The rising hitmaker expands his musical reach through a high-energy collaboration designed to bring reggaeton-inspired, Afrobeats-inflected sounds to a new generation of Filipino listeners

Photo credits: Arnold Pilapil (AShots)

Following the breakout success of “baby lika,” Filipino rapper-producer Trippie Budd returns with “cheekybang,” an upbeat collaboration with Jamaican-Filipino reggaeton/fusion artist SAJKA and rising Filipino rapper Zae.

Built around hard-hitting production and a celebratory atmosphere, the track gives each performer space to showcase their individuality while sustaining its momentum from beginning to end.

The song pivots in an exciting new direction for Trippie Budd, whose eclectic tropical sound effortlessly blends reggaeton, Afrobeats, and Moombahton. Rather than simply following established trends, the urban multi-hyphenate hopes to help bring these influences further into the Philippine mainstream.

“I want this track to somehow dominate the club scene across the country and maybe eventually become part of the street sound as well, alongside other genres,” Trippie Budd explains. “I don’t have plans to take over anything; I just wanna blend in and serve as a gateway to a bolder but totally different sound in our local music scene.”

The collaboration began during the music video shoot for “baby lika,” when Trippie Budd learned that SAJKA, whose music had caught his attention through Spotify’s KALYE playlist, would be visiting the set. The idea eventually evolved into a track that brought two kindred spirits together, with Zae eventually joining the lineup on the recommendation of Sony Music Philippines’ Urban team.

Produced by JayXagonto and ETRIZZLE, “cheekybang” incorporates island rhythms and clubby, infectious beats with synth elements. The arrangement supports the contrasting deliveries of Trippie Budd, SAJKA, and Zae, transforming their individual contributions into a cohesive party record.

“The majority of the arrangement of the instrumental came from JayXagonto, and I just asked for some minor changes while I was writing the track,” Trippie Budd adds. “It all aligned well since it wasn’t my first time working with JayXagonto. The sound that I think is the backbone of the track is the synth instrument with the stereo-widening effect, which is a really big factor if you’re planning to make a club banger.”

Beyond its dance-floor readiness, “cheekybang” shows that music can be a refuge from everyday pressures. “I wanna make people in bars, clubs, beaches, and other places forget about their problems for a while,” he shares.

With “cheekybang,” Trippie Budd, SAJKA, and Zae present a confident statement of intent: a new-generation party anthem that embraces global influences while honing the future sound of Filipino urban music with distinct flavor.

Trippie Budd, SAJKA, and Zae’s “cheekybang” is out now on all digital music platforms worldwide via Sony Music Entertainment.

Drops music video for focus track “TARANTINO”

Photo Credit: Yeyoung Choi

World-renowned rapper, singer, dancer, and style icon, LISA releases her highly anticipated EP PRESS PLAY via LLOUD Co./RCA Records – Listen HERE. The six-track project is created with a movie in mind, so fans can sit down, and ‘press play.’

Alongside the EP, she releases the music video for focus track “Tarantino” – Watch HERE. The video follows LISA’s epic, action-packed journey through a hotel to deliver a note to her favorite director, Tarantino. In true Tarantino fashion, the video incorporates action sequences with LISA throwing punches at anyone who gets in her way.

PRESS PLAY includes the previously released single “SaWaDiKa.” “SaWaDiKa,” which is the Thai greeting for ‘hello’ and its accompanying music video shot in her native Bangkok, surpassed 70.8 Million YouTube views in its first 24 hours of release landing it among LISA’s biggest YouTube debuts and the #1 biggest YouTube debut of 2026 – Watch HERE. “SaWaDiKa” also debuted at #69 on the Billboard Hot 100, marking her highest debut on the chart.

LISA returned to the MTV VMA’s to perform the television debut of “SaWaDiKa” – Watch HERE. She also took home the award for Best Pop for “Dream feat. Kenatro Sakaguchi” making history as the first solo K-pop artist to win the category.

Up next, LISA heads to Vegas, kicking off her VIVA LA LISA Residency at The Colosseum at Caesars Palace for six nights in November. The first four nights sold out in under 10 minutes and she recently added two new dates. LISA is making history as the first k-pop artist to perform a Las Vegas residency.

Aside from music, LISA’s feature documentary Always Lalisa directed by Sue Kim recently released in cinemas worldwide following its premiere at the Toronto Film Festival. The documentary chronicles LISA’s breakout year going solo around the release of Alter Ego, launching LLOUD and her solo Coachella debut.

PRESS PLAY  Track List

1. SaWaDiKa
2. V12
3. Cobra
4. Tarantino
5. Cut U Off
6. Sweat

Photo Credit: Yeyoung Choi

FOLLOW LISA: INSTAGRAM 

The 5-track release blends OPM, Manila Sound, soft rock, and indie pop into a confident statement of artistic identity, exploring love, longing, and human connection

Filipino singer-songwriter SHANNi establishes a more confident artistic identity with her latest EP, Cure For Loneliness—out today via Sony Music Entertainment. The 5-track release finds the young artist moving seamlessly between Manila Sound, soft rock, sunshine pop, jazz, and indie pop, bringing a more sophisticated touch to songwriting and arrangement while leaning into a warmer, more intimate sound.

Across five tracks, SHANNi explores the complexities of love and human connection with wisdom that goes beyond age, finding sophistication in the intricacies of everyday life while staying comfortable talking about her inner darkness and pain. Each song captures a different facet of affection and emotional connection. Still, the project’s overarching narrative reflects SHANNi’s growing understanding that healing can come from recognizing the love already present in one’s life.

“The songs are mostly about love and the different ways we experience it, whether through longing, connection, or simply feeling loved by the people around us,” shares SHANNi in a press statement. “As I was writing these songs, I also came to realize that I wasn’t as alone as I sometimes felt. The love and support I received from the people around me became a big part of my healing. In a way, the EP is a reminder that loneliness can be eased not only by finding love romantically, but also by recognizing the love that already exists in our lives.”

Co-produced by SHANNi and Max Cinco, the EP pairs light, inviting arrangements with an undercurrent of vulnerability, creating a sonic canvas that feels suited to solitary city walks, late-night drives, and moments of deep introspection. Cinco’s horn arrangements add character and texture to the EP’s nostalgic pop sensibilities, making “2 O’CLOCK,” “Pag-uwi Mo,” and “Sorry Na Please” an exciting listening experience. Recording engineer Marcus Mababangloob of Meadowlark Productions, digital mixing engineer Jet Francisco of Wild Grass Studio, and analog mastering engineer Marco de Leon of Mix Machine Analog help refine the record’s warm, cohesive sound, balancing eloquence and precision with SHANNi’s more nuanced, emotionally evocative storytelling.

“I didn’t really want to limit myself to one genre,” SHANNi explains. “Instead, I focused on what each song needed and what sound best expressed the story I wanted to tell. I think what ties everything together is the sincerity of the songwriting and the overall feeling of the EP. At the end of the day, I wanted the music to sound like me, like SHANNi, and to create a world that listeners could feel comfortable in. For me, finding my identity as an artist is about embracing the different things I love and making them my own.”

To celebrate the release, SHANNi will be staging her own EP launch party at Theodore Events Place in Marikina City on October 31, 2026 (6:00 p.m.). The event will also feature performances from The Itchyworms, ena mori, One Click Straight, Suyen, Planetena, and Uncle Jonny.

“Having all these amazing artists come together makes the night even more meaningful, and I think it’ll be a beautiful celebration of music and community,” SHANNi shares. “More than anything, this is my way of saying thank you to everyone who has supported me and believed in this journey.”

With Cure For Loneliness, SHANNi offers more than a personal introduction: she creates a space for listeners to find pieces of themselves in her stories and reassurance in the shared experience of being human.

SHANNi’s Cure For Loneliness is out now on all digital music platforms worldwide via Sony Music Entertainment.

Also starring Yook Sung-jae and Go Soo, the heartwarming office romance premieres November 25 exclusively on Prime Video

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She knows how to navigate the corporate world, but when it comes to love, things get a little more complicated. Prime Video has officially announced Nine to Six, a new Korean office romance starring Park Min-young, Yook Sung-jae, and Go Soo, premiering exclusively on November 25 in the Philippines and over 240 countries and territories worldwide. Combining office politics, unexpected encounters, and heart-fluttering romantic moments, the 12-episode series centers on a fiercely independent career woman whose well-organized life takes an unexpected turn when two very different men make her question everything she believes about love.

For Kang Yi-ji (Park Min-young), success has always been about hard work, ambition and staying in control. A sharp-witted legal professional who has built her career in a competitive corporate environment, Yi-ji has little patience for romance, dismissing love and marriage as nothing more than fleeting hormonal reactions. But when she crosses paths with Han Sun-woo (Yook Sung-jae), a kind-hearted legal intern who follows his heart, and Park Hyun-tae (Go Soo), a sophisticated executive who recognises her talent, her once predictable world begins to shift. As unexpected feelings develop and new possibilities emerge, Yi-ji finds herself confronting a question no amount of professional experience can prepare her for: can she make room for love without compromising the career she’s worked so hard to build?

Park Min-young (Siren’s Kiss, Marry My Husband, Confidence Queen) stars as Kang Yi-ji, a confident, rational and fiercely capable senior manager in the legal department at her company, Chronic Motors. Having established herself in a male-dominated corporate world, Yi-ji is someone who believes in giving her all, even when the rewards don’t always match the effort. Although she once dreamed of studying astronomy, she ultimately pursued law at her mother’s urging and has since devoted herself to building a successful career since. While marriage has never been high on her list of priorities, Yi-ji isn’t entirely closed to the idea. Beneath her composed and pragmatic exterior lies a woman who may soon discover that some of life’s most meaningful moments can’t be planned.

Yook Sung-jae (The Haunted Palace, The Golden Spoon, Guardian: The Lonely and Great God) plays Han Sun-woo, a warm-hearted legal intern whose true passion lies in jewellery design. Sincere, thoughtful and quietly mature beyond his years, Sun-woo believes that kindness and staying true to oneself are never signs of weakness. Unlike Yi-ji, who approaches life with logic and practicality, Sun-woo is guided by his heart and an unwavering belief in doing what feels right. When Yi-ji finds herself in danger, he instinctively puts her safety before his own, revealing a protective and dependable side that may begin to change how she sees him. With his refreshing outlook and genuine warmth, Sun-woo brings an unexpected spark into Yi-ji’s carefully ordered world.

Go Soo (Missing: The Other Side, Colony, Parole Examiner Lee) takes on the role of Park Hyun-tae, a polished and accomplished executive director at Chronic Motors’ Seoul branch. Having risen through the corporate ranks at a young age, Hyun-tae returns from the company’s European headquarters with a sophisticated outlook and a strong appreciation for professional competence. Intelligent, composed and accustomed to independence, he has long believed that life is simpler without romantic complications. But his encounter with Yi-ji, whose confidence and professional abilities command his respect, begins to challenge his perspective. As two equally driven individuals find themselves drawn into each other’s worlds, Hyun-tae discovers that even the most self-sufficient person may have room for an unexpected connection.

Bringing together three distinct perspectives on love, ambition and relationships, Nine to Six explores the challenges of balancing professional success with personal happiness. From the warmth of a younger colleague who wears his heart on his sleeve to the quiet appeal of an accomplished executive who understands the demands of her career, Yi-ji’s journey promises a relatable and heartwarming look at finding love when it is least expected. With its blend of workplace humour, emotional moments and romantic tension, the series invites viewers to discover that sometimes, the most meaningful connections happen beyond office hours.

Penned by Choi Ji-oh, the 12-episode series is helmed by Lee Hyung-min, known for Strong Girl Bong-soon, Miss Night and Day, and I’m Sorry, I Love You, alongside Oh Song-hee, director of The Escape of the Seven.

Nine to Six joins Prime Video’s extensive library of thousands of movies and series, including Love in Disguise, A Love Other Than Yours, See You at Work Tomorrow!, Spring Fever, Surely Tomorrow, Head Over Heels, and GOOD BOY. The platform also features popular anime titles such as Nippon Sangoku: The Three Nations of the Crimson Sun and Mobile Suit Gundam GQuuuuuuX, as well as award-winning and critically acclaimed Amazon Originals like Elle, Off Campus, Project Hail Mary, Masters of the Universe, Fallout, The Summer I Turned Pretty, Heads of State, The Lord of the Rings: The Rings of Power, Reacher, and The Boys. Prime Video subscribers can stream their favorite movies and shows anytime and anywhere using thousands of compatible devices. Through the Prime Video app, members can also download episodes to their mobile phones and tablets, allowing them to enjoy content offline at no extra charge.

For more information on Prime Video, visit www.amazon.com/primevideo.

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