“Be careful what you assign as a ‘target.’ When the internet decided my song was a hit piece on a rival, both of us received death threats. That rival? She sent me flowers last week. We are not enemies. The real masamang damo is the culture that pits women against each other for ‘exclusive’ stories.”
Entertainment columnist and insider noted that the timing of Jessa’s release coincided with a major “artist vs. artist” tension regarding the rights to OPM revivals. “There is a powerful female singer—let’s call her ‘Diamond Diva’—who has a reputation for claiming exclusive performing rights to certain folk classics. When Jessa released her version, Diamond’s camp sent out cease-and-desist feelers. That’s what sparked the ‘target exclusive’ narrative.” jessa zaragoza masamang damo target exclusive
Jessa confirms: “I did receive a letter saying my version ‘encroached on a trademarked arrangement.’ But ‘Masamang Damo’ is a public domain folk song. You cannot own a weed.” The climax of this controversy happened on July 12, 2024, during Jessa’s “Soul Reset” concert at the Music Museum. Midway through the show, a section of the audience held up placards reading: “Who is the masamang damo?” “Be careful what you assign as a ‘target
Manila, Philippines – For weeks, the Philippine entertainment industry has been buzzing with a singular, cryptic phrase: “Jessa Zaragoza Masamang Damo Target Exclusive.” Fans have dissected lyrics, speculated about rivalries, and debated the subtext of the Soul Diva’s sudden resurgence. Now, in a tell-all interview, Jessa Zaragoza finally pulls back the curtain on what she calls “the most misunderstood song of my career.” We are not enemies
“I chose Masamang Damo because, to me, the damo was never a person. The ‘weed’ was my own perfectionism. My own fear. The industry’s demand that I always smile, always be ‘the wholesome star’ while I was dying inside,” she explains.