Fil-Ams GenZ-fy 'Tinikling' with Lil Nas X Song, Rapper Takes Notice

A viral Gen Z-fied performance of traditional Philippine folk dance "Tinikling" has caught the attention of American rapper Lil Nas X, whose song was used in the video. 

Tinikling, which originated during the Spanish colonial era, is traditonally performed to rondalla music, an ensemble of stringed instruments. 

But the recently viral version, viewed close to seven million times on Facebook, has been "Gen Z-fied" by Filipino-American students of Georgia Institute of Technology using Lil Nas X's “Dolla Sign Slime". 

"This is so hard omg," the Grammy award-winning artist said on Twitter, expressing his amusement. His tweet has been reposted over 3,000 times and liked over 36,000 times as of 3:30 p.m. Wednesday.

Performed by members of Georgia Tech's Filipino Student Association, the modernized performance of Tinikling was choreographed by Ethan Ray, the first dancer seen in the video.

He created the piece for the organization's “Halo Halo Mixer,” which was held to showcase Filipino culture at the university, according to their Instagram account.