In the 16 years he’s been a leading figure in hip-hop, #Anygma — or Alaric Yuson — has seen how reductionist perspectives of battle rap have limited its recognition as a legitimate art form, especially in the Philippines. But he has also seen how big an impact it can make on the global stage.
On this special episode of The Rolling Stone Philippines Interview, the Voices honoree and founder of the world’s most viewed battle rap league, FlipTop, talks about how the craft centers creativity and showmanship at its core as he breaks down the misconceptions and challenges of building a grassroots community with mainstream visibility.
