The Freshmakers

MANILA, Philippines - Earlier this year, a certain Manila Music Festival exploded onto the scene, and with it, brought to our shores the likes of OG Ali Shaheed Muhammad from A Tribe Called Quest, and Zulu Nation’s Afrika Bambaataa, considered to be the godfather of hip-hop. Their arrival meant that an urban scene was fast growing in Manila, covering everything from streetwear, music, graffiti to other art forms associated with hip-hop culture. Continuing the charge of what the likes of rapper Francis M and Sarah Meier-Albano have started in Manila are Sassa Jimenez, Rjay Ty, Nix Pernia (aka Nix Damn P!), Aliver Cedillo (aka Adoborat), Mara Reyes, Archie Geotina, and Christel Boncan who all made waves this year in their respective fields. Dubbed “Best New Artist” at the 2012 Urban Music Awards, Rjay Ty is co-founder of LDP or Lyrically Deranged Poets and WordPlay, a spoken word event that is regularly held at hip urban haunt, RONAC Art Center. Meanwhile, Aliver Cedillo, more popularly known as Adoborat, has been a staple in the hip-hop community as a photographer chronicling the rise of urban culture through his famous fish-eye lens. DJ Nix Pernia aka Nix Damn P! exploded into the scene after bagging the championship trophy from 2011’s Best Buy DJ spin-off in L.A. He brings to Manila his mainstream hip-hop meets underground sensibilities, making him a favorite in clubs and music festivals all over. Archie Geotina, who recently showcased his works at Platform MNL and Show & Tell, continues to be a top proponent of graffiti and street art culture in Manila while Mara Reyes, after her stint with Project Runway Season 1, is now a commercial and music video stylist, and fashion designer, collaborating with skate brand THE Clothing. She was also the stylist of the Cinemalaya breakout “Ang Nawawala.”  Apart from owning their own clothing labels, fashion designer Sassa Jimenez and UNSCHLD clothing’s Christel Boncan, have become staples in the urban scene, being among several cultural manufacturers behind The Bridge Files, an urban movement and a highly curated website tackling verge culture, and Show & Tell, a monthly event at Big Bad Wolf that brings together the hip-hop community through music, art, and yes, bingo.