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Hip-hop artist Omar Baliw owes success to wife who bought his first microphone

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Josh Mercado

<div class="embed-wrap"><figure data-feedback="fb:likes,fb:comments"><img alt="Omar Baliw and wife Dana Manzano. Josh Mercado" src="https://sa.kapamilya.com/absnews/abscbnnews/media/2023/entertainment/09/18/09182023-omar-baliw.jpg"/><figcaption>Omar Baliw and wife Dana Manzano. Josh Mercado</figcaption></figure></div>MANILA -- After working so hard, popular hip-hop artist Omar Baliw is finally living the life he manifested with 250,000 monthly listeners and hit songs “Kalmado,” “‘Di Na Babalik,” and “Inumaga.” Promoting his latest song “Kalmado Pt. 3” under Believe Music PH, Omar recalled his humble beginnings — from being a working student to joining rap contests, and just grinding everyday. “Galing ako sa iba’t ibang trabaho. Ang unang trabako ko ay sa isang gasoline station as gasoline boy. Naglinis din ng CR. Lahat ginawa ko,” he said in an interview. “Nung naging maganda ang puwesto ko (sa buhay), wala akong karapatang magreklamo. Wala sa isip ko ‘yung salitang &#x27;busy.&#x27; Business dito at music dito. Hindi ko na iniisip ‘yung pagiging &#x27;busy&#x27; kasi dati nga nagkakarga lang ako ng gasolina, naglilinis ng CR, at hindi ako nagrereklamo.“Sobrang thankful ako sa business ko, sa music ko, sa mga kasama ko.”Now an artist of Asintada, the talent management owned by rap icon Gloc-9, Omar showed his vulnerability and thanked his wife who bought his first ever microphone and saved his life.“‘Yung wife ko ang nag-aalaga at nag-aasikaso sa akin. ‘Yung wife ko ang kauna-unahang bumili ng microphone ko noong college kami. Malaki ang utang na loob ko sa wife ko. And this life, this success ay para sa kanya. Binabayaran ko lahat nang naitulong niya sa akin,” he admitted. He added: “College students kami noon. Tapos ako nagra-rap na nun na walang patutunguhan. Ang hirap mag-record before. Pero binilhan niya ako ng microphone. ‘Yung microphone na ‘yun ang nagligtas sa buhay ko. I am forever grateful. At mayroon akong song na inialay sa kanya.”He also dedicated his music and success to his family and fans who never left and stayed. “Basta okay na ang family ko, okay na rin ako,” he said.“Nagpapagawa na ako ng bahay ngayon. Pinapagawa ko na ‘yung farm ko. Ilang years from now, gusto ko simple at kalmadong buhay kasama ang asawa at mga anak ko,” he told ABS-CBN News. “Gusto ko nang tahimik na buhay. Hindi naman ako sanay sa harap ng kamera. Noong simula nung nagkapera ako, dun ko na-realize na hindi mo naman talaga kailangan nang maraming pera.”On top of his busy schedule, Omar recently headlined the concert “High Minds” with Loonie, Ron Henley, Shanti Dope, and other hip-hop artists. He also owns his own clothing brand High Minds and wants to expand it to help more people. Omar ended the intimate interview with an advice for aspiring hip-hop artists. “Isang kanta lang, kayang baguhin ang buhay mo. Pero ‘yung isang kanta na ‘yun, dapat sigurado. Walang shortcut sa success. ‘Yung parents ko before, ayaw nila sa rap. Pero nung sigurado at alam ko na sarili ko na ready na ako tumalon, ayun tumalon ako sa music at business at sabi ng parents ko, ‘Ang galing mo.’ ‘Yun ang gusto kong sabihin. Hindi masamang sumubok pero dapat sigurado ka. Hindi mo kailangang patayin ‘yung gusto mo talaga.”

Popular hip-hop artist Omar Baliw is finally living the life he manifested with 250,000 monthly listeners and hit songs “Kalmado,” “‘Di Na Babalik,” and “Inumaga.” 