Hev Abi is choosing not to gatekeep his go-to hangout spot. In an interview with Spotify, the Quezon City-based rapper was asked about his favorite place in town.
“Favorite spot ko sa QC, Tomas Morato, taga doon kami [My favorite spot in Quezon City is Tomas Morato, where I’m from],” Hev Abi said.
Beyond the local music scenes, he highlighted the vicinity’s appeal as a place to chill with friends. “Hindi dahil sa mga gimikan doon [Not because of the usual scene there]. Doon kami nakatambay ng mga tropa ko [That’s where my friends and I hang around].”
Tomas Morato brings the music artist familiarity and comfort, with him adding, “Sarap din doon pag gabi [It’s also nice there at night]. Malamig-lamig, sarap maglakad-lakad [It gets a bit chilly, perfect for walking].”
Hev Abi usually features the Quezon City locality in his songs, such as “WELCOME2DTQ” (Downtown kinaladkad ang QC kami may ari nito), “QC Girls” (QC girls fine, ’yoko muna ng iba), and “Pasaway Mode” (Pa’no mag-rap ‘yung mga goons sa QC, ah).
Tomas Morato is known for its nightlife culture, home to a mix of clubs and bars throughout the neighborhood.
The “Para Sa Streets” rapper was also asked about musicians who influenced his music, to which he answered: “Mga [My] music influences ko bukod sa sarili ko si [aside from myself are] Kanye West, Tyler (The Creator), [and] Pharrell. Puro producer din halos [For the most part, producers as well].”
As for his concluding message to his audience, Hev Abi simply told Spotify: “Siguro kung gaano ako kalupit. Kaya ko naman ginagawa ito. ‘Yun ‘yun. [Maybe how intense I am. That’s why I do this. That’s all there is to it.”
Hev Abi released his first studio album, Kung Alam Mo Lang, on October 20. It features the likes of Unotheone, LK, Simmo, gins&melodies, Nazty Kidd, and Kristina Dawn.