Updated: July 5, 2025
From the slow-paced hometown in Mindanao to the fast-paced city of Manila in the Philippines, an exceptional rockstar artist emerges, making awesome music for today’s generation — his name is FELIP.
Felip Jhon Suson, also known as Ken, is the main dancer, lead vocalist, and lead rapper of SB19, a superstar group from the Philippines known as the Kings of P-pop. This certified “moreno” heartthrob was born on January 12, 1997, and grew up in the southern region with rich childhood exposure to music.
Once a young dreamer, he is now one of the most sought-after artists in his generation. Here are ten king things to know about FELIP the rockstar of SB19:
1. His vocal range.
FELIP or Ken is not only popular as the jaw-dropping deep bass voice of SB19, but he’s also loved for his versatility and rare skill to slay every genre with his unique vocal range. But did you know that he used to be insecure about his voice?
In a podcast interview, FELIP shared that he lost his vocal confidence when he hit puberty because his voice dramatically changed into a deep sound. He even reached a point in his life when he felt disappointed about himself and hated his voice because he could no longer reach the high notes when singing gospel songs in church as he used to. That’s when he stopped singing in high school and explored another skill.
FELIP or Ken during his training days with SB19. Video: SB19 Official
Meanwhile, a college friend he used to play guitar with noticed and praised his deep voice as a rare talent, moving him from a state of suppression to a moment of awakening his innate passion for singing. This led him and his friend to form an acoustic band together.
His exceptional vocal range was further explored and honed during his training days with SB19. Now, he has grown to love his voice and uses it as his weapon as he plays a crucial role in adding depth to SB19’s music in awe-inspiring ways.
With their global hit track, GENTO, SB19 made history as the first ever Filipino act to appear on the acclaimed Japanese YouTube Channel, “The First Take”, showcasing their perfect blend as live vocal monsters. Notice FELIP or Ken singing the entire time with his ultra bass sounds, adding depth to this awesome performance. Japan’s The First Take challenges selected best artists to perform a song recorded in a single take in a white studio. [Video: The First Take Official YouTube]
FELIP’s vocal quality is undeniable. Dive into his solo projects, and you’ll be amazed by the power of his voice that switches into various tones. Listen to his songs, “ROCKSTA”, “STRAYDOGS”, “Bulan”, “Fake Faces”, “foes”, and the tracks in his first album, “7Sins”. He can powerfully awaken emotions in the hearts of listeners such as in his tracks, “ache” and “Kanako,” and make them swoon with his romantic voice, such as in his original track, “greed,” and cover song, “Moving Closer.”
STRAYDOGS is a hip-hop, rap song written and produced by FELIP himself, and was released in 2023. It ponders upon life’s struggles and staying unbothered against prejudice.
Moving Closer is a classic cover song of FELIP in celebration of 30 years of Warner Music Philippines in 2023. It was originally written by Anthony Libre and performed by Never The Strangers in 2012. In 2025, he collaborated with Closeup Philippines for a cafe version.
ache is a melancholic, gospel-like song written and produced by FELIP. Upon its release on July 5th in 2024, it grabbed the no. 1 spot on iTunes Philippines and became the no. 1 best-selling OPM track over the weekend. The song motivates listeners to keep on dreaming and finding hope amid life’s darkness.
2. His dance moves.
Not only does FELIP attract a crowd of fans for his vocal quality, but he also swoons hearts for his incredible skill to dance.
Before FELIP or Ken became a trainee and the main dancer of SB19, it is mentioned in some articles that he was a choreographer of a dance group back in his school days. Meanwhile, he was first discovered with his dancing skills when a school project required him to dance. He also performed various dance cover groups and joined dance competitions in Metro Manila, where he first met his now SB19 brothers, Josh Cullen and Stell, who were both members of different dance groups at that time. He also mentioned in an interview that while he was actively involved in an acoustic band in college, he invested time for dance rehearsals in the late afternoon until evening.
Now, FELIP is recognized as an incredible dancer of P-pop who always leaves the audiences in awe with his flawless dance moves, swag, and control. Even PABLO, the leader of SB19, regards him as the best dancer of the group for how he can swing in a smooth and graceful manner that is beautiful to watch.
FELIP at the centre along with other P-pop artists danced to Maharani by Alamat, a P-pop group. The video was originally posted on the official TikTok account of Alamat, which has now garnered above 10 million views. The rockstar-dancer became a talk in town for his captivating dance moves in this TikTok content.
FELIP joined the Like Jennie Dance Challenge on TikTok, receiving much praise for his swag and smooth body control. As of writing, this video on his TikTok account shows above 6M views and 20,000+ comments.
For more of FELIP or Ken dancing videos, you can check his TikTok account here.
3. His sense of fashion.
Aside from his awesome voice and dance moves, FELIP is also gaining attention for his unique sense of fashion. In one of his interviews with Vogue magazine, he shared that Ken of SB19 normally wears light clothing to move freely onstage and striking colors to match the overall vibe of the group. Meanwhile, he is more experimental when it comes to soloist FELIP, leaning towards dark colors, hoodies, and leather pieces from Balenciaga and Vetements.
Truly a fashion head turner, he was noticed by a fashion vlogger while walking in the streets of Tokyo and was featured in the said vlog and in Japan’s leading fashion hub during his visit in the country for his “7Sins” concert.
For three consecutive years, FELIP has been awarded the “Fashion Influencer of the Year” at the Village Pipol Choice Awards, from 2021 to 2023. He also claimed the Hall of Fame as the Fashion Influencer extraordinaire in 2024. Cool beans!
Did you know? FELIP or Ken sketched his own character styling of the crow knight for the DAM music video. He also prepared the OOTD styling for his SB19 brothers during their guest performance at Showtime in March 2025.
4. His entrepreneurial skills.
Did you know that Ken is the first SB19 member to venture into entrepreneurship? In 2021, he launched his own streetwear brand, SUPERIOR SON or SPS, which is “a collection of carefree, stylish, crazy, adventurous, and whimsical ideas” and his expression for his passion in fashion.
According to CEO FELIP or Ken, the title SUPERIOR SON is inspired by his last name “Suson” and his faith in Jesus, the Superior Son. Since his clothing brand was launched in 2021, it remains to be one of the most in demand pieces, always selling out within a few minutes of release, including the SPS rider jacket that he designed himself.
Besides being a CEO of his own clothing brand, he’s also one of the owners and board members of 1Z Entertainment, a promising media company that the SB19 members built and established for their group, with the vision of training and managing new artists moving forward.
5. His unique songwriting.
A proud Mindanaoan, FELIP is a trilingual artist who writes his songs not only in Tagalog and English but also in his native language, Bisaya (Cebuano). In fact, he grabbed the Best of Bisdak Award for his bisaya song, “Kanako”, at the year-end 2024 Spotify Wrapped.
FELIP’s songwriting is a fearless reflection on personal experiences and human imperfections that encourage listeners to be in tune with themselves. “Fake Faces” and “foes” are some of his tracks that express hard-hitting truths about the people around us, while “Kanako” and “ache” are internal deliberations on life’s dark moments and clinging back to where we always belong for a sense of hope.
Describing himself as an imaginative artist, he sees his lyrics and sounds as pieces of a collage that whenever put together creatively, however uncommon to the listener, portray a worthwhile story. For him, being different makes one stand out in a sea of people having the same taste and vibe.
In some of his interviews, FELIP shared that he wrote most of his songs during long flights on a plane, and that it took him seven months to finish writing, recording, and mixing all the tracks for his “7Sins” album.
6. His musical artistry.
A risk-taker, FELIP or Ken is the first SB19 member to explore a solo career to pursue his musical artistry and personal brand while remaining a dedicated member of his group. In 2021, he released his first single, “Palayo” and continued to move forward with his musical style that highlights an experimental combination of metal, rock, hip hop, R&B, and gospel sounds.
Curious as a young boy, FELIP shared in an interview that he was mentored by his uncle about music as a language that speaks to us in varied but meaningful ways. He carried this lesson by heart and applied them as a musical trainee, and even now that he’s become a professional solo recording artist and one of the Kings of P-pop.
An exceptional artist, FELIP also produces his own beats and sounds and directs his own music videos. He likens his artistic style to a painting that reflects some elements, narrating a profound story while connecting to human experiences. The microphone on fire in his music video, “ROCKSTA”, symbolizes his passion for music and to pick it up every time he feels down as an artist — to keep the fire burning. He also described the song not as an outward appearance but a mentality or a sense of feeling when you give it your best shot for anything you are passionate about. Rocksta!
Since his debut as a solo recording artist, he’s been recognized, and he continues to be known as the rising rockstar of his generation. He keeps on winning awards and getting exposures overseas with his musical brand and style. He has been awarded the “Top Performing Artist of the Year” at the 2023 P-POP Awards and “Breakthrough Artist of the Year” at the 2023 Wish Music Awards, besides getting various nominations for his music artistry to date.
In the global scene, FELIP made history as the first full-blooded Filipino to perform in Grammy’s Global Spin with his single, “Bulan”, the first OPM artist to be featured in the popular Japanese music magazine INROCK, and the first Filipino artist to take the top spot with his “7sins” album in all-genre rankings in the 27-year history of CDJapan, besides taking the 6th spot on iTunes Worldwide in the Album chart.
Progessively making a household name in the music industry of Japan, he was also invited to perform at the recently held D.U.N.K. Showcase in Yokohama together with other well-known music artists in the country. FELIP considered it as a massive event and one of the biggest stages he has performed in as he showcased the world-class talent of Filipinos, representing the Philippines.
7. His drawing skills.
Did you know that FELIP considers drawing as his underrated skill? Before he took the Bachelor of Science in Architecture in college, he was a cartoonist in a school paper in Mindanao and even won 5th place for Editorial Cartooning in the DSPC English category. He was also qualified for the Regional Schools Press Conference as Editorial Cartoonist in 2012. This seems to explain his devotion as a great consumer of anime, manhwa, and manga series.
Although he’s now entirely focused on music, FELIP still makes time for drawing. On a TikTok content, he can be seen spending his free time sketching a jacket on his tablet during an event with SB19.
8. His athletic skills.
Back in his school days in Mindanao, FELIP was a varsity player with the role of striker for sepak takraw, a foot volleyball with its ball made of rattan or plastic. He can also play any sports such as basketball, soccer, badminton, billiards, and table tennis.
Meanwhile, he collaborated with PUBG Mobile in a commercial video, showcasing his athletic body in full fighting mode like a seasoned action star.
9. His knack for musical instruments.
FELIP grew up in an environment that moulded his passion for music and instruments. All his family members from his parents to sister are passionate singers, so music has always been part of his life.
Since FELIP’s parents were Overseas Filipino Workers (OFW), his childhood was mostly shaped in a small church in Mindanao led by his grandfather, who was a pastor. He took part in singing gospel songs, as well as playing instruments with the guidance of his uncle, who was a music teacher.
Deeply influenced by his uncle, he joined talent shows and was invited to sing for school events. He would also bring a guitar with him to school for some musical sessions with friends and classmates.
It’s rare to see FELIP play an instrument while performing onstage, but when he does, he makes jaws drop. Surprisingly, he entered on stage with his electric guitar for a solo performance of his track, “foes,” during SB19’s Pagtatag! Finale concert in May 2024, leaving everyone in awe.
10. His heart for fans, family, and SB19.
Just as FELIP loves his craft, he also loves his fans, family, and SB19 brothers equally deeply. He continues to make music for his fans as his way of gratitude for all the time, love, and effort they have invested for him and his group.
Did you know that the release of Superior Pass Tickets costing Php10,000 each for his “7sins” concert in 2024 was sold out in two minutes?
As some of us were spectators of FELIP’s first ever solo concert, we’ve witnessed how he valued his fans and we could tell, the event was meticulously prepared with fans as the top priority in mind. From the ticket selling to the show itself, everything was well-organized and convenient for the concert goers. It’s heartwarming to think that it was his vision to ensure his fans are treated well with convenience, safety, and full enjoyment until the last minute of the concert.
His heartfelt song, “Kanako,” was written and dedicated for his fandom, conveying his immense thankfulness to them for their unwavering support since day one. While the song could refer to someone close to your heart, other listeners also interpret it as FELIP’s love song for his Savior with the lines inspired from the gospel, “I know your love is flowing oh eternally, Like river and the sea a miracle I see, You’re here to calm the sea the raging sea in me”.
Kanako is a bisaya/cebuano song written by FELIP with Isagani Palabyab and was released in 2023. It was recognized as the Regional Song of the Year at the 2024 P-POP Music Awards and took the top spot on Spotify PH’s “BISDAK!” playlist in 2024.
FELIP’s family has always been his inspiration as well, making sure they have all the necessities, lacking nothing in life. Now that he’s attained a successful music career, a clothing company, awards and recognition, big projects, and deals with huge brands, his family is his priority. His parents have also returned home permanently from their overseas job, and he’s getting his other dreams in life, such as his own house and a sports car.
In a meaningful podcast interview, FELIP talked about his heart for his group, SB19. He assured fans that although each member is going solo to explore musical styles and individual growth, SB19 is here to stay as a group. He shared: “I’ll die as an SB19 member. Even if I’m already old, I still love my group. I Iove my brothers, so I will stay.”
SB19 at the 2023 Asia Artist Awards (AAA), where they wowed audiences with their explosive LIVE opening performance of their hit tracks Gento, Mana, Bazinga, and Crimzone. They also bagged two awards, including Best Artist Award and Hot Trend Award. From left to right: FELIP/Ken, Josh Cullen, PABLO, justin, and Stell. [Photo: AAA]
DID YOU KNOW?
FELIP had a pocket money of only Php1,500 ($25 USD) borrowed by his grandmother from relatives to pursue his musical dreams in the busy city of Manila. He got his one-way plane ticket of Php2,000 ($34 USD) from Josh Cullen to be the last member of the five-group band, SB19. Back home as a young boy, his most memorable birthday was a plate of pancit canton or stir-fried noodles prepared by his older sister. While pursuing his dreams in the fast-paced city, he experienced sleepless nights, getting soaked in the rain due to a roof reconstruction. He almost gave up his musical dreams to look for an ordinary job and earn money to survive life.
Although he had so much potential in the music scene, his life was never easy. And even though the path may seem unknown to him that time and he had anxieties creeping into his mind, he kept on believing, pushing forward, and working hard. And one unexpected day, he made it with his brothers, rising to stardom and getting honoured as the Kings of P-pop.
FELIP’s musical journey reminds us that even in the face of the unknown, impossible dreams do come true with faith and resilience. Once a humble yet passionate dreamer born with multiple talents, now he’s unstoppable as a certified rockstar and P-pop king!
The world is FELIP’s playground. He continues to conquer mountains and reach new heights with his distinctive brand and musical artistry — touching people’s lives, gaining new fans, and winning the hearts of co-artists, locally and internationally. Images: FELIP via X
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Research and write-up: KORB Blog Team | Cover image: FELIP IG felipsuperior | Sources: 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21
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