Before ExBattalion ruled the airwaves and everyone memorized the chorus of their hit "Hayaan mo sila" (which even got Michael V's "seal of approval"), its members were basically small fishes in a big pond—the burgeoning underground hip-hop scene in Muntinlupa.

fishes in a big pond—the burgeoning underground hip-hop scene in Muntinlupa.

James Brando, the eldest in the group, still remembers how founding members Mark Maglasang (aka Bosx1ne) and Archie dela Cruz (aka Flow G) went from being chumps to becoming champions of rap contests. They improved so fast that they earned a rep, and anyone affiliated with then-Jekkpot Battalion were banned from joining competitions. So they changed their name to Ex Battalion, which represented a coalition of rappers who were ex-members of different groups.