Mbnel Releases “Forever Ii,” a Personal Album About Growth, Fatherhood, and Survival

The Filipino-American rapper continues his story from Stockton to the global stage

South Stockton rapper MBNel has released his highly anticipated album Forever II via Muddy Boyz and EMPIRE, marking a new chapter in his journey as an artist, father, and man.

The album pays tribute to Forever I, the first project MBNel released in 2018, while showing how much his life and music have evolved since then. Across the new project, he reflects on pain, loyalty, responsibility, and the realities that shaped him growing up in Stockton, California.

A Sequel Built on Real-Life Experience

For MBNel, Forever II is more than a follow-up album. It is a continuation of a story that began in the streets of Stockton, a city that influenced his sound, lyrics, and perspective.

As a first-generation Filipino-American artist, MBNel built his career by turning personal hardship into honest music. Raised around poverty, violence, and street life, he used songwriting as a way to process his experiences and connect with listeners facing similar struggles.

His name carries the roots of his hometown. The “MB” stands for Muddy Boyz, a reference to Stockton’s “Mudville” nickname, and Mattie Boys, named after Mattie Harrell Park where his crew came up.

From Stockton to International Listeners

MBNel has grown into one of Northern California’s strongest independent rap voices, earning millions of streams across Spotify and YouTube.

His international reach expanded further through “Ashtray,” his collaboration with O Side Mafia, which charted at No. 15 on Spotify Philippines, reached No. 25 on YouTube trending, and has earned more than 10 million streams.

The success of the track strengthened his connection with Filipino listeners and helped introduce his sound to a wider audience.

Music That Carries Pain and Purpose

Forever II features the single “Internet” and continues MBNel’s style of raw storytelling, melodic emotion, and street honesty.

The album captures different sides of his growth, from personal reflection to resilience and accountability. It also shows how fatherhood has influenced his perspective, adding more weight to the stories he chooses to tell.

Beyond music charts, MBNel’s work has also crossed into sports culture. His song “Born To Win” was used by the San Francisco 49ers, further showing how his music resonates beyond the rap scene.

Tracklist

1. Perfect
2. Internet
3. Blame On Me
4. Hardbody
5. 1 of 1
6. Fine By Me
7. Remind You
8. Prayer
9. Lost Time
10. Proud of You
11. Feels Different
12. Bottled Emotions

A Story Still Moving Forward

With Forever II, MBNel shows that his journey is still rooted in where he came from, but no longer limited by it. The album reflects an artist who has carried pain, family, loyalty, and ambition into a body of work shaped by growth and self-awareness.

For Filipino-American representation in hip-hop, MBNel’s continued rise is also meaningful. His story connects Stockton, the Filipino diaspora, and global listeners through music that stays honest, personal, and grounded.