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Let’s Take It Back: Ahon 3
What went down at the third Ahon event? Join us as we take a trip back in time.
Dante Romero
December 12, 2024
The year is 2011. FlipTop is already a staple in Philippine pop culture and continues to garner more and more solid supporters from all over the world. With this kind of success, the league decided to end the year most epically. December 10 is the date of the third Ahon event. It’s the very first FlipTop affair to take place at the beloved San Juan Gym. By this time, Ahon was already recognized as a monumental night for Pinoy battle rap and hip-hop, so Anygma made sure to give the fans an unforgettable lineup.
Ahon 3 is well-known for hosting the very first “three-way” battle in FlipTop. We saw Loonie, BLKD, and Dello squaring off in a series of matches. Loonie dominated the night, winning his two bouts using his trademark multisyllabic rhymes, hard-hitting haymakers, and strong presence. Armed with witty bars and his always-effective rebuttals, Dello secured an impressive victory against BLKD. Sadly for BLKD, he lost against both emcees due to too many stumbles in his rounds. It was truly a learning experience for him but he was able to bounce back with a vengeance. Now, these three lyricists are considered legends or “old gods” in the league.
Krack vs Japormz was indeed an unusual matchup. There were sparks of comedic brilliance in their rounds but all in all, it wasn’t up to par with the rest of the card. Silencer vs Shehyee was a great back-and-forth showdown. Both emcees showed their creativity through their lines, with Shehyee focusing on wordplays and metaphors and Silencer keeping it simple yet very effective. G-Spot vs Nico (now known as AKT) was an underrated banger. Nico surprised us with his complex schemes and heavy punchlines while G-Spot rocked the crowd with his amazing flow and haymaker after haymaker. Another slept-on masterpiece of this event is B.I.L.L.Y. vs Singleshot. It’s a display of technical lyricism and relentless aggression. Maxford vs Sinio is considered one of the biggest upsets in FlipTop history. Sinio already achieved popularity during this period so everyone in the venue was surprised when the underdog Maxford defeated him. Nevertheless, it was an entertaining bout that featured witty humor and creative angles. Gin vs Tipsy D is undoubtedly the bodybag of the night. Props to Gin for doing his best but this was Tipsy’s night. He made the crowd go wild with his faultless rhyme schemes, innovative technical lines, and total confidence. You can say this is where he officially became a threat.
Ahon 3 will also be remembered for being the last Ahon to feature the English Conference. SinCity vs JedLi was a verbal brawl throughout. SinCity went in with his swag and clever bars while JedLi brought the crazy metaphors and hard punches. Josh G vs Durante is the perfect example of well-roundedness. The two emcees dropped some quality humor and devastating punches in their rounds and their delivery was flawless.
Apart from the great battles, Ahon 3 is memorable for its musical performances. FlipTop has always pushed to showcase local hip-hop as a whole so on this night they put a spotlight on production. Those in attendance were treated to some remarkable beat sets by Caliph8, Red-I, Pasta Groove, Syxx, Fred, and Sloj. For fans who were new to the genre, it gave them a much deeper appreciation for the culture.
On December 20-21, 2024, we will have the fifteenth edition of this glorious event. How time flies! Like Ahon 3, it will be in a new venue and there will be another three-way matchup. Of course, there’s also the much-awaited 2024 Isabuhay and Dos Por Dos2 Finals. As for the rest of the card, each one has a huge chance of being a historic clash as well. Get your tickets now before they run out. FlipTop, mag-ingay!
