Francis Magalona passed away earlier today due to complications that stemmed from his acute myeloid leukemia which was diagnosed on August 8, 2008. He was 44 years old.
He was the man responsible for making Rap and Hip-Hop genre become mainstream in our country earning him the monicker "King of Philippine Rap". He steered clear away from "gangster" rap and composed songs that were motivational and nationalistic instead.
Due to the changing times, as Rock music was becoming dominant in the 90's. He merged Rap and Rock in his music (which was long before foreign acts such as Limp Bizkit and Linkin Park did it) and also became successful at it.
One of the more popular songs he made that used the Rap and Rock fusion, and probably one of my favorite OPM songs of all time was Kaleidoscope World. The message of the song was solid and the riffs were of course, very much 90's-ish (my favorite era in music).
Kaleidoscope World Video
Other achievements of the "Master Rapper" were:
- also an actor, TV host and a director - a responsible family man, raising 8 children with wife Pia Arroyo-Magalona - 1st Filipino MTV VJ - an accomplished photographer - started his own clothing line - army reservist with the rank of sergeant - recipient of the MTV Pilipinas VMA's Generations Award in 2006 - co-started a foundation called Heartist Foundation, which aims to help Filipino artists with health and commercial concerns - made a blog way before celebrity blogs became a norm so he could communicate with his fans, which later on served as a chronicle for his "Happy Battle" with leukemia. - posthumous Presidential Medal of Merit for promoting patriotism through music.
Heck, I even remember dancing to his song "Mga Kababayan" on our school program when I was still a wee little elementary lad.
He truly was a man that inspired a generation of Filipinos through his talent, music, and love for his country. Something that local politicians in our country continue to fail at or only do during elections and yet they still keep on living.
My deepest condolences to his family, fans, and friends.
R.I.P. Francis Durango Magalona (October 4, 1964 - March 6, 2009)
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