We’re nearly wrapping up February, and it’s been a blast of great new music from Asian artists so far. We got new albums from Japan’s Shurkn Pap and a more exploratory project from the Philippines’ Pricetagg.
Without further ado, here are our selected standout music this week.
Words by MC Galang and Sofia Guanzon
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Jianbo – “Mongkok Madness” ft. Henry Wu
British rapper Jianbo’s “Mongkok Madness” is a brooding grime cut set against a well-shot and directed nod to his Chinese-Vietnamese background. “Mongkok Madness” pulls heavily from UK garage and deep house influences, which dovetails the atmospheric 2021 track, “Jianbo Express.” This latest offering from Jianbo is one of the best tracks of 2022 so far. – MG
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Pricetagg – “No Pressure” ft. Pino G
“No Pressure,” a reverb-heavy R&B-rap standout from Filipino rapper Pricetagg’s newly released BARCODE 2album, is reminiscent of So Far Gone-era Drake. Much of it has to do with R&B singer-songwriter and producer Pino G’s signature sound, which adds dimension to Pricetagg’s tough persona. — MG
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Sak Maestro – “Southside” ft. Querubin
Although technically not a new release (the album officially dropped initially in late 2021), Filipino rapper Sak Maestro’s aptly titled Timeless record just reached our radar earlier this week.
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The FlipTop battle rapper flexes his gift for interpreting classic sounds and rhyme schemes. In album standout “Southside” featuring Querubin (in one of the most vivid, 2000s R&B diva vocals on record), Sak Maestro’s ease of delivery, whether on his most relaxed verses or the chopper bridge, is such a delightful listen. — MG
SHNTI – “Fuck It (I’m In Love Again)”
Filipina rapper SHNTI gets vulnerable about her faith in love in her latest single, “Fuck It (I’m In Love Again).”
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“Being in love is such a beautiful thing and such an underrated superpower,” she says candidly in a video clip about the track’s release. The young artist’s downtempo track is endearingly vulnerable, articulating the bliss of surrendering yourself and being in love, even if the more rational parts of ourselves deny the pleasure otherwise. Sometimes, you just have to say, “fuck it.” –SG
Tempo Tris – “Late Night”
Cambodia’s Tempo Tris crafts together a more trap and R&B-infused offering in his latest track “Late Night.” Throughout the track, he likens the loss of a failed relationship to varying degrees of severity: comparing the lover’s intoxicating pull to drugs, the world without them being hell, and feeling breathless without them. His prolific lyricism and lucid imagery make Tempo Tris one to watch in the Cambodian hip hop scene. –SG
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MC Altaf – “Bansi”
India’s MC Altaf collaborated with producers Lambo Drive and Baajewala, with additional production from Karan Kanchan, for his infectious new track, “Bansi” (Flute). Laced with percussion-driven production and eccentric drumbeats, “Bansi” makes for the perfect dance number, showcased on its accompanying music video. –SG
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Header image: Collage from press images and artists’ YouTube/Instagram accounts
