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What Made Ahon 4 Special
Ahon 4 took place on November 9, 10, and 11, 2012. Here’s why it was such a historic event.
Jake Tan
December 10, 2025
It was 2012. FlipTop was only two years old, but they were already a staple in Philippine pop culture. The inaugural Dos Por Dos Tournament dominated YouTube, and numerous events were held in different parts of the country. After a successful first edition of Aspakan, many wondered what the next big event will be. On the 21st of October, the league released the official poster and video flyer for Ahon 4. During this time, Ahon was already considered a monumental event. The third one was a huge success, so fans were expecting an even bigger card. It was the first FlipTop event to be held in three days. The first two were strictly for battles while the third was a hip-hop music showcase, which was headlined by respected Fil-Am emcee Bambu. Today, we’re going to talk about what made Ahon 4 a historic and unforgettable affair. It took place on November 9, 10, and 11, and as with the proceeding events, it served as the year-ender.
Reaction was mixed on the battle lineup. There were those that were very hyped up and those that loathed it. The negative reactions were the same as those we see today: there were no big enough names and focused mostly on newcomers. Ahon 4 was held at the beloved B-Side in Makati. Compared to previous FlipTop events in the venue, attendance was relatively smaller. Despite that, the event pushed through and the crowd was gifted with plenty of battle of the year contenders. Some of the classics that took place here include Frooz vs Sayadd, Tipsy D vs Icaruz, Aklas vs PriceTagg, and Zero Hour vs Tweng. We also saw breakthrough performances from Batang Rebelde, Rudic, and Sinio. It wasn’t just rap that got the spotlight. We witnessed some awe-inspiring beatbox showdowns as well.
It’s safe to say that Ahon 4 is the first event that proved the league is indeed for the culture. Instead of relying on top emcees. Anygma put his faith on the up-and-comers and the underrated names. B-Side may not be a packed house that night, but we’ve witnessed the evolution of the Philippine battle scene. Everyone who watched live is part of history. Up to now, the league continues to highlight both the superstars and the overlooked, thus keeping the movement strong.
Day 3 was packed and deservedly so because of its stacked lineup. Apart from the legendary Bambu, day 3 featured performances from some of FlipTop’s most well-known artists as well as local hip-hop OGs such as Dash, Arbie Won, Miscellaneous, and Pamilia Dimagiba. Each performer rocked the house and showed the audience what real hip-hop is all about.
Ahon 4 wasn’t just a battle rap event; it was a celebration of the local scene’s renaissance. Thirteen years later, the culture is still very much alive nationwide and continues to grow. We are now on the road to Ahon 16. How time flies! We hope to see you all again for another epic hip-hop weekend. Check out the pre-event reviews here and here. For the longtime fans, what’s your favorite Ahon event and battle? Feel free to share your thoughts in the comments section.
