In an exciting collaboration between local hip-hop artists, rapper-actor Elijah Canlas and independent hip-hop artist SHNTI have joined forces to soon release their upcoming single “u wanna be?” While other details about the song have yet to be announced, it’s been shared that the track is scheduled for release on February 20, 2026.
For Elijah Canlas, this follows the release of “Joseph K.” his latest single. The gritty rap anthem was debuted on September 5, 2025, and its music video premiered on his official YouTube channel the day after. Directed by award-winning cinematographer and director Dan Villegas, the music video portrayed the narrative of a court hearing, with Canlas himself acting as the defendant. Read more about the single here.
As for SHNTI, this continues the buildup for her upcoming album, following the debut of her latest pre-release single, “hot pursuit.” Additionally, the femcee was featured on Billboard Philippines’ ‘10 Filipino Artists To Keep On Your Radar This 2026‘ list alongside fellow artists like Gaspari, La Mave, and more. Here, she was described as “a rising force in the Philippine hip-hop scene who’s proving that the future of the genre is female.”
In anticipation of “u wanna be?” listen to “Joseph K.” and “hot pursuit” here: