Gloc-9’s Matrikula: Nursing student pays his dues

Matrikula Gloc-9 Sony Music Philippines I caught Gloc-9 performing “Upuan" on a morning show. He kept flapping one hand, imperatively asking for whoever was working the sound system to crank it. The music stayed the way it was, but he soldiered on rapping the word as best he could with his voice near nakedly alone. Which may not be such a bad thing since Gloc’s (aka Aries Pollisco) rep as a rap artist is nearly unrivaled. The Philippine Hip-Hop Music Awards has recognized him numerous times, and he’s a darling of the music video channels. Matrikula is his fourth album release and there is no hesitation or embarrassment about calling himself a makata (poet) several times over several songs. However, if the sound man found it in himself to pump it up, everyone who was watching that show would have discovered Gloc’s “bring it" words coupled with some really engaging backing tracks. This makes for one of the most worthwhile local releases yet this year.

And bring it he does. It’s really hard to find local music that can sound as peed-off as Matrikula. “The Bobo Song" rails about telenovelas, showbiz gossip shows, actors turning into politicians, social snobs, poor people who look down on themselves and almost anything else that we secretly cringe over. “Lahat ng nakikita ko nakakabobo/Kahit nakapikit ako nakakabobo/Lahat ng nakikita ko kahit nakapikit ako/Nakaka nakaka nakakabobo (Everything I see makes me stupid/Even with my eyes closed it makes me stupid/Everything I see even with my eyes closed/Makes me, makes me stupid)." It’s not always so rough, even though it always remains street. The airplay heavy “Upuan" has the trip hop vibe and is reminiscent of Eminem’s “Stan". Gloc’s rhythmic delivery is cheek-to-jowl with Jeazell Grutas cold, lilting singing. Once again Gloc pops a cap, but this time hidden behind euphemisms and catchy smoothness: “Sabi pa nila na dito mo rin matatagpuan/Ang tao na nagmamayari ng isang upuan/Na pag may pagkakatao’y pinag aagawan/Kaya naman hindi niya pinakakawalan (They say that you’ll also find here/A person who owns a seat/That is fought over given half a chance/And that’s why he or she won’t give it up)." When you put yourself out there like this, at some point you’re going to over-reach. The Visayan laced “Balita" speaks of the Mindanao conflict in oversimplified and trite terms – “Pare-parehong sundalo Muslim man o Kristyano/Ilan man ang masawi di mo alam sinong panalo/Walang panalo dahil sa huli tayo ang talo/Pinoy ang nasa loob ng ataol na sinarado (They’re all soldiers be they muslim or Christian/No matter how many die you can’t figure who won/Nobody won because in the end we all lose/A Filipino is in the closed coffin)". Aries takes time and much effort to explain that the album title, Matrikula, isn’t about making a buck to pay for his studies (Gloc-9 is a fourth year nursing student). It’s about the price you pay for living a life. And from Aries’ perspective, living is picking up a microphone and saying something. In “Martilyo" Aries speaks of the tribulations and desperate, tough-skinned work needed to get to be Gloc-9. “Kanin na mas mura pa ang CD na pirata/Ng bata na si Pollisco/Si Gloc ba kamo mismo/Bawat plema ng pangunutya tiniis ko (With pirated CDs cheaper than rice/Of that kid Pollisco/Yup that’s Gloc/I endured all the spittle from the heckling)." Gloc’s real serious about this stuff. It’s a common trait among Filipinos that creative efforts have to have some sort of didactic value. In Gloc’s case, given the vapid sign of the local pop music times, he’s a breath of fresh air. In “Tinta," Gloc’s giving an accounting of himself to his maker - “Pwedeng asul pwedeng itim/pwedeng pula pwedeng iba/Ang mahalagay kung ano ang maiintindihan nila/Sila na siyang makikinig at kakabisado ng kanta/Ngayon sabihin mo sa akin/Paano mo ginamit ang tinta (Blue, black, red or any other color/What counts is what they understand/ They who will listen and will remember the song/Now tell me/How you used the ink)." Be that as it may, levity manages to raise its head. The Manila-sound powered “Bahala Na" has Gloc at his fastest-mouth-in-the-east mode. It’s a little embarrassing to admit, but this immensely infectious track, harmonized female chorus and all, has a hapless loser managing to turn things around by winning the lotto. Maybe. “Ang panget mo/Yan ang sabi sayo ng nanay mo/Mga kapatid na palagi kang ginugulpe/Bumbilya mo na lagging punde/Niligawan ang klasmeyt mo/Pag nilapiatan ang sinasabi niya sayo che! (You’re ugly/That’s what your mother said to you/Your siblings always beat you up/You’re light bulbs always busted/You’re in love with your classmate/You make a move and she says, “Get lost!"). Musically, “Matrikula" manages to keep up with Gloc-9’s openness. Ranging from urban r&b, electronica, folk and the surprising Manila pop the album knows who’s listening and delivers. With the exception of the wannabe hard rocking “Martilyo". All the elements are there and it’s fairly obvious what it’s trying to do. But it just falls short in the energy department and one is left just wishing someone had cracked open Rage Against the Machine cd. Which isn’t to say that you shouldn’t crack open “Matrikula". On the contrary, this is what music has really been like and ought to be since the rock began to roll. And as far as local acts go, this one is worth paying for. -GMANews.TV