Ex Battalion
| Company type | Collective |
|---|---|
| Industry | Music, Entertainment |
| Founded | 2012 |
| Founder | Jekkpot, Cent, Honcho (formerly Bosx1ne) |
| Headquarters | Muntinlupa City , Philippines |
Area served | Philippines |
Key people | Skusta Clee, Flow G, Brando, Emcee Rhenn, King Badger, JRoa (former), Honcho (former) |
| Products | Music recordings, films, television appearances |
Number of employees | Not specified |
| Parent | Ex Battalion Music |
Ex Battalion (commonly abbreviated as EXB) is a hip hop collective originating from Muntinlupa City, Philippines. They gained widespread recognition for their popular track "Hayaan Mo Sila," which climbed to the #2 spot on the Billboard Philippine Top 20. The group has delivered numerous chart-topping hits locally, significantly influencing the Pinoy hip hop scene by introducing a contemporary sound.
The main lineup consists of Skusta Clee, Flow G, Brando, Emcee Rhenn, and King Badger. Other active contributors include JRoa, Yuridope, Bullet-D, Jnske, Jekkpot, Huddass, Cent, and E.I.J. The collective was originally established by Jekkpot, Cent, and Honcho (formerly known as Bosx1ne), with Honcho reportedly departing in late 2022.
Ex Battalion has accumulated over 2 billion views on YouTube and boasts more than 5 million subscribers. Their ventures extend beyond music into television and cinema, starring in their debut feature film Sons of Nanay Sabel (2019), although it did not achieve commercial success.
2012-2016: Origins, initial releases, and gaining traction
The group was formed in 2012 by Bosx1ne (now Honcho) alongside rap battle artists Jekkpot and Cent, who exited prior to the group's evolution into a formal music ensemble. By January 2016, Ex Battalion officially emerged as a hip hop collective with the digital release of their first album "X." Around this time, they expanded their roster to include personalities such as Jon Gutierrez ("King Badger"), Flow-G, JRoa, and Skusta Clee from O.C. Dawgs. Their inaugural collaborative track was titled "Kakaiba."
On 25 September 2016, they launched the single "No Games," which rapidly garnered over 16 million views on YouTube within two months. This momentum continued with the December 6 release of "Tell Me," featuring social media figure Toni Fowler, further enhancing their online visibility.
2017–2019: Subgroup formation and peak success
In January 2017, "No Games" entered the Billboard Philippine Top 20 chart, reaching a peak position of number 10. On November 7 of the same year, JRoa departed to focus on his solo career under Viva Records; the remaining members including Flow G and Bosx1ne supported his decision. Concurrently, Ex Battalion unveiled "Hayaan Mo Sila," a track influenced by DJ Khaled's "I'm the One."
On January 3, 2018, YouTube took down the "Hayaan Mo Sila" video due to copyright issues related to a limited license for the beat. After resolving these concerns, the song was reinstated on streaming services and achieved a #2 ranking on the Philippine Top 20 before Billboard Philippines discontinued its chart publication.
March 12, 2018 saw the release of "SouthBoys," a collaboration with O.C. Dawgs that quickly rose to #1 trending status on YouTube Philippines. The following day marked Filipino comedian Ai-Ai delas Alas joining as their manager after previously working together on "Walang Pinipili."
On April 9, 2018, the subgroup Kakaiboys, comprising Skusta Clee, Flow G, and Bosx1ne, debuted with "Unreleased (Mahirap Na)." Early in 2019, Delas Alas stepped down from management citing unprofessional conduct among some members.
Following their first cinematic project Sons of Nanay Sabel released in May 2019, Bosx1ne announced his exit but continued participating in group activities such as the August single "Pakinabang." He adopted the stage name Honcho by mid-2020.
Expanding beyond music creation, Flow G introduced the brand "Brand for 199x" with Skusta Clee serving as its ambassador and dropped the track "Deym." This song faced accusations of plagiarizing BTS's "Ddaeng," leading to online disputes. The group's management refuted these allegations by highlighting distinct differences and dismissed any legal implications.
2020–2022: JRoa's comeback and the Post-Honcho phase
John Roa, known as JRoa, made his comeback as the group's vocalist on 14 December 2020, unveiling the single "Woah" through Ex Battalion Music in partnership with Viva Records.
On 4 February 2021, Flow G became affiliated with Gloc-9's talent management agency, Asintada.
In April 2021, Honcho revealed plans for a special EP entitled "Rosario," which involved releasing one song per day on YouTube from 1 to 4 April. The first track, "Ulap," featured collaborations with Jekkpot, Brando, and MC Einstein.
Ex Battalion dropped the single "Yearly" on 5 April 2021, spotlighting sub-members Jekkpot, Yuri Dope, MC Einstein, Huddass, and E.I.J., with production credits to Flip-D and Thyro Alfaro. OneMusicPH characterized the song as "a sharply pointed and intricately crafted diss track."
In November 2021, the collective staged their inaugural major concert titled "EVOLUXION" at Smart Araneta Coliseum, showcasing all members including those affiliated with Ex Battalion Music.
August 2022 saw the release of "Chismis," a track containing lyrical references to Honcho's removal from the group. Reports emerged about a confrontation where Honcho allegedly struck fellow member Skusta Clee over issues related to financial transparency. Subsequently, Skusta Clee shared an image of the group excluding Honcho, hinting at his exit. Since that time, Honcho has focused on solo projects while Ex Battalion proceeded without him. No formal announcements or legal proceedings have been disclosed concerning this incident.
2024–present: Conflict with Honcho, Best Seller album launch, and updated branding
On New Year's Day 2024, Yuridope released a diss track titled "Brrt Pow!" featuring Flow G and Emcee Rhenn on YouTube. That same day, Honcho issued a rebuttal called "Kaya Pala" under DeeFyre Records, signaling his possible solo career trajectory.
On 7 March 2024, Ex Battalion members Skusta Clee and Flow G unveiled the Trifecta (EP). The track "Deserve" contained indirect references aimed at founder Honcho, with Clee’s verse alluding to internal disputes. The music video has garnered over four million views.
On 26 August 2024, Honcho appeared on the song "Go," where he openly criticized the group and emphasized his contribution to their rise in popularity with lyrics such as "Nakita mo naman kung pa'no ko pinalaki (sila)" ("You saw how I raised (them)").
On 11 April 2025, Ex Battalion released seven music videos within a span of seven hours, beginning with "Fun" and concluding with "Legacy." The main lineup included Flow G, Brando, Skusta Clee, King Badger, and Emcee Rhenn. Yuri Dope featured as a sub-member on the track "For Me." This project marked their first album release after a two-year break and their initial work without founder Honcho.
The album’s title was subsequently announced on YouTube and made accessible on various streaming services. At the conclusion of the "Fun" video, a new logo representing their comeback was introduced and has been consistently used in later releases.
Members
- Current members
- Skusta Clee (member of Kakaiboys) – rapper and vocalist
- Flow G (member of Kakaiboys) – rapper
- Brando – rapper
- Emcee Rhenn – rapper
- King Badger – rapper
- Former members
- Honcho (previously part of Kakaiboys) (status uncertain since 2022) – founder and rapper
- Additional members
- JRoa – vocalist and rapper
- Bullet D (also affiliated with O.C. Dawgs) – rapper
- Jnske (also affiliated with O.C. Dawgs) – rapper
- Yuridope – rapper
- MC Einstein – vocalist
- KentMNL – rapper
- Ritzz – rapper
- Jackmow – rapper
- Jekkpot – rapper
- Huddass (also part of 187 Mobstaz) – rapper
- Cent – rapper
- Reid – hypeman and music video performer
Albums
| Title | Album Information | Ref. |
|---|---|---|
| X |
Track listing
|
|
| Ex Battalion the Concert |
Track listing
|
|
| Best Seller |
Track listing
|
Extended plays
| Title | Album Information | Ref. |
|---|---|---|
| 6 Years |
Track listing
|
[1] |
As the primary artist
| Year | Track Title | Highest Chart Ranking | Album Name | Reference(s) |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| PHL 20 [2] | ||||
| 2016 | "Kakaiba" (feat. Skusta Clee) |
— | Ex Battalion the Concert | |
| "No Games" (feat. King Badger and Skusta Clee) |
— | Single not included on an album | ||
| "Tell Me" | — | Ex Battalion the Concert | ||
| 2017 | "Need You" | — | ||
| "Sana Ikaw Na Nga" (feat. Bryan Chong) |
— | Single not part of an album | ||
| "Bootyful" (feat. JRoa, Emcee Rhenn, Flow G, Brando, and Bosx1ne) |
— | Ex Battalion the Concert | ||
| "Come With Me" (feat. Bosx1ne, Flow G, King Badger, and JRoa) |
— | |||
| 2018 | "Hayaan Mo Sila" (feat. O.C. Dawgs) |
2 | [3] | |
| "Southboys" (feat. O.C. Dawgs) |
— | Singles released independently of albums | ||
| "Follow My Lead" (feat. Chicser and Sachzna Laparan) |
— | |||
| "Unreleased (Mahirap Na)" (credited as Kakaiboys) |
— | |||
| "Superhero Mo" (feat. Alden Richards) |
— | |||
| "Ikaw Kase" | — | 6 Years (EP) | [3] | |
| 2019 | "Ginalingan" | — | ||
| "SingSing" | — | Abay Babes (Original Movie Soundtrack) | [4] | |
| "Sama-Sama" | "—" | "Sons Of Nanay Sabel (Original Movie Soundtrack)" | ||
| "Pakinabang" | "—" | "Single released outside an album" | ||
| "Baby Cakes (Kiss Mo 'Ko)" (feat. Bullet D of O.C. Dawgs) |
"—" | |||
| "Miss Flawless" | "—" | |||
| 2020 | "Bounty (Makukuha Rin Kita)" | "—" | ||
| 2021 | "Yearly" | "—" | ||
| "Atin" | "—" | |||
| 2022 | "Bullet Sun" | "—" | ||
| "Chismis" | "—" | |||
| "We The Best" | "—" | |||
| "Idol (TikTok)" | "—" | |||
| 2025 | "Fun" | "—" | 'Best Seller' |
Charts
| Chart Achievements | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Year | Song Title | Highest Position (Philippine Top 20) | Highest Position (Philippine Hot 100) |
| 2016 | "No Games" | 10 | – |
| 2017 | "Hayaan Mo Sila" | 2 | 10 |
Films
| Year | Title | Production Company | Remarks |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2019 | Sons of Nanay Sabel (S.O.N.S.) | Viva Films | First film appearance and key project |
Television
- ExB Rules! (GMA ONE: ONline Exclusives), 2018
- Kapuso Mo, Jessica Soho, 2018
- Celebrity Bluff, 2018
- Magpakailanman, 2018
- iJuander, 2018
- Daig Kayo Ng Lola Ko, 2018
- Inday Will Always Love You, 2018
- My Guitar Princess, 2018
- Victor Magtanggol, 2018
- Daddy's Gurl, 2019
- Studio 7, 2019
- Eat Bulaga, 2020
Awards and nominations
| Award Event | Year | Category | Nominee(s)/Work(s) | Outcome |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Wish Music Awards | 2018 | Wish Hip-Hop Song of the Year | "Hayaan Mo Sila" (with O.C. Dawgs) |
Nominated |
| PMPC Star Awards for Music | 2019 | Rap Artist of the Year | "Superhero Mo" (feat. Alden Richards) |
Won |
| 2021 | Music Video of the Year | "Miss Flawless" (Bosx1ne, Flow G feat. Sachzna) |
Won | |
| Rap Artist of the Year | Won |
References
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- ↑ "6 Years (EP) by Ex Battalion". Ex Battalion Music. March 8, 2024. Retrieved March 9, 2024 – via Spotify.
- ↑ Chart peak positions on Billboard's Philippines Songs:
- BILLBOARD PHILIPPINE TOP 20 – NOVEMBER 6Archived November 7, 2017, at the Wayback Machine
- ↑ 3.0 3.1 C.C., JE (2022-05-30). "10 All-Time Most-Viewed Official Music Videos by an OPM Artist/s". dailypedia.net. Retrieved 2022-05-30.
- ↑ "LATEST DROP: Ex Battalion New Song 'SingSing'". udouph.com. Retrieved April 24, 2022}.
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