Gloc-9 is not one to brag about his work because he believes that it should speak for itself. Yet there is no underestimating his 20 years in the music industry, especially since it is not just about being rapper and performer, but also about being a songwriter.

It also is about having struggled to get to this point where he has nothing to prove, and now realizing that he has in fact put in the work and must only compete with himself. “Kung titingnan ko ‘yung 20 years, parang siguro ang biggest lesson ay ang magpatuloy lang do’n sa gusto mo talagang gawing mga kanta. Kasi siyempre maraming kailangan i-consider minsan, pero kung gano’n kasi, baka hindi ka na makakasulat,” he says.

Gloc-9 is not one to plan on writing a hit song, which makes each and every hit song a welcome surprise. What might be most interesting though is that the songs that have become hits are the ones that speak of very distinct issues of nation: LGBT rights, OFWs, poverty, prostitution, corruption. He says:“Na-realize ko rin sa tagal ko na ring nagsusulat ng kanta, na wala naman akong puwedeng isulat na hindi ko naranasan o nakita manlang. Kasi ‘yun ‘yung trigger din sa pagsusulat, na may makita ako, may tanong ako tungkol sa isang bagay.”

This might explain why Gloc-9 hasn’t found the need to follow fads or go for what’s trending in music. He is also not one to deny his age, in fact he finds comfort in it. “Parang mapapaisip ka rin na kung dalawang dekada ka na rito sa business na ‘to, then nadaanan mo na rin siguro ‘yung dinadaanan ngayon ng mga mas batang rapper,” he smiles. “Hindi ko na kailangang makipagsabayan sa kanila, time nila ito.”

Besides, there is enough space for everybody, and Gloc-9 is of the belief that the more rappers there are doing different things, then the better for original Pilipino music and its fans. His focus remains the same as 20 years ago when he himself was a young un-discovered rapper: to make songs that he is proud of, and hopefully put together an album.

On his 20 th year of course, a new album is what Gloc-9 does have, and he couldn’t be happier. “Yung Rotonda is an EP na sobrang natuwa ako sa bawat kanta, kasi dumating sa’kin paisa-isa, and parang nung nabuo ko ‘yung lima, sakto siya do’n sa gusto kong i-discuss na mga bagay na hindi ko pa napagusapan sa ibang album.”

ROTONDA is Gloc-9’s ninth studio album, and his third with Universal Records. AVAILABLE NOW  in CD and Digital formats (iTunes, Spotify, Deezer, Amazon, Spinnr).

Catch Gloc9 perform live on November 4 (Saturday), 7 pm at Eastwood Central Plaza for his Rotonda EP Launch. Get a FREE Gloc-9 Rotonda T-Shirt for every CD purchase. First come, first served!

Watch the official music video of his latest song, “Ice Tubig”:

(Photos courtesy of Universal Records)