Francis Magalona (October 4, 1964 – March 6, 2009), also known as FrancisM, Master Rapper, and The Man From Manila, was a prominent Filipino rapper, songwriter, producer, actor, director, and photographer. He is also credited as being the first Filipino rapper in the Philippines to successfully crossover to the mainstream. He was also popularly known as the “King of Pinoy Rap” and was considered one of the most idolized, celebrated and influential rappers within the genre.
On March 6, 2009, it was reported that Francis Magalona died at 12:00 noon due to acute myelogenous leukemia.
Biography
A sibling of nine brothers and sisters, Francis Magalona was the son of late Philippine movie screen legends Pancho Magalona and Tita Duran. The late Senator Enrique Magalona was his grandfather.
Starting out as a breakdancer in the early 1980s, he followed in his parents’ footsteps and ventured out into acting, appearing in several Filipino movies; he branched out to emceeing and released the groundbreaking album Yo! in 1990 garnering the nationalistic hit Mga Kababayan (My Countrymen), making Yo! the first commercially released Pinoy rap album in the Philippines. While rapping politically conscious and thought-provoking rhymes in both English and Tagalog, the album was a big success and instantly helped catapult Filipino hip hop from underground to mainstream status, also marking the birth of Makabayang or Nationalistic rap in Filipino hip hop.
Francis M. remains one of the most respected emcees within Pinoy RapIn 1992, Francis Magalona released Rap Is FrancisM (1992), which was highly regarded as one of the greatest Pinoy Rap albums. With tracks addressing the various cultural and social problems that plagued his country such as drug addiction in “Mga Praning” (Paranoids), political instability in “Halalan” (Elections) as well as the detrimental effects of a colonial mentality in “Tayo’y Mga Pinoy” (We Are Filipinos), the record’s complexity and conscious message quickly earned it its classic status and became the standard by which future albums of the genre were to be compared.
The release of his third album, “Meron akong ano!” (I Got Some!) in 1993, followed by “FreeMan” in 1995 marked the beginning of Francis’ experimentation with Pinoy rock, becoming an exceptional artist in both genres of music. He has frequently collaborated with other Pinoy music luminaries such as Joey Ayala, Heber Bartolome, Ryan Cayabyab, Mike Hanopol of the legendary Juan dela Cruz Band, Andrew E, Michael V and Denmark and of course, the Eraserheads. Even more recently he has been seen working side by side with Pikaso, Gloc 9, Stick Figgas and Parokya ni Edgar.
FrancisM at The Community Philippine Hip-Hop Summit 2007 held at The Basement in Eastwood CityFrancisM’s contributions to the genre have been featured in several international hip hop publications including the All Music Guide to Hip-Hop: The Definitive Guide to Rap and Hip-Hop (2003) published by Backbeat Books; as well as the May 2004 issue of the U.S. based publication The Source. FrancisM was also given the Pioneer Hall of Fame Award by Empire Entertainment at the 1st Annual Philippine Hip-Hop Music Awards in 2005.
Over the years FrancisM has also branched out to numerous hosting responsibilities; and has been part of several television shows including the longest running daytime television show in the Philippines, Eat Bulaga!, as well as being a VJ for MTV Asia. Magalona was MTV Asia’s first Filipino VJ along with Regine Tolentino and Donita Rose. He worked with MTV from 1997 up to 2000. Aside from television, he also hosts live events and presentations.
In 2002, along with the assistance of then FUBU Philippines’ management Carlo Maniquiz and Nick Tuazon(who is currently the Editor-In-Chief and CEO of Digital Photographer Philippines, Francis launched a compilation album of the same name, showcasing a basic who’s who of local hip-hop talents in and around the islands. Later that year, Francis Magalona’s greatest hits album, The Best of FrancisM was released by Musiko and Sony BMG Philippines.
He was also chosen by Fremantle Media, owners of American Idol, and their local counterpart ABC-5 (owners of the ‘Idol’ franchise in that country) as one of the judges of in the first Philippine Idol season, alongside Maestro Ryan Cayabyab and Ms. Pilita Corrales, Asia’s Queen of songs. He was, however, not part of the franchise when it transferred to GMA Network.
FrancisM was the recipient of the coveted MTV Pilipinas Video Music Awards Generations Award in 2006 “in recognition of his career that has spanned decades and broken boundaries, and for his music which continues to inspire generations of artists and music fans both here and abroad.” He is the second honoree, the first having been singer Gary Valenciano at the 2005 rites.
He was able to launch a collaboration album with Ely Buendia and various OPM artists in 2009, dubbed as “The Sickos Project.” It will be released posthumously. Both FrancisM and Ely Buendia were having health problems at that time.
Other Works
He has since founded his own record company called Red Egg Records, a clothing line called FMCC (FrancisM Clothing Co.), as well as his own production company called Filipino Pictures Inc. wherein he is the resident Director and has made music videos for several bands and solo artists. His work on Sponge Cola’s “KLSP” won Best Rock Video at the 2006 MYX Video Awards. Other music videos directed by Francis Magalona are for artists such as, Ely Buendia.
Personal life
Married to Pia Arroyo, they have eight children: Unna, Nicolo, Francis Jr., Elmo, Arkin, Clara, and actresses Maxene and Saab. He also joined the fraternity Alpha Kappa Rho in the 1980s.
He studied at San Beda College – Manila
Health
Magalona, 43, was diagnosed on August 8, 2008, with leukemia at the Medical City Hospital, Pasig. He appealed for privacy.
I don’t want a media circus. I want privacy with my family. What I’d rather talk about is how we can solicit blood donations to replace the supply that I have consumed in the hospital. It was very gradual, hindi siya biglaang lumabas (it did not come out so suddenly). We don’t want to use the word ‘curable,’ but the doctors say it’s treatable.
—Pia Arroyo-Magalona, Francis’ wife
After his treatment and discharge, he made his return on Eat Bulaga together with Ely Buendia, who was also recently discharged.
Death
On March 6, 2009, it was reported that Francis Magalona succumbed to acute myelogenous leukemia at 12:00 noon that day, a few days after his fourth chemotherapy session and a few days before his supposed stem cell transplant. The announcement was first made on the variety show Eat Bulaga! where he served as a host prior to his health problems. A short tribute to the artist was aired after the announcement. A minute of prayer was also observed in remembrance of Mr. Magalona in the noontime TV show EAT BULAGA .
Discography
1989 Francis M. (Extended of Loving You)
1990 Mga Kababayan (E.P. Dance Remix)
1990 Gotta Let ‘Cha Know (E.P.)
1990 Yo!
1992 Rap Is Francis M
1993 Meron Akong Ano! (I have something!)
1995 Freeman
1996 Happy Battle (featuring his band “Hardware Syndrome”)
1998 The Oddventures of Mr. Cool
1999 Interscholastic
2001 Freeman 2
2002 The Best of FrancisM
2004 Pambihira Ka (Single)
2008 F Word
Filmography
Eat Bulaga
S.O.P. (Guest Co-host)
Philippine Idol (Judge)
GMA Telecine Specials
MTV Talk
Life’s A Beach
Music Bureau
Student Canteen
Ninja Kids
Bagets
That’s Entertainment
Family Tree
Loveliness (co host)
Kung Aagawin Mo Ang Lahat Sa Akin (movie of Sharon Cuneta)
Vilma In Person (co host)
Francis M is really a big loss in music industry, let’s keep his music in our hearts and continue to support pinoy music. Feel free to check our site and get listed at Pinoy Music Talent, let’s all Support Local Talents and be recognized.