| Felip | |||||||
| Other Names: | Ken | ||||||
| Birth Name: | Felip Jhon Suson | ||||||
| Birth Date: | 12 January 1997 | ||||||
| Birth Place: | Pagadian, Zamboanga del Sur, Philippines | ||||||
| Alma Mater: | Technological Institute of the Philippines | ||||||
| Years Active: | 2018–present | ||||||
| Module: |
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Felip Jhon Suson (born January 12, 1997), known mononymously as Felip (stylized in all caps) or by stage name Ken, is a Filipino singer-songwriter, rapper, dancer, and producer. He is the main dancer, lead rapper, and lead vocalist of the Filipino boy band SB19. The group debuted in October 2018. They initially struggled to gain attention from the public before rising to fame after their song went viral the next year. Their discography includes the album Get in the Zone (2020) and two extended plays (EPs). Felip has a wide vocal range and is known for his distinctive deep voice.
Felip started going by his mononym for his solo projects starting from the release of his debut solo single "Palayo" in 2021. He released another single titled "Bulan" in 2022 before releasing his debut solo EP Complex in 2023. The latter two works are hip hop-orientated, in contrast with "Palayo", a slow R&B track.
Felip Jhon Suson was born on January 12, 1997, in Pagadian, Zamboanga del Sur. He has bisdák (Cebuano) and Ilocano roots. He was raised by his grandparents in Lakewood, Zamboanga del Sur. Felip's father and grandfather are pastors, and their love for gospel music inspired his own passion for music. The influence of his uncle, who plays many musical instruments, led him to learn how to play several instruments early in life.[1] [2] He started dancing when he needed to for a school project. Felip attended Cagayan de Oro College and studied architecture before his musical career began. After joining the band, he transferred to the Technological Institute of the Philippines.[3] [4]
See main article: article and SB19.
ShowBT Philippines, a subsidiary of Korean company ShowBT, conducted a talent search which would ultimately lead to the formation of the band SB19.[5] Two weeks after Felip sent his video audition, he was invited to train in Manila. He dropped out of school and left his hometown, which his parents initially disapproved of. "It was a difficult decision", he later told the South China Morning Post, "but I had to do it because dancing is what I really love".
The five members of SB19 were selected in 2016, having undergone grueling daily training at a training camp. Their act largely took inspiration from K-pop. Felip debuted as Ken, the band's main dancer, lead vocalist, and rapper, in October 2018. That year, SB19 released their debut single, "Tilaluha", followed by "Go Up". SB19's leader, Sejun (now Pablo), said that the band had begun to grow disheartened after training so long, but receiving little attention. The group had already considered to disband, but their dance practice video for their song, "Go Up", went viral in 2019, leading Sejun to call it their "redemption song". SB19 released a third single, "Alab (Burning)", before their debut studio album Get in the Zone came out on July 31, 2020. Containing their previous three singles, Get in the Zone was highly anticipated by their newly developed fanbase, which was dubbed A'TIN (pronounced 'eighteen').[6] The Philippine Daily Inquirer later wrote that SB19 became the leaders of the Pinoy pop (P-pop) industry.
In April 2021, SB19 became the first Filipino act to be nominated for a Billboard Music Award when they became a contender for the fan-voted category Top Social Artist. Around the same time, Felip was visiting his hometown after his grandmother died. On July 22, 2021, the band released their first extended play (EP) Pagsibol .[7] SB19 began August with the online concert Back in the Zone. During the concert, Felip debuted the original song "Palayo" in a solo performance. His outfit, a red lace top paired with high-rise pants, drew attention on social media.[8]
In August, Felip featured on a remix of Filipino rapper Matthaios's song "Pangga" .[9] On September 18, Felip officially released "Palayo" as his debut solo single, alongside the music video. He wrote and composed the slow R&B tracka departure from SB19's energetic pop styleabout someone walking away from a relationship, with lyrics in Cebuano, Filipino, and English. Using the mononym Felip for his solo projects, Felip was the first SB19 member to start a solo career.[10] [11] His fans were dubbed sisiws .[12] On November 26, Felip launched his clothing line Superior Son, which promptly sold out.[13]
On May 28, 2022, Felip released the single "Bulan", along with the music video. The song was written by Felip, who composed the melody, and described by GMA News' Shia Lagarde as having a "more experimental and aggressive sound", influenced by rock and hip-hop, than "Palayo".[14] Both the song and the music video were inspired by Philippine mythology;[15] [16] he used the story of Bulan, Haliya, and the Bakunawa as a metaphor for crab mentality. The single's melody and chants were inspired by indigenous ritual music. In November 2022, Felip was named "Breakthrough Artist of the Year" at the 8th Wish 107.5 Music Awards.
Felip began his production for his debut solo EP while he was on the WYAT (Where You At) Tour, SB19's first world tour, in late 2022;[17] he wrote some of the lyrics during flights.[18] Felip released the lead single "Rocksta" on January 19, 2023, along with its black-and-white music video.[19] On February 3, his debut EP Complex was released under Warner Music Philippines. A six-track hip-hop record, it has a heavy composition and takes inspiration from hip-hop and rock. Felip described Complex as "a play on the many meanings of the word complex" and more confident and musically experimental. It has lyrics in English and Cebuano. Journalists described the EP as autobiographical and unapologetic.[20] [21] On February 10, he released the music video for the EP's closing song "Straydogs", which was filmed in Japan.[22] Felip later did live performances of the EP's songs called "Superior Sessions Live".[23]
On May 19, SB19 released "Gento",[24] the lead single off their second EP Pagtatag! .[25] The song was a commercial success,[26] while its popularity on TikTok helped introduce SB19 to viewers in other countries, such as the United States.[27] [28] Pagtatag! was released on June 9.[29] That month, SB19 became self-managed after they established the company 1Z Entertainment.[30] In September, Felip performed at Music Matters Live 2023 in Singapore, marking his first solo performance at an international music festival.[31] He then did a solo show in Clarke Quay.[32]
Ken is a fan of metal and rock bands such as IV of Spades, Slipknot, Korn, Metallica, FM Static, Sleeping with Sirens, and Paramore. He also likes hip-hop bands and, due to his religious upbringing, gospel bands. Ken's inspirations for "Bulan" included Post Malone, Lay Zhang, One Ok Rock and Jaden Smith.[33] He was influenced by hip-hop artists such as Al James, Kendrick Lamar, Travis Scott, Post Malone, Kid Cudi, and Lil Uzi Vert in Complex. His favorite K-pop artist is BTS member RM. His also fan of RnB music and singer Daniel Caesar.
Each member of SB19 has a different taste in music, so they do a mix of their respective styles in their songs. He considers his solo work a way to explore genres of music other than his band's P-pop, saying that his songs as Felip are more experimental. His deep bass voice, once a point of insecurity for him, now features heavily in both SB19's music and his solo projects. However, he has a wide vocal range, and can do falsetto. He considers his genre to be "hip-hop metal rock", and has also been influenced by R&B. After the release of Complex, HipHopDX Asia
Felip, who speaks Cebuano, Filipino, and English, chose to highlight the Cebuano language in Complex, because Cebuano-language rap and artists have received less attention in the Philippines.
Filipino magazines such as Nylon Manila have highlighted Felip's "experimental" fashion choices, writing that he blends menswear and womenswear together.[34] [35] [36] [37] He has been described as the most reserved member of SB19.[38] NME Tanu I. Raj, after interviewing the band, wrote that "Ken remains the tempered, silent pillar throughout, speaking only when the others prod him to, and only after glancing at them from the corner of his eye."
See main article: SB19 discography and List of songs recorded by SB19.
| 7sins |
Track Listing:
|
| Album Details | ||
| Complex |
|
|---|
| Title | Year | Album | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| "Palayo" | 2021 | [39] | ||
| "Bulan" | 2022 | [40] | ||
| "Rocksta" | 2023 | Complex | [41] | |
| "Straydogs" | [42] | |||
| "Fake Faces" | 2024 |
| Title | Year | Album |
|---|---|---|
| "Pangga (Remix)" | 2021 | |
| "Flyyy" | 2024 | rowspan="2" |
| "Pagdali" |
See also: SB19 videography.
| Year | Title | Director(s) | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2021 | "Palayo" | [43] | ||
| 2022 | "Bulan" | [44] | ||
| 2023 | "Rocksta" | [45] | ||
| "Straydogs" | [46] | |||
| "Kanako" | [47] | |||
| 2024 | "Fake Faces" | Creative Director: FELIPMusic Composer: Hyuk Shin | [48] |
See main article: List of SB19 live performances.
| Event | Date | Venue | Location | Collaboration With | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Aquatic Beats | April 1, 2023 | Aqua Planet | Mabalacat | MC Einstein·Quest | [49] |
| PPOPCON | July 16, 2023 | Araneta Coliseum | Quezon City | SB19·Alamat·BINI·Josh Cullen | [50] |
| Winter Carnival | December 23, 2023 | P7 Arena | Dubai | Bandang Lapis·Alamat | [51] |
| Title | Date | Venue | Location | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Complex Showcase | February 5, 2023 | Ayala Malls Manila Bay | Parañaque | [52] | |
| Complex Friday | March 24, 2023 | URBN QC | Quezon City | [53] | |
| Superior Sessions Live | April 14, 2023 | Social House Bar and Restaurant | Makati | [54] | |
| Complex Showcase | April 16, 2023 | MarQuee Mall | Angeles | [55] | |
| Complex Live in Singapore | September 13, 2023 | Clarke Quay | Singapore | [56] | |
| A Not So Silent Night: Felip Live in Abu Dhabi | December 24, 2023 | Villaggio Hotel | Abu Dhabi | [57] | |
| Felip | January 16, 2024 | 12 Monkeys Music Hall & Pub | Pasig | [58] |
| Event | Date | Venue | Location | Organizer(s) | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| We Play Here | April 27, 2023 | SM Aura Samsung Hall | Taguig | Warner Music Philippines | [60] |
| Music Matters Live | September 12, 2023 |
| Singapore | Branded Pte Ltd. | [61] |
| Event | Date | Venue | Location | Performed Song(s) | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Miss Zamboanga del Sur | September 16, 2023 | Mega Gymnasium | Pagadian | "Criminal" • "I Want You" | [62] | |
| A Holiday Trail: Tree Lighting Ceremony | November 8, 2023 | Ayala Malls Glorietta | Makati | "Rocksta" • "Palayo" • "Moving Closer" • "Criminal" | [63] | |
| Asia-Pacific Predator League | January 13, 2024 | SM Mall of Asia Arena | Pasay | "Rocksta" • "Criminal" • "Drinksmoke" | [64] | |
| Lucky Chinatown's Countdown to Chinese New Year 2024 | February 9, 2024 | Lucky Chinatown Mall | Manila | "Rocksta" • "Superiority" • "Drinksmoke" • "Criminal" • "Straydogs" • "Mictest" | [65] | |
| Rhythms of the Heart | February 11, 2024 | Ayala Malls Trinoma | Quezon City | "Rocksta" • "Criminal" • "Drinksmoke" • "Moving Closer" • "Pagdali" • "Flyyy" • "Palayo" | [66] |
See main article: List of awards and nominations received by SB19.
| Year | Category | Nominee(s)/work(s) | Result | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Channel R Radio Music Awards - Seattle, USA | 2023 | Best New Artist | Himself | [67] | |
| Awit Awards | 2023 | Best Instrumental Recording | "Bulan" | [68] | |
| Record of the Year | |||||
| Best Performance by a Male Recording Artist | |||||
| Best Rock Metal Recording | |||||
| Music Video of the Year | |||||
| Best Cover Art | |||||
| Best Musical Arrangement | |||||
| People's Voice Favorite Song | |||||
| People's Voice Favorite Breakthrough Artist | Himself | ||||
| People's Voice Favorite Male Artist | |||||
| PPOP Awards | 2023 | Top Performing Artist of the Year | Himself | [69] [70] | |
| Wish Music Awards | 2023 | Breakthrough Artist of the Year | Himself | [71] | |
| Wisher's Choice Award | |||||
| Wishclusive R&B Performance of the Year | "Palayo" | ||||
| 2024 | Wishclusive Hip-hop Performance of the Year | "Rocksta" | [72] | ||