Ken Suson

ShowBT Philippines, a subsidiary of Korean company ShowBT, was conducting a talent search which would ultimately lead to the formation of the band SB19.[6] Two weeks after Suson sent his video audition, he was invited to train in Manila. He dropped out of school and left his hometown, which his parents initially disapproved of. "It was a difficult decision", he later told the South China Morning Post, "but I had to do it because dancing is what I really love".[2]

The five members of SB19 were selected in 2016, having undergone grueling daily training at a training camp. Their act largely took inspiration from K-pop.[2][6] Suson debuted as Ken, the band's main dancer, lead vocalist and rapper, in October 2018.[4] That year, SB19 released their debut single, "Tilaluha" (lit. 'Tearful'), followed by "Go Up". SB19's leader, Sejun (now Pablo), said that the band had begun to grow disheartened after training so long but receiving little attention. They were considering giving up on the band before their dance practice video for "Go Up" went viral in 2019, leading Sejun to call it their "redemption song". SB19 released a third single, "Alab (Burning)",[2][6] before their debut studio album Get in the Zone came out on July 31, 2020. Containing their previous three singles, Get in the Zone was highly anticipated by their newly developed fanbase, which was dubbed A'TIN (pronounced 'eighteen').[7] The Philippine Daily Inquirer later wrote that SB19 became the leaders of the Pinoy pop (P-pop) industry.[4]

In April 2021, SB19 became the first Filipino act to be nominated for a Billboard Music Award when they became a contender for the fan-voted category Top Social Artist. Around the same time, Suson was visiting his hometown after his grandmother died.[6] On July 22, 2021, the band released their first extended play (EP) Pagsibol (lit. 'Growth' or 'Sprouting').[8] SB19 began August with the online concert Back in the Zone. During the concert, Suson debuted the original song "Palayo" (lit. 'Away') in a solo performance. His outfit, a red lace top paired with high-rise pants, drew attention on social media.[9]

In August, Suson featured on a remix of Filipino rapper Matthaios' song "Pangga" (lit. 'Love').[10] On September 18, Suson officially released "Palayo" as his debut solo single, alongside the music video. He wrote and composed the slow R&B track—a departure from SB19's energetic pop style—about someone walking away from a relationship, with lyrics in Cebuano, Filipino, and English. Using the mononym Felip (stylized FELIP) for his solo projects, Suson was the first SB19 member to start a solo career.[11][12] His fans were dubbed sisiws (lit. 'Chicks').[13] On November 26, Suson launched his clothing line Superior Son, which promptly sold out.[14]

On May 28, 2022, Suson released the single "Bulan", along with the music video. The song was written by Suson, who composed the melody, and described by GMA News' Shia Lagarde as having a "more experimental and aggressive sound", influenced by rock and hip-hop, than "Palayo".[15] Both the song and the music video were inspired by Philippine mythology;[16][17] he used the story of Bulan, Haliya, and the Bakunawa as a metaphor for crab mentality.[15] The single's melody and chants were inspired by indigenous ritual music. In November 2022, Suson was named "Breakthrough Artist of the Year" at the 8th Wish 107.5 Music Awards.[18]

Suson began production on his debut solo EP while he was on the WYAT (Where You At) Tour, SB19's first world tour, in late 2022;[4][19] he wrote some of the lyrics during flights.[20] Suson released the lead single "ROCKSTA" on January 19, 2023, along with its black-and-white music video.[21] On February 3, his debut EP COM • PLEX was released under Warner Music Philippines. A six-track hip-hop record, it has a heavy composition and takes inspiration from hip-hop and rock. Suson described COM • PLEX as "a play on the many meanings of the word complex" and more confident and musically experimental. It has lyrics in English and Cebuano. Journalists described the EP as autobiographical and unapologetic.[3][4][5][22] On February 10, he released the music video for the EP's closing song "STRAYDOGS", which was filmed in Japan.[23] Suson later did live performances of the EP's songs called "Superior Sessions Live".[24]

On May 19, SB19 released "Gento",[25] the lead single off their second EP Pagtatag! (lit. 'Establishment').[26] The song was a commercial success,[27] while its popularity on TikTok helped introduce SB19 to viewers in other countries, such as the United States.[28][29] Pagtatag! was released on June 9.[30] That month, SB19 became self-managed after they established the company 1Z Entertainment.[31] In September, Suson performed at Music Matters Live 2023 in Singapore, marking his first solo performance at an international music festival.[32] He then did a solo show in Clarke Quay.[33]

Suson is a fan of metal and rock bands such as Slipknot, Korn, Metallica, FM Static, Sleeping with Sirens, and Paramore. He also likes hip-hop bands and, due to his religious upbringing, gospel bands.[3][13] Susan inspirations for "Bulan" included Post Malone, Lay Zhang, One Ok Rock and Jaden Smith.[34] He was influenced by hip-hip artists such as Kendrick Lamar, Travis Scott, Post Malone, Kid Cudi, and Lil Uzi Vert in COM • PLEX.[13] His favorite K-pop artist is BTS member RM.[1]

Each member of SB19 has a different taste in music, so they do a mix of their respective styles in their songs.[3] He considers his solo work a way to explore genres of music other than his band's P-pop,[13] saying that his songs as Felip are more experimental.[4] His deep bass voice, once a point of insecurity for him, now features heavily in both SB19's music and his solo projects.[4][20] However, he has a wide vocal range,[5] and can do falsetto.[13] He considers his genre to be "hip-hop metal rock",[3] and has also been influenced by R&B. After COM • PLEX's release, HipHopDX Asia's MC Galang wrote that there was "no set precedent" for pop stars in the Philippine music industry successfully crossing over to another genre, like Suson has.[13]

Suson, who speaks Cebuano, Filipino, and English, chose to highlight the Cebuano language in COM • PLEX, because Cebuano-language rap and artists has received less attention in the Philippines.[13]