Skusta Clee & Flow G: The Sound Of Now

By now, there’s no corner of the Philippines that hasn’t heard their voice at least once. Skusta Clee and Flow G are two of the most in-demand artists in today’s streaming era: combined, they garner eight-figure monthly listeners, a handful of billion streams, and multiple chart-topping hits. 

More than that, both of them are ever-present fixtures in the Philippine landscape, arguably household voices that come at a time when listening to local music is on the rise. You can hear them in the blaring Cubao jeepneys, the upscale penthouses in the posh side of Makati, and the YouTube playlist of your neighborhood karinderya. By all accounts, Skusta Clee and Flow G should be considered household names if presence were the only metric. 

Out of his many feats, it’s Skusta Clee’s versatility to jump genres while maintaining the artistic qualities that have earned him his stripes. Whether it’s his early trap hits or his breakout rock-adjacent hit “Kalimutan Ka,” the hitmaker has left an indelible mark in the music landscape because of his versatility. Earlier this year, Skusta Clee shared the stage with songwriter extraordinaire Jay Durias for renditions of the South Border classic “Ikaw Nga” and Skusta Clee’s hit “Sa Susunod Na Lang.” 

“Mas nakilala kasi ako sa (I became more known for) pop, hip-hop, at R&B,” Skusta Clee shares. “Itong ‘Kalimutan Ka’ ‘yung isa sa mga genre na ginagawa ko na hindi ko pa na-share. Hindi ko in-expect na ganoon ‘yung magiging reach nya.”

(“‘Kalimutan Ka’ is one of the genres I’ve dabbled in but haven’t shared before. I didn’t expect it to have that kind of reach.”)

Flow G’s career trajectory runs in parallel, but as a slower-burn ascent that started in rap. Showcasing his technical proficiency from the get-go, Flow’s consistency eventually cemented his status as a certified headliner following the single “Rapstar” at the end of 2022.

When asked about a particular track that changed the direction of his career, Flow G settled with “Rapstar.” He shares, “Nabago talaga ‘yung tingin nila sa akin dahil sa kanta na ’yun pero hindi lang dahil dun. Madaming factors.”

(“Their view of me changed because of that song, but there were a lot of other factors.”)

“‘Yung proseso kung gaano ka-crucial pagdesisyonan na ‘Rapstar’ ‘yung title niya, alam ko rin ‘yung mga kalakip na mga kailangan ko ipakita pati mga galaw para bumagay sa akin ‘yung titulo na ‘Rapstar,'” he continues.

(“The process of deciding on ‘Rapstar’ as the title was crucial. I also knew what came with that title — what I needed to show and how I needed to carry myself so that the ‘Rapstar’ title would suit me.”)

In 2024, Flow G’s recognition came in spades, winning Wish Artist of the Year and SpotifySpotifyA digital music, podcast, and audiobook streaming platform that lets users listen to millions of tracks and shows on demand across multiple devices.Go to Spotify Glossary Kalye Artist at the 9th Wish Music Awards, followed by Rap Artist of the Year at the PMPC Star Awards.

But despite the overarching familiarity with their music, the streams to back it up, sold-out concerts in the country and beyond, and the accolades to cement their status as legends, not much is known about the two beyond the music. What personal details surface tend to arrive in informal channels. Their own Wikipedia pages omit a significant portion of their respective careers, only discussing their music from 2019 to the present. 

The two are poised to surface beyond the flash. The timing is perfect, thanks to “Since Day One,” which stands to be this year’s biggest pop hit.

After releasing in February, “Since Day One” climbed the charts steadily over the following weeks, eventually rising up to the top of the Billboard Philippines Hot 100 two months after, sitting ahead of BTS’s “SWIM” at No. 2.

In a rising P-pop music economy ready for global consumption, Flow G and Skusta Clee stand as sleeping giants. Together or solo, the two are primed to take over the world. 

“Nanggaling ‘yung idea no’n sa bago kong synthesizer. Naghahanap ako ng magandang tunog sa presets. Noong nahanap ko ‘yung tamang tunog para sa intro, tuloy-tuloy na nabuo ‘yung production,” shares Skusta Clee. “Nanggaling naman ‘yung topic dahil habang nagha-humming ako sa beat, ‘Since Day One’ at ‘Young Stunna’ ang lumabas sa freestyle ko. At nung nabuo ko na ‘yung hook, walang ibang pumasok na artist sa isip ko na makakakitil ng vibe na ‘to kundi si Flow G.” 

(“The idea for the song came from my new synthesizer, while I was exploring the presets. As soon as I found the right sound for the intro, the production of the song went on from there. While I was humming to the beat, the words ‘Since Day One’ and ‘Young Stunna’ came out from my freestyling. And when I came up with the hook, no other artist in my mind could kill it besides Flow G.”)

“Kasi familiar na kami sa mga ganitong tunog (Because these sounds were already familiar to us) since the early days,” he adds. Thematically and sonically, “Since Day One” treads the same recursive lines that both artists have drawn up since they first garnered viral fame. Flow G and Skusta Clee, above everything, speak the language of a modern mainstream generation: an absorption of a sonic palette spanning across pop, R&B, and hip-hop, filtered through Filipino sensibilities, melodrama included. For many, both artists have been the blueprint, whether they admit it or not. 

As young as they are, both of their careers span roughly a decade, which is more than what many can aspire for.

“Sa totoo lang, kahit kami hanggang ngayon eh nag-aaral pa rin at natututo (Honestly, we’re both still learning until now),” both of them share in an interview. “Wala pa kami sa tamang posisyon para masagot kung ano ba ang maiiwan naming legacy (We aren’t at the right position to tell what legacy we would leave just yet).” 

“Sa ngayon, ine-enjoy lang namin ang bawat experience at opportunities na dumarating sa amin (For now, we’re just enjoying all the experiences and opportunities that come our way).”

What can come next after “Since Day One”?

The answer from the pair is what you might expect: “Ang sagot diyan ay, ‘yan ang mga dapat abangan (The simple answer is, it’s what you should look forward to)!” At least, it’s good to let them know, even if they already know it, that millions of people are listening closely.

_{Photographed by Excel Panlaque.
Art and Fashion Direction by Easel Manes.
Hair and Makeup for Skusta Clee: Sharmaine De Castro. Styling for Skusta Clee: Jana Silao.
Makeup for Flow G: Jay Salcedo. Hair for Flow G: Jhon Karlo Encomienda. Styling for Flow G: Gela Muñoz.}

_{Production by Liezel Restauro.
Written by Lex Celera. Billboard Philippines. July 2026.}

_{Special thanks to H&M Philippines.}