It takes a village to build something up, yet it takes a society to break down the norm and create something that’s completely different. Delinquent Society has continuously been defying expectations and the norm for how non-Manila-based artists move and do their own thing. With the talent that’s Davao-born and bred, it’s further strengthening the notion how the cream of the crop can always rise on top.
In this CLAVEL feature, we had a chat with two of the frontmen of DS in Aud and Contemplate as they shared what making music in hard mode feels like.
You heard that right. It’s the immediate reality of artists trying to make a name for themselves outside of Metro Manila, let alone in Davao specifically. Fewer opportunities, fewer eyes on what they’re doing, and the general stigma of a controversial political climate in the area.
“Maraming gangster sa nagpapa-event ng hiphop. We were exposed sa ganun na culture early on sa aming careers” – as Aud reminisces on the landscape of the Davao rap scene back then. Delinquent Society tried something different while also embracing this aspect, which led to a surge of communal bonds between rappers, skaters, and taggers that supported each other and the scene as a whole.
Somewhere in the forefront of all of this was Delinquent Society providing a focus on layered lyricism on top of intense beats. Their mix of Bisaya, Tagalog, and English on their songs provide this extra level of complexity that adds to their songs. A story of always pushing upwards given their circumstances, yet still being proud of where they came from.
“Yung DS sound is really fight music. Parang nakikipaglaban parati.”
“If you guys won’t give us respect, we’ll snatch it from you guys” – this type of energy came from Aud of Delinquent Society during our interview with the duo. Just listen to the opening 5 seconds of any DS song, and the immediate reaction is that shit’s about to go down.
Today, the yin and yang duo of Aud and Contemplate are on a string of bangers since the pandemic ended. Reimagined now as a two-man fronted act, it led to hits such as NAKA-BLACK, KUHA BAG (running it back with Rjay Ty since their collab for Yatkape), and recently celebrating a milly streams: 8000WABAD.
“It’s our way of introducing ourselves back again, at the same time representing our city.”
Another track that encapsulates their current era is Certified, a certified kickass song if we do say so ourselves. But more than that, it’s also another anthem as a love letter for Davao City and its people. The subtle budut sample most especially is an ode to DJ Love, blending it with hiphop to create this track. “We noticed some people from Davao kapag lumilipat, nakalimutan na nila na taga Davao sila. It’s our way of saying wag naman ganun, Certified ka parin dito” the duo shared.
Even the people behind the scenes deserve some love as being part of the group. From day zero member Fusr sent out beats and verses from another hemisphere to Ross Fuego and Burbankzzz dishing out the live beats & visuals respectively.
Another homie of theirs Murphy Caballero has his fingerprints all over the place with Delinquent Society’s hot streak of recent work such as the energy of absolute cinema and gangster flick-inspired music video for 8000WABAD and The Hangover-coded visuals of Certified.
The music video itself was filmed in the streets of Bangkok during Delinquent Society’s foray into its music festival earlier this year. Their festival inclusion in of itself is a statement that they don’t need the backing of the Manila machine to make a splash in the music of the world.
“We want them to realize na merong scene and merong untapped potential sa Davao or sa Mindanao in general na hindi pa na-explore” – and that has always been their goal: to become the beacon that shines among VisMin creatives.
For these band of delinquents have reached leaps and bounds beyond where they’ve started, but the fight remains unfinished to uplift a society that deserves a shine of a spotlight on a regular.
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