Why Do We Hate Philippine Hip-Hop, Yet Admire International Artists? Hayaan Mo Sila Gets Bad Rap.

"Sige, sige lang," the song starts, and people - young ones espeically - know the rest. We hear it in the streets, during our daily commute, and when passing by areas with "tambays" (loiterers, mostly out of school youth), and no matter how many times we hear it, it's often met with disgust and we laugh it out.

"Jeje, baduy, jologs" we label the song along with those who listen to it, but really, do we have a reason why we hate the song and those who like it? Or are we just being elitists?

Here are the reasons why we dislike the song:

1. It doesn't exhibit the "right" culture or attitude our youth has to follow
2. The lyrics aren't meaningful
3. It doesn't live up to what hip-hop should be

All of the above, while they have merits, aren't really the reason why, as much we don't like to admit it. You read this up to this point and you already know why; in fact, you didn't have to read this far to admit to yourself why you - and I - find it "Jologs" - we don't like it because it's masa. Let's just admit that no matter how far we've come to be in touch with our brethren in the lower income classes, bits and pieces of us, the upper middle class, still won't appreciate or get into local hip-hop because of that wall that separates our social classes.

Maybe hip hop has to elevate, or at least do well in marketing & sales; or maybe we as a people should get into this subculture slowly accept and appreciate it.

I might be wrong, and it might just be me - but ask anyone in the office or at school why they don't get into local hip hop besides Gloc 9 and Francis M and you'll probably get the same response.

*On the flipside, a few years ago, the underground rap battle scene surfaced and became mainstream. It did well, but not anymore. Maybe it's the elitist in us that rejects the hyms and cultures of the projects and ghettos that prevents us from appreciating it, who knows?

And oh, don't hate, don't flame. I'm just speaking my mind on behalf of a population that are just as ignorant of the hip hop scene and never got the hang of it.