General
FlipTop 2017: An Action-packed Year
2017 was surely one of FlipTop’s most unforgettable years. Let’s take a look back at the historic moments.
Dante Romero
May 06, 2022
For its 7th anniversary, FlipTop decided to do a house party-style celebration. Grain Assault 8 took place on January 10 at B-Side and instead of solely focusing on battles, the league chose to put the spotlight on all the major elements of hip-hop. Apart from emcees showcasing their skills on the mic, there was also breakdancing, graffiti, turntablism, and a drum machine exhibition. It was a night that showed just how diverse the culture is.
2017 saw another Isabuhay contest as well as the much-awaited return of Dos Por Dos. Both tournaments consisted of the best emcees from every division, which resulted in a very action-packed series of matches. There were major upsets, total bodybags, controversial results, and most importantly, battles that once again showcased the evolution of lyricism and overall performance. The two tournaments concluded on Ahon 8 at Riverside Studios in Makati. Mhot, who is often regarded as the 2016 rookie of the year, officially became a top-tier emcee by winning the Isabuhay championship. Shernan and M Zhayt also gained legendary status by beating the heavily-favored team of Sinio and Tipsy D and becoming the Dos Por Dos champions. What a ride it was for everyone involved!
March was a memorable month because aside from the classic Unibersikulo 5 affair in Makati, there was also a historic Mindfields event in Quezon City. The show, which took place on the 22nd of March, was headlined by the legendary rap group Mastaplann. One thing was certain after their performance: the OGs can still rock the crowd like it was the 90s. Other highlights include the superb rap sets from GSM, Tha Green House, Shockra, Illustrado, and Ill-J and Juss Rye of Sun Valley Crew (another legendary group). DJ Supreme Fist, Arthug, and Anstdru also tore the house down with their scratch jam. Two more Mindfields happened at the same venue that year, both of which featured some of the best acts in the country. It then continued in Cebu on May 5 and Davao on May 12.
2017 was certainly an unforgettable year for Central Luzon. On April 8, FlipTop had its very first event in Cabanatuan called Kabanata. Technical difficulties from the venue led to the bad audio on the YouTube videos, but those who watched live were thoroughly impressed by the battles. Anygma and co. proceeded to Pampanga on October 20 for Aspakan 5. The majority of the emcees on the lineup gave their A-game, and thankfully, there were no audio glitches on the videos. As for the Visayas and Mindanao Divisions, not only did they enjoy Mindfields, but major battle events as well. Cebu had Gubat 5 on May 6 while Davao had Pakusganay 3 on May 13.
It’s now 2022, and FlipTop is still going strong. Not even the coronavirus pandemic can stop the continuous growth of both the league and the local hip-hop scene. The next event will take place on May 14 at the Hoops Dome in Lapu-Lapu City. Visit the FB page to see the official poster and the ticket prices. Mag-ingay!
