performance recorded and published by DBTV.
Here’s how you can get in on the action:
- Sign up for an Unlimited Plan at TuneCore via tunecore.com using the code RAPUP35 to get 35% off.
- Drop your chosen track, published on Spotify, as a comment under the designated post on Urban Gathering’s Facebook page announcing the launch of each batch.
See you on stage!
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