Ai Ai ventured into a new side of showbiz early this year when she became the manager of the rap gangsta group Ex Battalion. The Ai Ai and Ex B movie will also mark the acting debut of the members of this talented hip hop collective, which has introduced a new type of sound to the local rap scene. Being a collective means that all of the members are solo artists who can work together or on their own. It was formed by Bossx1ne six years ago and now includes the following rappers: Emcee Rhenn, King Badger, Skusta Clee, James Brando and Flow G.
Ex B broke into the big time with "Need You" two years ago. This was followed by "Tell Me", and then "No Games" which brought the group into the top ten of the Philippine hit charts. Late in 2017, Ex Battalion released what would become their biggest hit to date, "Hayaan Mo Sila." The catchy number one best seller which has dominated airplay, social media, streaming and downloading sites these past months is a soft, engaging rumination on living while surrounded by meddlers.How did Ai Ai get to manage them? “Gusto ko kasing magkaroon ng hit song,” she says. “Someone said, panoorin mo ito. So I watched them on youtube at nagalingan ako so I called up their leader. Akala nila, nanloloko lang ako. So we arranged to meet and they said, ay, kayo pala talaga. I asked them to make a song for me. E wala silang alam sa showbiz so sabi nila, ako nang mag-manage sa kanila. Ako naman, at this point, biniyayaan ako ni Lord ng good husband and my kids, ok na, stable na, so I took this as a new challenge to help them and I agreed to manage them.”
“Proud kami at sobrang nagpapasalamat to be managed by Mama Ai,” they say. “Sobrang laking tulong niya sa amin kaya we’re overwhelmed. Tapos heto ngayon, may Viva pa to help us also, overwhelming, so puro pasasalamat na lang kami.”Has Ai Ai since earned from managing them? “Naku, kokonti lang at naibabalik ko rin sa kanila. Pag may taping, dinadalhan ko sila ng food sa set. Kinuha ko sila ng bahay para magkakasama na sila rito sa QC. It’s not so much the commission naman kundi gusto ko lang talaga makatulong. Kung minsan, mga pasaway, gusto matulog lang, pero iniisip ko na lang, mga anak ko sila. So gina-guide ko na lang na hindi sila puedeng tulog nang tulog kasi may commitments sila, may shows sila. Ginawa na sa ‘Magpakailanman’ ang life story nila, marami silang gigs out of town, nag-guest sila sa ‘Inday Will Always Love You’ at ngayon, they composed the theme song of Alden Richards’ new show, ‘Victor Magtanggol’, and he sang it with them. Ngayon, magmu-movie na sila. So from underground na kilala lang sila sa internet, ngayon, nasa mainstream na sila.”
So watch out for Ai Ai and the Ex Batallion in this major motion picture event where Viva will bring together drama, comedy and the latest in Pinoy music. Shooting starts in July.