Powerful performances mark Urban Music Awards
Photos by Ritchie Tongo/EPA
“I’ve never won anything before!”
Mica Javier is clutching her 2014 Urban Award for Best New Artist in Samsung Hall at SM Aura.
A few minutes before, she was performing with power and confidence; now, she’s jumping giddily like a little schoolgirl.
Twenty minutes later, she’ll take home another award for Best Collaboration with R&B prince Jay R.
Props
FM radio station Wave 891 has been holding the Urban Awards for the past five years, aiming to honor the best in R&B, soul, and hip-hop.
Beyond the performances and overall unhurried relaxed vibe, this year was meant to address the Yolanda survivors in and around Leyte.
With this in mind, the station collaborated with Ladderhouse.org, a nonprofit to continue rehabilitation efforts in the area (and yes, it is an ongoing concern). The culminating event happened the day after the awards show, when Grammy-winning hip-hop group Bone Thugs-n-Harmony headlined a benefit show at the MOA Arena. ;
The group also played a special three song set during the awards night including “Tha Crossroads.”
Powerful performances
The performances during the fifth Urban Awards were full of power and showcased local talent in the urban music genre.
Wave 891’s DJ Scratchmark warmed the crowd with an hour-plus set; Lola’s Noisy Neighbours helped kick up the energy up a few notches during the pre-show and the group’s KrazyKyle offered a touching tribute to the late Francis M.
Legit Misfitz got the crowd on their feet with their classic “Jabongga” (the duo is celebrating their 20th year in October). The collective Q York with Roxy Bee delivered what can be described as an inspirational set.
Ron Henley’s performance gave way smoothly to high energy performances from Abra, RJT, and Alex LDP, all backed by DJ Buddha. Mica Javier performed a duet with a pre-recorded Jay R video for their collaboration “Tonight.’
Strange comment
It was a night of powerful music. KrazyKyle, in his tribute rap, lamented that hip-hop is “dying” but it is a curious comment in light of the variety and expressiveness of everybody involved.
Or perhaps he was just expressing, from the perspective of the hip-hop community, that the scene needs even more support… which is also how other local music scenes feel.
Best Original Song Winner (with Rico Blanco) Gloc 9 thanked his producer Jonathan Ong (“ang aking Rick Rubin”), and Best Album Winner Loonie was absent: his album is called “Ultrasound” with an album cover that referenced a birth which is what literally he was addressing during the Awards evening.
2014 Urban Awards winners
Hypeman of The Year— MC Pao
Club DJ of the Year— DJ Ace Ramos
Best New Artist— Mica Javier
Best Music Video— “WOW” (Roxee B and Q York)
Best Collaboration— “Tonight” (Mica Javier and Jay R)
Best Original song— “Magda” (Gloc 9 and Rico Blanco)
Best Album— “Ultrasound” (Loonie)
Best Producer— Bo Jam
Best Duo or Group— Blaze n Kane
Best Rap Artist— Abra
Best Male R&B Artist— Thyro
Best Female R&B Artist— Yumi
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