For the first time in the MTV history, the music channel brought renowned local and international hip-hop acts together in one stage with MTV Music Evolution 2015 in Manila! This all hip-hop event, another first for MTV, became a ground full of music enthusiasts lost in the beat and speed of hip-hop artists at the Quirino Grandstand last May 17.
Thousands of hip-hop fans gathered at the concert grounds to witness this once-in-a-lifetime event. As every hour passed, more and more people arrived, excitedly anticipating for the first act to open the show.
To keep the hype before MTV Music Evolution 2015 started, MTV Asia VJs Alan Wong and Hanli Hoefer as well as MTV Pinoy VJs Chris Schneider and Yassi Pressman interacted with fans with fun games and activities to prep the energy for the whole night.
And finally, Philippines’ iconic rapper Gloc-9 kicked off the concert with an (as he always does) impressive and intense set with his hits Upuan, Sumayaw Ka, and Sirena. With neon lights in the background and screaming and singing crowd, Gloc 9 sent the crowd to a state of hip-hop explosion. But that was just the beginning. To give tribute to the late Francis M., Gloc 9 performed Stars and Sun and Kaleidoscope World, which brought everyone to an instant rewind in time, singing along with light sticks in hand.
It was followed by Abra and his crew, Lyrically Deranged Poets. Also joining him onstage were Loonie, Ron Henly, Poor Country, and AP3. They heated the night up with a six-song set of medleys.
One of the unforgettable moments of the concert was when Apl.de.Ap dominated the concert stage! It was an amazing and dynamic performance with a mash-up of Here We Go and Bebot, followed by a heart-tugging act with Jessica Reynoso as they sang The Apl Song together and I Got A Feeling. Concluding his set was a breathtaking number with Jessica, Abra, and Loonie with The Black Eyed Peas’s Hit, Where Is The Love? This moment almost resembled the group, reunited. A fantastic way to end, indeed.
After the smashing local acts, MTV Music Evolution 2015 instantly switched to international acts, with DJ Cash Money spinning his new school flavor mixed with old school tunes, making the people move and groove to the almost one hour DJ Cash Money experience.
Up next was a mind-blowing YG on the stage! He performed his hits My Hitta, Don’t Tell Em, Who Do U Love, and I Just Wanna Party. And Quirino Grandstand, right away, turned into a party.
Last but not the least, was the Philippines’ first-timer and Grammy Award winning group Naughty By Nature! Sporting their custom-made Filipino shirt, they wrapped up the concert with their songs O.P.P., Hip Hop Hooray, Uptown, Craziest, and Feel Me Flow. The group also showed some Manny Pacquiao love, and gave a rendition to Kaleidoscope World.
What’s a great show if it’s not going to have a jaw-dropping ending? The show was concluded with all the performers gathered onstage for the finale!
MTV Music Evolution 2015 really brought hip-hop music to new heights. A blast of the old and the new, local and international, it was a mix that brought frenzy to the hip-hop world.
All photos in this article courtesy of MTV Philippines.
