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Filipino rapper Zae's songs gain traction in Hollywood

Zae Zacarias is passionate about Filipina empowerment and it shows in her art.

Article (news)

Yong Chavez

TFC News

<div><span class="fr-video fr-deletable fr-fvc fr-dvb fr-draggable" contenteditable="false" draggable="true"><iframe width="640" height="360" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/SQUvaY_xE4g?&amp;feature=youtu.be&amp;wmode=opaque&amp;rel=0" frameBorder="0" allowfullscreen="" class="fr-draggable"></iframe></span><br/></div><p>Zae Zacarias, who goes by her artist name Zae, raps about repping the Morenas and writes about the struggles of Filipino women. </p><p>Her songs, which she has been independently releasing on online platforms since 2019, have caught the attention of Hollywood music supervisors.</p><p>On her Instagram, Zae posted her reaction while watching a scene in the Netflix hit series “The Gentlemen” when it premiered on March 7.</p><p>In it, Tagalog lyrics can be heard as her music plays.</p><div><a data-ved="2ahUKEwiThp-rzqOFAxU4a2wGHRGbBhwQFnoECB4QAQ" href="https://news.abs-cbn.com/entertainment/2024/3/11/-the-gentlemen-series-introduces-filipina-gangster-cast-1816" ping="/url?sa=t&amp;source=web&amp;rct=j&amp;opi=89978449&amp;url=https://news.abs-cbn.com/entertainment/2024/3/11/-the-gentlemen-series-introduces-filipina-gangster-cast-1816&amp;ved=2ahUKEwiThp-rzqOFAxU4a2wGHRGbBhwQFnoECB4QAQ" style="color:rgb(26, 13, 171);text-decoration:none;-webkit-tap-highlight-color:rgba(0, 0, 0, 0.1);outline:0px;letter-spacing:normal;orphans:2;text-align:left;text-indent:0px;text-transform:none;widows:2;word-spacing:0px;-webkit-text-stroke-width:0px;white-space:normal;background-color:rgb(255, 255, 255)" id="isPasted"></a><a data-ved="2ahUKEwiThp-rzqOFAxU4a2wGHRGbBhwQFnoECB4QAQ" href="https://news.abs-cbn.com/entertainment/2024/3/11/-the-gentlemen-series-introduces-filipina-gangster-cast-1816" id="isPasted" ping="/url?sa=t&amp;source=web&amp;rct=j&amp;opi=89978449&amp;url=https://news.abs-cbn.com/entertainment/2024/3/11/-the-gentlemen-series-introduces-filipina-gangster-cast-1816&amp;ved=2ahUKEwiThp-rzqOFAxU4a2wGHRGbBhwQFnoECB4QAQ" style="color:rgb(26, 13, 171);text-decoration:none;-webkit-tap-highlight-color:rgba(0, 0, 0, 0.1);outline:0px;letter-spacing:normal;orphans:2;text-align:left;text-indent:0px;text-transform:none;widows:2;word-spacing:0px;-webkit-text-stroke-width:0px;white-space:normal;background-color:rgb(255, 255, 255)">&#x27;The Gentlemen&#x27; series introduces Filipina gangster cast</a></div><div style="line-height:1.3;padding:0px;display:inline-block;text-size-adjust:none;position:absolute;left:0px;top:0px;width:600px"><a href="https://news.abs-cbn.com/entertainment/2024/3/11/-the-gentlemen-series-introduces-filipina-gangster-cast-1816" data-ved="2ahUKEwiThp-rzqOFAxU4a2wGHRGbBhwQFnoECB4QAQ" ping="/url?sa=t&amp;source=web&amp;rct=j&amp;opi=89978449&amp;url=https://news.abs-cbn.com/entertainment/2024/3/11/-the-gentlemen-series-introduces-filipina-gangster-cast-1816&amp;ved=2ahUKEwiThp-rzqOFAxU4a2wGHRGbBhwQFnoECB4QAQ" style="color:rgb(26, 13, 171);text-decoration:none;-webkit-tap-highlight-color:rgba(0, 0, 0, 0.1);outline:0px;letter-spacing:normal;orphans:2;text-align:left;text-indent:0px;text-transform:none;widows:2;word-spacing:0px;-webkit-text-stroke-width:0px;white-space:normal;background-color:rgb(255, 255, 255)"></a><div style="display:flex;padding:0px;overflow:hidden;align-items:center"><a data-ved="2ahUKEwiThp-rzqOFAxU4a2wGHRGbBhwQFnoECB4QAQ" href="https://news.abs-cbn.com/entertainment/2024/3/11/-the-gentlemen-series-introduces-filipina-gangster-cast-1816" ping="/url?sa=t&amp;source=web&amp;rct=j&amp;opi=89978449&amp;url=https://news.abs-cbn.com/entertainment/2024/3/11/-the-gentlemen-series-introduces-filipina-gangster-cast-1816&amp;ved=2ahUKEwiThp-rzqOFAxU4a2wGHRGbBhwQFnoECB4QAQ" style="color:rgb(26, 13, 171);text-decoration:none;-webkit-tap-highlight-color:rgba(0, 0, 0, 0.1);outline:0px;letter-spacing:normal;orphans:2;text-align:left;text-indent:0px;text-transform:none;widows:2;word-spacing:0px;-webkit-text-stroke-width:0px;white-space:normal;background-color:rgb(255, 255, 255)"><span style="margin-right:12px"></span></a><div style="vertical-align:middle;display:inline-block"><a href="https://news.abs-cbn.com/entertainment/2024/3/11/-the-gentlemen-series-introduces-filipina-gangster-cast-1816" data-ved="2ahUKEwiThp-rzqOFAxU4a2wGHRGbBhwQFnoECB4QAQ" ping="/url?sa=t&amp;source=web&amp;rct=j&amp;opi=89978449&amp;url=https://news.abs-cbn.com/entertainment/2024/3/11/-the-gentlemen-series-introduces-filipina-gangster-cast-1816&amp;ved=2ahUKEwiThp-rzqOFAxU4a2wGHRGbBhwQFnoECB4QAQ" style="color:rgb(26, 13, 171);text-decoration:none;-webkit-tap-highlight-color:rgba(0, 0, 0, 0.1);outline:0px;letter-spacing:normal;orphans:2;text-align:left;text-indent:0px;text-transform:none;widows:2;word-spacing:0px;-webkit-text-stroke-width:0px;white-space:normal;background-color:rgb(255, 255, 255)"></a><br/></div></div></div><p>“I was like: ‘The Gentlemen’ for real?” the artist recalled. “I was just waiting for the confirmation because it’s a big deal, a huge opportunity for Filipino music to be featured in an international show.”</p><p>But, as the 23-year-old Caloocan rapper explained, Zae’s Hollywood adventure is just a fun cherry on top of her rapidly flourishing career.</p><p>She writes and performs to express her perspective as a young Filipina who owns her power, generational trauma, gender inequality, and patriarchal barriers notwithstanding.</p><p>“I really wanted to make a statement piece about women empowerment,” Zae said. “There aren’t a lot of female rappers in the Philippines right now, and there has to be someone who says something about it.”</p><p>She added: “I wanted to write about women in a way that the song would show how strong, hardworking we are. My mom is also my inspiration. She’s the [most] hard-working person I know.”</p><p>Zae&#x27;s mother — whom she calls Mama Vi — works as a teacher, and she raised the rapper and her sister single-handedly.</p><p>The artist started in the industry as a dancer. So for her music videos, apart from being the talent and producer, she also serves as a choreographer.</p><p>It was through online platforms like YouTube and Spotify that Zae’s music was first discovered by Hollywood music supervisors.</p><p>“The Cleaning Lady” was the first U.S. TV series that used Zae’s music.</p><p>Asked about the challenges, she said it involves being a one-woman show. </p><p>“I don’t have a marketing team,” said Zae. “Also, I’m self-produced. Of course, in art, you also need to make money to make art. I’m able to save some from my hits, but I shoulder all the expenses to create art, and the gigs as a freelancer are not stable.”</p><p>“So, I’m mainly just risking it all for a dream that only I can see,” Zae added. “I&#x27;ve talked to a lot of labels and distributors. I&#x27;m just really waiting for the right time and the right deal to come because I know my worth. I&#x27;m a rising star for now, I&#x27;m on the come-up, but I know the value that artists bring.”</p><p>Zae’s musical influences include Beyoncé and Megan Thee Stallion. She is also currently working on her EP to be released this year.</p>

<p>Zae Zacarias' songs, which she independently released online, have caught the attention of Hollywood music supervisors.</p>

Zae Zacarias' songs, which she independently released online, have caught the attention of Hollywood music supervisors.