Filipino-Canadian artist RUSSELL! features Jay R, MBNel, DENȲ, Because & more on 'Mother’s Land' — listen

Filipino-Canadian R&B hitmaker RUSSELL! is back with a cross-cultural collaboration that is his third full-length studio album Mother's Land.

 

 

 

 

 

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Prior to the release of his latest record, in 2024, RUSSELL! released his albums Dearly Loved and its deluxe edition EL CARIÑO. Riding the wave of success from those albums, RUSSELL! has collaborated with numerous Filipino artists to create a culturally diverse listening experience.

Each of the collaborations brings their own unique flavour to the record, making it a melting pot of genres. The record features Filipino artists such as the king of R&B Jay R, acclaimed rapper MBNel, R&B-pop hitmaker DENȲ, energetic hip-hop artist Because, R&B and soul music diva Illest Morena, and lauded hip-hop collective Midnasty. Each artist brings their own flair to the record, making the album a refreshing showcase of music outside the confines of genre.

Together, they explore themes ranging from love to self-exploration and cultural identity while coating each track with RUSSELL!'s signature musical style and drawing inspiration from his Filipino roots and unique experiences.

RUSSELL! dives into the concept and story behind the album as he reflects, "Mother’s Land is a project that tributes both my Filipino heritage and my late mother who passed away in 2015. Within this body of work, I collaborated with multiple Filipino artists + producers from many walks of life. My mission is to show the wide range of talent from the motherland, and bridge the musical gap between North America and the Philippines."

The album also features additional artists from the Philippines, such as the fierce and versatile Zae, R&B and rap mastermind PARIS., rapper Nueve Lio, multitalented artist Denise Laurel, bold and unapologetic street-style hip-hop rapper Gat Putch, and 'Dance with You' rapper Yuridope.

The featured artists on the album showcase the plethora of different cultures and musical perspectives that went into conceiving the record. Recorded across Toronto, Manila, and Cebu, the tracks blend genres from R&B to island-inspired rhythms to pay a loving homage to his motherland.

Mother's Land places the spotlight on Filipino talents and the refreshing styles and genre-blending music that they bring to the table, making RUSSELL! a force to be reckoned with in the Filipino and Canadian R&B scene.