At 15, Neeyong, is stepping into the local rap scene with a story that’s still unfolding — one that’s honest, a little rough around the edges, and very real. His debut EP, Personal Inventory, introduces him not just as a young rapper, but as someone who has already gone through a difficult reset. Before the music, there was a period in his life that felt out of control, a phase he openly talks about now.
“Dumaan ako sa buhay na magulo, buhay na puro bisyo, yung buhay na walang pakialam sa mga tao sa paligid ko. Noong ipinasok ako ng daddy ko sa rehab, doon ko na-realize ang lahat at nakipag-reflect ako nang maayos para baguhin ko yung sarili ko. Habang nandoon ako, ibinuhos ko yung mga pinagdaanan ko sa mga sinulat kong kanta,” the young StarPop artist said.
That time in a rehabilitation center became a turning point. It gave him space to slow down, think, and start writing. What began as personal notes eventually became songs, five of them, to be exact. “Yellow Corner,” “Programa,” “Recuperation,” “9/21,” and “Neon” are now his masterpieces.
FINDING HIS SOUND
All tracks were written by Neeyong and produced by Michael Cursebox, with guidance from StarPop label head Roque “Rox” Santos. The EP feels personal without trying too hard as it simply reflects where the rapper has been and what he is thinking now.
Among the tracks, “9/21” stands out as the key piece, where he talks about his perspective on the country’s realities.
Before this EP, Neeyong made his debut in 2024 with “Agos ng Tugtog,” a song about pushing through negativity. Since then, he’s been performing in school events and guesting in concerts, slowly building his confidence on stage.
His influences are a mix of local and international names — Gloc 9, Shanti Dope, Flow G, Hellmerry, Eminem, Tupac, Michael Jackson, and Snoop Dogg — which gives a sense of where his style is coming from.
Rox remembers being impressed the first time they worked together. During Neeyong’s press conference on March 28, he said, “So, nung nag-recording kami, na-amaze ako kasi sobrang siyang galing. Kasi ako yung unang nag-record, nag-produce ng song niya na Agos. Dito namin ginawa sa Academy of Rock Studios. So, noon pa lang nakita ko na sabi ko ‘Meron si Neeyong!’” The label head shared he initially did not know that the young discovery he was listening to was veteran showbiz reporter Ambet Nabus‘ son.
Rox told the young rapper, “So, ‘yan Neeyong, gusto lang kitang i-congratulate. Advice ko sa’yo na keep doing kung ano yung gusto mong gawin. Keep writing your song, keep inspiring people, lalung-lalo na yung mga audience mo na sumusuporta sa’yo. So, itong Personal Inventory na ‘to na EP na ginawa natin eh very personal sa’yo. So sinasabi ko sa’yo na i-ready mo na yung next mo na mga songs para sa next EP mo. Congratulations and keep it up!”
SHARED JOURNEY
Behind Neeyong’s story is his father, Ambet, who went through the experience just as deeply, just from a different side.
“Actually, napakahirap ng proseso. Kasi bilang single parent, kami lang. Sa tulong ng mga minamahal na mga ninong,” Ambet heartfully shared during the press con. He opened up during the time Neeyong got into drugs and other vices that he had no other choice but to take him to rehab.
“Alam nilang lahat ang pinagdaanan ng isang single parent na may anak na nandodoon na hindi nakakausap. Para lang kaming bumalik sa lumang panahon na nagsusulatan lang kami. Talagang ang tagal ko na hindi sumusulat. Pangit ang handwriting ko, mare. Pero tinitiyaga ko ‘yun. Tapos yung pinagdaraanan na everyday, kinakausap ko mga psychiatrists, mga doctors doon. Tapos actually, to be honest, nagkaroon din po ako ng anxiety,” Ambet related.
He also added, “Halos sabay kaming kumukonsulta sa mga psychiatrists, sa mga therapists. Kasi ang hirap kasi kilala ko bilang matapang, matalino. Pero pagdating sa anak mo talaga, lahat ng ibibigay mo gagawin mo para lang maayos.”
For Ambet, it became a lesson in how much presence matters, especially during those difficult times.
SUPPORT THAT STAYED
Through everything, one thing they’re both thankful for is the support system that didn’t leave. In particular, Ambet is grateful to StarPop for sticking it out with his son. “Kasi kung iba-iba lang label yun, sa nangyari sa kanya, iiwanan siya. Kaya nagpapasalamat ako bukod dun sa suportang moral, suportang na gustong nilang tulungan sa kanya, nandito sila lagi na maging kaibigan. Kaya nga itong pagtitipon na ito, lahat na nandito, yung mga very close sa amin, sa akin, sa anak, na nakawitness po sa naging journey niya at naging journey ko na rin bilang isang single father,” he said.
It’s a reminder that recovery, and even a music career, is rarely done alone.
STAYING HUMAN IN A DIGITAL AGE
As a young artist, Neeyong is also thinking about the bigger picture, especially with the rise of AI in music. When asked about the proliferation of artificial intelligence-generated songs, here is what he said:
“Mas kailangan po naming galingan, ‘yung mga natural na artist, mas kailangan po naming galingan. Kasi mahirap po kalaban ng AI. Sobrang hirap po, lahat po ng nagagawa ng AI. So kailangan po namin talagang mag-triple ng work, or mas gandahan po namin yung output. Kasi paano pag nasakop na tayo ng AI? Paano pag sila na yung gumagawa ng kanta para sa atin? Paano pa yung OPM? Paano yung Original Pilipino Music?”
Still, he stays grounded in what he knows he can offer. He shared, “Tuluy-tuloy lang po ako sa pagsulat ng kanta. Para sa akin, lahat po ng ginagawa ko, lalo po yung napagdadaanan ko. So malabo po ‘yun na magawa ng AI.”
WHERE IT ALL LEADS
Behind Neeyong’s music, his recovery, and his second chance is his father.
Neeyong doesn’t overcomplicate it. He says it plainly, the way someone would after realizing how close they came to losing everything. He really has toughened up and got enlightened.
“Kasi kung hindi ako pina-rehab ni Daddy, wala po ako dito sa harap niyo ngayon. Siguro nasa kalsada o natutulog ako sa labas, sobrang dumi ko, sobrang payat ko. Pero dahil kay Daddy, andito ako, masigla ako at meron pa akong presscon ngayon. Palakpakan natin siya, guys! Thank you, thank you!,” Neeyong humbly admitted, asking for a round of applause for his dad.
And when asked how he sees his dad, a proud member of the LGBT community, Neeyong doesn’t give a long answer.
Instead, he points back to his music. “Pakinggan nyo na lang po yung first track sa album, yung Programa,” the artist said.
Because for Neeyong, some things are easier said in a song.
