What Time is it? It’s ABOUT DAMN TIME for pH-1 to be in Manila
It’s been a long, long time coming but pH-1 was here and finally made it to our shores to bring the hip-hop scene this country needs!
pH-1 or fondly known to fans as Harry, held his Philippine concert for the Asian leg of ABOUT DAMN TIME World Tour. Presented by Karpos Live, the Korean-American rapper debuted on the Manila stage in the Filinvest Tent, Alabang last May 3, 2023, tagging along DJ Spray to light up and hype up the stage for the tour.
Fans gathered up for their favorite homebody, even holding fan support in the venue and dressed to impress for one of the hottest k-hip hop artists in the scene. Hump day couldn’t stop the passionate support the fans have because they know what they’re going to miss if they wouldn’t go.
For those who missed it, we got you as here’s a rundown of what went down in the ABOUT DAMN TIME concert.
BUT FOR NOW, LEAVE US ALONE
Catching everyone’s attention, DJ Spray landed on stage first to set up a little bit before the man of the hour hopped on. Right on the 8 o’clock dot, pH-1 started his set list with “MEET N GREET”, originally sung with Kid Milli to hype up the crowd, immediately letting the Manila fans know what they were in for the night.
“What’s up Manila, your energy is crazy!” the rapper said before teaching the crowd his known chant for the tour. “When I say, ‘I’M HERE’ you say ‘ABOUT DAMN TIME’, you ready?” And of course, the crowd is always ready, cheering as “MALIBU” from pH-1’s debut full album HALO was played.
“I’ve been to other countries and they might be more in numbers but your energy is higher, Manila!” Another win for our country! Not Manila doing it like nobody else?! Filipinos never beat the “Filipinos are one of the best concert crowds in the world” allegations.
With this, he continued his set list with “PACKITUP!” from the EP “X” and “ZOMBIES”, “TIPSY” and “YUPPIE TING” that featured Blase, all plucked from his latest released album, BUT FOR NOW LEAVE ME ALONE.
One notable and funny encounter was during “TIPSY”, when someone from the crowd threw a blue undergarment on stage, which Harry held until the song ended. “Blue is now my favorite color!” the rapper joked as he was flattered and amused by the gesture. Someone must have been tipsy in the crowd to do that bold move! Fans who know pH-1 know that his favorite color was orange, (noted that some fans wore orange to emphasize that) but I guess it takes that move for your favorite hip-hop artist to change his mind!
“The energy in here is unbelievable.” the talented artist said. “I’ve been around the world for the past three, four months. I’ve been away from home but I’m very happy to be visiting these countries that I never get to visit, including Manila!” The artist mentioned that he found it enjoyable to try the local cuisine and get to explore each city he plays but he also mentioned he misses his dog, Holly, his comfortable couch, and home.
Smoothly transitioning to “Homebody”, one of ph-1’s most listened songs on Spotify, the rapper slowed the night a bit with the crowd singing parts of the song with him. Harry served nothing but his raw talent through the songs, singing back to back to back with “MR. BAD”, with the crowd who literally just know exactly what to chant and sing, ” Cupid “, and “JULIETTE!”
After these sweet energetic songs, Harry decided to really slow things down and sang “DVD”, literally sitting down in front of the crowd with a stool, signaling a more intimate part of the evening with the fans. Twinning with their idol, the fans conducted a well-thought-out fan project by giving pH-1 an orange ocean while “DVD” is performed, with background visuals showing an accented orange hue-colored living room set up. Everyone liked ph-1 more with “Like Me” and “Nerdy Love”, highlighting a softer version of Harry’s discography.
After this, he chatted with the fans and shared how jealous he was of the Filipino schoolmates he used to have when he was younger because they are all talented, from singing to dancing. (We won again!) The crowd teased him and asked him to give them a “sample” of dancing and he teased the fans a little with a small dance move.
A lot of back and forth and fanservice happened in between the concert similar to this. Like how Harry just desperately wanted to take a picture with the crowd but the camera stopped working all of a sudden. (“This has never happened before, so you guys are special!” he said.) Or how he took a Polaroid camera from a fan and took a crowd picture with and finally and successfully took a picture with the crowd for memory keeping.
Getting more songs from the EP “X”, pH-1 performed “OKAY”, recorded with Simon Dominic and MUSHVENOM, “MORAGO” with Blase and Coogie, and “TELEFONO” with HAON, Woodie Godchild, Jay Park, and Sik-K respectively. And it wouldn’t be a wild hip-hop show if there wasn’t water spraying on the crowd, so before that fun part started, the artist asked consent first before spraying water onto the fans. We love a king who recognizes consent!
Following this setlist is probably the more exciting and jump-inciting part of the evening as pH-1 did not stop performing powerful hits after hits, from “Olaf” to “Achoo” and “Orange” (the two latter songs are from Show Me the Money where he competed) and the ever powerful “THE PURGE”, one of the songs that were released from the album RED TAPE from H1GHER music, that featured artists that are undoubtedly the biggest forces in K-Hip Hop.
He also played more with the crowd with “Good Day” again from Show Me the Money, “VVS” recorded originally with BIG Naughty, TRADE L, Woodie Gochild, and Jay Park, and “iffy”, again with the familiar crowd pH-1 is used to collaborate, Sik-k, Jay Park and Groovy Room before teasing the crowd and leaving the stage before a short encore.
Encore: HALO, Goodbye, pH-1
“Every good day starts with a good yawn,” the lyrics of the song “OSCAR” said, a song about depending on the singer and about being there for the person they dedicate it to seems like a good way to say goodbye to the Manila fans as Harry surely takes inspiration and pays attention to the efforts of his supporters.
To prove this, he acknowledged a fan who specifically designed a clothing piece for Harry’s ABOUT DAMN TIME tour.
On her Instagram was a lengthy caption with a story on how the garment reached pH-1, and a heartfelt message to the artist, thanking him for keeping her inspired. GG, a fashion designer based in the Philippines and Korea designed a multi-wear tech + street outfit that would surely fit well with Harry himself. It was unfortunate that the artist cannot wear the outfit but the shoutout itself is something the designer fan truly appreciates and calls it a “core memory.”
pH-1 took his final bow, with DJ Spray taking the leave as well and giving a thumbs up to the crowd, closing the night with approval that we really are the best crowd there is, no matter how big or small the crowd is, no matter what genre.
Harry sealed the night with a piece of advice and addressed everyone in the room in association with the shout-out to the designer.
“Just remember that you are always so talented — You’re gifted with great talents, so all you need is just good energy, good motivation, and inspiration to do it. Keep it up.”
pH-1
Writer’s note: Bro, I’m taking this advice.
The pH-1 World Tour ABOUT DAMN TIME in Manila was presented by Karpos Multimedia, Karpos Live, KOHAI, and H1GHR Music Records. Special thanks to Karpos Multimedia for the invitation.
Words and Photos by Arielle Elep
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