Prolific Filipino-American rap prodigy MBNel sure is doing his part in showcasing the Philippines’ fast-ascending rap talent before a global audience. After shooting two hot singles (Ghost 2 and Just Like You) in Manila during his first visit to the country, he came back to our shores recently a second time for Ashtray, a smoking-hot single featuring powerhouse Filipino Hip-hop trio O SIDE MAFIA.
Ashtray gives Filipino rap fans plenty of reasons to get hyped up. Seamlessly alternating English and Tagalog verses between its collaborating artists, it’s an affirmation of the endless exciting possibilities of Filipino-blooded rap music—and how it’s ripe for recognition the world over. The multi-lingual music that MBNel and O SIDE MAFIA treats us to with this sizzling collab is fast, edgy, catchy, and proudly Pinoy.
“It’s dope hearing Tagalog flow on this type of song because it’s not too far from the lane they do”, says MBNel about his collab with the O SIDE trio. The international rap artist also shares how the collaboration happened naturally during his trips to his Motherland. “We had locked in my first trip, but during my second visit, we linked up in the studio,” he explained. “From there, they jumped on what I had open, and I wanted to create something catchy with them.”
MBNel’s and O SIDE MAFIA’s music boast close to 300 million streams globally between them, and they’re barely getting started. It’s undeniably a great time to be a Filipino rap fan.
Ashtray by MBNEL feat. O SIDE MAFIA is out now on digital streaming platforms.
