Burmese hip hop
Encyclopedia
The Burmese hip hop is one of the most successful music genres in Myanmar
today, and arguably the most popular form of music among the urban youth of Yangon
and Mandalay
.
was the dominant music genre in Myanmar. The Burmese hip hop scene started in the late 1980s with the rapper Myo Kyawt Myaing although songs were plain rapping music rather than typical hip hop
. In late 1990s, a Yangon-based four-member band named Acid
started introducing old school hip hop in night clubs of Yangon, and became popular among Yangon's youth. Acid, widely considered to be the pioneers of Burmese hip-hop, made their debut in 2000 with Sa-Tin-Gyin (Beginning) which became an instant hit.
Their success attracted other hip-hop artists and groups, now known as the "first generation" of Burmese hip-hop, like Theory (Barbu and Thxa Soe), NS (Kyaw Thu Soe and Lin Lin) and Too Big. Most of the first generation artists used old school hip-hop. Still, hip hop was new to the Burmese and not widely accepted yet by the public at large. To find wider acceptance, some first-generation artists such as Sai Sai Kham Hlaing
mixed hip-hop with pop
, and found commercial success.
Other notable groups were G-Family,Project-1, Byauk-Oh (Firecracker), Examplz, On-track, Cyclone. M.H.A. (Myanmar HipHop Association)http://www.mha-music.com was formed unofficially. Many youth joined M.H.A. and inspired to becoming hip hop artist someday. From Mandalay
, known to be the source of traditional music and culture of Burma, came many hip hop artists and groups even though they were not many as in Yangon.
served 6 years prison term until 17 May 2011 because he is the member of Generation Wave
(youth anti-gov group). His group-mate, also member of GW, Yan Yan Chan
released from a temporary detainment center not long ago. The name 9mm is banned to used in public because they distributed sample CDs of underground group MFG http://www.mmfg.netfirms.com/index2.html in one of their performance.
G-Tone from Cyclone called to question during performing in concert.
Myanmar
Burma , officially the Republic of the Union of Myanmar , is a country in Southeast Asia. Burma is bordered by China on the northeast, Laos on the east, Thailand on the southeast, Bangladesh on the west, India on the northwest, the Bay of Bengal to the southwest, and the Andaman Sea on the south....
today, and arguably the most popular form of music among the urban youth of Yangon
Yangon
Yangon is a former capital of Burma and the capital of Yangon Region . Although the military government has officially relocated the capital to Naypyidaw since March 2006, Yangon, with a population of over four million, continues to be the country's largest city and the most important commercial...
and Mandalay
Mandalay
Mandalay is the second-largest city and the last royal capital of Burma. Located north of Yangon on the east bank of the Irrawaddy River, the city has a population of one million, and is the capital of Mandalay Region ....
.
First generation
Until 2000, rock and rollRock and roll
Rock and roll is a genre of popular music that originated and evolved in the United States during the late 1940s and early 1950s, primarily from a combination of African American blues, country, jazz, and gospel music...
was the dominant music genre in Myanmar. The Burmese hip hop scene started in the late 1980s with the rapper Myo Kyawt Myaing although songs were plain rapping music rather than typical hip hop
Hip hop
Hip hop is a form of musical expression and artistic culture that originated in African-American and Latino communities during the 1970s in New York City, specifically the Bronx. DJ Afrika Bambaataa outlined the four pillars of hip hop culture: MCing, DJing, breaking and graffiti writing...
. In late 1990s, a Yangon-based four-member band named Acid
Acid (hip-hop)
Acid is a Burmese hip hop group often credited with releasing Burma's first hip hop album, Beginning, in 2000. Two of the group's founders were later imprisoned for the group's allegedly pro-democracy lyrics.-Beginning:...
started introducing old school hip hop in night clubs of Yangon, and became popular among Yangon's youth. Acid, widely considered to be the pioneers of Burmese hip-hop, made their debut in 2000 with Sa-Tin-Gyin (Beginning) which became an instant hit.
Their success attracted other hip-hop artists and groups, now known as the "first generation" of Burmese hip-hop, like Theory (Barbu and Thxa Soe), NS (Kyaw Thu Soe and Lin Lin) and Too Big. Most of the first generation artists used old school hip-hop. Still, hip hop was new to the Burmese and not widely accepted yet by the public at large. To find wider acceptance, some first-generation artists such as Sai Sai Kham Hlaing
Sai Sai Kham Hlaing
Sai Sai Kham Hlaing is a popular Burmese singer-songwriter, model, novelist, and actor of ethnic Shan descent. He is best known for his hip hop music.-Background:...
mixed hip-hop with pop
Popular music
Popular music belongs to any of a number of musical genres "having wide appeal" and is typically distributed to large audiences through the music industry. It stands in contrast to both art music and traditional music, which are typically disseminated academically or orally to smaller, local...
, and found commercial success.
Second generation
After Acid's breakthrough, a group named "9mm" moved the style of Burmese hip hop to new level. Although the group's underground music was well known to the youth, most of their songs did not pass the Burmese censor board, and the group never released an own album under 9mm. Later, because of the group's political activism, even the name 9mm was banned by the censor board.Other notable groups were G-Family,Project-1, Byauk-Oh (Firecracker), Examplz, On-track, Cyclone. M.H.A. (Myanmar HipHop Association)http://www.mha-music.com was formed unofficially. Many youth joined M.H.A. and inspired to becoming hip hop artist someday. From Mandalay
Mandalay
Mandalay is the second-largest city and the last royal capital of Burma. Located north of Yangon on the east bank of the Irrawaddy River, the city has a population of one million, and is the capital of Mandalay Region ....
, known to be the source of traditional music and culture of Burma, came many hip hop artists and groups even though they were not many as in Yangon.
Third generation
Since late 2006, new artists like Jauk Jack http://www.mizzima.com/edop/interview/1596-womens-voices-on-ripples-created-by-jauk-jets-controversial-lyrics.html, Kyaw Htut Swe claimed themselves as "third generation". They formed a group called VIP (Rock$tar) with Ah Boy, Htein Win and Hlwan Paing. They became the most famous third gen rappers. They made history in the Burmese music industry because they became the most famous artists without having released an album. In late 2008 and early 2009, many other third generation groups released their sample albums such as XHumeXhumehttp://www.facebook.com/xhume, RubberBand, Platform Crew Songs, Tiny Twist, Chilli Family, BLF, G3, DCT, NewVersion(NV), Double Job, Satan, Freddy, Roll One,Downtown (Aung Yo & M-2)..Politics
Many of the rappers had been detained or called for question by government. Zayar ThawZayar Thaw
Zayar Thaw ; born Kyaw Kyaw on 26 March 1981) is a Burmese hip-hop artist currently detained for the perceived anti-government messages of his lyrics. Amnesty International named him a prisoner of conscience.-Hip-hop career:...
served 6 years prison term until 17 May 2011 because he is the member of Generation Wave
Generation Wave
Generation Wave is a pro-democracy Burmese youth movement founded by Min Yan Naing, Moe Thwe, hip-hop star Zayar Thaw, and one other activist.-Background and activism:...
(youth anti-gov group). His group-mate, also member of GW, Yan Yan Chan
Yan Yan Chan
Yan Yan Chan is a pioneer of Burmese hip hop and pro-democracy activist. Along with Zayar Thaw, he founded the group Acid.-"Beginning":In 2000, Acid released Burma's first hip-hop album. Despite predictions of failure by many in the Burmese music industry, the album, Beginning, remained in the...
released from a temporary detainment center not long ago. The name 9mm is banned to used in public because they distributed sample CDs of underground group MFG http://www.mmfg.netfirms.com/index2.html in one of their performance.
G-Tone from Cyclone called to question during performing in concert.