Gloc-9’s legacy spins again

For nearly three decades, Gloc-9 has turned everyday Filipino experiences into stories that resonate across generations. Now, some of his most celebrated works have found a new home in a format that invites listeners to experience his music differently: vinyl.

Aristotle Condenuevo Pollisco, professionally known as Gloc-9, released his first-ever vinyl record, Mga Ani Ni Gloc 9. The anthology brings together songs that have become career milestones, uniting releases from Sony Music Philippines, Star Music, and Universal Records on a single black disc.

The record features 11 tracks, including “Simpleng Tao,” “Love Story Ko,” “Upuan” featuring Jeazell Grutas, “Sirena” featuring Ebe Dancel, and “Bagsakan” featuring Parokya ni Edgar and Francis Magalona. Also included are “Walang Natira” featuring Shebf Belmonte, “Lando” featuring Francis Magalona, “Magda” featuring Rico Blanco, “Takipsilim” featuring Regine Velasquez-Alcasid, “Walang Pumapalakpak” featuring Gary Valenciano, and “Kumpisal” featuring Skusta Clee.

More than a collection of familiar titles, the release brings together songs that have helped define Gloc-9’s place in Original Pilipino Music (OPM), particularly in hip-hop. His writing has long drawn from the struggles, relationships, and social realities of ordinary Filipinos, translating their experiences into narratives that are both personal and distinctly Filipino.

Selecting the tracks for the vinyl was no simple task for Gloc-9.

“Universal Records ang nag-suggest sa amin na kung gusto namin, no? Siguro bilang isang recording artist, isa rin sa checklist mo na sana makapaglabas ka ng plaka (Universal Records suggested to us — well, if we wanted to, right? I suppose that for a recording artist, releasing a record is one of the things you’d hope to tick off your checklist),” he said, recalling how the idea came about.

The limited space of the format meant narrowing down a much larger body of work. While he welcomed the opportunity to finally release a record on vinyl, he also expressed hope that more of his songs could eventually be included in future releases, ideally with individual albums receiving their own vinyl editions.

Songs rooted in the lives of others

A defining quality of Gloc-9’s music is his ability to tell stories from perspectives beyond his own. That instinct, he explained, began long before his songs reached radio stations, streaming platforms, and concert stages.

Growing up, he helped out at his mother’s store, where he often overheard the conversations and disputes of their neighbors. Those everyday encounters gave him a closer look at the lives of people around him, teaching him to listen and recognize emotions that might otherwise go unnoticed.

“Kung mayroon man akong gift din, I think meron akong gift na nararamdaman ko ang nararamdaman ng ibang tao (If I do have a gift, I think it’s the ability to feel what other people are feeling),” he said.

He described this sensitivity as an ability to understand what others are going through, sensing when someone else’s shoes feel tight. It is a perspective that continues to inform his songwriting, allowing him to explore different lives, struggles, and points of view through music.

That approach is evident throughout Mga Ani Ni Gloc 9. From the social commentary of “Upuan” and the exploration of identity in “Sirena” to the narratives of love, hardship, and survival found in his other tracks, the anthology reflects the range of stories that have shaped his discography.

The songs also feature collaborations with artists across generations and musical styles, underscoring the breadth of Gloc-9’s work and the connections he has built throughout his career.

Keeping the fire alive

Although the vinyl release celebrates his accomplishments, Gloc-9 was candid about the realities of sustaining a creative career.

He admitted that inspiration does not come as frequently as it once did, contrasting his present creative process with the energy he felt when he was younger. Rather than expecting himself to maintain the same intensity indefinitely, he has learned to appreciate the moments when a song comes together and reminds him why he continues to write.

“Walang apoy na naglalagablab nang tuloy-tuloy (No fire burns continuously),” he said, describing how the fire of creativity naturally changes over time.

For him, the challenge now is learning how to protect the remaining ember and keep it burning.

He likened the feeling of creating something special to encountering a familiar scent from childhood — an unexpected reminder of something deeply recognizable and meaningful. When a song gives him that feeling, he knows he has made something worth holding on to.

The process is not always easy. Some songs, he said, already feel like difficult undertakings while he is still writing them. But the willingness to embrace that difficulty comes with loving the craft.

“If you love your craft, ’tsaka mo naiintindihan ’yung hirap (And you understand the difficulty),” he said, emphasizing that meaningful work often demands a willingness to take risks.

It is a perspective that gives the anthology a significance beyond nostalgia. The record documents what Gloc-9 has accomplished while acknowledging that his creative journey is still unfolding, even as he navigates the changing demands of the industry and his own artistic growth.

An anthology of a life in music

The title Mga Ani Ni Gloc 9 reflects the accumulated work of an artist who has spent almost 30 years writing and performing songs. Like a harvest gathered over time, the anthology brings together pieces of a career shaped by countless stories, collaborations, and creative decisions.

“Sa almost 30 years ko sa industriya, I just hope na sana lahat no’ng mga songs na ginawa ko ay somehow buhatin ako sa kung gaano ko pa katagal pwedeng gawin ito (In my nearly 30 years in the industry, I just hope that all the songs I’ve created will, in some way, carry me through for however much longer I’m able to keep doing this),” he said.

With Mga Ani Ni Gloc 9, songs that have lived through different stages of his career are brought together in a tangible format, offering longtime fans an opportunity to revisit familiar works and newer listeners a way to discover the stories behind them.

The black disc carries a selection of his musical legacy, while the artist behind it continues to find ways to keep the ember alive.