On September 16, rap artist Omar Baliw revealed his plans to retire from the Philippine Hiphop industry at 39.
At the pre-show media event for ‘The High Minds 12th-Anniversary Concert,’ which LionhearTV covered, Omar (age 34) noted that he set a goal of achieving his dreams of having a comfortable home and his own farm in the next five years.
“Actually, na set ko na po ‘yun sa sarili ko. 34 years old po kasi ako binigyan ko ‘yung sarili ko, sabi ko, ‘Last five years ko na mag-music. Last five years na ‘to, isasagad ko na ‘to. Pagdating ko ng 39, may rest house na ko, doon na lang ako talaga. Actually, nagpapagawa na ako ng bahay ngayon, pinapagawa ko na ‘yung farm ko.
“So saktong sakto ‘wag naman sanang ma-aksidente or what not, basta pagdating ko ng 39, nandoon na lang ako sa farm ko, Kalmado lifestyle na literal na lang talaga kasama ng mga anak ko. Kasi men, sobrang dami na rin ng utang ko sa family ko simula’t simula, 34-35 na ako, simula ilang taon akong nagtrabaho so laging busy, laging baliktaran na ganyan, so sabi ko, after ko ng 39, five years from now, pahinga na po ako.”
He then remarked that he prefers a quiet life outside the limelight of the Hiphop industry.
“Mas gusto ko ng tahimik na buhay, masyadong maingay, ayaw ko niyan. Hindi naman ako sanay talaga sa harap ng camera, hindi ako sanay sa stage, mas sanay ako na sa gilid lang po ako palagi, so pinagbigyan ko lang ng pagkakataon ng mga ano– so after five years, ‘yun po talaga. Kahit hindi pa natatanong dati, na-set ko na talaga sa utak ko na, ito siguro okay na ‘to. Pahinga naman na siguro tayo.”
He also discussed his realizations about success, citing how he values his time with his family.
“Hindi naman talaga natin kailangan ng masyadong– noong simula ng magkapera ako, doon ko na-realize na hindi naman talaga kailangan ng sobrang pera talaga. Kahit magtanim kami ganito ganyan, galing kami sa sobrang simpleng buhay lang talaga so basta okay na ‘yung family ko, may mga trabaho sila.
“Hindi ko pa naman iiwanan ‘yung business kasi may mga tao naman diyan. Basta ako ito ‘yung panahon na ‘to–talagang 39 men, ang tao aabot ng 40-50, 39 na ako, eh kung mamatay ako ng 40, hindi ko na-enjoy lahat ng mga pinaghirapan ko di ba?”
Omar released his first album, ‘High Minds Music,’ in 2011. Despite lacking commercial success, his first venture into music recording helped his business to grow through the High Minds Clothing.
Omar’s rap music repertoire includes ‘Araguy,’ ‘Kalmado,’ and ‘Natuto Lang.’ He also collaborated with his Pinoy rap artists, such as Gloc-9, Pricetagg, CLR, and Shanti Dope.
Omar joined Asintada’s current roster of rap artists, including Gloc-9, Shanti Dope, Flow G, Skusta Clee, and the next-generation hip hop artists Guddhist, Hero, and Ramdiss.
