After a three-year hiatus that left Filipino hip-hop fans hungry, local rapper Loonie finally returned to the music scene with a feast through his latest album, Meron Na.
Known for his hit songs “Tao Lang,” “Balewala,” and “Ganid,” the rap battle artist’s new album marked more than just a comeback; it’s a homecoming, a full-circle moment for the artist who redefined the genre in his own right.
“After [my last album], there were many heartbreaks in terms of disappointments and unmet expectations, like my song ‘Tao Lang’ which I didn’t know I wasn’t the owner of. I went through many managers who took advantage of my innocence in the business side of music. Before, I was only focused on the artistic side.” Loonie said.
Loonie, Marlon Peroramas in real life, shared how discouraged he was to create new music due to what happened.
“I couldn’t see how making music would make sense. You can’t upload it to your own channel. It’s a different way of earning. It’s a different way of getting rich. During that time, I chose to gamble on battle rap. I even acted. I appeared in the award-winning movie ‘Respeto’,” he added.
Now that he’s part of a new label, Loonie revealed that he had creative freedom and control in terms of his art.
“Now, in 2023, I found a good partnership with Believe Music. There were labels that approached me before, but it didn’t really make sense. Here at Believe Music, they let me keep the publishing, they let me be in charge of booking and the merchandise. It’s like being independent, but you feel their support,” Loonie added.
When asked about his latest album, the rapper stated, “They can still expect the vintage Loonie—’yung nagustuhan nila sa akin sa lyrics and quotable.”
Meron Na has 12 tracks with the carrier song, “Pamangglo” which he dedicated to those “unseen” people.
“It means the one in the middle. All the people in the middle are not appreciated. Like in siblings, the eldest and the youngest are always asked about, what about the middle child. It’s a song about beginnings, endings, and everything in between,” he said.
Loonie’s Meron Na is now streaming on all digital streaming platforms.