Uncle Dags: The Importance Of Being Natural

Recently entering the Top OPM Male Artists chart on 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 Philippines, Uncle Dags is evidently becoming a force to be reckoned with. Signed under Greenhouse Records, the rapper, moreover, does not owe this momentum to any sheer force on his part. Rather, he cites two things that largely led to his growing success: his courage to be his own artist and the collaborative environment of Filipino hip-hop today.

Growing up, Dags always seemed to have a sense of where he would be as an artist. “Bata pa lang alam ko na, parang dito na ako pupunta (I knew even as a child that this was where I would be heading),” the rapper shared in an exclusive interview with Billboard Philippines. Coming from a family of musicians, Dags’ early exposure led him to pursue related ventures, such as breakdancing and even becoming a DJ.

While doing these things, the would-be-rapper was also already making his own music on the side. “Nagra-rap-rap na rin po pero hindi ko siya sineseryoso. Sulat lang ako nang sulat. Pero hindi ko siya ni-record — ‘yung professionally ko siya ginagawa. (I started rapping but didn’t take it seriously. I just wrote and wrote. But I didn’t record it in a professional way).”

It was during the pandemic, when he was also DJ-ing, that Dags began meeting artists. This continued exposure with fellow musicians eventually led him to ponder if he, too, should take his hip-hop pursuits more seriously. “Sinubukan ko na siya na, parang… ‘Oo nga noh, ba’t hindi? Try natin.’ (I tried it, like… ‘Yeah, why not? It won’t hurt to try it.’)”

Since then, Dags has maintained a consistent creative output. “Hindi ako pumapayag na parang sa isang araw wala akong na-accomplish. Parang ganun kasi akong tao (I don’t like it when I haven’t accomplished anything in a day. That’s who I am as a person),” The rapper shared.

His most recent album, IMPAKTO, is but another testament to how far the rapper has gotten in his career. “Yung IMPAKTO, parang doon ko nilabas yung sarili ko na, doon ko nilabas ‘yung artistry. Talagang wala akong makikita ng parehas na style doon (With IMPAKTO, it was like I put myself out there; it was where I let out my artistry. I haven’t seen anyone with that same style as mine).”

The album can be seen not only as the culmination of the artist’s efforts, but also as a sneak peek into what he is capable of doing, as the rapper also shared that he was in the process of writing another album containing 31 new tracks.

As a creator, Dags’ philosophy can be summed up as: “‘Wag mong pilitin; natural lang (Don’t force it; just be natural).” To him, being natural makes all the difference, as it was what allowed him to stand out as an artist. “Parang minahal ako ng tao nung nilabas ko ang natural ako (It’s like people loved me when I brought out my natural self).” He elaborates:

“Napakapaganda ‘yung output pag hindi pilit, pag talagang vibe niyo. Napapabilis siya pag mas natural — ‘yung tipong hindi mo ini-stress, pina-pressure ‘yung sarili mo kapag gagawa ka. ‘Ano kailangan?” ‘Anong magandang topic?’ ‘yung mga ganun ba… Hindi ko na siya pinipilit eh, ‘yung mga ganun. On the spot, alam talagang kung ano ‘yung mga vibe niyo.“

(“The output is really good when you don’t force it, when you really have the vibe. You create faster when it’s more natural — the type you don’t stress or pressure yourself when you’re going to do it. Things like, ‘What’s missing?’ ‘What’s a good topic?’ It’s not like that anymore. I don’t force it anymore. On the spot, I really know what the listeners’ vibes are.”)

Besides having the courage to be himself, the rapper also shared how the current hip-hop scene promoted a space for artistic development. “May unity ‘yung mga artist. Mas madali nagkakasundo. Mas maluwag na siya ngayon. Tsaka ang laking tulong din nung mga OGs, Sobrang thankful ako sa kanila. Sa mga old gods, props sa mga ‘yun (There’s unity among artists. It’s easier to get along. There’s more space to create. And the OGs were a big help. I’m so thankful for them. To the old gods, props to them).”

As a person, Dags is open to sharing who he admires, citing rappers like Gat Putch and Sica as his major influences. His most recent release, “Viva La Raza,” a song with an addictive rhythm and rhyme scheme, was done in collaboration with the artist THUGSTA. Prior to working with the fellow rapper, Dags shared how he’d secretly already planned for the collaboration.

“Actually ‘yung ‘Viva la Raza,’ tapos na siya. Tapos tinry ko na siya i-post na parang ni-leak ko siya sa social media. Tapos ang caption ko, ‘Sino gusto niyo ko collab ko dito? Sino maganda?’ Bago ko pa siya i-post, ang iniisip ko lagi si THUGSTA. Tapos nung pinost ko, puro si THUGSTA ‘yung tina-tag. PM ko si THUGSTA: ‘THUGS, baka trip mo to.’ Pumunta siya sa studio ko. Ang bilis lang, saglit lang; wala pa atang 30 minutes, tapos na. So ‘yun na. Hindi rin namin na-expect na mag-blow up siya nang ganun.“

(“Actually, I had already finished ‘Viva la Raza.’ Then I tried to post it as if I had leaked it on social media. My caption was, ‘Who do you want me to collab with here? Who’d be a fit?’ Before I posted it, I was already thinking about THUGSTA. And then when I posted, THUGSTA was tagged a lot in the comments. I PM’ed THUGSTA: ‘THUGS, maybe you’d like this.’ He went to my studio. It was quick; it was done in less than 30 minutes. So that’s it. We didn’t expect it to blow up like that, either.”)

Just as he was guided to music as a young child, Dags also gives the following advice to aspiring rappers: “Maging natural ka. OK lang ‘yun. Sa mas pinupudpod mo ‘yung sarili mo, mas pinupokusan mo ‘yung sarili mo, mas makikilala mo ‘yung tunog mo, ‘yung sarili mo. Pag natutunan mo na mahalin yung sarili mo, ‘yung natural mo na style, mapapalabas mo ‘yan katulad sa mga ad libs mo, sa mga trademark mo, doon lalabas ‘yan. Huwag niyong pansinin ‘yung fame, pera, at polls. (Ang) importante, dapat alamin mo muna kung ba’t ka papasok dito. Alam mo bakit mo ito ginagawa, tsaka kung para saan.“

(“Be natural. That’s okay. The more you push yourself, the more you focus on yourself, the more you will recognize your sound, your individuality. When you learn to love yourself, you will be able to express your natural style like your ad libs, your trademarks; that’s where it will come out. Don’t pay attention to fame, money, and polls. More importantly, you should first know why you are getting into this. You know why you’re doing this, and what it’s for.”)