Nik Makino

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Nik Makino
Birth nameNikolson Makino
Born1995 (age 28–29)
OriginAbad Santos, Tondo, Manila
GenresPinoy hip hop
Years active2011–present
LabelsBelieve AS Philippines

Nikolson Makino (born 1995) is a Filipino rapper. Although he started rapping as a 16-year-old in 2011, Makino rose to popularity with the controversial tracks "Neneng B" and "Lexi" during the COVID-19 pandemic. After becoming a family man and concerned with his negative influence on children, Makino decided to move away from his sexually explicit lyrics in his debut album Hype One's (2022), a more personal record which explores themes of self-realization, love and friendship. He appeared on the Billboard Philippines Songs chart twice, with the Flow G collaborations "Moon" and "We Made It".

Life and career[edit]

"Neneng B" era (2011–2020)[edit]

Nikolson Makino[1] was born in 1995.[2][3][4] Growing up in Abad Santos, Tondo, Makino started rapping in 2011 as a 16-year-old and spends time in the U.S. state of New Jersey.[3][4] His early releases were a series of mixtapes and extended plays (EPs),[4] including Most Needed Mixtape, Now I Know, Love Lust Lies Mixtape, and It’s Nik Mixtape.[5]

Makino rose to popularity with the singles "Neneng B", a collaboration with Raf Davis, and "Lexi",[1][4] which garnered a combined 95 million views.[6] "Neneng B" went viral during the COVID-19 pandemic,[2] reaching at least No. 12 on the now-defunct Philippine Music Charts in February 2020,[7] but both songs proved controversial because of their sexually explicit lyrics and Makino attracted many critics.[2][3] Lino Brocka's organization, The Concerned Artists of the Philippines, criticized "Neneng B" for "[reinforcing] the idea that women exist to be fetishized for male pleasure", like many other artists who "tread this well-worn path of toxic and fragile masculinity.”[5] In November 2019, European producer Roko Tensei threatened to sue Makino and Davis, alleging that "Neneng B" had stolen his beat "Relax". While Makino claimed that he had already paid for the beat, they later reached an out-of-court settlement.[1]

Makino decided to move on from his "bad boy" image after he found out children were listening to "Neneng B" at parties. He considered what kind of influence he wanted to have with his music.[4][6] He also wanted to change personally, having become a family man:[2] he had settled down with his now-wife Krystal Kate "Siobe Lim" Mana, the model from the "Neneng B" music video, and began raising his newborn daughter, born in 2020 or 2021.[1][3] According to the Manila Standard, Makino now wanted make songs about "self-realization and [celebrating] family, friendship, and some clean, laid-back fun"—music that had a "lasting impact".[2]

Believe, Hype One's, and collaborations (2020–present)[edit]

Makino was Believe AS Philippines' first signee, and his first projects under the label were the EPs Aye Mami (2020)—which Makino called his transition from his "fuckboy" image—Bouncy Boy, featuring collaborations with Shao Lin and Kenzo, and Censored (both 2021).[4][8] Believe noticed him because his large social media following;[3] he often posts vlogs online and also has many TikTok followers.[6][9] Makino said he suffered depression during his first year with Believe and had to reflect on why he chose to do music. Believe mostly gave Makino creative freedom, and Makino built his own home studio.[4]

On January 15, 2022, Makino released the single "Dahan Lang" (Filipino: Just Take it Slow), which featured A. Ross. He released "Pag-Ibig Sayo" (Filipino: Love For You) for Valentine's Day.[3][8] "Ready Ka" (Filipino: You Ready), featuring Dash Calzado, came out days before he released his debut album Hype One's (2022). A mellower and more personal record, its 14 songs were inspired by the 26-year-old's journey both in his music and his personal life. Makino wanted his listeners to connect to his music more positively and be inspired to follow their own goals. He tried to distance himself from "Neneng B" and "Lexi"; the more laidback sound was reminiscent of his early career.[3][6]

The Flow G feature "Moon" was one of the album's most anticipated tracks. On it, the pair rap about the ups and downs of their rise to success over strings and a trap beat.[6] In September, it peaked at No. 16 on the Billboard Philippines Songs chart.[10] Makino and Flow G later performed "Moon" at the 8th Wish Music Awards ceremony in Quezon City's Araneta Coliseum.[11] Other songs had a pop rap sound, where Makino sings about watching the sunset and counting the stars.[3]

After Hype One's, Makino continued to release singles.[4] On June 17, 2022, he featured on DAZE's single "G.G.D." (Good Girl Drug).[12] He featured on and co-wrote KZ Tandingan's "Pinas Lang Malakas" (Filipino: Only Philippines is Strong), the theme song for the Filipino teams Blacklist and Echo at the MLBB M4 World Championship, which was released on December 28.[13][14] In November 2023, Makino and Mayo Marte, a long-time collaborator and fellow Believe signee, hosted a listening party for their unreleased songs at Quezon City's Sine Pop. While there, Makino said he based his songs on his self-reflection on his life experiences. He also talked about his wife's constant support and said that instead of trying to make hits, he is currently just doing what he enjoys.[9][15][16]

Makino's second charting song was another Flow G collaboration, "We Made It", which peaked at No. 7 in February 2024.[17] Its music video included futuristic cityscapes of Manila.[18] Filipino actor Miguel Tanfelix participated in a popular TikTok challenge set to the song which followed dance moves by Filipino choreographer Jay Joseph.[19]

Discography[edit]

  • Hype One's (2022)

References[edit]

  1. ^ a b c d Biong, Ian (November 18, 2019). "'Neneng B' artists reach settlement with foreign producer who accused them of stealing beat". Philippine Daily Inquirer. Retrieved February 27, 2024.
  2. ^ a b c d e Wang, Nickie (March 14, 2022). "Cruising with Nik Makino". Manila Standard. Retrieved February 27, 2024.
  3. ^ a b c d e f g h Jusay, Annalyn S. (March 18, 2022). "Nik Makino gets mature with Hype One's". Manila Bulletin. Retrieved February 27, 2024.
  4. ^ a b c d e f g h "Face to Face with Filipino hip-hop artist Nik Makino". Believe Music. November 30, 2023. Retrieved February 27, 2024.
  5. ^ a b Arsua, Koji (March 11, 2022). "Nik Makino, Singer Of "Neneng B," Has A New Album And It's More Wholesome". When in Manila. Retrieved February 28, 2024.
  6. ^ a b c d e Plaza, Marane A. (March 17, 2022). "WATCH: Sunset yacht party as Pinoy rapper Nik Makino launches first album". The Philippine Star. Retrieved February 27, 2024.
  7. ^ Gil, Baby A. (February 5, 2020). "Ben&Ben, Tala and Catriona hit songs". The Philippine Star. Retrieved February 27, 2024.
  8. ^ a b Galang, MC (February 13, 2022). "Nik Makino Premieres Valentine's Day Track, 'Pag-Ibig Sayo'". HipHopDX. Retrieved February 28, 2024.
  9. ^ a b Mercado, Josh (November 4, 2023). "Young OPM artists Nik Makino, Mayo Marte debut unreleased songs". ABS-CBN News. Retrieved February 28, 2024.
  10. ^ "Philippines Songs". Billboard. September 10, 2022. Retrieved February 27, 2024.
  11. ^ Galang, MC (January 22, 2023). "Felip, Flow G, JRLDM, James Reid, SB19 & More Win Big At 8th Wish Music Awards". HipHopDX. Retrieved February 28, 2024.
  12. ^ "DAZE collaborates with 'Neneng B' and 'Lexi' hitmaker Nik Makino on upcoming single 'G.G.D.'". Manila Bulletin. June 7, 2022. Retrieved February 28, 2024.
  13. ^ Santos, Rhea Manila (January 2, 2023). "EXCLUSIVE: KZ Tandingan on co-writing her new song 'Pinas Lang Malakas': 'It was a dream project!'". Push. Retrieved February 28, 2024.
  14. ^ Lojo, Michelle (December 10, 2022). "Blacklist, ECHO collide with compatriots in M4 group stages". The Philippine Star. Retrieved February 27, 2024.
  15. ^ Wang, Nickie (November 14, 2023). "Nik Makino charts new artistic course, moves beyond 'Neneng B' era". Manila Standard. Retrieved February 28, 2024.
  16. ^ Severo, Jan Milo (November 6, 2023). "'Akala ko anak ni Boss Toyo': Nik Makino on potential collab with Francis M's alleged daughter". The Philippine Star. Retrieved February 27, 2024.
  17. ^ "Philippines Songs". Billboard. February 24, 2024. Retrieved February 27, 2024.
  18. ^ Bonoan, Christian (January 11, 2024). "Watch Nik Makino x Flow G 'We Made It'". Myx. Retrieved February 27, 2024.
  19. ^ Cruz, Hazel Jane (January 24, 2024). "Miguel Tanfelix flexes his trendy hairstyle". GMA Lifestyle. Retrieved February 28, 2024. Miguel also joined the viral "We Made It" challenge on TikTok. It is a short choreography by Filipino choreographer Jay Joseph to Nik Makino and Flow G's "We Made It."
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