RANDOM INTERVIEW WITH NICK HERNANDEZ *MIDA$ RECORDS

SA LAWAK NG MUNDO NG HIPHOP LAHAT AY KASYA

Sabi nga ng haring si Francis M. Napakarami na ng saklaw ng Hiphop ngayon, marami ng naniniwala, maraming nagbabakasakali at sumusuporta sa local hiphop and malaking bagay ang mga social media platforms and channels such as Wish 105 na talagang malaki ang naitulong sa Pinoy hiphop pero isa sa dapat nating pasalamat sa larangang ito ay ang mga walang sawang event organizer, talent managers that put money, effort and time para may maiambag sa kultura.

Nakausap ko ang isang Nick Hernandez. Isang executive producer, club DJ, talent manager, co-founder ng HYDRO Music Festival, Calle Con and founder of Midas Records (Rappers/Singers) Midas Nightlife (DJs/MCs). Isang manager that’s eager to help local talents to become a star. So what have we discussed? Read our random interview below:

Nick Hernandez of Mida$ Records | Pinoy Hiphop Superstar

PHS: You created MIDAS? Anong meaning nito? How did you come up with this idea?

Nick Hernandez: From the story of King Midas … The guy who has the “Golden Touch”… Yun lahat ng mahawakan nya nagiging ginto… Thats what my/our vision.. Everything that we do or bring out is GOLD…

KNTMNL x SACHZNA – Tamang Hinala (Official Music Video)

“Tamang Hinala” KNTMNL & Sachzna Produced by: Solomon Stark & KNTMNL Director: Jayr Del Rosario Story Writter: Sachzna Laparan & Kent Enriquez Video Producer

PHS: WOW that’s interesting, pero how did it start? Can you tell me more about it’s history

Nick Hernandez: Well, I’ve been into the hiphop scene since 2006 pa.. So fan tlaga ako ng Filipino hiphop… Started managing Hiphop dancers (Unschooled) nung 2008… Then along the way I met and made friends with almost all the Hiphop artists in the Philippines… Been helping them with their music videos, bar tours, or get them for my events from my Team Strato days til now sa Hydro Manila… So I’ve been dealing with DJs, MCs, Dancers, Rappers, etc dati pa..

It’s always been a dream of mine na maging rapper or makapagtayo ng record label and manage artists…parang si Diddy and his Bad Boy Records… Idol ko yun sobra eh.. I wanna be like him and start my own empire…

Wala ako talent sa pag rarap and pagkanta eh… So dun nako sa next big thing… Manage and make Hiphop STARS… One thing na you are a king..

But there’s a different satisfaction and level of achievement if you are a “King Maker”…

So yun.. Since I’ve been friends and helping naman na artists since dati pa… Might as well make it formal and official dba.. That’s why I formally created Midas Music & Entertainment last year.

Under it are the 3 departments: Mida$ Records – Singers, Rappers, Producers Midas Nightlife – DJs/MCs Midas Creatives – Videographers, Photographers, Stylists, Choreographers, Graphic Artist.

Midas Record Roster | Pinoy Hiphop Superstar

PHS: WOW that’s quite big, kumbaga isang buong production na sya, anong main qualification mo sir of picking a talent? Have you ever pick something wrong before? Or do you stick to your plan and make them stars dahil naniniwala kana sa una palang.

Nick Hernandez:

3 factors that I look into whenever I book or get a talent sa events ko or sa talent agency ko. Skills, marketability, attitude dapat lahat yan atleast 7/8 out of 10 each aspect..

Kasi kahit gano ka kagaling.. Kung may attitude ka naman.. WALA KA pa rin mararating.. Or if gwapo/maganda ka nga.. Panget naman ugali mo or wala ka tlaga talent… Wala din.. So hand in hand tlaga dapat yung 3…

I had my share of booking or grooming talents na may attitude… Kahit na super galing or super marketable… If I have problems with his/her attitude (mayabang, stubborn, etc), I stop helping and booking them…

I want positive people lang around my circle… Para positive lng din lahat ng darating..

PHS: Since your a fan of hiphop music, local hiphop, sinong mga influences mo dito? Sinong mga closest to you in our local hiphop community?

Nick Hernandez: ANDAME! hahah..

Music – naging fan ako ng OPM Hiphop because of Francis M, Andrew E., Mastaplann, Legit Misfitz, Ghetto Doggs, Sun Valley Crew, Kulay, 7 shots….

My older brother introduced me to that kind of music when I was 8 yo I think.. Then when I got older I became friends with sila B-roc, Nathan J, Mike Swift, KrayzieKyle, Pikaso, Mikekosa,Flipmusic, LDP, BnK, Thyro, Yumi, Pow, Quest, Team Sunday, Tuesday Troops, etc.. Lahat halos sila naging tropa kahit nung promoter pa lng ako sa BGC and QC..

Closest? DZ SVG – we go way back… Since 2007 i think… I consider that guy as still as one of best friends… We dont hang out that much now but we know when we need each other andun kame.. No homo.. Haha..

B-roc/Nathan J – my Kuyas in this industry…

Introduced me and made me part of “The Community”… 1st Hiphop event ko yun na ginawa as an organizer.. Dami ko natutunan dun.. Until now parang kuya ko pa rin yung mga yun.. Helped me with a lot of stuff sa hiphop and sa events..

Kent MNL/Matthaios/Himig Borhuh and the rest of Mida$ records and Midas Nightlife – sila lagi ko nakakasama ko now…

Parang mga anak/batang kapatid ko lahat yung mga yun.. Special mention yung 3 kasi sila talaga yung halos lahat ng galaw nila they run it thru me and we do and plan moves together…

Sila Droppout and Douglas Brocklehurst pa pala now because sila din yung partners ko sa Calle Con… We share the same vision… Araw araw magkakausap kame lagi… 24/7 kame online.. Haha

PHS: I heard about you since there’s this one time that sir B-roc mentioned you and give your big props. So you’ve been in this game for so long pla. Considered and well respected because your also a event producers, pero kamusta ang Midas Nightlife? Kamusta ang DJ scene sa Pinas? Never pa kasi namin itong na discuss and I wanted to have an insight

Nick Hernandez: Dj scene is thriving… Super daming djs na may surplus na… Pero ofcourse dun na lalabas yung Skills, Marketability, Attitude factors in order for you to get booked… Survival of the fittest.. You have to adapt sa time and sa market.. So if magpapaka purista ka… NGA-NGA ka bro… Your music library should be broad… Pede ka mag hiphop,trap, edm, top 40s, open format, etc…

One good take away now pala is you can now play OPM sa sets mo.. Specially sa Music Festivals… Tanggap na ng tao ang OPM sa dj sets and mas nakukuha mo attention nila if may opm sa set mo…

PHS: From old school to new school, ano sa tingin mong malaking kaibihan ng music? and what can we expect from Midas in years to come.

Nick Hernandez: “ACCESSIBILITY” Before in order for you to listen to Hiphop music you have to buy or borrow cds/casette tapes… Or abang ka sa MTV ng mvs nila.. Yung iba that time hinde pa bumababa sa pinas… Unlike now one click away lahat… So imagine pano pa kaya yung ikaw yung gagawa ng music…

Madd props sa OGs for that.. Cant imagine their struggle of producing and distributing their music nung time na yun…

So that goes to show also how easy to GET and GIVE info about other artists as well around the world. Kaya naman maraming bata na magagaling ngayon because of their knowledge sa industry.. Bata pa lang namulat na sa scene…

Claiming it… Midas Music & Entertainment will be BIG…

We will sign soon with one of the top record labels in the world also for distribution… Can’t name it yet but it’s almost a done deal…Midas Nightlife aside from the vets sa industry.. Halos lahat ng magaling na batang djs nasa midas…so the future is bright… Now pa lang most of them are dominating the scene na eh.. So what more sa future..Same goes with Mida$ Records… Their age range is from17-25yo…

We got a long way to go but I’m confident that my artists have the talent, marketability and attitude na makabreakthrough sila lahat not only here in the Philippines but also in Asia and around the world.

Our main vision is not to compete here but to compete worldwide… WE (not only Midas) but us Filipinos can compete and do better than 88 Rising.. There I said it… Haha KAYA NATIN YUN… MAS MAGALING pa nga tayo dun eh!
We speak better english, mas malaki social media presence natin compared to any other country… And WE HAVE THE TALENT to back it up… so why not dba..

Nick Hernandez | Pinoy Hiphop Superstar

PHS: It’s nice to have producers that believe in our local talent and totoo naman we have talented people here that deserved recognition and admirations of fans too. So meron ka bang message sa mga nangangarap maging rap artist or dj, or wanting to be part of entertainment industry? Message to your supporters too

Nick Hernandez:

Cliche man.. Pero.. “Follow your Passion…” BUT… do it 100% hinde pede half baked or 80% lng… Bitaw tlaga dapat lahat.. Focus ka dapatsagiangawa mo…

Then totoo din yung “It’s not what you know, It’s who you know” Kahit gano ka kagaling if walang naniniwala or tutulong sayo… Wala.. NGANGA… So babalik tayo sa Skills, Marketability, Attitude..

Atleast 8/10 ka dapatlagi dun sa 3 yun… Develop mo thru time… Treat everyone with respect kahit gano kalaki or kaliit pa yung tao.. You will never know… KA-LEVEL mo sila lahat dapat… Hinde ka mataas..or hinde ka rin mababa sa kanila…

Skills and Marketability napagaaralan and natutunan yan.. ang Pakikisama hinde… Dapat mabuti talaga puso mo…

As I always say… “Always have good intentions.. And you will have great things ahead of you…”

Midas Record | Pinoy Hiphop Superstar

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Talent manager, event producer. Isa sa mga tao sa likod ng spotlight pero hindi nagsasawang magtiwala at maniwala sa mga Pinoy talents. To be honest, we need more of them than we need fan turn to artist. Be sure to check out and be a part of Callecon this coming May. Support Local! Support Hip-Hop.

Random Interview with Douglas Brocklehurst

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Minsan akong naka attend ng isang event na si sir Douglas Brocklehurst ang nag produce. Minsan naring nasabihan na “Gawa ka event sir, suportahan ka namin”. It’s one of the dream I can’t accomplish dahil sa maraming kaakibat transaction, mga marketing collaterals, meetings, venue, food, and all small details a marketing/producer could only know. Nakausap ko si sir Douglas and it inspires me nung sabihin nyang “Lumaki ako sa Caa, Las Pinas city, wala akong pangbayad sa rap contest entrance dati”. Walang pambayad ng mga events dati, ngayon sya na mismo ang nagpapa event dahil sa laki ng tiwala nya sa local hiphop. Isang marketing director, event organizer, a co-founder ng Callecon, isa sa hiphop-behind-the-scene guy we should know and respect. Read what we discussed below:

PHS: Your are working behind the scenes ng hiphop, mainly sa events how did you come up with that idea?

Douglas Brocklehurst: Back in 2016 I’ve been working with a newly organized record label, yun yung comeback ko sa hiphop talaga tumutulong kasi ako sa events and marketing ng good friend ko na nasa mainstream Rnb/Ballad/Pop singer sya. Pero since mahal ko ang hiphop dahil lumaki ako sa streets ng Caa, Las Piñas, sinubukan ko mag organize ng event nov 2016. Fund raising event sya, tapos ayun tuloy tuloy na.

PHS: Sino sinong mga una mong kakilala sa rap scene? You consider yourself a fan? A artist? A producer?

Douglas Brocklehurst: First. Las Piñas Finest, sila Moody One, tapos eventually mga kalugar ko na naging mentor ko. Target of DC Clan, which I’m part of. May mga songs din ako dati, hehe pero tinanggap ko na, na hindi sya para saken. Kaya, I operate behind the scenes nalang. Frustration ko eh,

I’m a fan, of hiphop at ng lahat ng tunay na nagtataguyod nito.

PHS: Sinong mga naging inspiration mo sa rap music? Hindi ka ba nangarap maging rap artist din?

Douglas Brocklehurst: Marami eh, syempre Francis M. Gaya ng sabi ko nag rap din ako.. pero sobrang saglit lang, lahat ngayon sa scene inspirasyon ko.

PHS: Ano ano pang mga events ang nataguyod mo sa rap? Name a few and kamusta ang pag tangap ng mga tao?

Douglas Brocklehurst: I first did Hit em up – Nov 2016. I had a birthday event nuong May 2017 called 25K Magic. Then I did, 727 Clique’s album and music video launch. Tapos Rap Is Live – March 2018 (It was crazy!) sa B-Side, and Angat Last June 2018 sa B-Side din. All was successful naman sa awa ng Universe.

PHS: This up coming Calle Con, kelan at papano mo ito naisip?

Douglas Brocklehurst: It was only a passion project at first, bawi para sa culture kasi sunod sunod yung unsuccessful events nung last part ng 2018. I was in the US late 2018 tapos may mga nangyare na hindi inaasahan, together with my partners Nick Hernandez and Droppout Marasigan nag plano kami mag mount ng event.

So we came up with CALLE CON x Nag isip kami pano maging kakaiba sa lahat ng events na nag eexist. So nag isip kami ng crossover ng fashion and music. Ito na.

PHS: Anong pinaka mahirap sa event planning ng isang rap event?

Douglas Brocklehurst: Mahirap lahat, simula sa pag iisip ng name, paghahanap ng tamang venue, at pag kuha ng tamang date. Pag curate ng artists, pag iisip ng branding and direction ng event at the same time paghahanap ng sponsors.

Yun pinaka mahirap, kasi kapag sinabi mong hiphop sa corporate world medjo nilo-lookdown.

Kaya yun ang vision ko, ma commercialize sya para magka budget na ng maayos at magkaroon ng magaganda pang events for urban / hiphop scene.

PHS: Anong pagkakaiba ng hip-hop scene before sa ngayon, sa sarili mong pananaw?

Douglas Brocklehurst: Malaki, yung support ng artist’s sa isa’t-isa ngayon. Grabe! Tsaka sobrang bilis nalang mag promote ng event, ng single, ng album, ng sh*t. Kahit ano mas madali na now ksi daming tools na available, gaya ng social media.

PHS: What can we expect from you in some years to come?

Douglas Brocklehurst: More events, bigger ones.

Int’l collab ng TMP Productions with Int’l artists, tsaka plan ko i-tour artists naten here abroad..

PHS: Anong masasabi mo sa mga nagbabalak din sumugal sa hiphop, or mag lakas loob na mag produce ng event gaya ng ginagawa mo?

Douglas Brocklehurst: Gawin nila gusto nila. Dapat mahaba pisi, kasi hindi laging panalo, kaya kung pera ang habol mo hindi para sayo ang pag sugal sa hiphop.

Operate out of love, not greed. Operate out of passion.. Look for Inspirations, look for collaborations. Work with, not compete.

And syempre dapat support ka sa events ng iba. Suportahan mo lahat, tapos kapag may nakita kang mali, subukan mong itama.

PHS: Lastly your personal shoutouts.

Douglas Brocklehurst: Shoutouts to my Team. TMP Productions, TMP Creatives, mga tropa sa Team Rekta sa Kalye, Midas Music and Ent. Productions. Partners ko Nick Hernandez and Droppout Marasigan, Paulo Reyes, MC Sai, Just Washington, kay Carl and Justin. Sa Family ko, sa lahat ng naniniwala saken sa TMP at sa lahat ng artists and creatives na down saken at sa lahat ng cause ko. Salamat sa inyo! Pag-igihan lang naten lahat.

At syempre sa Pinoy HipHop Super Star!!!

God Bless Us All!

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It’s always nice to know na merong mga sumusuporta sa hiphop and they know what role they have to play. Most fans are turning into artist, B-boy or DJ, pero malaki ang utang na loob natin to people like sir Douglas who believes na deserved natin to be heard and be on the spotlight. The hardwork behind the scenes is something a normal fan could not comprehend. The planning to the very small details kung walang mga producers we could not reach this far and we always should be thankful to them. Kudos sir Douglas! More events to come!