Fil-Canadian rappers to have first awards show

Filipino-Canadian rap artists will star in a one-of-a-kind online awards ceremony this weekend, June 12, Philippine Independence Day.

The first FilCan Music Rap Awards, a virtual event, is hosted by VIBEANT, a Toronto-based online arts magazine; and the FilCan Music Association, a community of FilCan-Canadian DJs, dancers, artists and fans.

Prizes in six categories will be awarded for music produced in 2020. There are 16 finalists and the winners are chosen by popular vote.

There are some 60 to 80 active Filipino Canadian rap artists today, according to Raymond Garcia, one of the event’s organizers and himself part of the rap group Southeast Cartel.

Rapper Raymond “Raygee” Garcia,is one of the event organizers. CONTRIBUTED

“There are a lot of very, very passionate and dedicated Filipino Canadian rappers or artists out there, but they never got the slightest recognition,” Garcia said.

Garcia has seen more rappers attending events and meetups he has organized for Filipino rappers in major Canadian cities.

Calgary Rapper Twizzie Ramos is among the nominees for album of the year at the inaugural FilCan Music Rap Awards on June 12.. CONTRIBUTED

While famous DJs, graffiti artists and dancers have big followings among Filipino hip-hop enthusiasts, Garcia said rappers have not received the same recognition. So, he and his rap buddies have decided to host their own time in the spotlight.

WATCH: First Annual Rap Awards presentation. YOUTUBE

VIBEANT and FilCan Music Association will present the winners in six categories: Music Video of the Year, Song of the Year, Solo Artist of the Year, Rap Group of the Year, EP/Album of the Year, and Collaboration of the Year.

Here are the finalists for the 2020 FilCan Music Rap Awards:

Music Video of the Year

• Easy by Gee ft. Siena Marie
• Pera Pera Pera by Dakillaz
• Trenches by Resflo ft. Raygee, Young John Q n Teej
• Blueberry Faygo by RUSSELL!
• Di Sanay by Arkanghel ft. Pau

Song of the Year

• Sarap Mabuhay by NPA Familia
• Easy by Gee ft. Siena Marie
• Dilim by RYDN
• It Was All A Dream by Southeast Cartel
• Hindi Nyo To Kultura by Resflo

Solo Artist of the Year

• Gee
• Resflo
• Lyrique
• RYDN
• VZN

Rap Group of the Year

• NPA Familia
• Real Dreams Record
• Southeast Cartel
• SLB Productions
• Dakillaz

EP/Album of the Year

• Fauna Flora by Gee
• Isolated by RYDN
• Poetry is my Pleasure by Lyrique
• Flowtaku 4: Star Crusader by Twizzie Ramos
• boy lonely – P.R.Y.D.E

Collaboration of the Year

• Sarap Mabuhay by NPA Familia x Real Dreams Record
• Easy by Gee ft. Siena Marie
• Trenches by Resflo ft. Raygee, Young John Q and TeeJ
• It Was All A Dream by Southeast Cartel ft. Gloc-9
• Homegirl by Timothy Delaghetto X RUSSELL!

For more information visit: https://www.vibeant.com/filcan-music-awards/