Gloc 9

The recent staging of the first Urban Music Awards allowed a premier rapper to come out cool in spite of his arguably out-of-place situation attending an occasion full of English-speaking, hip-hopping dudes and gals populating the so-called local urban music scene. Probably because of his collaborations with the likes of Parokya Ni Edgar and 6Cyclemind, Gloc 9 is more associated with the rock scene, as some could have found him kind of alienated during that event held at the fountain area of Eastwood Mall.

Well, the acknowledged heir to Francis M.’s rapping charisma was far from being displaced. He was after all handed with the “Best Male Hip-Hop” award, one of the categories available that Friday night.

Silently seated somewhere at the back of the invitees’ area, Gloc 9 stood and went up the stage to receive his trophy. He was certainly aware that most awardees were delivering their short speeches in English. So with a probably planned punchline, he uttered on the mic, “Kanina pa dumudugo ang ilong ko so tatagalugin ko na lang. Salamat.”

With that, the male hip-hop winner received loud applauses. It was obvious he delivered the one-liner with proper timing, like most of his rhymes and comic sarcasms in his recorded verses. Gloc 9 was just being cool, not a bit sounding trying to put one over people belonging to the elite club scene.

His line might have been the unlikeliest heard that night. But big thanks he already earned enough respect as an intelligent Tagalog rapper, for it would have been different had an unknown or overrated artist said the same thing.

Granted he really nosebleed during the entire affair, especially with all the Fil-Ams, Amboys, and rich kids around, he still triumphed using the language he’s more comfortable with.

Other marquee winners of the first-ever Urban Music Awards were South Border’s Jay Durias for “Most Influential R&B Icon,” Jay-R and Kyla for “Best Collaboration,” Young JV for “Best New Artist” and Billy Crawford for “Best Style Icon-Male.”

“This is about paying homage to the R&B and hip-hop artists,” said DJ Tayshaun who’s behind the Awards’ concept.