Hip-Hopping In Bangkok

The inaugural Asian Hip-Hop Festival, held at the Impact Arena in Bangkok Oct. 11, highlighted Thailand as one of the biggest markets for rap music in Asia.

Jay-Z, 50 Cent and Akon all included Bangkok as stops on their most recent world tours. More than 15,000 people attended the one-day festival.

It also featured an Urban Culture and Trade Show, fashion shows, car shows and dance competitions.

One of the purposes was to promote greater understanding among Asian cultures and countries through the common art of hip-hop, said organizers Thaitanium Entertainment and FUPM Co.

For that reason, the organizers invited artists who they felt were the most representative of hip-hop performers in their countries.

These included Zeebra of Japan, 24Herbs from Hong Kong, Joe Flizzow from Malaysia, One Sun & Maximum Crew from Korea, and MC Hot Dog from Taiwan.

Thailand was represented by Thaitanium’s own members, the rap crew of Khan, Day and Way. The festival headliner was Nas, who performed with his wife Kelis.