A child of the coastal city of Sihanoukville, Cambodia's hip hop superstar shook up the Kingdom's music industry. In an exclusive interview, Focus Cambodia talks to the artist who continues to rock the scene
Can you tell us how you came to the decision to leave home and pursue your dream? How has your upbringing influenced your work?
I love music. I have lived with music since I was young. To me, music is inspirational. Becoming a musician is a path I chose, a path I love. Like most traditional Khmer families, my parents wanted me to become a lawyer or a doctor, but that’s not me. After high school, I left my hometown for Phnom Penh to explore my passion, to find my voice. It was an adventure, a journey to find myself that was full of hardships – being broke almost all the time, close to homelessness, bouncing from house to house without a team or any guidance. Even my family didn’t think I would last long here, but I kept going. I didn’t want to go home because I told them that I would go back on the day I succeed. If there are only bones left in me, then just take my bones home.
I got my start in music while in high school in my hometown, Sihanoukville, but I have been writing songs since 2009. I started listening to music at a young age and always carried a small MP3 player with me. I want to shout out to my big brother, who was the first person to introduce me to hip-hop music. When I was free from helping my parents at their coconut-shaving shop, I spent the rest of my time with music, mostly at internet cafes. There, I started to experiment with music through a cracked version of Fruity Loops.
At the time, I spent a lot of time listening to music, watching production tutorials on YouTube, experimenting, and developing my taste in music. That was probably where my roots in different music ranges came from. Life experiences then inspired me to write songs. I dreamt of making more elevated music, so I came to Phnom Penh with only 400,000 riel in my pocket to chase after that dream. I learned and met many kinds of people who taught me so much more about life. I can say that what I have today is because I dared to dream, face obstacles, overcome problems, and always move forward.
Your earlier music would be considered more pop than hip hop. How did you make the transition into hip hop and rap?
When I first started singing, I thought I had to sing love songs to break into the music industry. They were popular at the time and resonated with people. However, as I matured, I became more open to new ideas and inspiration. Over time, my songs transitioned through themes of love, my own passion, my passion for my country and people, my pride as a Cambodian and my journey to follow my dreams as an artist. I experimented with new beats and genres, discovering that hip hop provided the perfect medium for my storytelling and passion.
Most would agree that your breakout came with the release of “Time to Rise.” Since then you’ve arguably been the biggest celebrity in Cambodia. Can you tell us about that experience? How did the song “Time to Rise” come about? What is the inspiration behind it? How did the meteoric rise to celebrity change your life?
“Time to Rise” is a lyrical celebration of Khmer heritage, from its ancient temples to the venerated knowledge and wisdom of elders like Master Kong Nay. It is an honour to have his presence on this song. If you don’t know about him, he is a Khmer music legend, a master of the Chapey Dong Veng (a stringed instrument). One of a few great masters to have survived the Khmer Rouge era, he has created many memorable records for our people to enjoy and for the Cambodian youth generation to inherit. Much respect and thanks to him and his family for helping to create this collaboration.
The song was a vision and work of a whole dedicated team. Shout out to my spicy CEO, Laura Mam, who asked Master Kong Nay to be on the song; my CMO, Andrew Mam, who built the Time to Rise Campaign; and my brilliant fellow Baramey artists, Vanthan and Songha, alongside whom I wrote the song. Also, I was proud to be joined in the music video by my fellow artists at Baramey. “Time to Rise” blends Khmer instrumentation with hip hop and drill sounds to encourage the younger Cambodian audiences to pay more attention to traditional culture and arts. It came straight from my heart, a call for a renewed pride in Cambodian cultural heritage.
With the release of $KULL THE ALBUM in 2020, I garnered a following, but I didn’t expect “Time to Rise” to blow up like that, becoming my and Cambodia’s very first music video to reach one million YouTube views in 24 hours. I was super excited, stunned almost, but overall very happy with its reception. The support and appreciation from local Cambodians and a number of countries across the region, such as Thailand, Vietnam, Indonesia and Myanmar, left me with much optimism for Cambodian music on the international stage. Thanks to Baramey and our artist management team, we capitalised on international interests and won many collaborations. I’m proud to be Cambodia’s international representative in the global scene.
Your music often incorporates and blends traditional Khmer music and sounds into modern beats and songs. What role do you think artists have in honouring music traditions versus forging ahead with modern culture?
Baramey and I have always had a vision to blend traditional and modern forms, to spread more understanding and awareness about Cambodian culture, and to encourage the younger Cambodian audiences to pay more attention to traditional culture and arts, while also easing the transition between the forms for all listeners. We had a goal of increasing awareness and appreciation for traditional instruments with the younger generation of Cambodia, to preserve our heritage while also producing contemporary arts.
With guidance from Baramey and amazing colleagues like Vanthan who have vast knowledge of modern and traditional instruments, we were able to proudly incorporate our rich cultural heritage with modern culture and bring out unique sounds that the world hasn’t heard before. My CEO has said, “Innovation is a requirement for preservation.”
This is our mindset at Baramey. We are imprinting a mark on the globe for sure, and I am honoured to be an artist involved in pushing this forward.
Making music is a trip of constant learning and evolution. Do you experiment with different styles, instruments, producers?
Definitely. I have been experimenting with different styles of music and instruments since the very start of my musical career, and I never stop. This is what fuels my passion, my music’s flavours and colours, and my music’s evolution through the years. You can never stop learning. In terms of producers, I mainly create my own sounds and occasionally collaborate. It’s all about the vibes that work and blend seamlessly to produce unique flavours and sounds.
You’ve made hit songs with Thai artists and gone viral rapping alongside Vietnamese hip hoppers. How do you see yourself growing outside of the Cambodian market?
The music scene here is growing rapidly, especially the hip-hop industry. We may have started off later and slower than everyone else, but our most recent growth brought us to a point where we are not that far behind other peer nations. Our people have started listening and learning about rap music, and have given us immense support, and I’m really proud of it.
As an artist representing Cambodia on the international stage, I want to do my best and put on the coolest performances for everyone. I pour my heart and soul into my music and I perform it with the utmost pride. I’m honoured to be one of the first Cambodian artists to go beyond the borders with my music, and it will not stop here. Cambodia has a sound that is unique and the culture in itself has many elements such as our rich cultural sounds in Ayai, Smot, and traditional instruments not found anywhere else, just to name a few that allow Cambodian rappers to create colours and flavours that have never been done before. With so many young and rising talents with the grit and strength to go to the global stage, we will be producing a phenomenal music scene for sure. We’ve only just begun and the world is our oyster.
You’ve expressed your love for your country in songs like “Khmer Blood.” Beyond your music as entertainment, do you see yourself as a role model in Cambodian society?
I think my music speaks for itself. Cambodians are a resilient people, authentic, humble. We have so much to offer. We have been through a lot. And because we suffered, we have a capacity to share wisdom with the world. Everyone can positively influence society. You see people saving lives, like doctors and nurses; people protecting the country, like police officers, soldiers; teachers, educating generations of people; people serving the country, from leaders, heads of companies to construction workers to trash collectors. We all play a role to better our country. Mine just happens to be through music.
So I just do what I do best and pour all my heart and soul into it. If it inspires one person, great, if it inspires a whole generation, I have nothing else to say but to be grateful and feel motivated to do more. I hope my pride and passion for music and my country continue to spark inspiration.
Where do your interests lie beyond music? Are there any causes that you work on or support?
I love nature. When I’m not in my studio vibing with music, I find myself drawn to the outdoors. I love camping, being immersed in nature, and listening to the sounds of birds chirping. I think many people take nature for granted, the lush greenery, the clean fresh air, and the clear, unpolluted bodies of water.
I’ve collaborated on several eco-awareness and environmental campaigns, including a campaign with Wildlife Alliance on my “Khmer Blood” music video to raise awareness of the dangers of poaching in the Cardamom Mountains.
The 1River Music Festival and animation project supported an anti-plastic campaign in collaboration with UNDP, the Ministry of Environment, the Swedish Embassy and Mitsubishi Corporation. The film from this project was officially selected by multiple film festivals around the world in 2023, including the Shenzhen Youth Film Festival, Cambodia International Festival, Indonesia CRAFT Animefest, Tbilisi International Animation Festival, and Taipei Asian Films Festival.
Most recently, I participated in the Bon Phum On The Move Eco-Awareness concert in Kratie Province on World Children’s Day. This event was supported by UNICEF and the Ministry of Environment and focused on eco-programmes protecting Irrawaddy dolphins, raising awareness of the threat of their extinction, promoting anti-plastic campaigns and reforestation, and highlighting the value of local performance arts, bringing back a long tradition of celebrating arts and culture in the local temple.
Who are your top five rappers, dead or alive?
- Kanye West
- Twista
- J Cole
- Nas
- Lil Wayne
What music do you listen to?
- Bossanova
- Jazz
- Hip Hop
- Movie soundtracks
- Khmer oldies
