Cambodia is a country located in southeast Asia bordering Vietnam, the Gulf of Thailand, Thailand, and Laos. Hip Hop in Cambodia is called Khmer Hip Hop or Khmer Rap. Khmer refers to the official language spoken in Cambodia and the ethnicity of the majority of the country's population. There are many up-and-coming Khmer Hip Hop emcees now residing in the United States.

Prach (Myspace page) has been called a pioneer in Khmer Hip Hop. He was born in Cambodia and escaped the genocidal regime of Pol Pot and the Khmer Rouge with his family at a young age. He moved to California,United States. His songs are angry, intelligent, and forthright recounts of recent Cambodian history and the genocide that ravaged the country's people. In his words on the song Poison Tree, "I don't believe in violence, but I refuse to live my life in silence." He raps mostly in English, but also in Khmer. Here's an article about him: Prach Ly - The Rapper.

The 2nd Language (Myspace page) is a group based in Tacoma, Washington in the United States. All three members- Silong (Myspace page), Syam, and Uncle Ted- were born in Cambodia. They have solemn thoughtful songs about the genocide in Cambodia. However, they also use humor in other songs and rap about partying. They rap in English and their beats, courtesy of Silong, are soulful and funk-driven. Seasia is a group of three men, born in Cambodia, who moved to Lowell, Massachusetts in the United States. Their songs includes tales of tough times in Cambodia and in the United States.

Hin "Ping" Chamnan (aka A-Ping) is from Phnom Penh. Here's an article about him "From Rag to Rap."

other sites:

Mujestic: a site dedicated to Cambodian culture, includes the sites for Prach and The 2nd Language.

a blog: In Search of Khmer Hip Hop.

an article: Hip Hop Girls gives a voice to young women in Cambodia on health and social issues.

an article: How Oakland Cambodians Saved Graffiti.

other artists:

Perzuan (Myspace page), live in Lowell, Massachusetts.

Q-P (Myspace page), born on the border of Cambodia and Thailand, now in Seattle.