Filipino boy band SB19 first attracted attention for their hook-driven P-pop sound that blends hip-hop energy with intricate choreography. Their 2020 debut album Get in the Zone positioned them as the initial Southeast Asian group nominated for a Billboard Music Award, and momentum continued when they issued the EPs Pagsibol and Pagtatag! in 2023.
The five members, all based in Manila, came together in 2018 under ShowBT Philippines, the local arm of South Korea’s ShowBT Group. Pablo Nase serves as leader, main rapper, lead vocalist, chief songwriter, and producer; Josh Santos handles lead rap duties alongside sub-vocal work; Stellvester “Stell” Ajero covers main vocals, lead dance, and primary choreography; Felip “Ken” Susan supplies lead vocals and main dance; and Justin Dios contributes sub-vocals while acting as main visual and creative director. Selection followed an intensive 2016 audition and training regimen modeled on K-pop and P-pop practices.
Although the group issued their first single, “Tilaluha,” in 2018, a 2019 clip of them rehearsing the dance for “Go Up” spread widely online. Both tracks appeared on Get in the Zone. The following year brought their initial EP, Pagsibol, which contained “What?,” “Mapa,” and “Bazinga,” the last reaching number 14 on Billboard’s Hot Trending Songs chart.
That same year SB19 earned a historic nomination for Top Social Artist at the Billboard Music Awards, marking the first time a Filipino or Southeast Asian act appeared in that category. Their second EP, Pagtatag!, arrived in 2023 after they ended their arrangement with ShowBT and launched their own imprint, 1Z Entertainment. The set featured “Gento,” which climbed to number eight on Billboard’s World Digital Songs chart.
