NJCee: The Toad Chronicles

We set the streets on fire again as Panay Island Hiphop Nights Vol.36 welcomed everyone. We were more than ecstatic to share the mic with homies from different hood as we celebrate the love for Hiphop and the street culture.

Konstruk Bookings hosted 3/14's gig at Betty's Bistro Pavia with people coming in from different parts of Region 6. Panay to Cagayan de Oro collective also released their single, Panay Oro, still from Konstruk Bookings. 

The highlight of the night was when NJCee dropped music from his album prior digital release. I got a chance for a quick chitchat and here's what we've talked about in a gist.

From NJCee's pen:

I’ve been building a series of albums centered around my alter egos—each one reflecting a different version of myself at a certain point in time. The first was N5ANE, which I introduced in N5ANE LP. That project captured a specific energy, a certain mindset I was living in back then. Now, I’ve stepped into a new form: “Toad,” the identity behind The Toad Chronicles.

“Toad” is deeper, more introspective. It’s rooted in the idea of knowledge of self and the connections between everything—spiritually, mentally, and even chemically. Part of that came from my reflections on DMT, including the existence of a specific toad known to naturally produce it. That alone felt symbolic to me—something small, often overlooked or even feared, holding something powerful within.

This persona also ties into pop culture in a way that resonates with me. I see myself in the Toad character from Five Deadly Venoms—a fighter who is strong and unique, but not without a weakness. In his case, it’s his ear, and honestly, there’s something human and even funny about that. Strength and vulnerability existing at the same time.

But “Toad” isn’t just symbolic—it’s personal. As a kid, I was actually afraid of toads. That fear stuck with me until I witnessed something I still can’t fully explain. One of our dogs bit a toad and died shortly after. When we buried him, hundreds of toads gathered around the burial site. They formed this strange, cone-like shape, almost like a living hive. It was eerie, unforgettable, and it stayed with me over the years.

Looking back, I realize this identity has been surfacing in my work long before I consciously named it. In 2020, in my track “Imburnal,” I rapped about the tongue as a weapon—flexible, precise, and dangerous. It connects to the idea of the tongue as a double-edged sword, something that can create or destroy. That philosophy aligns with what I’ve always taken from groups like Wu-Tang Clan—where words carry power, and knowledge of self is central.

So “Toad” isn’t random. It’s something that’s been building through experience, memory, influence, and reflection. The Toad Chronicles is just me finally stepping fully into it.

Catch more of NJCee and High Records from their social media pages below. Until the next volume of PIHHN, ciao!

NJCee on FB

NJCee on Spotify

High Records on FB