HGHMNDS Shows The Intersection Of Filipino Hip-Hop And Fashion

Over the weekend, Filipino streetwear powerhouse HIGH MINDS (or alternatively known as HGHMNDS) marked its 14th anniversary with one of the biggest local hip-hop gatherings of the year. The celebration took over the Pasig City Metrotent, where fans packed the venue wall to wall for a night that blurred the lines between a fashion showcase and a full-scale music festival.

The lineup was stacked with some of the scene’s most formidable names: MC Blain, Tunecore, Paradox BCD, Ramdiss, Hero, Tommie King, Just Hush, Guddhist, Paul N’ Ballin, Ives Presko, CLR, Waiian, Gat Putch, Sica, Supafly, HELLMERRY, Omar Baliw, Loonie, Skusta Clee, and Flow G. Each act brought their own fire to the stage, building an atmosphere that felt like a definitive snapshot of hip-hop in the Philippines today.

Alongside the music, HIGH MINDS made its presence impossible to miss. A massive pop-up store stretched along the side of the venue, drawing long queues of fans eager to cop exclusive drops, discounted pieces, and anniversary memorabilia. Inside, the crowd itself became part of the spectacle — clad in the brand’s signature black, gray, and white palette, the sea of coordinated outfits created a visual unity that made the entire Metrotent an immersive celebration of the brand.

The question of how a lineup of 20 acts, and, by estimation, about more than a thousand diehard fans could fit into the Metrotent seemed impossible at first. The answer, as the night unfolded, was sheer intensity. Packed shoulder to shoulder in sweltering heat, fans danced and recited the lyrics at each verse and bass drop, the discomfort shifting into exhilaration as each performer raised the energy higher.

When the night’s headliners finally took the stage, the festival reached its boiling point. Skusta Clee commanded the crowd with an R&B-tinged set that moved seamlessly between sultry grooves and heartfelt ballads. A full dance break during “Sa Susunod Na Lang” had the audience screaming, while for “Kalimutan Ka,” Skusta Clee brought out all the stops in an emotional performance that the crowd couldn’t help but sing along to. Flow G followed with a blistering performance that pushed the energy into overdrive, his delivery punctuated by bursts of pyrotechnics that turned “RAPSTAR” into a spectacle worthy of its name.

But the night wasn’t only about spectacle — it also served a sentimental purpose. Beyond the anniversary milestone, the event doubled as a birthday celebration for Omar Baliw, the brand’s frontman and one of the scene’s most distinctive voices. After his impactful set, the crowd joined in an impromptu chorus of “Happy Birthday,” as surprise video greetings played across the screens. The moment swelled when his wife and children emerged with cakes and candles in hand, grounding the night’s intensity with a tender pause.

By the time the Flow G’s final track faded out, it was clear that HIGH MINDS had cemented more than just another anniversary. They single-handedly gathered some of the strongest names in hip-hop as not just a celebration of the local scene, but a grand commemoration of the growing streetwear scene. All in all, the night was a statement on the strength of local hip-hop and the community that continues to push it forward.