The Batangueña rising star Alex Bruce made her solo debut at the age of 12.

With “Mind As A Weapon,” her 2018 single, she made waves in the industry as a fresh talent destined to shake the scene at its roots. In her latest single, “A to Z,” she joined forces with the “SUBOMOTO” hitmaker, Zae. Defeating all odds and pre-conceived notions as a pair, the two hip-hop artists challenge the male-dominated industry with a rousing trap anthem. The two rappers seamlessly blend into each other, crafting a liquid-smooth flow that’s almost venomous.

In an exclusive interview with Billboard Philippines, Alex Bruce admitted the collaboration process between her and Zae took years in the making. “We’ve been mutuals for so long na and umpisa pa lang, we wanted to collab. Pero hindi kami nakahanap ng tamang panahon; hindi kami nakasalubong nung time na ‘yon. Pero, naisip ko, ‘Hindi pa kami nag-mi-meet in person, hindi pa kami nakasama sa lineup, sa sobrang tagal na namin magkakilala, never pa kami nag-meet up.’ So, nag-aya siya.”

[We’ve been mutuals for so long and from the start, we wanted to collaborate. But we couldn’t find the right time, we hadn’t met at that time yet. But I thought, “We haven’t met in person yet, we haven’t even been in the same lineup. For the long time we’ve known each other, we’ve never met up.” So, she invited me.]

It may just be the result of modern times, but “A to Z” spawned from a Facebook post. According to Bruce, Zae tagged her on a post, inviting her to collaborate. This was a culmination of all the times they’d invited each other to work together — and their first time actually meeting in person was in the studio for recording. Nevertheless, they meshed together naturally; as Bruce illustrated, she knit her fingers together, affirming, “Like that!”

When conceptualizing their joint work, the duo took into account that, as two femcees in the local hip-hop scene, they’d often be compared or pit against each other by the general public. With “A to Z,” they aimed to dispel that, showing unity and solidarity as women in a male-dominated industry. Illustrating their message behind the power track, Bruce said, “Oh, we should send a message na parang (like), the so-called beef between us isn’t real.”

Carrying this over to their audience, the two artists aim to empower their listeners, spreading the same powerful energy they felt when recording the song. Apart from that, Bruce added, “Gusto namin ma-hype sila.” (We want them to get hyped.) Bopping her head to the same swagger she infects her audience with, the young rising artist exuded confidence and a burning passion for the music she creates.

When asked if challenges she’s encountered fuelled her artistry, Alex Bruce answered with a resounding, “Yes!” As if taking notes from real-life experience, the artist detailed that she would take criticism as incentive to record more music. In this way, she would let her art speak for itself, proving them wrong in the best way she knows to. In true hip-hop fashion, she described that there were no limitations to what she would cover in her music.

Bruce attributes her strength in spite of challenging circumstances in being a public figure in a conservative and patriarchal society to her astounding confidence. She doesn’t try to make herself any smaller for the convenience of others, instead, she conveys her feelings of confidence and empowerment through her art, which reflects strongly throughout her discography. She confessed that, while there are challenges in being in a male-dominated field, she presses that she can make it through with her sheer willpower. “Lalo na ngayon. (Now, more than ever) we [female rappers in the local industry] are just supporting each other; we have each other’s backs,” she added.

With such a strong and early start in the industry, this will surely not be the last we hear of Alex Bruce. Assuring what’s to come, the artist vowed she would be releasing a fifteen (and possibly more)-track album in the near future. Within the next five years, as well, she aims to hold her first-ever solo concert. With her undeniable talent and unrelenting drive, Alex Bruce isn’t just a spark — she’s a blazing fire uplifting the future of the local hip-hop scene.

Listen to “A to Z” here: