{{Short description|Filipino singer-rapper (born 2001)}} {{Philippine name|Alvarez|ph=natural}} {{Use mdy dates|date=February 2025}} {{Use Philippine English|date=February 2025}} {{Infobox person | name = Alas Alvarez | image = Alas Alvarez in July 2025.jpg | caption = Alvarez in July 2025 | alt = | birth_date = {{birth date and age|2001|03|28}} | birth_name = Joshua Magsilong Alvarez | birth_place = Davao City, Philippines | occupation = {{hlist|Rapper|singer|songwriter|record producer|actor}} | years_active = 2020–present | signature = | module = {{Infobox musical artist|embed=yes | genre = {{hlist|P-pop|Visayan pop|Hip-hop}} | label = Viva | current_member_of = Alamat }} }}
'''Joshua Magsilong Alvarez''' (born March 28, 2001), also known professionally as '''Alas Alvarez''' or simply '''Alas''' (stylized in all caps), is a Filipino rapper, singer, songwriter, record producer, and actor. He is the lead rapper of the P-pop boy band Alamat, who are known for their multilingual, multicultural advocacy. Alvarez is the group's representative for Cebuano{{Efn|This language is more widely known by its endonym, Bisaya.}} speakers. He is the first active member of Alamat to release a solo single with "Don't Play", a hip-hop track written in Cebuano, Tagalog, and English released on February 7, 2025.
In 2026, Alvarez was revealed as a cast member in ''Hell University'', a mystery horror series. He portrays Luke, a "dangerous" member of the fictional Black Blood Gang.
==Early life and education== Joshua Magsilong Alvarez was born on March 28, 2001 in Davao City.<ref name="local">{{Cite web | first=Addie | last=Pobre | date=February 18, 2021 | title=10 Alamat Facts: Why You Should Stan This New P-Pop Boy Group That Sings In Multiple Philippine Languages | url=https://thesmartlocal.ph/alamat-facts/ | website=The Smart Local Philippines | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20250220074753/https://thesmartlocal.ph/alamat-facts/ | archive-date=February 20, 2025 | url-status=bot: unknown | access-date=February 20, 2025 }}</ref><ref name="card">{{Cite web | title=The 'wild card of P-pop': Introducing Alas, ALAMAT's lead rapper and rising soloist | author1=Agilas ni Alas | first2=Julienne | last2=Loreto | url=https://latestchika.com/just-in/2025/07/18/116295/the-wild-card-of-p-pop-introducing-alas-alamats-lead-rapper-and-rising-soloist/ | website=Latest Chika | archive-url=https://ghostarchive.org/archive/20250718050746/https://latestchika.com/just-in/2025/07/18/116295/the-wild-card-of-p-pop-introducing-alas-alamats-lead-rapper-and-rising-soloist/ | archive-date=July 18, 2025 | url-status=live | access-date=July 18, 2025 }}</ref> He is of Visayan and Tausūg descent. He dropped out of eighth grade to work and support his family.<ref name="card"/>
Before debuting in Alamat, Alvarez had various jobs, such as construction work. He dabbled in runway modeling pre-debut as well.<ref name="kasing1">{{Cite magazine | first=Rio | last=Manahon | date=May 9, 2026 | url=https://kasing2.com/2026/04/21/kaugalingong-pulong/ | title=Kaugaligong Pulong | trans-title=Own Words | magazine=Kasing2 | language=ceb | access-date=May 9, 2026 | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20260509085051/https://kasing2.com/2026/04/21/kaugalingong-pulong/ | archive-date=May 9, 2026 | url-status=live}}</ref> He was also a youth coordinator for ''Let's Do It! Philippines'' in Davao, a grassroots environmental campaign with a focus on uplifting the Lumad (Indigenous ethnic groups in Mindanao). He also trained in sports such as ''sepak takraw'', kickboxing, and MMA.<ref name="card"/>
==Career== {{Main|Alamat (group)}} ===2020–present: Joining Alamat and solo work=== Alvarez was the final member to be added to Alamat's line-up. He joined the boy band when the other members had already undergone training, so their manager repeatedly told Alvarez that he had many things he needed to catch up on. Alamat officially debuted on February 14, 2021 with the multilingual song "Kbye" (stylized in all lowercase).<ref name="debut">{{Cite web | first=Franchesca Judine | last=Basbas | date=March 8, 2021 | title=Alamat on taking their multilingual Filipino pop music to the global stage | url=https://www.bandwagon.asia/articles/alamat-interview-rji-kin-gahmi-alas-taneo-joa-mo-tomas-valfer-kbye-maligiw-viva-entertainment-philippines-ppop-2021 | website=Bandwagon Asia | archive-url=https://archive.today/submit/?submitid=AOIYGToXprKZkU%2FBnOjnOfIIH7%2F5NPhpk%2Bn6sOkltEOBr5JyhlBoLbgsmju4o6mL&url=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.bandwagon.asia%2Farticles%2Falamat-interview-rji-kin-gahmi-alas-taneo-joa-mo-tomas-valfer-kbye-maligiw-viva-entertainment-philippines-ppop-2021 | archive-date=February 20, 2025 | url-status=live}}</ref> He was given the position of lead rapper in the group and became their representative for Cebuano (Bisaya) speakers.<ref name="local"/><ref name="vice">{{Cite web | first=Lia | last=Savillo | date=March 2, 2021 | title=Alamat on taking their multilingual Filipino pop music to the global stage | url=https://www.vice.com/en/article/filipino-boy-band-alamat-kbye-ppop/ | website=Vice News | archive-url=https://ghostarchive.org/archive/XAuxm | archive-date=February 20, 2025 | url-status=live}}</ref> In a feature by ''Vice News'', Alvarez was quoted as saying, "For many years, especially in Luzon, Visayan or the Visayan accent, has often been used as a device for comedy. In our own little way, through the music of Alamat, we seek to contribute in reversing this[…] portrayal of not just Visayans but 'probinsyanos' (people from the countryside) in general. Seeing 'Kbye' reach a large number of people gives me the feeling that we are on the right track."<ref name="vice"/>
Alvarez has several songwriting, production, mixing, and mastering credits on Alamat songs, such as "Hala"{{Efn|an expression found in various Philippine languages, roughly corresponding to the English "wow"}},<ref name="hala">{{Cite web | date=October 28, 2022 | title=Hala - Song by Alamat | url=https://music.apple.com/ph/song/hala/1649723177 | website=Apple Music | archive-url=https://ghostarchive.org/archive/20250220070205/https://music.apple.com/ph/song/hala/1649723177 | archive-date=February 20, 2025 | access-date=February 20, 2025 | url-status=live }}</ref> "Noli" ({{translation|Do Not}}),<ref name="noli">{{Cite AV media | date=November 21, 2023 | title=ALAMAT - 'Noli' Lyric Video | url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2YyZCaz-qnw | via=YouTube | publisher=Alamat | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20241123204030/https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2YyZCaz-qnw | archive-date=November 23, 2024 | quote=Produced by Alas Alvarez, R-Ji Lim; Arranged by Alas Alvarez | url-status=bot: unknown | access-date=February 20, 2025 }}</ref> and "Dong-Dong-Ay"{{Efn|a melodic phrase with no meaning, originating from a Kalinga folk song}}.<ref name="dong">{{Cite AV media | date=November 26, 2023 | title=Alamat - 'Dong-Dong-Ay' Lyric Video | url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gchff6btFsU | via=YouTube | publisher=Alamat | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240522142039/https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gchff6btFsU | archive-date=May 22, 2024 | quote=Mixed and mastered by Joshua Alvarez | url-status=bot: unknown | access-date=February 20, 2025 }}</ref> He spoke of his process in an interview with ''Teen Vogue'', explaining, "I'm personally the one in charge of beats so I like looking up and including local instruments when I can, like the ''kudyapi'' or ''kulintang''."<ref name="teenvogue">{{Cite web |title=P-pop Group Alamat Are Set to Conquer the World |url=https://www.teenvogue.com/story/p-pop-group-alamat-interview-maharani |website=Teen Vogue |date=January 23, 2023 |language=en-US |archive-date=June 27, 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230627234625/https://www.teenvogue.com/story/p-pop-group-alamat-interview-maharani | url-status=live}}</ref> On November 30, 2023, Alvarez won Top Male Rapper of the Year at the 8th P-pop Music Awards.<ref name="8th">{{Cite web | first=Jia | last=Bote | date=December 1, 2023 | title=Still the kings: SB19 sweeps 8th PPOP Awards | url=https://tribune.net.ph/2023/12/01/still-the-kings-sb19-sweeps-8th-ppop-awards | website=Daily Tribune | archive-url=https://ghostarchive.org/archive/20250209020221/https://tribune.net.ph/2023/12/01/still-the-kings-sb19-sweeps-8th-ppop-awards | archive-date=February 9, 2025 | url-status=live | access-date=February 20, 2025 }}</ref>
On February 2, 2025, Viva first announced Alvarez' solo debut, "Don't Play", a hip-hop track with lyrics in Cebuano, Tagalog, and English. The lyrics are from the perspective of a man in love with a woman who plays games with him emotionally. He hopes for her to stop playing those games and be honest about how she feels about him, hence the title "Don't Play".<ref name="pushtv">{{Cite web | date=February 3, 2025 | title=Alamat's Alas releases solo debut single 'Don't Play' PUSH TV | url=https://www.abs-cbn.com/entertainment/showbiz/music/2025/2/11/alamat-s-alas-releases-solo-debut-single-don-t-play-push-tv-0137 | website=Push TV | archive-url=https://ghostarchive.org/archive/20250220060219/https://www.abs-cbn.com/entertainment/showbiz/music/2025/2/11/alamat-s-alas-releases-solo-debut-single-don-t-play-push-tv-0137 | archive-date=February 20, 2025 | access-date=February 20, 2025 | url-status=live }}</ref> Alvarez wrote, produced, mixed, mastered, and engineered the song by himself.<ref name="bbph2"/>
On February 6, a day before the song's release, Alvarez held a launch event for "Don't Play" at Atmosfera, a nightclub in Poblacion, Makati.<ref name="bbph1">{{Cite web | first=Mayks | last=Go | date=February 3, 2025 | title=Alamat's Alas Makes Solo Debut With "Don't Play" – Listen | url=https://billboardphilippines.com/music/news/alamat-alas-makes-solo-debut-with-dont-play-listen-release-new-single-2025/ | website=Billboard Philippines | archive-url=https://ghostarchive.org/archive/20250217160259/https://billboardphilippines.com/music/news/alamat-alas-makes-solo-debut-with-dont-play-listen-release-new-single-2025/ | archive-date=February 17, 2025 | url-status=live | access-date=February 20, 2025 }}</ref> Fellow Viva artist Yen Durano (also known as Yennybooo) and the other members of Alamat joined him at the event.<ref name="metro">{{Cite web | date=February 2025 | title=Alamat Alas Sets the Vibe with Debut Solo Single "Don't Play" | url=https://www.metroscenemag.com/2025/02/alamat-alas-solo-single-dont-play.html | website=Metroscene | archive-url=https://ghostarchive.org/archive/20250220060205/https://www.metroscenemag.com/2025/02/alamat-alas-solo-single-dont-play.html | archive-date=February 20, 2025 | access-date=February 20, 2025 | url-status=live }}</ref> In an interview with ''Billboard Philippines'', Alvarez revealed that "Don't Play" had already been composed in 2021 or 2022, but had undergone many changes through the years. He also shared that his plan was to release a solo album or extended play, but decided that he would release a song every one or two months instead to avoid feeling pressure.<ref name="bbph2">{{Cite web | first=Mayks | last=Go | date=February 10, 2025 | title=Purok Nuebe: Alamat's Alas On Carving His Own Path In P-pop With "Don't Play" | url=https://billboardphilippines.com/music/features/purok-nuebe-alamat-alas-on-carving-his-own-path-in-p-pop-with-dont-play-interview-2025/ | website=Billboard Philippines | archive-url=https://ghostarchive.org/archive/20250220060210/https://billboardphilippines.com/music/features/purok-nuebe-alamat-alas-on-carving-his-own-path-in-p-pop-with-dont-play-interview-2025/ | archive-date=February 20, 2025 | url-status=live | access-date=February 20, 2025 }}</ref> Alvarez also released a lyric visualizer video for "Don't Play", which he conceptualized.<ref name="pulp">{{Cite web | first=Andrea | last=Dee | date=February 20, 2025 | title=Alamat Alas Makes Solo Debut With 'Don't Play' | url=https://pulpmagazine.com/article/742 | website=Pulp | archive-url=https://ghostarchive.org/archive/20250307000340/https://pulpmagazine.com/article/742 | archive-date=March 7, 2025 | url-status=live | access-date=March 7, 2025 }}</ref> Samantha Radaza of the Visayan magazine ''Kasing2'' praised the song for leaning into its simple boy-meets-girl narrative without overcomplicating it, as well as Alvarez' songwriting and "charismatic" performance.<ref name="kasing2">{{Cite magazine | first=Samantha | last=Radaza | date=May 9, 2026 | url=https://kasing2.com/2026/05/09/bisdak-p-pop-reviews-arza-hara-and-alas/ | title=Bisdak P-pop Reviews: Arza, Hara, and Alas | magazine=Kasing2 | language=en-PH | access-date=May 9, 2026 | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20260509081941/https://kasing2.com/2026/05/09/bisdak-p-pop-reviews-arza-hara-and-alas/ | archive-date=May 9, 2026 | url-status=live}}</ref>
In 2025, he was nominated for P-pop Favorite Rapper of the Year at the 10th P-pop Music Awards.<ref name="KEETA1">{{Cite magazine |last=Loreto |first=Julienne |date=January 25, 2026 |title=Get to Know the Bisaya 2001 Liners of K-pop and P-pop |url=https://keeta.ph/get-to-know-the-bisaya-2001-liners-of-k-pop-and-p-pop/ |access-date=February 9, 2026 |magazine=Keeta |language=ceb}}</ref>
In 2026, Alvarez was revealed as a cast member in ''Hell University'', a mystery horror series. He portrays Luke, a "dangerous" member of the fictional Black Blood Gang.<ref name="lc1">{{Cite news | first=Julienne | last=Loreto | date=February 5, 2026 | title=A helpful guide to Hell University | url=https://latestchika.com/just-in/2026/02/05/119700/a-helpful-guide-to-hell-university/ | archive-url=https://archive.today/20260205040518/https://latestchika.com/just-in/2026/02/05/119700/a-helpful-guide-to-hell-university/ | archive-date=February 5, 2026 | url-status=live | language=en-ph | work=Latest Chika | publisher=The Philippine Star | access-date=February 5, 2026}}</ref>
==Discography== {{For|Alvarez' discography with Alamat|Alamat (group)#Discography}} ===As lead artist=== {| class="wikitable plainrowheaders" style="text-align:center;" ! scope="col" | Title ! scope="col" | Year ! scope="col" | Album ! class="unsortable" | {{abbr|Ref.|Reference}} |- ! scope="row" | "Don't Play" |2025 |Non-album single |<ref name="bbph1"/> |}
===Songwriting and production credits=== Credits are adapted from Tidal{{Efn|Attributed to multiple sources: <ref name="kbye">{{Cite web | date=February 15, 2021 | title=kbye / Alamat / Credits - Tidal | url=https://listen.tidal.com/album/172949005/credits?trackId=172949008 | url-access=subscription | publisher=Tidal | archive-url=https://ghostarchive.org/archive/20250327050310/https://listen.tidal.com/album/172949005/credits?trackId=172949008 | archive-date=March 27, 2025 | url-status=live | access-date=March 27, 2025 }}</ref><ref name="isapuso">{{Cite web | date=November 3, 2023 | title=IsaPuso / Alamat / Credits - Tidal | url=https://listen.tidal.com/album/322234953/credits?trackId=322234954 | url-access=subscription | publisher=Tidal | archive-url=https://ghostarchive.org/archive/20250225230224/https://listen.tidal.com/album/322234953/credits?trackId=322234954 | archive-date=February 25, 2025 | url-status=live | access-date=March 27, 2025 }}</ref><ref name="gupit">{{Cite web | date=June 14, 2024 | title=Gupit (with Alamat) / The Juans / Credits - Tidal | url=https://listen.tidal.com/album/368027486/credits?trackId=368027488 | url-access=subscription | publisher=Tidal | archive-url=https://ghostarchive.org/archive/20250327050304/https://listen.tidal.com/album/368027486/credits?trackId=368027488 | archive-date=March 27, 2025 | url-status=live | access-date=March 27, 2025 }}</ref><ref name="destino">{{Cite web | title=Destino / Alamat / Credits | url=https://tidal.com/album/476326054/credits | website=Tidal | language=en | access-date=November 26, 2025}}</ref>}}, Apple Music{{Efn|Attributed to multiple sources:<ref name="hala"/>}}, and official listings on YouTube{{Efn|Attributed to multiple sources:}}.
{| class="wikitable plainrowheaders sortable" style="text-align:center" |+ List of songs, showing year released, artist name, and name of the album ! scope="col" | Title ! scope="col" | Year ! scope="col" | Artist ! scope="col" | Album ! scope="col" class="unsortable" | Producer ! scope="col" class="unsortable" | Lyricist ! scope="col" class="unsortable" | Composer |- ! scope="row" | "Kbye" | rowspan="1" | 2021 | rowspan="6" | Alamat | Non-album single | {{Na}} | {{Ya}} | {{Ya}} |- ! scope="row" | "ABKD" | rowspan="2" | 2022 | rowspan="3" | ''Pasulong'' | {{Na}} | {{Ya}} | {{Na}} |- ! scope="row" | "Hala" | {{Na}} | {{Ya}} | {{Na}} |- ! scope="row" | "Gayuma" | rowspan="3" | 2023 | {{Na}} | {{Ya}} | {{Ya}} |- ! scope="row" | "Noli" | rowspan="2" | ''Isapuso'' | {{Ya}} | {{Na}} | {{Na}} |- ! scope="row" | "Manila Dreams" | {{Na}} | {{Ya}} | {{Na}} |- ! scope="row" | "Gupit" | rowspan="2" | 2024 | The Juans <small>with Alamat</small> | Non-album single | {{Na}} | {{Ya}} | {{Ya}} |- ! scope="row" | "Ngayong Gabi" | Alamat <small>with Nik Makino</small> | ''Coke Studio Philippines Season 8'' | {{Na}} | {{Ya}} | {{Ya}} |- ! scope="row" | "Don't Play" | rowspan="4" | 2025 | Alas | Non-album single | {{Ya}} | {{Ya}} | {{Ya}} |- ! scope="row" | "LuzViMinda" | rowspan="3" | Alamat | rowspan="3" | ''Destino'' | {{Ya}} | {{Ya}} | {{Ya}} |- ! scope="row" | "Sinigang" | {{Ya}} | {{Na}} | {{Na}} |- |- ! scope="row" | "Hapag" | {{Ya}} | {{Ya}} | {{Ya}} |- |}
==Filmography== {{For|Alvarez' filmography with Alamat|Alamat (group)#Filmography}} {{Pending films key}}
===Television=== {| class="wikitable plainrowheaders sortable" style="text-align:center" |- ! scope="col" | Year ! scope="col" | Title ! scope="col" | Role ! class="unsortable" | {{abbr|Ref.|Reference}} |- ! scope="row" | 2026 | ''Hell University'' | Luke | <ref name="lc1"/> |- |}
===Online/Digital=== {| class="wikitable plainrowheaders sortable" style="text-align:center" |- ! scope="col" | Year ! scope="col" | Title ! scope="col" | Role ! class="unsortable" | {{abbr|Ref.|Reference}} |- ! scope="row" | 2025 | ''Billboard Philippines Volumes'' | Himself | <ref name="bbph3">{{Cite magazine | first=Rome | last=Saenz | date=June 11, 2025 | title=Hear The Thoughts Of P-pop's Rising Class Of 2025 On Billboard Philippines Volumes | url=https://billboardphilippines.com/media-channels/volumes/p-pop-rising-class-volumes-vxon-bgyo-kaia-gat-g22-alamat/ | magazine=Billboard Philippines | access-date=January 23, 2026}}</ref> |}
===Music videos=== {| class="wikitable plainrowheaders sortable" style="text-align:center" |- ! scope="col" | Year ! scope="col" | Title ! scope="col" | Artist ! class="unsortable" | {{abbr|Ref.|Reference}} |- ! scope="row" rowspan="1" | 2025 | style="text-align:left" | "Don't Play" | Alas | <ref name="pulp"/> |}
==Awards and nominations== {{For|Alamat's awards and nominations|Alamat (group)#Awards and nominations}} {| class="wikitable sortable plainrowheaders" style="text-align:center;" ! scope="col" |Award ! scope="col" |Year ! scope="col" |Category ! scope="col" |Nominee(s) ! scope="col" |Result ! scope="col" |{{Abbr|Ref.|Reference}} |- | rowspan="2" |P-pop Music Awards |2023 |Top Male Rapper of the Year |Alas |{{Won}} |<ref name="8th"/> |- |2025 | P-pop Favorite Rapper of the Year |Alas |{{Nom}} | <ref name="KEETA1"/> |- | rowspan="2" | JuanCast | rowspan="2" | 2025 |Mic Drop! Greatest Laughs: Funniest P-Pop Member |Alas |{{Nom}} |<ref name="jc1">{{Cite news | first=Jericho | last=Perez | title=From 'singerist' to 'humorist': How P-Pop's funniest stars win Every Juan's hearts | url=https://latestchika.com/just-in/2025/04/15/114270/from-singerist-to-humorist-how-p-pops-funniest-stars-win-every-juans-hearts/#google_vignette | work=Latest Chika}}</ref> |- |Soloist You Stan The Most |Alas |{{Nom}} |<ref name="card"/> |- |}
==External links== * {{IMDb name|13432039}}
== Notes == {{Notelist}}
== References == {{reflist}}
{{Alamat}}
Category:2001 births Category:Living people Category:Actors from Davao City Category:Visayan people Category:Tausūg people Category:People from Davao City Category:Filipino rappers Category:21st-century Filipino male singers Category:Filipino record producers Category:Cebuano singers Category:21st-century rappers