Ex Battalion delivers a sound that is quintessentially modern Manila: a high-gloss fusion of trap-influenced percussion and undeniably catchy OPM (Original Pilipino Music) melodies. Their music feels like the pulse of the city, balancing the bravado of hip-hop with the sentimental, melodic heart of Filipino pop. It is music designed to be shared, whether through a phone speaker in a crowded alley or a high-end sound system at a club.
What truly sets them apart is the collective's ability to weave multiple distinct vocal textures into a single cohesive track. You get the grit of street-level rap alongside smooth, Auto-Tuned R&B crooning, often within the same verse. Their production is maximalist and bright, favoring shimmering synths and heavy 808s that provide a foundation for lyrics that oscillate between party-ready confidence and the bittersweet reality of local heartaches.
For the uninitiated, their massive hit 'Hayaan Mo Sila' is the essential starting point. It perfectly encapsulates their formula: a relatable narrative about moving on from toxic relationships set against a backdrop of infectious, rhythmic pop-rap. It is the sound of a new generation of Filipino artists claiming their space in the global hip-hop landscape.
Ex Battalion (colloquially shortened to Ex B; formerly Jekkpot Battalion) is a Filipino hip hop collective from Muntinlupa City, Philippines, primarily known for their hit single "Hayaan Mo Sila" that went #2 on the Billboard Philippine Top 20. The group has numerous local hits that dominated Philippine social media and they are credited for "revolutionizing" Pinoy hip hop to a new modern sound. The hip-hop collective currently consists of Skusta Clee, Flow G, Brando, Emcee Rhenn, and King Badger as the main members. Other members include JRoa, Yuridope, Bullet-D, Jnske, Jekkpot, Huddass, Cent, and E.I.J. The group was founded by Jekkpot, Cent, and Honcho, formerly Bosx1ne. The latter reportedly left the group in late 2022. To date, they have garnered a total of over 2 billion views and over 5 million subscribers on YouTube. All members have also appeared in television and film, they starred in their first box-office feature "Sons of Nanay Sabel" in 2019, although it was not commercially successful.
Shares pop rap, trap, contemporary r&b (subgenres); studio polished, drum machine, digital clarity (production style)
Shares pop rap, trap, contemporary r&b (subgenres); studio polished, drum machine, digital clarity (production style)
Shares pop rap, trap, contemporary r&b (subgenres); studio polished, drum machine, digital clarity (production style)
Shares pop rap, trap, contemporary r&b (subgenres); studio polished, drum machine, digital clarity (production style)
Shares pop rap, trap, contemporary r&b (subgenres); studio polished, drum machine, digital clarity (production style)
Shares pop rap, trap, contemporary r&b (subgenres); studio polished, drum machine, digital clarity (production style)
Shares pop rap, trap, contemporary r&b (subgenres); studio polished, drum machine, digital clarity (production style)
Shares pop rap, trap, contemporary r&b (subgenres); studio polished, drum machine, digital clarity (production style)
Shares pop rap, trap, contemporary r&b (subgenres); studio polished, drum machine, digital clarity (production style)
Shares pop rap, vocal effects heavy, trap, contemporary r&b (signature)
Shares vocal effects heavy, pop rap, trap, dance-pop (signature)
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