Flonique Guimary

Al James on wanting to collaborate with KZ Tandingan: ‘Nangangain sa music’

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Push Team

<p>Despite already being a popular name in the hip-hop scene, rapper-songwriter Al James still remains a huge fan of fellow Filipino artists.</p><div><br/></div><p>During the recently concluded <em>OPM Series: Hip-Hop Fest </em>at the SM North EDSA Sky Dome last February 22, PUSH ABS-CBN had the opportunity to interview Al James exclusively.</p><div><br/></div><div><img src="https://od2-image-api.abs-cbn.com/prod/editorImage/1740584077908480133077_660059603022737_2125202302225916717_n.jpg" class="fr-fic fr-dib"/></div><div><br/></div><p>COURTESY: OPM SERIES: HIP-HOP FEST 2025</p><div><br/></div><p>The &quot;Pa-umaga&quot; hitmaker shared how fun it was to be part of a music fest alongside his fellow hip-hop artists.</p><div><br/></div><p>“Nakakapag-catch up din sa mga artist kanina kaya okay din siya. Maliit lang kasi circle namin kaya magkakakilala kaming lahat,” he shared.</p><div><br/></div><p>Al James also shared how thrilled he was to be in the same line-up with the very people who inspired his music— Loonie and Ron Henley.</p><div><br/></div><p>“Matagal na akong fan nila. Mahilig na kasi ako sa ano nun, sa makinig ng music. Dati bihira rin ako makinig ng local. Parang sila rin yung nakahuli sa akin sa local,” Al James admitted.</p><div><br/></div><div><img src="https://od2-image-api.abs-cbn.com/prod/editorImage/1740584144767481317721_18488612962063898_1427342190333424685_n.jpeg" class="fr-fic fr-dib"/></div><div><br/></div><p>He added that he had been a fan since their Stick Figgas days, noting how impressed he was with their talent.</p><div><br/></div><p>“<em>Critical Condition</em> na album. Try mo pakinggan yung album na yun. Very raw pa siya, hindi pa kumplikado yung mixing noon pero na-deliver nila yung tunog nila nang maayos saka yung gusto nilang sabihin,” Al James mentioned.</p><div><br/></div><div><br/></div><div><iframe class="instagram-media instagram-media-rendered" id="instagram-embed-8" src="https://www.instagram.com/p/DAVg7FXy3Eu/embed/captioned/?cr=1&amp;v=14&amp;wp=607&amp;rd=https%3A%2F%2Fod2-workbench-web.abs-cbn.com&amp;rp=%2F#%7B%22ci%22%3A8%2C%22os%22%3A1396550.3%2C%22ls%22%3A392404.30000000005%2C%22le%22%3A392897.4%7D" allowtransparency="true" allowfullscreen="" frameBorder="0" height="1167" data-instgrm-payload-id="instagram-media-payload-8" scrolling="no" style="background:white;max-width:540px;width:calc(100% - 2px);border-radius:3px;border:1px solid rgb(219, 219, 219);box-shadow:none;display:block;margin:0px 0px 12px;min-width:326px;padding:0px"></iframe></div><script async="" src="//www.instagram.com/embed.js"></script><div><br/></div><p>But aside from his fellow artists in the hip-hop scene, Al James revealed that he is also interested in collaborating with singers from other genres, including Kapamilya singer KZ Tandingan.</p><div><br/></div><p>“Yung sa live talaga eh. Yung paano siya mag-perform. Sa akin, yung makasama siguro siya nakaka-overwhelm. Saka, eh, overall, amazing. Nangangain sa music,” Al James expressed.</p><div><br/></div><p>Al James, who now has over 3.7 million listeners on Spotify, proved he is equally amazing as the artists he looks up to.</p><div><br/></div><div><br/></div><div><iframe class="instagram-media instagram-media-rendered" id="instagram-embed-10" src="https://www.instagram.com/reel/DGQsgK1zwKs/embed/captioned/?cr=1&amp;v=14&amp;wp=607&amp;rd=https%3A%2F%2Fod2-workbench-web.abs-cbn.com&amp;rp=%2F#%7B%22ci%22%3A10%2C%22os%22%3A1424067.3%2C%22ls%22%3A392404.30000000005%2C%22le%22%3A392897.4%7D" allowtransparency="true" allowfullscreen="" frameBorder="0" height="987" data-instgrm-payload-id="instagram-media-payload-10" scrolling="no" style="background:white;max-width:540px;width:calc(100% - 2px);border-radius:3px;border:1px solid rgb(219, 219, 219);box-shadow:none;display:block;margin:0px 0px 12px;min-width:326px;padding:0px"></iframe></div><script async="" src="//www.instagram.com/embed.js"></script><div><br/></div><div><br/></div><p>Just recently, he was named the top 9 local artist in the Official Philippines Chart, a recognition he didn&#x27;t expect.</p><div><br/></div><p>“Siyempre, grateful naman sa recognition. Hindi ko na-expect kasi siyempre ang daming trending last year. Hindi ko na-expect na [kasama] sa top 10,” he mentioned.</p><div><br/></div><div><iframe width="670" height="377" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/zlGwQyDOt3Q" title="Al James - Ngayong Gabi (Official Video)" frameBorder="0" allowfullscreen=""></iframe></div><div><br/></div><p>The crowd at the recent hip-hop music festival also went wild as Al James sang his hits, including &quot;Ngayong Gabi,&quot; a song he revealed was especially memorable for him to create.</p><div><br/></div><p>“Ngayong Gabi parang isa sa mga, parang nung time na yon ang daming nangyari. Tapos sobrang kulit lang na ngayon na iisipin mo paano ko pa siya naisipan pang isulat sa mga panahon na yon kahit marami akong struggle,” Al James revealed.</p><div><br/></div><p>The rapper-songwriter added that more songs can be expected from him in 2025, &quot;Maraming mga collabs, music, tour, merch, marami pang iba.&quot;</p><p>—By Jemuel Tandoc</p>

<p>Hip-hop rapper-songwriter Al James admits wanting to collaborate with Kapamilya singer KZ Tandingan. He also reveals being a huge fan of fellow hip-hop artists Loonie and Ron Henley.</p>

Hip-hop rapper-songwriter Al James admits wanting to collaborate with Kapamilya singer KZ Tandingan. He also reveals being a huge fan of fellow hip-hop artists Loonie and Ron Henley.

EXCLUSIVE: Al James on wanting to collaborate with KZ Tandingan: ‘Nangangain sa music’

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EXCLUSIVE: Al James on wanting to collaborate with KZ Tandingan: ‘Nangangain sa music’

Push Team

Published February 26, 2025 11:39 PM PHT

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Ron Henley

Loonie

Al James

LOONIE

KZ Tandingan

Filipino

Ngayong Gabi

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