Death Threat is a hip-hop group in the Philippines. The group is credited for pioneering

gangsta rap Gangsta rap or gangster rap, initially called reality rap, is a subgenre of rap music that conveys the culture, values, and experiences of urban gangs and street hustlers, frequently discussing unpleasant realities of the world in general th ...

in the Philippines and for launching the career of

Gloc-9 Aristotle Condenuevo Pollisco (born October 18, 1977), known professionally as Gloc-9, is a Filipino Rapping, rapper, singer, and songwriter. Regarded as one of the best Filipino rappers of all time, his fast-flowing Chopper (rap), chopper v ...

History

Death Threat initially consisted of Ron "Beware" Salonga and Gerald "Genezide" Acelajado. Their self-titled debut album ''Death Threat:Gusto Kong Bumaet'' was released in 1993. It contained the song "Gusto Kong Bumaet (Pero 'Di Ko Magawa)" (English: "I Want to Become Good (But I Cannot)") which told tales of the daily lives of the young impoverished Filipino youth growing up in the city streets and

slum A slum is a highly populated Urban area, urban residential area consisting of densely packed housing units of weak build quality and often associated with poverty. The infrastructure in slums is often deteriorated or incomplete, and they are p ...

areas. It is considered the first Filipino

album and was certified gold. Three years later, they added more members with emcees Michael P. "Hi-Jakkk" Reyes, and Lawrence "O-Dogg" Panganiban. They were also joined by

Aristotle Pollisco Aristotle Condenuevo Pollisco (born October 18, 1977), known professionally as Gloc-9, is a Filipino rapper, singer, and songwriter. Regarded as one of the best Filipino rappers of all time, his fast-flowing chopper vocal style has made him ...

. The group suggested him the rap alias "Glock-9". He then changed it to "Gloc-9". Their second album, ''Death Threat: Wanted'' contained the song "Ilibing ng Buhay (Ang Mga Sosyal)" (English: "Bury (The Elitists) Alive") with Pooch (the alter-ego of

Andrew E Andrew Ford Valentino Espiritu (born July 30, 1967), known professionally as Andrew E., is a Filipino rapper and actor. He is best known in the Philippines for his 1990 debut hit single "Humanap Ka ng Panget" ("''Find an Ugly Person''"). Andre ...

.). The song became a hit despite not getting radio play. Another song, "Who's Next?", is considered one of the first Filipino

diss tracks A diss track, diss record or diss song (an abbreviation of ''disrespect'' or ''disparage'') is a song whose primary purpose is to verbally attack someone else, usually another artist. Diss tracks are often the result of an existing, escalating feu ...

written, as they called out rival rappers and the radio station LA 105.9. The album itself was certified double platinum. Beware left the Philippines after the release of the album, and the group became the duo of Hi-Jakkk and Gloc-9, and released the third album ''Kings of da Undaground'' in 1997. ''Kings of da Undaground'' went on to become a four-time platinum album. Beware then returned to the Philippines in 1998 to release the album ''Death Threat: The Return'' that was recorded in California. In 2002, Death Threat released another album, ''Death Threat: Still Wanted''. It contained "Private Diane", which featured

Ely Buendia Ely Eleandre Basiño Buendia (born November 2, 1970) is a Filipino musician. He is best known as the lead vocalist and primary songwriter of the alternative rock band Eraserheads, with whom he has released seven albums since their founding in 1 ...

and

Francis Magalona Francis Michael Durango Magalona (October 4, 1964 – March 6, 2009), also known as Francis M, was a Filipino rapper, songwriter, and actor. He is regarded as an influential figure in Pinoy hip hop. Magalona was a son of actors Pancho Maga ...

. During the 2000s, several members left the group. For a time, Gloc-9 and Hi-Jakkk performed together as a duo, releasing ''Domination I'' and ''Domination II.'' Hi-Jakk produced and arranged their albums. Gloc-9 then signed with

Star Music Star Music (also known as Star Records and corporately as Star Recording, Inc.) is a Philippine record label owned and operated by ABS-CBN Corporation. It was formerly a separate company operating as a wholly-owned subsidiary of ABS-CBN Corpora ...

and became one of the best-selling and most successful hip-hop artists in the Philippines. Hi-Jakkk also became a solo artist, releasing several albums and worked with ABS-CBN Music in 2023. O-Dogg spent the next 15 years as an RTC employee. In 2014, he was shot dead in

Muntinlupa Muntinlupa (), officially the City of Muntinlupa (), is a Cities of the Philippines#Legal classification, highly urbanized city in the Metro Manila, National Capital Region of the Philippines. According to the 2020 census, it has a population o ...

. In 2019, Death Threat performed on the

Wish 107.5 DWNU ( 107.5 FM), broadcasting as Wish 107.5 ''(pronounced as Wish one-o-seven-five)'', is a radio station owned by Progressive Broadcasting Corporation and operated by Breakthrough and Milestones Productions International (BMPI), the media ar ...

bus. They also released "Gusto Kong Bumaet Pero Di Ko Magawa: Part 2".

Discography

Albums

* 1993: ''Death Threat: Gusto Kong Bumaet'' * 1995: ''Death Threat: Wanted'' * 1997: ''Kings of da Undaground'' * 1998: ''Beware: The Return'' (O.G. Beware) * 1999: ''Reincarnation'' (compilation album) * 1999: ''Kasalanan'' (Genezide) * 2002: ''Still Wanted: Da 2nd Chapter'' * 2005: ''Beware: Revenge of tha Undaground'' * 2005: ''Da Best of Death Threat (1993-2003)'' * 2014: ''The Best of Beware'' (2-disc album)

References

{{DEFAULTSORT:Death Threat Filipino hip-hop groups Musical groups established in 1993