16 YEARS since its inception and the FlipTop Battle League is stronger than ever.
Once dismissed by naysayers as simply a ‘fad’ in its infancy back in 2010 when they were holding shows in front of roughly 100 people inside the intimate Quantum Cafe in Makati, the league enters the new year fresh off the heels of a wild 2025 capped by two massive shows in Bwelto Balentong 12 last September, and the two-day Ahon 16 spectacle last December.
To no surprise, the Tent at Las Pinas – the roughly 5000-capacity venue where the shows were held – was packed, with tickets selling out just days after it was released.
But it’s only about to get bigger, based on what league founder Alaric “Anygma” Yuson’s announced over the past few days – with a stacked Isabuhay 2026 line-up, the return of Process of Illumination, and a new tournament called the ‘Langit Lupa Tournament’ which will cater to the underground battle rap leagues all over the Philippines.
Isabuhay 2026 is LOADED
Of course, those who’ve been following FlipTop since its early days are always looking forward to the Isabuhay tournament, a tournament which started in 2013 – with Aklas becoming the inaugural winner.
The year-long, 16-man competition is where rap battle legends like Batas and Loonie cemented themselves among the league’s greatest, and where new stars – or ‘current gods’ in today’s rap battle lingo – like Mhot, GL and Sixth Threat, among others, have emerged.
On Monday, February 23, Anygma announced the highly-anticipated 16-man line-up for this year’s tournament – and given that it’s a mix of ‘old gods,’ past champions, ‘current gods’ and new bloods looking to prove themselves, the excitement is certainly through the roof.
Old Gods, Veterans return
Bannering this year’s line-up is Shehyee, only one of the two rappers to win Isabuhay and the Dos Por Dos tournament aside from M-Zhayt, as he looks to make it a two-man tier with Batas as the only battle rappers to win Isabuhay twice. (Batas, of course, did it back-to-back).
Coming off one of the most talked-about performances of 2025 after taking down GL in Ahon 16 Day 2, Poison13 looks to carry on that momentum and finally win the big one in his sixth try, with two semis appearances in the past.
Then there’s Sak Maestro, a lyrical powerhouse from Mindanao who’s always been regarded as one of the best battle rappers when he’s fully prepared. He hopes that third time’s a charm for him after two disappointing quarterfinals exits in 2015 and in 2023.
Veterans will also flock the tournament, as Frooz – a 2013 Dos Por Dos champ with Elbiz – joins his third Isabuhay, alongside another Dos Por Dos pioneer in Harlem who will likewise enter his third Isabuhay.
Goriong Talas, who made it all the way to the finals in 2021, is also back in the tournament alongside his Uprising labelmate Kregga, while G-Clown also returns for his sixth run.
Young bloods out for blood
Ruffian, who continued to make strides in 2025 with his no-nonsense punchline-per-punchline style, is emerging as one of the darkhorses to win it all this year especially after strong performances even in his losses to GL and M-Zhayt to close out the year.
Manda Baliw, a crowd favorite with his comedic style, is also back after his initial run last year, alongside Slockone who made it all the way to the semis in 2024.
Completing the cast of this year’s Isabuhay hopefuls are an impressive batch of fresh talents in the undefeated Shaboy, the ever-popular Bagsik, Yuniko – a guy impressed with his crazed doctor scheme in Ahon Day 2 Royal Rumble, and two young and hungry battle rappers in Keelan and Sensei.
The tournament starts in April, with Anygma set to release the bracket soon.
Process of Illumination back!
While all eyes are on the vets in the Isabuhay Tournament, the league is also putting a premium in unearthing new gems with the return of the Process of Illumination (POI), and the inaugural Langit Lupa Tournament.
Now entering its eighth edition, POI opened the doors for future Isabuhay champs like M-Zhayt and GL, alongside league staples like Jonas, Lhipkram, J-King, and the late Lil John among others.
The entire process is basically a try-out. Aspiring battle rappers will have to send a 16-bar song alongside a 16-bar imaginary battle rap with a fliptop emcees, alongside their past recorded music and battles.
Submission will open on March 1 with the deadline set on March 31.
Those who’ll pass the initial leg will then proceed to compete in Won Minutes, where these aspirants will have to prove themselves in a ‘throwback’ battle format, back when battle rappers were strictly given one minute per round to spit.
Rep where you from
While the entire Process of Illumination is an individual tryout, the highly-interesting Langit Lupa tournament will put a shine on all the emerging underground battle rap leagues in a tournament – a competition that Anygma himself called the olympics of underground battle leagues.
It will be for pride. Pride in their respective leagues and pride in their roots as 16 underground battle rap leagues all over the country will be represented in an ‘Isabuhay-style’ tournament, with the finals – like all major tournaments of the league – set to be held at Ahon in December.
From Luzon, Visayas to Mindanao, there will be no battle league left behind as these leagues will want nothing more than to prove themselves as the best region for the local battle rap scene.
The leagues competing are as follows:
MOTUS (Metro Manila), PULO (Metro Manila), Floodway Rap Battle League (Metro Manila), Rapollo (Cebu), Nilang Katay (Caraga Region), Gerahan Letra (Hiligaynon Region), Trono Sa Oro (Cagayan de Oro), Bataan Rap Conquer (Bataan), Barabara (Bulacan), Bargain (Pampanga), Rap Lines (Metro Manila), Teritoryo (Cabanatuan), 053 (Waray Region), Digmaan (General Santos City), Tuligsalitaan (Cavite), and Oragon Rap Battles (Bicol).
The tournament starts on March 21, with details still to be determined.
Look at them now
Langit Lupa is simply a testament to how far the battle rap scene has gone ever since Anygma took a chance and held that momentous Grain Assault 1 event back in 2010.
The most viewed battle rap league in the world for years now, this year is sizing up to be another big stretch for FlipTop as it now flexes its influence in the country’s hip hop scene by putting all those battle leagues all over the Philippines in one big tournament.
Fad? Trend? Shock value? Nah. This is culture.
It’s a movement built on the backs of Anygma, his entire FlipTop staff, all the battle rappers and the fans who’ve either stayed true from day one, or the ones picked up along the way. (Except those who pirate things, you don’t do that man)
So without further ado, to a massive 2026. FlipTop, game?
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