An urgent fundraiser has been launched to help with budots genre pioneer DJ Love's heart surgery costs. The Filipino artist, AKA Sherwin Tuna, has now been in a hospital in Davao City, Philippines, for more than three weeks.
According to his GoGetFunding page, the artist has already undergone a number of treatments and consultations. He now needs support to pay for the costs, including ongoing medication and recovery.
You can give to the cause here.
Launched by obese.dogma777, another prominent artist in the country's scene, the campaign is particularly important as so far multiple doctors have failed to identify the condition. A target of 1.2million pesos — around £16,300 — has now been set, which would help with a transfer to a new medical facility "where he can receive immediate and prioritised medical care.
"No clear diagnosis or real progress has been made," obese.dogma777 wrote. "Despite all the tests and evaluations, we remain without answers. His condition remains uncertain, and he needs urgent and specialised medical attention... With his birthday fast approaching, the greatest gift we can give is the chance for him to return to the music, community and people he loves... "Let's come together and make this happen."
DJ Love is widely seen as the originator of the budots sound, a 140 BPM four-to-the-floor sound that began as an intense form of street dance set to imported dance music. It has since evolved into the country's dominant electronic genre, with Davao the epicentre.
Last year, DJ Love appeared on a compilation released by Eastern Margins. The label also carried his label, 'Budots World (Reloaded)', which appeared in DJ Mag's Top Albums of 2024.