“3 AM” - Intellectual

“Galupad na ko, bai.” (I’m flying already) as I usually tell my friends. My body feels really numb when I’m faded, so it kinda feels like I’m in flight sometimes.

Henny or “Hennessy” is a Cognac, which is a variety of brandy made from white wine, traditionally very dry and thin. It is also one of the most adored and referenced drinks by most music artists around the world – known to be a drink of luxury, especially for most common people

I honestly don’t really like or dislike Hennessy. It’s kinda pricey, but it does taste kinda good. This was more about how I really wouldn’t care about how much we’d spend on liquor, so we’d just keep drinking and drinking.

There comes a point when you just say “fuck it” and party as if it’s your last day on earth. It feels like “she’s for life” cuz even if the club is packed, it still feels lonely. You don’t really care.

“The "West Side” and “Best Side' lines were a reference to "Negros Island” being divided into two sides being Negros Occidental (The West Side) and Negros Oriental (The East Side) or the “Best Side” for me, since I’m very proud of my repping heritage growing up in Dumaguete all my life.

“Love the way she talk” was a reference to how Ilonggas (girls from the West Visayas) have a very peculiar accent when they speak their dialect (Hiligaynon) and speak English. When she first talked to me, I instantly knew she was from Bacolod.

“Xanies” or alprazolam under the market term “Xanax” is medication most commonly used in short term management of anxiety disorders, specifically panic disorder or generalized anxiety disorder. But it is most notoriously associated with being a party drug or a subject for most rappers.

Honestly, this line was more of a homage to party culture. I honestly don’t like nor need prescribed psychiatric medication. I do know some people who get hooked on that shit, and it slowly kills them. They also cost a fortune, so no thanks.

“Holy water” was an inside joke/reference from my “barkada” or group, about how drinking some water after a few shots helps mitigate your drunkenness and lessens the chance of a hangover the next morning. This references how “holy water saves you from demons”

When you party, it feels like time warps “faster and slower” at different intervals. The same applies when you dance with somebody, because the pace goes fast and slow at random.

The second line references how I’m attracted to her physically, but I personally don’t know who she actually is as a person – like where do you plan to work after college? Or do you have any specific goals in life? Do you have any siblings? I honestly cannot be genuinely attracted to someone I don’t really know

When you’re in the club and drunk out of your mind, you lose all senses of cognitive thought or memory. Most people just look like they don’t have faces because I don’t know who they are, what their names are, and neither do I want to know

She’s definitely up to something.

Party hours for us usually last from 10 PM to 4 AM when we go out party, especially at this beach district in Dumaguete City called “Escaño” where most of the bars and clubs are, but most people usually park by the seawall in groups and buy liquor from a corner store. On most days, people usually just want to chill out and unwind since most of us are students of a university town. But we don’t mind going somewhere “sadya” or “bibo”, as a way to express a packed and energetic place.

We usually “pre-game” drink at a more quiet or relaxed place. Then usually around 12 AM, we hit the club at its climax. After 12, most people are already mad faded, and it gets crazier as every hour passes by – “3 AM” simply describes the time when the club is craziest.

The absolute Dumaguete favorite is “Tanduay Rum”. It’s super cheap, in large quantities, is the world’s #1 selling rum and it gets you super drunk really fast. The rum also emits a peculiar smell from the ethanol, and most people can “taste it when they smell it”

The eyes, chico. They never lie…

Tony Montana, Scarface

Scarface was one of the first movies I ever watched as a kid. You can tell a lot about how somebody feels about you just by looking at their eyes. And damn, does it feel good to know that she had a good time with you than if she was some boring dude, right? Maybe I’m just feelin' myself.

Smoke and mirrors is a classic magical illusions that makes an entity appear to hover in empty space.

Something that is described as “smoke and mirrors” is intended to make you believe that something is being done or is true, when it is not

When Filipinos drink, they oftentimes ask each other “Okay ka pa?” (Are you still okay?) or “Lasing ka na?” (Are you drunk already) as a way of teasing each other, as well as checking if their friend can still drink more. What’s weird is that most people who are already drunk lie that they’re still sober, and people who are still sober lie about being drunk.

I like leaving before the party ends. The main lights turning on just tells us that the party is over, and I really don’t like goodbyes.

When you’re in the club and drunk out of your mind, you lose all senses of cognitive thought or memory. Most people just look like they don’t have faces because I don’t know who they are, what their names are, and neither do I want to know

I don’t know why, but I kinda have a thing for girls with braces. Haha, I honestly don’t know why but I decided to include it when I was in the process of writing this song

“Galupad na ko, bai.” (I’m flying already) as I usually say to my friends. My body feels really numb when I’m faded, so it kinda feels like I’m in flight sometimes.

Honestly, this line was more of a homage to party culture. I honestly don’t like nor need prescribed psychiatric medication. I do know some people who get hooked on that shit, and it slowly kills them. They also cost a fortune, so no thanks.

Being born into a family with members of varying faith with my Mom being a liberal Catholic and my Dad being Agnostic, I don’t really hold a grasp of religious faith despite being baptized as a Protestant. Most Christian teachings ask us to stay away from temptation, but religious teachings like that don’t influence me. Maybe that’s why I’m pretty head-on or fearless about being exposed supposedly “sinful” places. I could care less what people do with their lives, plus it’s really is none of my business. The Philippines is a very live-and-let-live place.

I don’t know why, but I kinda have a thing for girls with braces. Haha, I honestly don’t know why but I decided to include it when I was in the process of writing this song

There comes a point wherein you’re simply half-awake and half-passed-out but still have a good time nonetheless. That’s when you know that you’ve completely lost your mind.

Being born into a family with members of varying faith with my Mom being a liberal Catholic and my Dad being Agnostic, I don’t really hold a grasp of religious faith despite being baptized as a Protestant. Most Christian teachings ask us to stay away from temptation, but religious teachings like that don’t influence me. Maybe that’s why I’m pretty head-on or fearless about being exposed supposedly “sinful” places that have lots of drugs and alcohol. I could care less what people did with their lives, cuz it really is none of my business. The Philippines is a very live-and-let-live place.

When you party, it feels like time warps “faster and slower” at different intervals. The same applies when you dance with somebody, depending on what song plays.

The second line references how I’m attracted to her physically, but I personally don’t know who she actually is as a person – like where do you plan to work after college? Or do you have any specific goals in life? Do you have any siblings? I honestly cannot be genuinely attracted to someone I don’t really know

I honestly don’t really like or dislike Hennessy. It’s kinda pricey, but it does taste kinda good. This was more about how I really wouldn’t care about how much we’d spend on liquor, so we’d just keep drinking and drinking.

Party hours for us usually last from 10 PM to 4 AM when we go out party, especially at this beach district in Dumaguete City called “Escaño” where most of the bars and clubs are, but most people usually park by the seawall in groups and buy liquor from a corner store. On most days, people usually just want to chill out and unwind since most of us are students of a university town. But we don’t mind going somewhere “sadya” or “bibo” as a way to express a packed and energetic place.

We usually “pre-game” drink at a more quiet or relaxed place. Then usually around 12 AM, we hit the club at its climax. After 12, most people are already really faded, and it gets crazier as every hour passes by – and “3 AM” describes the time when the club is craziest.

They usually play my favorite music on Fridays. Usually some Drake, French Montana, Chris Brown, Travis Scott and Post Malone to name a few. Of course, these are really popular artists, so I’m not surprised that she knows their songs.

It feels like you fall in love with that person because you always have your eyes set on them, even if you’re drunk and in the middle of a huge crowd. You wouldn’t otherwise think this way if you were sober.

Purple drank or “lean” is a recreational drug, created by combining cough syrup with a soft drink and hard candy.

Lean has been a huge staple for rappers for a couple of years now. In the Philippines, it’s hard to buy cough syrup with codeine, so most people here just make a janky-ass combination of Robitussin, sprite, ice, Foxx candy and liquor. I give it a thumbs down cuz it tastes like shit, and makes you feel like shit.

“Molly” or “MDMA” commonly known as ecstasy, is a psychoactive drug primarily used as a recreational drug. The desired effects include altered sensations, increased energy, empathy, and pleasure.

I thought of it as all fun and games until in 2019, I saw somebody in Cebu straight up die in front of us during Sinulog cuz she was drugged at the party. That really fucked me up.

Our close friend Stina would always buy us Bombay Sapphire Gin whenever we had the money for it. Everybody would give semi-disgusted looks just to say “Yawa, mamatay jud ko kung maka inom ko ani.” (Fuck, I would die if I drank this)

Smoke and mirrors is a classic magical illusions that makes an entity appear to hover in empty space.

Something that is described as “smoke and mirrors” is intended to make you believe that something is being done or is true, when it is not

When Filipinos drink, they oftentimes ask each other “Okay ka pa?” (Are you still okay?) or “Lasing ka na?” (Are you drunk already) as a way of teasing each other or checking if their friend can still drink more. What’s weird is that most people who are already drunk lie that they’re still sober, and people who are still sober lie about being drunk.

I like you now. But I think I just wanna be friends. I’m a hundred percent sure that you don’t wanna take this any further in terms of an actual romantic relationship.

“Holy water” was an inside joke/reference from my “barkada” or group, about how drinking some water after a few shots helps mitigate your drunkenness and lessens the chance of a hangover the next morning. This references how “holy water saves you from demons”

Everyone sees that I got one of the finest girls in the club with me, no? But when you’re faded, it just feels like it’s just the two of you, and you kinda lose your sense of shame.

Rolex SA is a Swiss luxury watch manufacturer based in Geneva, Switzerland, and is a staple piece for luxury clothing.

“When I was younger, my grandpa would let me borrow his Rolex watch. I mean, I was a kid, so I really didn’t think much about it. But as I got older, I came to see it differently. Of course, I’m just a student and I can’t buy myself my own Rollie. But this reference came to reflect how we tend to "fake flex” that it looks like we’re together for more than the night, but that’s not how it’s really gonna end up. We don’t have that type of emotional luxury, I guess. So I’d rather take the Rolex.

“JD” or Jack Daniel’s is a brand of Tennessee whiskey and the top-selling American whiskey in the world.

This is one of the drinks I ABSOLUTELY worship. It’s smooth, and tastes hella good with ice.

This beat was produced by CON. Vocals were mixed and mastered by Nino Ray “The Kingdom Problems” and written by me.

When gold chains get hit by strobe lights, they emit a quick shine or “flash” that’s reminiscent of sunlight hitting clear water, thus making a sparkling effect.

“The "West Side” and “Best Side' lines were a reference to "Negros Island” being divided into two sides being Negros Occidental (The West Side) and Negros Oriental (The East Side) or the “Best Side” for me, since I’m very proud of my repping heritage having grown up in Dumaguete my whole life

“Love the way she talk” was a reference to how Ilonggas (girls from the West Visayas) have a very peculiar accent when they speak their dialect (Hiligaynon) and speak English. When she first talked to me, I instantly knew she was from Bacolod.

In the Philippines, we have this practice called “Tagay”, wherein everybody sits around a table and a shot and glass of chaser is passed from person-to-person in a specific order to ensure that everybody gets to drink more or less the same amount.

You can’t refuse a shot without giving an acceptable reason to the gunner (the person pouring the shots) or without someone else having to drink your shot for you, plus drinking their own.

Pwede mu pasa, pero dili pwede mu balibad. (You can pass it, but you can’t refuse it)

As often mentioned by my older brother, Joshua

I like you now. But I think I just wanna be friends.