Shanti Dope

Shanti Dope is a Filipino rapper from Manila who emerged as one of the leading young voices of the modern Philippine hip-hop scene while still a teenager. He began writing rhymes in his early teens, influenced by local storytelling rappers, and gained early recognition through a guest verse on fellow rapper Smugglaz’s work before releasing his own material through Universal Records Philippines.

His name reflects a personal philosophy: «Shanti» is the Hindi word for peace, a nod to his father’s background in the Krishna Consciousness movement, paired with «Dope» to suggest that peace itself is his drug of choice. This duality carries into his music, which pairs energetic, hard-hitting flows with lyrics that often touch on social injustice and inequality rather than pure bravado.

His single «Nadarang» became a viral hit, topping Spotify Philippines’ Viral Chart, with other tracks from the same «Materyal» EP, including «Materyal» and «Shantidope», also charting. He cites Philippine hip-hop figures such as Loonie, Ron Henley, and Gloc-9 as influences on his wordplay and storytelling, and has continued to release socially conscious rap that stands out in the local scene for tackling the state of the nation alongside catchy, radio-friendly hooks.